The Starshard Traverse

A pass over the Ursa Mountains from Belegost in Morkehuler to Ft. Auir in Selvaoscura. Known to be treacherous, the Traverse breaks into three main parts. Ironwind Pass on the Morkehuler side of the mountains, The Starshard at the pinnacle of the Traverse, and The Frostveil Breach on the Selvaoscura side of the mountains.

Khoj is leading PK, Trogdor and Aranea over the pass

**

The Starshard Traverse is a treacherous but passable journey, taking 3-5 days under good conditions, and is divided into three sections:

• The Ironwind Pass: The Belegost side, a rugged ascent through windy, rocky terrain.
• The Starshard: The central divide, a towering, glowing mountain with narrow, perilous ledges.
• The Frostveil Breach: The Ft. Auir side, a descent through icy fog and wild magic.

The name "Starshard Traverse" is known to travelers and locals alike, though the dwarves of Belegost might gruffly refer to it as "the cursed road to Auir," while the fey near Ft. Auir might call it "the path of broken stars," reflecting their differing perspectives.

The pass stretches roughly 50 miles through the Ursa Mountains (based on your map’s scale of 100 miles). It takes about 3-5 days to traverse on foot under good conditions. The high altitude brings freezing winds, sudden blizzards, and dense fog that can reduce visibility to near zero. The magical influence of Ft. Auir also causes unnatural weather patterns, like shimmering auroras that disorient travelers or lightning storms that strike with eerie precision.

The Starshard Traverse is treacherous but not impossible to traverse. Travelers must be ready for Environmental Hazards. Creatures like Frost Wolves and Magical Hazards such as Illusionary Paths. The Starshard serves as a crucial landmark. From Belegost, travelers keep the Shard in sight as they ascend through the Ironwind Pass. From Ft. Auir, the Shard’s jagged silhouette is visible through the Frostveil Breach’s fog, guiding them toward the divide.