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Early Snows Close Graywall Passes
ARDEV -- An unseasonable snowstorm has dropped nearly 4 feet of snow on the Graywall passes, rendering land travel west from Breland impossible. Col. Kincaid Relaustra, speaking from Castle Arakhain, reported on the conditions. "Magical communications from snowbound citadels in the Graywalls indicate that all passes between western Breland and Droaam are impassible to wagon traffic," he said. "Some of the northern passes may be manageable on foot, although the avalanche risk would make such a journey perilous."
According to Relaustra, the volume of snow will likely keep the passes closed for at least two weeks. But if this unseasonably frigid weather persists, the passes could remain closed all winter.
Winter weather hasn't completely closed the Graywall passes since 988 YK. Many western Brelanders maintain that House Lyrandar was paid to augment the snowstorms this year by the Brelish Crown, which wanted a respite from attacks by marauders from Droaam. But both the Brelish Crown and House representatives dismiss such speculation as "typical wartime rumors."
Incursions from Droaam, while more sporadic than they were in the later years of the Last War, have been a thorn in the side of the Breland Army's Western Command recently. Now, just as in 988, the snowstorms are expected to prevent orc and ogre raiders from reaching western Breland.
Relaustra acknowledged the reduced danger from Droaam but noted that the snows present a security concern as well. "Many of the Brelish border citadels can't be reinforced until the snows recede," he pointed out. "A lot of the towers are already snowed in. The soldiers should have plenty of food and firewood, but they can't march out, and I can't march more troops in."
About the Author
David Noonan is a designer/developer for Wizards of the Coast. Before coming to Wizards, he was a daily newspaper reporter in Washington state. Apparently the city hall beat is good practice for an Eberron campaign.
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