Snake Pass

This twisting pass links the powerful military garrison at Schukendale to the fortress of Mistwatch. Many mining communities are located along this route. Schukendale is a fortress town standing at the eastern ends of both Snake Pass and Ogrebolt Pass. It is named for the shuken, a small and agile local breed of sheep.

The town boasts three fortified keeps, and a total of 1,000 soldiers are garrisoned there, with many more scattered throughout the local area. These troops mostly act as spies, gathering information for the king. They are also well trained fighting men, and the demihumans gladly receive their aid in keeping humanoids at bay. Most of the militia troops in the area are stationed around mines in the hills. They have good morale and equipment, since the Flinty Hills folk are generous to them and many possess good armor or shields of dwarven make.

The Ogrebolt Pass leads east from Schukendale into the free hills and to the gnomish citadel of Glandeven, often besieged by Bone March goblinoids but still unbowed.

Mistwatch is a citadel standing atop a high, plat peak. The castle is of dwarven design and mostly built by dwarven engineers and laborers. This impressive and forbidding fortress overlooks valleys and dates often filled with mists. There are two major silver mines in the dales within three miles of the citadel, with over 800 gnomes working in them. Mistwatch dominates the local landscape, intimidating humanoid raiders and providing a place of refuge for the miners. The commander of Mistwatch is a hill dwarf of the Nyrondese army .. a real rarity. Flandeld Soughdriver is a remarkable character indeed (see Characters of Nyrond). Regular forays are made eastward from here, and Flandeld has many friends and contacts in the free lands to the east.