The Coach Keeps

This string of fortified coaching taverns along the dirawaen road to Jalpa illustrates part of the reason for Darmen's current supremacy. They are well secured with troops, and well fortified, with regular patrolling of the road for protection from bandits. They are also comfort able and have one suite of rooms in each building, which is truly luxurious and has protections against low-level divination spells below 4th level. Travel along these roads is thus inviting for merchants and adventurers, stimulating commerce and bringing money to Jalpa and Kalstrand and the Darmen lands around. At least one of Xavener's many siblings or cousins lives either in, or close by, each of these keeps. And the inquisitive might hang around to overhear some interesting tidbits of gossip about intrafamily grumbles and disputes in each of these places.