Raymontale Road

Route

The Raymontale Road, also known as the Morian Way, is the main route connecting the coast of the Blossom Fields with its interior. The Blossom Fields' coastal cities are its centers of power, especially Surlee. Since the 2nd Semillon Usurpation War in the early Age of Men, Surlee has been the capital of the entire Vinelands and one of its wealthiest cities. After it was taken by House Semillon in the 1st Semillon Usurpation War Surlee began to represent oppression for those living in the interior of the Blossom Fields, known as the valesides. Thus, the Raymontale Road forms an important artery from which Semillon control is projected into the interior of the region.
With Surlee, the great seat of coastal power, at its head, the roadway's next major settlement is another bastion of Semillon control, Caer Semillon itself. The original seat of the family, it was from here that they launched their attack on House Braelea.

"The loyalty of House Cyrton never wavered throughout the entire conflict, and they resisted even in the waning of our morale during Lord Alain's tragic rule. Our inability to effectively relieve the siege of Septhearth was Lord Etien's greatest regret, and perhaps it is for the best he did not live to see the end of his most noble and gallant vassal in the terrible storm Semillon brought upon them." - Sir Rys Thewisy, CQ, Blood Red Blossoms

The last major settlement along the roadway is Septhearth, very much the opposite of Surlee. This was the center of the short-lived Ciderwinde League, which was defeated at the end of the Braelean Hedge Wars, and the former seat of House Cyrton, allies of the Braeleas and the unofficial leaders of the valeside houses. Septhearth would later come under the rule of House Lagrose, the family of an elevated Free Company lieutenant, loyal vassals of House Semillon. With this transition, the last holdout of Braelea loyalists along the road itself were gone.

Historical Overview

Raymontale

The name of the roadway was unnoted prior to the mid-Age of Rule, as it was not part of the nascent national system of roads, rather just a frequently trod and occasionally maintained route. Its most commonly used name, the Raymontale Road, would come to be applied to it after the route became more maintained during later Semillon rule.
The name came from the flight (tale) of Raymon II Braelea and his family after the sack of Terracetop. Those who claim Braelea Loyalism as their ideology have not only popularized their name for the roadway, but have incorporated it into the culture of the Blossom Fields through events like Raymon's Rest, which uses the start of the road as a site for the festival.

Hedge Wars

The roadway was the crucial artery of Semillon control during the Hedge Wars of the Age of Rule. It allowed men and materiel to not only move from the core Semillon territory of Caer Semillon to their newly acquired city of Surlee, but also ran directly to the frontlines at Septhearth.
Because of its importance to the Semillon war effort, as well as their projecting control over the valesides themselves, the Raymontale was the target of constant harassment and attacks by roving bands of Braelea-allied forces. The Free Company was forced to cease patrolling the road for want of men, and rather to move men and supplies in well-defended convoys. Because of this lack of oversight, travel along the route was dangerous, and bandits frequently preyed on travelers.

Morian Way

With the end of the Hedge Wars and the Fall of House Cyrton, all major sites along the route fell under Semillon control. They recognized that the maintenance and safety of the roadway would be crucial to projecting power into the rest of the Blossom Fields, and preventing any further outbreaks of rebellion. Thus, it was declared the Morian Way, in honor of Morian II Semillon, who marched down it to take Surlee. While this name predates the Raymontale Road, it never really caught on.
Regardless of the name, the route's popularity increased dramatically, as House Semillon turned it into a proper roadway, well maintained and patrolled. Banditry along it was treated as pro-Braelea rebellion and cracked down upon harshly, and the Semillons prioritized the flow of goods such as ciders, wines, and fruit from the Ciderwinde along this road rather than the House Reed-controlled Cooper River.

Location under

The Vinelands