fatal

Roads Although roads 1 may differ by culture, the
information provided here is meant to be the norm.
Roads are formal trails that are made by characters.
Main roads are paved with hewn stones and
bolstered underneath by masses of tightly packed
sand. Main roads are paved with polygonal paving
stones of durable igneous rock such as basalt, granite,
or porphyry. Typically, the stones measure 12”
across by 8” deep. The stones are fitted together in
a cunning pattern to form an absolutely smooth surface.
The work on roads is done by the army. The
following tools are used: pick, hammer, and spade.
Great thoroughfares have a raised border
along each side. Outside the border is an unpaved
track. The unpaved track is roughly 2’ wide and is
used by pedestrians and pack-animals. At intervals,
high stones are set along the sides to help a traveler
mount a horse or climb into a high-wheeled carriage.
All roads have channels along one side or
both to divert rainwater.
The width of roads varies. 2-lane roads are
at least 8’ wide, but usually 10’. 3-lane roads have a
width of 14-18’. Most roads widen to 30’ or more
near a major central city. In mountainous areas,
width is minimized. A single-lane road is about 6’
wide. Secondary roads are simple, dirt roads.
Main routes are carefully maintained. They
are marked with road signs every mile, called milestones.
Every 6 miles exists a guard post that offers
protection and the opportunity to communicate with
the next down the line by means of fire signals. Mileage
is always counted outward from the capital.
Settlements are sometimes named by the stone it is
nearest. Each road has its own curator or commissioner
charged with keeping it repaired and adequately
policed.
Also lining the roadsides are religious monuments.
These range from sanctuaries to only
mounds of stones. When only a mound of stone,
passersby will toss an additional stone on the mound.
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Traders travel throughout the year and comprise
the largest percentage of travelers. Females
on the road wear the same clothes as males, except
that their clothes are longer, reaching to the ankles.
If females bring jewelry while traveling, they keep it
hidden. Only exiles, refugees, and the like travel
alone; ordinary voyagers bring at least 1 slave. When
traveling, characters take care to plan their arrival at
their destination to occur during daylight.
Inns An inn 1 is an establishment that allows travelers
a place to rest, and usually eat and other necessities.
If there are no inns, then a traveler must attempt
to appeal to the private hospitality of a local
character. Owners of private houses also rent rooms.
If allowed to stay, then it is expected that guest and
host exchange gifts upon the departure of the guest.
Since inns are so pervasive, it is rare that a traveler
must appeal to private hospitality.
A traveler comes upon inns before reaching
the town proper. Inns line the roads outside the
city limits. Just inside the gates are more inns, and
still more can be found around the center of the
town. Inns in town are not hard to identify. Even a
traveler who arrives late at night can identify an inn,
since inns have lit lanterns over their doors. Often,
the inkeeper advertises by hanging a sign with an
appropriate picture. Often the picture is of wine
jars or erotic scenes. In many establishments, the
innkeeper stands in the doorway and attempts to
attract customers. Since a female innkeeper is most
common, it is likely that she will rave about the charm
and cool of her place, and assure passersby that they
will not only find bread and wine, but love. Even
respectable inns include whores among services offered.
The staff of inns are usually slaves, including
the doorman (doorwoman), bellboys and porters,
waiters, wenches, and chambermaids (who double
as whores, at the request of a guest).
1. Information on roads and inns has been referenced from Travel in the Ancient World, by Lionel Casson. For more
information, see the References section at the end of this book.
Chapter 6: Sociality