Mulsantir

At Mulsantir, the Golden Way meets Lake Ashane and halts. Several large ferryboats ply the waters between Mulsantir and the western shore, carrying land-bound caravans over the lake to continue their trek west. A large and prosperous town has grown up at the crossing point, where caravaneers often provision themselves and purchase new mounts before they unload, cross, and load up again. Mulsantir’s ferry operators and innkeepers make a good living from the passing caravans. The town also boasts a large fishing fleet that nets sturgeon in the lake. Farmers from miles around sell provisions to the caravaneers.

During winter, the River Mulsantir freezes enough for caravans to continue without interruption, but in spring, the lake’s thaw makes it impossible to cross on foot or by boat for several tendays. Westbound caravans fill up the town during this time, waiting for the ice to break up. Mulsantir’s strategic location and prosperity have made it a frequent target for Thayan attacks. It has been besieged at least five times but has never fallen, due to the extensive stone walls that protect it. The town is made up of rugged stone buildings separated by broad dirt streets that become muddy in the fall and freeze solid in winter.