The Road to Arak

Long ago the "road to Arak", for its proper name is unknown, led from Sidnar to the heart of the Mountains of Misery. There it joined the road that preceded that of the envisioned Strigos Road and that at that time led to the Old Svalich Road in eastern Barovia. The road from Sidnar would have passed between Mount Nirka and Mount Nyid. The principle function of the road was extinguished along with the Arakians in 588 BC by the Scourge of Arak. The reputation that Arak would acquire in subsequent years was ample deterrence against the use of the road for prospecting or exploring beyond the Darkonian frontier. Whether the Darkonian portion of the road remained in use and was maintained over the decades that followed is unknown. There was more reason for the would-be dwarven and gnomish miners of Tempe Falls and Mayvin to have maintained the Darkonian portion of the Strigos Road. Its condition as of 750 BC was such that it afforded passage only on foot due to washouts, rockslides, boulders, and fallen trees. Within the former territory of Arak, the essential absence of trees, except near the frontiers, eliminated one obstacle but gave free reign to erosion which has made the other obstacles far worse. Neither are there any known plans for the reopening of the road to Arak nor would there be any great benefit in doing so.