Travel

At times people need to move outside their local area and travel far away. These long-distance travels are adventures in themselves, both at land and at sea. As The Realm generally has no paved roads outside hamlet, villages, towns, and major city hubs; except small networks around Grimsborg and a few crumbling ancient hubs. By and large, overland travel is considered cross-country, dangerous and expensive; one should avoid travelling alone, and if carrying visible merchandise one can expect to pay tolls to the various feudal lords on route, or be robbed.

Skjald Valgrif

 

The wiser traveller would use water-borne transport whenever possible, even if it means taking a detour. Travel by sea or by river boat is much faster and less dangerous than overland travel. But how far one can travel either way in a day, depends on several factors:

• Is the travel at sea or overland?
• Does the travel take place in areas close to major hubs or greater Hordes, in plains and lowlands at the caravan-routes, or in distant highlands, woods, and mountains? If the travel is along well-travelled routes, one can expect to sleep in an inn; if the travel is along a not-so-well-travelled route, one must be ready to sleep rough.
• In times and places when and where there is real winter it can be very difficult. Spring and autumn rains can transform unpaved roads into mud ditches.
• A rich traveller, or one in the employ of a rich lord can have spare horses, enabling about 50% longer distances per day than a ordinarily traveller.

A well-seasoned traveller can keep the below travel distance, in summer, in good areas for 5 days per week, taking two days off to rest:

Who	How Far	How Long
Average, w. luggage	15 km	1 day
Average, min. luggage	20-22 km	1 Day
Militia Soldier	25 km	1 Day
Infantry Soldier	30 km	1 Day
Heroic Mortal	40 km	1 Day
Mounted on regular horse	30-40 km	1 Day
Mounted on warhorse	45 km	1 Day
Mounted w. spare	40-60 km	1 Day
Guild Caravan	10 km	1 Day

Skjald Yell'a'Beard

 

Travel time on horseback is basically the same as on foot, just more comfortable. Horses have the following travel speeds;

• Walk:
• Trot:               similar to human jog, a bit uncomfortable due to the up/down movement.
• Canter:           Most comfortable for travel
• Gallop:           Only used for most urgent needs, such as chase/flight
• Tölt:
• Skeid:

12-15mph (averaged to 10mph with the proper rests)

100mpd (if the distance is <= 100m, less if distance is greater.

20-30mpd (20+ and you have to begin watching the horse condition)

50-60mpd (this is well skilled riders on well trained horses)

Wagons only make <= 15mpd

Any horse that’s been overworked has to be walked before it can be set to rest

Horses are basically classified due to their usage;

Rouncey (all purpose; war, riding, packing), War (chargers, courser, destrier (very uncommon and rare warhorse –most likely stallions)), Transport (palfreys), Cart horses, Pack horses,  agriculture or use.

Travel can be a lot slower though, especially if there aren’t any inns for miles. Your riders will need provisions, and hunting is called poaching when it happens to be on a lord’s land, and most of it was on a lord’s land.

With a great rider or walker, these numbers can be pushed further–14 miles for a walker who is well supplied and experienced (like an infantry) or 30 miles for a rider. But pushing to the max can only happen for so long before there’s a problem.

And, passage through lands largely depends on who you are and how much money you had, because on the better kept roads, there will be tolls and brigands.

Reasons for Delays

• Lame horse
• Broken axle
• Ruined food supply
• Stolen food & money
• Festival Traffic: This one requires explaination. Festivals were big business in parts of Europe (in particular France) and could result in traffic jams stretching for miles.
• Weather conditions
• Lack of water
• Illness of rider or horse

An experienced traveler will know what is worthwhile to carry and where to resupply for water, which is a large consideration for any journey.

Skjald El Mary

 

Just as a side note…

-if the character and the people with him have never travelled that route,…

-there WILL be delays because they won’t know what to expect and how to supply correctly.

 

-for horse travel you don’t really want paved roads…

-as that’s pretty hard on their hooves…

-except with horseshoes…

Skjald Kazumix

 

Ocean Travel:

Ship Speed	Average Miles	Time Period	Wind Speed
1 dot	111 Miles (74 N* miles)	24 hours	Gentle Breeze (8 knots)
2 dot	128 Miles (85 N* miles)	24 hours	Gentle Breeze (8 knots)
3 dot	150 Miles (100 N* miles)	24 hours	Gentle Breeze (8 knots)
4 dot	168 Miles (112 N* miles)	24 hours	Gentle Breeze (8 knots)
5 dot	195 Miles (130 N* miles)	24 hours	Gentle Breeze (8 knots)
1 dot	225 Miles (150 N* miles)	24 hours	Gale (32 knots)
2 dot	255 Miles (170 N* miles)	24 hours	Gale (32 knots)
3 dot	300 Miles (200 N* miles)	24 hours	Gale (32 knots)
4 dot	345 Miles (230 N* miles)	24 hours	Gale (32 knots)
5 dot	390 Miles (260 N* miles)	24 hours	Gale (32 knots)

*Nautical

Skjald Sigurd