THE
CRAZY
WOMAN
PASS |
This is the only known pass
through the southern Mithral Mountains. A high alpine pass that is often closed
due to heavy snows in the winter. It is part to the Mithral route traders have
used for centuries. There may have been another name at one time in its history
but due to superstitions and the myth surrounding this pass it is simply
referred to as Crazy Woman Pass.
Description. Crazy
Woman Pass is a winding pass that climbs steadily on either end until its
highest part. Here it is flat a couple hundred peds at the widest and several
hundred peds long. It is a rocky pass with many places where large boulders are
piled together. On the southern end of this flat area is a boulder field that
climbs until it abruptly ends at the sheared off face of Gray Hood Peak. Many
believe this boulder field is the result of one of
Grothar's changeable moods. They say he
was in a bad mood and felt Gray Hood was causing some of his winds to go where
he did not want them. In his ire he struck the side of the peak with his
lightning staff causing it to crumble and slide creating this boulder field.
The north side is very steep with several small cliff faces and huge piled
boulders. It is above tree line so there are no trees and very few low shrubs.
The ground cover is mostly a mossy runner type grass while patches of lichens
and mosses can also be found on the ground and boulders.
When climbing from the west going east Gray Hood Peak is very prominent and it
is said because of the curiosity of trappers and hunters it helped with the
discovery of Crazy Woman Pass. Gray Hood is made up of mostly granite and
grayish colored rock. Because of this, and the fact that one side of the peak
is sheared off, it appears as though someone has pulled a hood over their head.
Thus the popular name given to this peak. It is not know if anyone has scaled
this peak or its sister peak of Chalbern. Both are believed to be over four
stral.
Location. Crazy Woman
Pass is located in the southern end of the Mithral Mountains, which are along
the Adanian Sea in the eastern part of province Manthria. It runs between the
two peaks Gray Hood to the south and Chalbern to the north.
![]() |
![]() |
Picture description. The location of the Crazy Woman Pass in eastern Manthria, running between the two peaks of the Mithral Mountains, the Gray Hood to the south and Chalbern to the north. Maps drawn by Artimidor, |
Myth/Lore. The
legend of Crazy Woman Pass is ancient and still believed by most of the traders
using the Mithral Route through these mountains. No one can say who or even what
race the woman in the legend was. Just that it was a woman and thus the pass's
name was derived from this. When the pass was first found it was wilder than
today and many raiding parties could be found at the pass or other places along
the trading route. Over the centuries soldiers have been sent to capture and
kill the raiders, this has made it safer, but raiders and thieves are still
known to harass the route.
It is said not long after the pass was discovered a trading caravan was making
its way through the pass towards Marcogg. They stopped at the pass for a short
break when they spotted a figure among the boulder field. They were instantly on
guard and sent a couple of armed men to investigate. They were surprised to find
a lone woman and the two brought her back to the others. She was in a bedraggled
state with her hair badly ratted and uncombed with her dress in tatters and so
dirty it was hard to tell the original color. She had no shoes on her feet and
dirt was caked on her feet, hands and face. They tried to question her, ask her
how she got here, what happened and where was the rest of her party. They
received no answer as she just stood there looking at them not answering a word.
They finally gave up and offered her water and food, which she drank and ate
ravenously. When she finished she just sat on the ground listlessly. The traders
decided to take her with them and maybe there would be some answers in Marcogg.
So they loaded her in the back of one of the wagons and set out.
Just as the caravan started its descent, she started screaming, jumped down from
the wagon and raced off for the boulder field. So startled were the traders it
was a couple minutes before they could send someone after her. By then she had
disappeared and she could not be found. The traders searched for awhile catching
fleeting glimpses of her among the boulders. Each time she would scream and
disappear behind a boulder. When the traders arrived at the place where she was
sighted she was gone, nowhere to be found. Finally they gave up considering it a
futile waste of time. Evening was drawing near and they did not want to get
caught in the pass after dark. It was decided to continue on to Marcogg and
alert the authorities about her.
The whole episode unnerved them making them edgy and constantly looking around.
It is believed this is what saved them when a little farther down the route they
spotted bandits and were able to repel them. The traders believed these were the
same bandits that attacked the woman's party. Because she knew these bandits
were there it explained why she ran off. They made it to Marcogg and related
their story. A search was organized and sent but she was never found. Then more
sightings by other trading caravans started being reported. The only difference,
now she would not come near the traders but would start screaming and run off
whenever anyone attempted to come near. Each time she would disappear and soon
after these sightings the caravans would be attacked. It was not long before
people started referring to that crazy woman who runs around scream at the pass.
Over the centuries she has become known as the gray lady. Many claim she is
still occasionally spotted today and each time causes great concern for whoever
is going through the pass. Some believe she is an evil omen and the cause of any
raiders attacking. Others believe she brings good luck warning travelers of the
coming dangers. Either way the pass has come to reflect her legend.
Information
provided by
Thuja
|