Rabbit Pond (crossing)
The area and feature known as Rabbit Pond is a feature in the Athla Hill Country. The area is rich in game, like the rest of Bog Mile Gap that it is in, and generally the paths are well worn along the Athla Trade Road that goes past it, over the bridge. During the time of the Grimmdowns, it grew bigger and often flooded the area, and the clean water of the pond was often polluted or mixed with flood land debris. Also during this time, some water creature laid in wait for seekers of fresh water, lurking in the water to ambush those few looking to take the shortcut rather than go around the Athla Hills.
There is an entrance to the Blood Tail Wanderlands near Rabbit Pond of Bog Mile Gap.
What you see…
The dry trail winds along the edge of the valley, cutting slightly south. As you travel on, in the distance, a large flat pond with cattails forms from a couple of streams draining into it, and the overflow flows northwest, paralleling the road over which a stone bridge becomes visible, rising slightly and spanning some waterway. Insects buzz about the large shallow pond.
A Closer Look:
The pond is about 30m from the Athla River, and covers an area of roughly 40m x 90m. The pond is fed by several small streams of runoff from the hills to the south. Additionally, there is a small 3m wide channel leading to it from the river that is spanned by a small stone bridge with a stone rough footing that connects the main trade road following this side of the river.
Stop and Wait + Look:
Looking closely, the pond is covered in lily pads and has many large cattails thrusting up along its edges. There is nothing untoward happening when you stop and wait for a while – insects, frogs, and birds all move through the area as normal.
Average Difficulty Perception check:
Looking intently, you can see there are at least 2 pairs of giant eyes just above the surface of the pond, mostly hidden by the lilies.
Damming the channel that drains to the river could easily dam up that might flood the area even more.
Average Difficulty History/Lore check:
The multiple small feeds from the hills that border it to the south are fed from water filtered through the Cansco-Savaigh Briarwood.
Conna’s Bridge
It is a nondescript arched stone bridge about 3m wide, with no railings. The bridge was named “Cunaigh’s Bridge, but the name was corrupted over time. There are marker stones (both sides) with directions – this was once a major trade route through the area.
AFTER GRIMM REMOVED > Approach from the East:
A stone sits, buried in mud and recently dug out and cleaned. It has both pictures and brief letters that indicate the following: Arebor Tower approx. 3km; Athlapoole approx 10km
AFTER GRIMM REMOVED > Approach from the West:
A stone sits, buried in mud and recently dug out and cleaned. It has both pictures and brief letters that indicate the following: Ostenhome Abbey approx. 10km; Elmtown Gap and bridge approx. 15km
A cursory inspection will reveal an old stone ring and ditch where travelers made campsites on a safe and raised area south of the bride, on the west side.