A Divided World
It is not only the magma-filled ravines and magical gateways that make travel difficult around the planet. Though most land has been claimed by some country, there aren’t enough resources to secure everything. Safety is normally only found within cities and immediately along the larger trade routes connecting the major ones within a country. In rare cases, these roads might run across borders, but even for the large trading hubs that is rare. But another important reason for travel is communication. Though magic can take care of the most important messages, many rely on letters or word of mouth sent by road or ship.
Perilous Roads
Aside from the largest ones, travel by road can be a dangerous thing. For longer distances through uninhabited land, the threat of ending up in something’s territory is great. Large beasts and monsters will mercilessly attack unprotected travellers, often challenging even smaller caravans. Because of this, planned expeditions tend to set out together in groups of more than twenty wagons. With their pooled resources, these excursions are highly attractive for mercenary companies or adventurers seeking their luck.
For shorter distances, people are the real threat. With travellers often moving in smaller groups, bandits have an easier time setting up ambushes and raids. But the more cunning ones will sell themselves as mercenaries and simply abandon their post with whatever loot they can carry off. Depending on the group they might not leave witnesses either.
The Low Seas
Underground on the water, the situation is not much different. For the short distances between villages and cities, small oar-driven vessels are common and much safer than a journey above ground. Villages settle near seas that provide not only access to drinking water, but a means of communication with the outside world. In central areas, the effort has even been spent to light up these caverns and lanterns hang from the ceiling to show the way and dissuade things that lurk in the dark.
For there are plenty of beasts down in the caves too. Straying from the path can quickly turn deadly, some sea beast rising up to swallow the boat. Alternatively, a creature lodged up in the cracks of the cave roof might drop down and crush or pick up a small vessel. For these journeys, larger ships are often used.
The problem with large vessels is the lack of wind under the earth. Fortunately, there are places where the sea meets with a lava flow, causing a constant wind. These channels are where any long-distance travel takes place. However, the ships capable of such trips are few and expensive. The limitation of wind-dependant travel has irked some of the more powerful mages. Together, they have started to develop ships capable of utilizing magical means of propulsion, but the technology is still in the very early stages and only a few prototypes exist.
Trade
Despite travel being difficult, countries and cities maintain a trade network. This network most commonly consists of caravans on the major roads and underground travel by ship where possible.
Along the main roads, smaller merchants form up large caravans. With their pooled resources, they are able to pay entire mercenary companies to keep them and their wares safe. These caravans are also opportunities for lone travellers to get safe passage and form the backbone of the economy for most countries.
For wealthier merchants, the option of travel by sea tends to be more efficient, but standalone trips often cost more than they’re worth. However, craftsmen tend to settle near these and fixed transportation schedules are often set up to merchants living near the same ocean.
Another issue with using the waterways for trade is that they tend to me more heavily taxed by the cities nearby. Because the waters are dark and easy to hide away in outside te paths, towns heavily guard their docks to make sure nothing is brought there without strict approval. However, with the increased safety of the ocean routes, the additional cost is often worth it for the assurance that the wares will arrive.
International Trade
With only a few exceptions, extensive trade between different nations is rare. The borders are still being defined after The Cataclysm which causes many rulers to be suspicious of their neighbours. A few large border cities defy these tensions and more or less covertly encourage open trade between like-minded settlements across the border.
Guilds
Transclude of The-Guilds#spread-far-and-wide