Moving through the Outlands(PPO)

Between the gate-towns and other populated areas, the bulk of the Outlands is pretty much open, empty space. Here and there, a traveler'll run into sharp-toothed mountains, rolling hills, windswept badlands, and forests of all kinds of vegetation. But these places've turned their backs on the "normal" rules for topography, geography, and climate. (Fact is, the Outlands map in the PLANESCAPE Campaign Setting boxed set is more suggestion than reality; DMs can mix and match terrain as they see fit.) Also, with chunks of the Land always breaking off or adding on, long-term structures like roads don't usually last too long. A body has to make it on his own. But there's another way for folks who don't feel like walking: taking a gate from Sigil. The city's got a number of magical portals that lead to the gate-towns and some even go farther, right into the Outer Planes. These gates are real handy, but they tend to move around. Smart cutters'll find themselves a local guide. Those who do cross the Land on foot often complain that it drives 'em barmy. Journeys take a random amount of time - as Outlanders say, "It takes as long as it takes, no more or less." A body can walk from Rigus to Ribcage in a few days, only to find the return trip takes several weeks. For gaming purposes, though, figure that it takes about three to eighteen days to move between nearby points — for example, a trip from Hopeless to one of its neighboring gatetowns, Torch or Curst. For longer trips, just add up the pieces. So, a body going from Hopeless to Ribcage must first get to Torch (three to eighteen days), and then press on to Ribcage (another three to eighteen days). Even if he tries to avoid any contact with Torch, the trip'd still take from six to thirty-six days. Here's another example: A body wants to go from Hopeless to Thoth's Estate. (Folks who've been to Hopeless know why all the sods in these examples would want to leave.) First, it'd take three to eighteen days to reach the River Ma'at, then another three to eighteen days to follow it downstream to Thoth's Estate. By the way, Thoth's Estate and the city of Thebestys are the only spots that don't follow the travel rule — they're really considered to be one area, and it takes little or no time to go between them. The Clueless usually think that riding a horse'll make a trip faster. Not so. It'll take the same amount of time, no matter how a body goes. Then again, sods who get lost in the Outlands might appreciate a horse - to eat. (Some planars do talk of a growing herd of camels, and another of buffalo, that've been brought into the Land and left to go feral.)