Old Bacchus Road

> "...the Old Bacchus Road has a reputation for healing the broken, and for helping those who feel that there is only darkness in their lives to see the light once more."
>
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The Old Bacchus Road is a small dirt path in the middle of a countryside where people go to find light in the darkness. Features in a series of photographs and a story about Simon and Anil.

## Description

Initially, The Old Bacchus Road is a small dirt road that winds between multiple hills and valleys. It is also wooded with places such as giant trees, creeks, and some sparse buildings and a railway.

## Locations and Residents

* Enormous Tree that is well over 100 metres tall and carries unrecognisable fruit. The fruit tastes like something between apple and mango, with the texture of pineapple. There is a small Cafe at the bottom of the tree.
	+ A Man who sits out the front of the cafe reading a newspaper and drinking coffee.
	+ A Woman who works inside the Cafe and provides travellers with food and drinks.
* A Railway Crossing with a train full of children. The children speak a language that is unknown to Simon or Anil.
* A gently flowing river that swapped the reflections of Simon and Anil.
* A bridge that seems to be made of glass.
* An old petrol station
	+ Station attendant that gives travellers water and snacks.
* The Roadhouse which has a massive neon sign that reads 'End of the Road'
	+ The Roadhouse Manager gives breakfast to travellers, listens to their stories, and then takes their photo.

## History

The Old Bacchus Road was established a few decades ago. The only travellers named are Simon and Anil.

## Alternarual Abilities

### 'Divine' Intervention

To an extent, the Old Bacchus Road appears to have some ability to affect someone's fate and how the world works. This is shown as Simon and Anil, who needed each other to grow, both left to the Old Bacchus Road on the same day, as well as a tree falling and stopping them from leaving. This also may be how people who are at a low point in their life somehow hear about the Old Bacchus Road.

### Time Travel

When someone arrives at the Old Bacchus Road (it is implied they always arrive at the end of the day,) the day begins going backwards as they travel through the road. Once done travelling, they awake the morning of the day they left to go the Old Bacchus Road. This is also suggested through trees not moving when Simon first begins his trip.

### Memory Altercation

As the Old Bacchus Road is a journey taken in the heart rather than in the mind, and events or people that a person meets on the road are forgotten.

### Alternatural Therapy

Those who travel down the road work through their issues and come out at the end better than when they entered. There are a number of characters who could benefit from visiting the Old Bacchus Road.

### Symbolic Competence

The Old Bacchus Road has multiple features that a symbolically relevant to people's journeys. This includes things like flipping reflections, slowing the passing of time, and breaking cars down.

## Trivia

* While there is no confirmed location for the Old Bacchus Road, it is almost exactly a day's travel from Simon's city.
	+ This could imply the old Bacchus Road's location changed to where people need it. But, it is also said that the Old Bacchus Road is a real location, which challenges this idea.
* Both Simon and Anil hear about the Old Bacchus Road from a friend of a friend.
* Maps of the Old Bacchus Road are incorrect. They show a small road that goes for about 100 metres. This is not true.
* People who live near or on the way to the road appear to not know of it, despite the Cafe Owner suggesting she gets at least one person a day arriving.
* On the road, there is both an unknown type of fruit and an unknown language.
* Old Bacchus Road is likely based on stories of people taking impromptu road trips when depressed.