Kingsroad

The **kingsroad** is the main overland route in the Seven Kingdoms, extending for almost two thousand miles from Storm's End through King's Landing to The Wall. It is not as impressive as the great Valyrian roads of the past, but overall it increases mobility and speeds of travel.

## Description

The kingsroad's quality varies from place to place. Its main section is between King's Landing and the Neck and sustains numerous inns and villages along its length. Just north of King's Landing, the grand road is initially little more than two narrow dirt tracks, winding back and forth on itself. To pass through the Neck it becomes a causeway. North of the Neck and south of King's Landing the road winds down. Inns exist, but they are farther apart and much less able to accommodate large parties.

## Route

The kingsroad begins in the stormlands at Storm's End on Shipbreaker Bay. It runs northwest past Bronzegate and through the kingswood to the Blackwater Rush, opposite the River Gate of King's Landing in the crownlands. Ferries transport travelers across the Blackwater, as there is no bridge across the river at the capital.

At King's Landing the kingsroad is met by the Goldroad coming from the westerlands and the roseroad from the Reach. The kingsroad continues north through the capital's Gate of the Gods and passes east of the Gods Eye and by Harrenhal in the Riverlands.

At the inn at the crossroads, the kingsroad meets the river road from the Trident and the high road from the Vale of Arryn. Nearby is Lord Harroway's Town. It continues north, running east of the Green Fork of the Trident and the Twins through fertile riverlands.

The causeway of the kingsroad is the only safe way through the Neck, although the crannogmen know of other routes through the swampy terrain. The formidable ruins of Moat Cailin guard the northern edge of the Neck.

After Moat Cailin, the kingsroad travels north through the barrowlands, the southeastern wolfswood, and a tributary of the White Knife to Winterfell, the seat of House Stark in the North. Once the kingsroad moves beyond Winterfell, inns are still available and farms are guarded by holdfasts. West of the road lie the flint foothills of the northern mountains and to the east are rolling plains. Three days ride north of Winterfell the road becomes more sparsely travelled, journeying through the northeastern wolfswood with farms and holdfasts growing scarcer and smaller and then after that the road goes west of Long Lake and Last Hearth.

After leaving the lands of House Umber, the kingsroad enters the territory of the Night's Watch, passing through the Gift and near Queenscrown. The kingsroad passes Mole's Town and ends at Castle Black at the Wall. Near the Wall it is a twisty ribbon, narrow, stony, and pocked with weeds.

## History

In late 62 AC, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen began a project to connect King's Landing with the great settlements of the Seven Kingdoms, with what smallfolk would call the "kingsroad" being the first of his roads. Construction began in the kingswood south of the capital, allowing King's Landing to connect to Storm's End. Construction continued north of King's Landing to connect the city with the Riverlands and the North.

During winter, food has been brought to the north from the south via the kingsroad.

The Battle of the Kingsroad between Lord Borros Baratheon and the Lads was the last battle of the *Dance of the Dragons*. Lord Cregan Stark led a great host of northmen to King's Landing, leading to the *Hour of the Wolf*. Since many northmen remained to attend Widow Fairs, Cregan returned north on the kingsroad with a much smaller host. Ser Robert Rowan led a host up the kingsroad to the high road to end the war of succession in the Vale of Arryn.

During Robert's Rebellion, Prince Lewyn Martell led ten thousand Dornishmen on the kingsroad to the Trident.