The Ways

Zone Statistics
Release date	Unknown edit
Status	Active
Region	Unknown edit
Number	060
Grid	Unknown edit
Repop	Unknown edit
Creator	Zun, Fafhrd, Sayuja, Eileen

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The Ways are a zone and ancient transportation system devised during the Breaking. Players can use the Ways to move faster between cities than normally. Unlike similar systems, such as Coaches or boats, the Ways can be used by players from all sides regardless of warrants, as long as they are of sufficiently high Level. The Ways are extremely dangerous if not used with caution as the zone contains many death traps and Machin Shin, the black wind.

Zone Connections

• East City of Tanchico
• Grasslands North of Seandar
• Isle Jafar
• North Misty Mountains
• Shayol Ghul
• Tar Valon Road South of Tar Valon
• Treacherous Mountains Within the Spine

Doors

Name	Search	Lock	Pick	Key	Room

Usage

Using the Ways involves the "search" skill and while no knowledge of search is needed, it can help your journey through the ways go a lot faster. Firstly to open a waygate, you go to the room the waygate is located and enter the command PULL LEAF. With no search practiced this will take many tries. The higher percentage search you have practiced the less the number of times you will need to enter pull leaf. Once the gate is opened you can enter it by entering the command DOWN.

Once you have gone down, you will always be "At a Vine-Carved Door". From here your only exits will be up, and one other direction, that is always safe. After this you may navigate through the Ways using the exits command. As long as you take your time, and avoid "A Badly Damaged Span" (always lit due to being a deathtrap) the Ways are navigable. There is a basic pattern of rooms that does not seem to change, as per the map picture. This picture does not include the Waygate room, or it's adjoining "Approaching a Vine-Carved Door" room, as these change, and are linked to the nexus rooms highlighted in white, with different exit directions depending on that day's layout.

walkthrough example

Please see an example ways run-through below.

It is recommended to become familiar with the Ways on a trolloc, as you can see all exits. A script to highlight/hide bad exits also helps enormously.

Walkthrough

Walkthrough ahead

An Odd Tree There is an odd tree here bearing a sort of fruit. The tree is extremely tall, and looks like it would offer an excellent view of the surrounding lands. There is a very thick forest to the north, while this flat tundra stretches out of sight to the south, east and west. A blue and purple mountain touches the sky on the distant southeastern horizon. [ obvious exits: S W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving down. There are some tracks of a horse leaving down. There are some tracks of a human leaving --DOWN-- There are some tracks of a human leaving --DOWN-- There are some tracks of an animal leaving south. There are some tracks of an animal leaving south. The corpse of a lion is lying here. [2] A warhorse has arrived from below. HP:Healthy MV:Full > The vinedoor closes quietly. HP:Healthy MV:Full > pl pl pl [pull leaf] Ok. HP:Healthy MV:Full > [pull leaf] Ok. HP:Healthy MV:Full > [pull leaf] You can't do that here. HP:Healthy MV:Full > d A strange portal opens out of seemingly nowhere. There isn't room to get close enough! HP:Healthy MV:Full > At a Vine-Carved Door Standing in the midst of a large, heavily pitted flagstone circle is what appears to be a massive arch with intricate vines and leaves carved upon its surface. Almost hidden from view is a thin crack running from the topmost part of the arch to the bottom. This arch is in stark contrast to its surroundings, the deepest of pitch darkness attempts to consume all light. [ obvious exits: E U ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a horse leaving east. There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ A warhorse has arrived from above. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: East - Too dark to tell Up - An Odd Tree HP:Healthy MV:Full > e Approaching a Vine-Carved Door A Waygate will always be one room away from a room with this name. Upon this path one must be weary to stay away from the edges. The arch is not level, sloping ever so slightly downwards on either side. This barely perceivable slope is slight enough to make it hard to notice, yet dangerous enough to cause the unwary to slip off the sides. A dark, multi-hued flagstone span veers off of this path and approaches a vine-covered door. [ obvious exits: S W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving south. There are some tracks of a horse leaving west. There are some tracks of a horse leaving west. There are some tracks of a human leaving <<WEST<< There are some tracks of a human leaving <<WEST<< A warhorse has arrived from the west. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: South - Too dark to tell West - Too dark to tell Up - A Badly Damaged Span These are the rooms to avoid, always. Down - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Full > s An Island in Darkness The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving north. There are some tracks of a human leaving ^^NORTH^^ There are some tracks of a human leaving ^^NORTH^^ A warhorse has arrived from the north. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - Too dark to tell East - Too dark to tell South - A Badly Damaged Span West - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Full > e Twisting Through the Ways The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving west. There are some tracks of a human leaving <<WEST<< There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ A warhorse has arrived from the west. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - A Badly Damaged Span South - Too dark to tell West - Too dark to tell Up - Too dark to tell Down - A Badly Damaged Span A room with three non-DT exits is a nexus room, marked white on the map. The way that deviates from the standard path will lead to a waygate. HP:Healthy MV:Full > s An Island in the Ways Pitted flagstones have been laid in a circular formation, the outer edges of which are hidden by the foreboding darkness. In the exact center of the circle stands a tall monolith, engraved with strange markings that only the most fastidious could interpret. Careful exploration shows the edge partially guarded by a low half-wall with only infinite darkness beyond. [ obvious exits: N E S W D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving north. There are some tracks of a human leaving ^^NORTH^^ A warhorse has arrived from the north. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - Too dark to tell East - Too dark to tell South - A Badly Damaged Span West - A Badly Damaged Span Down - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Full > e Twisting Through the Ways The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W U ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving west. There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a human leaving <<WEST<< There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ A warhorse has arrived from the west. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - A Badly Damaged Span South - Too dark to tell West - Too dark to tell Up - Too dark to tell HP:Healthy MV:Full > s An Island in the Ways Pitted flagstones have been laid in a circular formation, the outer edges of which are hidden by the foreboding darkness. In the exact center of the circle stands a tall monolith, engraved with strange markings that only the most fastidious could interpret. Careful exploration shows the edge partially guarded by a low half-wall with only infinite darkness beyond. [ obvious exits: N E W D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving north. There are some tracks of a human leaving ^^NORTH^^ A warhorse has arrived from the north. HP:Healthy MV:Full > d An Island in Darkness The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W U ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving south. There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a human leaving vvSOUTHvv There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ A warhorse has arrived from above. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - A Badly Damaged Span South - Too dark to tell West - Too dark to tell Up - Too dark to tell HP:Healthy MV:Full > w Twisting Through the Ways The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: E S W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a horse leaving east. There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ There are some tracks of a human leaving >>EAST>> A warhorse has arrived from the east. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: East - Too dark to tell South - A Badly Damaged Span West - Too dark to tell Up - Too dark to tell Down - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Full > w An Island in the Ways Pitted flagstones have been laid in a circular formation, the outer edges of which are hidden by the foreboding darkness. In the exact center of the circle stands a tall monolith, engraved with strange markings that only the most fastidious could interpret. Careful exploration shows the edge partially guarded by a low half-wall with only infinite darkness beyond. [ obvious exits: N E W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving east. There are some tracks of a human leaving >>EAST>> A warhorse has arrived from the east. ex HP:Healthy MV:Full > Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - Too dark to tell West - A Badly Damaged Span Up - A Badly Damaged Span Down - Too dark to tell HP:Healthy MV:Full > d Twisting Through the Ways The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W U D ] There are some tracks of a horse leaving up. There are some tracks of a human leaving ++UP++ A warhorse has arrived from above. HP:Healthy MV:Full > ex Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - Too dark to tell South - Too dark to tell West - A Badly Damaged Span Up - Too dark to tell Down - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Full > s An Island in Darkness The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E W D ] A warhorse has arrived from the north. ex HP:Healthy MV:Strong > Obvious exits: North - Too dark to tell East - Too dark to tell West - A Badly Damaged Span Down - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Strong > e Twisting Through the Ways The stone blocks that make up the arches of this part of the Ways are crumbling. Small chunks of stone and dust crunch underneath the feet of everything that threads on it. A low banister supported by stonework columns runs along the edge of the span. [ obvious exits: N E S W U ] A warhorse has arrived from the west. HP:Healthy MV:Strong > ex Obvious exits: North - A Badly Damaged Span East - A Badly Damaged Span South - Too dark to tell West - Too dark to tell Up - A Badly Damaged Span HP:Healthy MV:Strong > s TICK IN 5 SECONDS. Approaching a Vine-Carved Door Upon this path one must be wary to stay away from the edges. The arch is not level, sloping ever so slightly downwards on either side. This barely perceivable slope is slight enough to make it hard to notice, yet dangerous enough to cause the unwary to slip off the sides. A dark, multi-hued flagstone span veers off of this path and approaches a vine-covered door. [ obvious exits: N S D ] A warhorse has arrived from the north. HP:Healthy MV:Strong > s At a Vine-Carved Door Standing in the midst of a large, heavily pitted flagstone circle is what appears to be a massive arch with intricate vines and leaves carved upon its surface. Almost hidden from view is a thin crack running from the topmost part of the arch to the bottom. This arch is in stark contrast to its surroundings, the deepest of pitch darkness attempts to consume all light. [ obvious exits: N ] A warhorse has arrived from the north. HP:Healthy MV:Strong > pl [pull leaf] Ok. HP:Healthy MV:Strong > The vine-carved door mysteriously opens. HP:Healthy MV:Strong > u Atop the Spine A massive mountain rises up swiftly, the dark rock stretching high into the sky. Its snowcapped peak is dusted with thin white clouds, and a harsh chill wind blows past bringing with it the smell of snow. To the west is a tiny path curving in and out of the dangerous mountains. This mountain allows you to watch over the entire area. [ obvious exits: S W D ] There are some tracks of an animal leaving south. There are some tracks of an animal leaving south. A giant eagle glares fiercely all around. A stealthy cougar gracefully makes its way through the terrain. A warhorse has arrived from below.

List of Waygates

Zone	Room
Shayol Ghul	Blighted Grove
Isle Jafar	On the Shore of Isle Jafar
Grasslands North of Seandar	An Odd Tree
Treacherous Mountains	Atop The Spine
East City of Tanchico	Along Andahar Boulevard
North Misty Mountains	Misty Pass
Tar Valon Road South of Tar Valon	Amongst the Ancient Headstones

Trivia

An update to the game on July 30, 2017 returned the original version of the Ways.

See also

• the Machin Shin

Transportation
Coaches Ocean ships River ships Sea Folk Rakers Portal Stones The Ways