The Plague Wall

Few can navigate the treacherous mountain passes without a guide. This was discovered by refugees from Aethelas that were fleeing to the west and southwest. However, once the threat of disease was made clear by small outbreaks within its own boundaries, (outbreaks which were quickly and severely contained), the northern portion of Isturoth (the kingdom of Vašira coordinated a response.   Utilising explosives, seige weaponry and manual labour, once-travelled routes through the mountains were demolished, filled in or otherwise made impassable. Landslides, avalanches and floods were all used to block every potential road one might use to make it into the kingdom of Isturoth. And so both the plagued and the healthy citizens of Aethelas found themselves locked into their dying lands with no route to safety.   After this event, the northeast border of Isturoth was actually redefined, brought in from the barrier that was made between the Plagued Lands and the mountain kingdom. Now lying outside the official bounds of the nation, this area is referred to as the Plague Wall and is expressly forbidden to travel through. The punishments are severe, up to the judgement of the settlements nearest the border, who all share the solemn responsibility to uphold the Wall and guard against the Withering Plague that left Aethelas a kingdom of ghosts.