“Hold your hats and don’t look back.” _{~ caravan wisdom}

Windgate Notch is the choke point on the southern caravan route near Merkor. The pass funnels hard wind between two shoulders of rock, throwing grit in the teeth and voices back at you. Wagons drop to a crawl and crews keep eyes on the traces. It feels watched, and often is; it's not uncommon for travelers to be ambushed by bandits from the nearby forest or headlands.

Most folk cross without stopping, and no one lingers to admire the view. If you glance southeast, you can just make out Merkor’s broken lines beyond the dunes. Most teamsters don’t; they're too busy looking for more immediate trouble.