From the Fairfield-Valorde Road this Trail leads west and a little north for about 700 lengths, skirting along the north shore of Lake Darby, the well-stocked fishing pond for residents of Fairfield and Darby Castle. This section of the trail is usually peaceful and pleasant.
After passing north of the lake, the Trail then bends to a little south of west and runs for about 400 more lengths over a high and increasingly barren heath to the front door of Sunset Canyon Inn, a hospitable but usually almost deserted establishment perched at north end of the stony canyon cut by the Sunset River on its journey south from the mountains to the sea.
There is almost always one of a nasty band of orcs lurking along the Trail between Lake Darby and the Inn, and more orcs will almost certainly be encountered whether explorers venture south along the river, north along the river, or across the river toward the sea. It is a particularly unfortunate idea to think of cutting cross-country from the lake to the northwest, directly toward the mountains--there always seem to be large numbers of both orcs and goblins prowling all over this barren northern plain east of the Sunset River. Much better to go straight west to the Inn!Crossing the Sunset River and heading due west, explorers will find an old ruined building very near the coast. This is the least troublesome path to the west coast--straight west from Lake Darby to the Inn, and then continue straight west to the shoreline. If you have evaded the orc or two hunting in this area, you can proceed up the coastline and skirt the mountains along the sea, approaching Saint Martin from the south, usually without seeing another soul, friend or foe. Of course, as you approach Saint Martin orcs will appear from every direction, so be ready to run back down the coast as quick as you can!
Following the Sunset River upstream to its rocky source in Shadow Springs Cave requires a stout party of fighters, as there are numerous orcs and goblins who will be very annoyed if you approach the ancient ruined temple walls that line the first stretch of the river as it emerges from the springs. Apparently these creatures revere the spot greatly, though such emotions are hard to credit in beings so foul.
