Stretching along the border between Aelfir and the Blacklands, the Way-Posts form a network of small, hidden alcoves where travelers, wardens, and small groups of adventurers can seek shelter and safety from the dangers of the frontier. Each Way-Post is cunningly placed and hidden by spawnslayers, rangers, or priests of Shaundakul. There are few ways of finding a Way-Post unless one knows of its presence or stumbles across it by blind chance. Most adventurers and wardens know of only the handful of Way-Posts within reasonable traveling reach, but a few far ranging spawnslayers and Windwalkers of Shaundakul know of several of these hidden places scattered along the frontier. The knowledge of such places is carefully guarded lest it fall into the hands of the Dark God's minions.
Other than luck or prior knowledge, there are only three known ways of finding a Way-Post. First, one might propitiate the local fey or sylvan creatures and hope to seek their help in finding shelter. This is an undependable method at best, given the capricious and easily frightened nature of most fey. Second, druids, priests, and rangers of certain specific gods of nature and travelers can call upon a unique second level spell which allows the caster to locate the nearest Way-Post within one mile per level of the caster. This spell is used sparingly, and only granted to those in need. It grants the caster the ability to read subtle clues and signs from the surrounding lands which point him or her in the direction of a Way-Post. These signs cannot be read by anyone who is not in tune with the natural environment. Third, a deity or spirit may act directly through a messenger or a sign to guide a traveler to a Way-Post. This is extremely rare, but has been known to happen. Even when it does, it is unlikely a traveler will understand that the hand of a god has been at work.
Each Way-Post in the network is hidden in a defensible position, where one or two people could conceivably fend off an attack by several blackspawn. Way-Posts are stocked with weapons, extra arrows, healing herbs, clothing, dry tinder, and preserved food. Several Way-Posts also are stocked with additional equipment, sometimes including holy water from frontier temples and holy orders, a minor spell scrolls, enchanted goodberry seeds, lightning arrows, and other minor spell effects or lesser magics. Many Way-Posts also have helpful plants growing nearby. These may include (but are not limited to) glowmoss (imported from spelljammer space to help fight diseases and provide very dim light when a fire is too dangerous), itical (to help heal burns), phandar (for poultices), balya trees (food), bluebell (to help against poisons), bebble moss (for warmth), and a number of types of magical mushrooms.
Although Way-Posts are primarily defended by secrecy, they boast several other formidable defenses. Several Way-Posts are placed in alcoves or shallow caves with narrow entrances. Others are fenced in by stands of velasti (armored bamboo) or tightly packed trees grown from seeds blessed by Persephone, laced with thorny vines. A handful of the more heavily used ones, which are guarded by skilled priests or druids, may boast a charmed quickwood tree, an oak tree enchanted with a Live Oak spell, or another manner of charmed plant. As of 1375 DR, most wayposts also are guarded by a small handful of awakened plants - usually the largest trees in the vicinity - which are lawful good in alignment and attack at animated objects of their size. Most Way-Posts are protected by minor wards such as Glyphs of Warding, alarm spells, or similar effects. Some are shielded by illusion spells or similar fey illusions, and are further protected by scry and teleport wards. Only a rare handful boast a true ward (invariably Wardmist), due to the cost in time and wealth of laying such magics. The area of effect of such spells is always very small, usually encompassing only the Way-Post itself. Occasionally, a Way-Post may lack human magics, and instead be protected by fey enchantments. Such Way-Posts are commonly hidden in the Fey Realm itself, and are virtually impossible to access without the assistance of a fey ally or very intimate knowledge of faerie ways.
In addition to these passive defenses, Way-Posts may be guarded by active wardens. If a Way-Post is protected in this manner, the guardian is most likely to be a sylvan creature, seelie fey, or forest spirit. Over time, however, an increasing number of Way-Posts will be guarded by watchghosts (conjured from the willing spirits of warriors who have fallen fighting the Dark God) and Vine Guards (enchanted by the temples of Lathander). A few of the more heavily traveled Way-Posts are consecrated shrines of their patron gods. Such places may have minor powers or magics suitable to their location, and it is expected that visitors to these shrines leave a small offering at the god's icon.
Initial Way-Posts were built in the vicinity of Caer Trildane,
Blue Snows, and other strongholds and temples along the frontier.
Construction of the network began in Hammer of 1373. As time passes,
the network will be expanded at whatever rate is feasible, until it
covers the entire border and begins to push back the Blacklands
themselves.