Waystations
Follow the caravan from its last reliable well to a settlement half buried by the wind.
The First Well
Load the water you can carry before the ground heats. Mark the ridge and the low road on the same itinerary.
Salt Road Crossing
Send a scout to read the stonework before committing the pack animals to the detour.
Evening Camp
Reckon with the water spent on the crossing and decide how much ground you can cover tomorrow.
What the scout brings back
From the ridge, the low road looks shorter. Its value depends on what lies at the ruined stop. The scout checks whether the stonework channels rain toward a basin, whether the opening is buried and whether the ground can take loaded pack animals. The caravan then decides whether the detour is worth the daylight it costs.
The evening tally closes the loop. A shaded route can save water while taking longer. An exposed shortcut may leave more daylight for setting camp but demand an extra ration at the next stop. The itinerary records those choices so the next day’s route starts with the supplies that are actually left.