The Spine of the World Mountains bisect the Empire, separating northern Rokugan from southern Rokugan with a nearly impenetrable barrier, all but impossible to traverse with any significant military force. Skilled individuals in small numbers can cross the mountains, but larger caravans and military forces must use the few available passes. For the vast majority of the Empire’s history, no pass was greater or more often used than Beiden Pass. Called the Crossroads of the Empire, Beiden Pass was the only way to move anything larger than a single legion through the mountains. It was larger by a considerable margin than its closest competitor, the vastly smaller Iuchi Pass in the southern Unicorn lands. Because of this, Beiden Pass was also the site of many great battles through the centuries, most often between the Lion and Scorpion, who controlled the northern and southern ends respectively.