The Spineward Passes are a series of mountain passes in northern Impatria, cutting through the Spine of the North. It connects the Outlands, one of the Holds in the Kingdom of Kalvete, to the rest of the nation. It is the only navigable land route between these regions.
The Spineward Passes were recently a point of heavy contention between the Kingdom of Kalvete and the Holy Empire of Acolytius, as the Empire's newest Province of Norderia actually blocked the Passes from the rest of Kalvete. This left the Outlands isolated from the rest of their country, and the Empire's settlements took advantage of this by incurring tolls on people who had no choice but to traverse their roads. Recent improvements to the nations' relationship, however, resolved these issues. Now, the people of Kalvete are free to travel to and from the Outlands without consequence.