The Via Aurelia, the Road to Olbia
It's naturally not quite so simple.
The party has a few choices to make. The road is very obvious, but also, fairly busy.
Groups of Orcs leave at irregular intervals, gathering in large bands to join their fellows at "the front"- a place they are not entirely certain of, although it definitely lies to the east, meaning they are going in the same direction as Olbia, at least until you reach the turnoff.
There are also caravans of supplies going out to support them. This is mostly food, and is mostly being handled by human overseers and slaves. Orcs do not like to do demeaning "support roles" themselves, although each caravan generally has some Orc guards. Guarding a caravan is not demeaning work. In fact, since guards are chosen because they are (in theory) capable warriors, and the actual work burden is very low, and you might get the opportunity to behave obnoxiously towards people, Orcs at the bottom of the social ladder enjoy being selected for guard duty. It certainly beats fortress building.
Their are a handful of Human merchants, generally making local trips to outlying farm and vineyard villages, or Monoikos and other nearby cities. Long distance trips are almost exclusively by sea.
There is a group headed towards Reiorum, but that's going the wrong way- northeast, but the party wants east.
Most human traveler groups, even the ones moving cargo for the Orcs, tend to welcome fellow travelers, if only to break the boredom.
You can:
Travel independently, keeping a distance from other travelers.
Hook up with the group going to Reiorum and double back eventually.
Wait for a convenient group headed east- it's a fairly frequent thing, so it's not a long wait.
Whatever you do, Mystal will be orbiting above you, but out of earshot and invisible, being a Sprite.
