Trade notes

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From: Joerg Baumgartner (joe@sartar.toppoint.de)
Date: Tue 06 Sep 1994 - 09:43:39 EEST


Martin Crim comments & quibbles on Gerald's Trade Notes in X-RQ-ID: 6043

> Take the Gemborg dwarves as an example. Obviously, they're
> Openhandists, to be dealing with humans at all--or are they?.

They are documented as the only part of the Decamony to maintain friendly ties to the declared apostates of Greatway and surrounding areas during the Second Council and Nysalor's reign in Kethaela. IMO this makes them quite openhanded for that era. Since dwarves are long-lived and stubborn, they still might be.

> They could pursue some other policy, not yet a heresy. What do
> they want from humans, and why?

> Gerald mentions trollish products at a couple of places.

> Silk, I'd wager, though not as fine as the Kralorelan variety.

Spider silk, possibly, for ropes and working cloth (sails, God Forgot parachutes...)

> Gems, as one would expect
> from a subterranean race, and they would not value visually-
> beautiful gems as much as humans would. Insect products aside
> from silk could include carapaces, honey, royal jelly, acids, ham
> beetles ("taste like chicken"), and paper (from wasps). There
> are also fungus products, like the black elf potions.

I doubt that the trolls trade much foodstuff (gems included) away, except in exchange for more or tastier foodstuff. Troll-human trade seems to be a risky business to both sides involved, and Dagori Inkarth is as backwater for traders as is Prax. Adari and Pavis are the main trade centres for the whole region. Kethaela and Ralios might have more regular trade contacts. In the Lunar Empire, trade with trolls would occur more civilized, too. Ignorance probably buys trollkin regularly from Koromondol.

> I think the Praxians export herd beasts, almost always those
> which have been captured in raids.

Plus the weakest of their own type of beast, to keep the herds healthy.

> Maniria: is this really the third richest area in Genertela,
> ahead of Fronela and Seshnela? Is that based on total GNP,
> median family wealth, or what?

If there is any unit able to measure wealth, it would be the Lunar "Taxable Wealth Before Exemptions", which would include nobles' property, privileges etc which usually aren't taxed. To compare populations, TWBE could be divided by head count, although there still is the question which heads to count. If the Lunar slave population or the Ramalian, Tanisoran, Jonatelan or Kingdom of War serfs are included in the population count, this average is lowered considerably.

> Pent: do Pentans trade their sacred horses? I don't think
> so.

Liek the Praxians, I think they'd be willing to part with the weaker specimen, to keep the breed pure. And like the Praxians they'd be more willing to trade raided beasts (probably after having used them for breeding).

> Kralorela: is Lokarnos big there?

He certainly has no trade monopoly, as the example of a certain trade buckles salesman shows.

> According to G:CHW,
> Kralorela follows the Eastern pantheon, which (according to GoG)
> does not include Lokarnos. So their merchants do not have a cult
> to call their own, but that doesn't seem to be a big handicap.

They can claim the current emperor as one of their number, so there is little need for a special deity. Godunya's bridges are a manifestation of his Communication aspect as well.

> Altogether, not many comments on what was 26 pages of
> material when I printed it out. It not only goes into the
> directory of permanently-saved items, it got printed out, hole-
> punched, and put into a notebook! Many thanks, Gerald.

I can only add my voice to the chorus of praises. --
-- Joerg Baumgartner joe@sartar.toppoint.de

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