JohnB's Games

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====== Trade ======

===== Overview =====

{{  :stolen_land:general:traderoutes4.jpg?200|  }}

There are a number of Trade Routes that impact on this area.  The map is large scale and does not show national borders particularly well, although the most significant countries and cities are marked.  The large H represents Midmarch, while the purple line across the river between Midmarch and Restov represents a pair of waterfalls that have been bypassed by the Vallani Canals.

Clicking the map opens a larger version.

<color #c3c3c3>//Updated Jan 2023//</color>







===== The Trade Routes =====

==== The Sellen River (1) ====
(Main Trade Route) stretches all the way from the Inner Sea to the Lake of Mists and Veils and enables trade over a thousand (or so) miles.  At the top  secondary trade routes heads across to serve settlements, Cities, Towns and beyond.  No one dominates this trade route, although the Surtova  control access between The Sellen and the Great North Road that serves many of Brevoy's major houses. However, the Lodkova have a presence here as well.

==== The East Sellen River (2) ====
 (Secondary Trade Route) connects the metropolis of New Stetven to Mivon and onto the primary trade route of the River Sellen. The Lebeda and various Mivonese traders are the primary merchants working along this trade route, although the Surtova are involved as well. Trade along this route has always suffered from River Pirates and monster attacks.  The settlement at Fort Drelev was supposed to make this trade route safer, but has not yet managed to do that.

==== The Pitax River (3) ====
 (Local Trade Route) Connects Pitax and Gralton to the rest of the world, and is dominated by Merchant Houses from Pitax.

==== The Rostland Road (4) ====
(Local Trade Route)  connects Restov to New Stetven via Brundeston, The Rostland Plains and House Khavortorov.  Note that, on the map, the route should extend further east, before it turns south to Restov.   Overland caravans are slower than river travel, and all trade has to pay taxes in New Stetven, so it is not a very prosperous route for traders. No one house or group dominate it, although Black Fir (owned by the Mayor of Restov) are the main merchant house on this route, DELEM have become the second most significant trader along this route. 

==== The Great North Road (5) ====
{{ :stolen_land:general:greatnorthroad.gif?100|}} (Local Trade Route) The Great North Road connects Lake of Mists and Veils and Lake Reykal - It is  approximately 150 miles in length, connects Port Ice to Silverhall and enables trade between Port Ice and New Steven.  It incorporates side routes out to The Garess of Greyhaven and The Orlovsky, connects Brevoy's two main external trade routes - the Lake of Mists and Veils and The East Sellen River - and is probably Brevoy's most important Local Trade Route. The Northern end of the route passes through land controlled by House Surtova and finishes in their principle stronghold of Port Ice. The southern section of the route terminates at a small town (opposite Silverhall) controlled by House Lebeda.  In between there are many independent holding (mainly fortified villages) that provide safe haven and rest stops for trade caravans.  While many of these 'independent' lordlings have links to  major noble families, they are not actually a part of the family. There are, however, a few villages completely free of any tie to a larger house. The road, and the strip next to it, it are considered 'safe', although there is wilderness beyond that. 

++++ Smallhurst: A typical settlement of the Great North Road |
A fortified Village set on a low hill next to The Great North Road.  The Local Lord ( Thomas Rowle, Master of Smallhurst) lives in a well-fortified keep, that has a village built inside its palisaded bailey.  The village itself has a large ‘village square’ surrounded by tenement blocks, a chapel, a tavern and a general shop. 
  * //The Village Square// is large enough to park a full trade caravan -  two at a push.
  * //The Tenements// are all owned by Thomas, Master of Smallhurst and are rented out by one of his staff.   Wealthier caravan passengers often take a single room for the night, while the crew make do with bunk rooms.  Some rooms are rented out to locals - hunters and trappers (who bring in meat and furs) or market gardeners (who cultivate root vegetables on small plots of land locally).  There are also jobs for ‘housekeeping’ staff at The Tenements.
  * //The Tavern// specialises in Game Stew, but also serves whatever ale or wine was available, for a good price, on a the last caravan to pass through. 
  * //The Shop// sells all sorts on minor items, as well as providing a trading point for the skins and furs that hunters fetch in.
  * //The Chapel// is dedicated to Pharasma, and provide basic clerical services to the village, as well as reminding the villagers that they may get a better life next time the wheel turns.  

The walls and keep are well maintained, although the other buildings are all a bit rundown, dilapidated and could do with a coat of paint.  The Village Guard, garrisoned in the Keep, provide an overnight watch, so caravan masters can stand most of their crew down while they are in the village.++++ 


==== The Eastern Reach (6) ====
(Local Trade Route) Combines overland and water-borne trade rout that links Orlovsky, Medveyed, Skywatch and the Lodkova to the wider world.  It is dominated by the Lodkova although the Surtova have a presence here as well.  This always saw less trade that the Great North Road, and is even less influential now that the city of Skywatch has closed its doors to the outside world. While little used the road continues along between the Gronzi Forest and Icerime Mountains until it reaches the eastern edge of the Rostland Plains and Restov.  However, this lower section of the route is mountainous and more suited to mule than wagons.  Hoverver, DELEM have started to develop trade posts along the lower section of The Reach, hoping to open up trade between the Medveyed lands and Restov.

==== The New Routes (H) ====

Established by disruptive trade houses from Tusk and Midmarch to connect Restov with Mivon and the East Sellen trade route.  The Vallani Canals make direct trade between Restov and the Inner Sea possible, while overland routes between Tusk, Wyvern Bridge and Restov makes regional movement of cargoes possible.  These new routes are starting to have an impact on the amount of trade carried along the more traditional routes. V&A shipping and DELEM are the dominant Merchant Houses, although House Lebeda of Silverhall, is starting to take an interest in these new routes.


===== Trade Houses =====

==== Brevoy ====

  - **House Surtova** - A powerful Noble House who claim the throne of all Brevoy and dominate the trade route between New Stetven and the Lake of Mist and Veils.  They also control taxes in both New Stetven and Port Ice and have a reputation as pirates.  They also have a significant interest in trade across Lake Reykal.
  - **House Lebeda** - Not only a Noble House with major land holdings and political clout, but they control much of the water-borne trade on Lake Reykal and they are the most significant trade house working the Trade Route south from New Stetven down towards the main River Sellen arterial route.  They are the biggest trading concern in Brevoy by some margin.
  - **House Lodkova** - A Noble House with significant land holdings, they are significant traders working the North East of Brevoy.   However, their main trade route is a lot less prosperous than most of the others, and they are the smallest of the three big Merchant Houses.  They also have large fishing interests and have a minor reputation as pirates.


** New Stetven** - Surtova and Lebeda both have quaysides in Newsteven, and are the city's largest trade houses.  The lesser Trade Houses control jetties, warehouses and Serai - and work the local and medium distance trade routes as they can.  Henry's family business (DELEM) and Black Fir (owned by the Mayor of Restov) are part of this group.

**Trade Houses of Restov** -  Black Fir (owned by the mayor) is the dominant merchant house of Restov, and a significant player along the over-land route to New Stetven.  DELEM, V&A Shipping and Alston Trading (owned by a Restov Councillor) are also present.

**Trade Houses of Tusk/Midmarch** - V&A shipping is the largest, best-known and most successful merchant house working the New Trade Routes.   Although both House Yitis and DELEM have a presence and connections outside the area.   WSM, Safiya's Boats, Lilycotton Trading and Marik Metals are also active, providing local merchant services in the area.

==== Mivon ====

Mivon's merchant houses are not well organized, and do not dominate international trade.  However, they are significant -  and are prepared to defend thrmselves and their vessels as needs be.  

  - **Mivon River Masters.** A loose amalgam of freelance ship’s captains and masters, with a variety of vessels, who trade along the river.  While there is always a River Master available for transport, they are not thought to be the most reliable of people.  Indeed, some people speculate that certain members of the River Masters, can turn into River Pirates at the drop of a hat.
  - **Vysult Shipping.**  A family owned merchant fleet who own a number of barges (all  with well armed crews and marines).  They are considered fairly trustworthy and have a small compound close to Central Square.
  - **Yitis-Aldori.**  While they are capable of moving goods – they specialise in really high value cargoes with heavy security.  They are the favoured transport of most of the Aldori Houses, and can deliver a small fighting force just about anywhere along the Sellen. They are known for running a fleet of armed Wherries, and are rarely troubled by River Pirate.

==== Pitax ====
It is said these four houses ruled Pitax in the old days, and they still form a large part of the council.  Trading in Pitax without the approval of at least one of these Great merchant Houses, is strictly forbidden, and subject to fines and imprisonment.

  - **The Darkwind Trade House**.  The Darkwind Trade House of the Strocalle family currently enjoys the greatest wealth of Pitax’s Trade Houses, but it wields disproportionately minor influence. Simply put, no one in Pitax trusts the Strocalles. Their loyalties lie first with profit and second with members of their own house, with all others being a very distant third.
  - **Iron Fox Trade House**.  Once owned by the Liacenza family, ownership passed to Castruccio Irovetti (the King of Pitax) in mysterious circumstances.  Then the leaders of the Liacenza family disappeared in a mysterious way.   One of the wealthiest Merchant House in Pitax and, some say, provide the wealth that allows Irovetti to rule.
  - **Serpent’s Breath Trade House**. Now the smallest of the Pitax Merchant Houses, and recently bought out from under the feet of the old owners, and main founders of Pitax, Cattanei family.  Once known as a bandit House, they are starting to regain that reputation, driving hard bargains and following the Six River Freedoms (especially 'You have what you hold') to the letter
  - **Riversong Trade House**. With their large warehouse at the docks of the Sellen River, the Vascari family controls many of the ships that make their way to Pitax. Unlike the other Trade Houses, they keep few holdings within the city, but their rule over the river makes them a force to be reckoned with.  The Vascaris follow the rule of Jhofré Vascari. At a young age, Jhofré departed the city; he then spent much of his life as an ordinary merchant captain, establishing contacts along the length of the Sellen River. Despite his lineage, the other Trade Houses and most citizens view Jhofré as somewhat of an outsider, so his influence is diminished.