The Five Realms exist in delicate harmony with one another. While the Iarlas jockey for advantage amd influence and are encouraged to do so by the R\u00e9ig and the R\u00e9ig\u2019s retinue, they also form alliances from time to time and trade is often the most crucial aspect of treaties and agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n
Siabhal is the wealthiest of the Realms, and is the breadbasket of Tirneach. The rolling fields of the Golden Valley are tended by farmers who are sworn to the Siabhlach High Families by the ancient code of bondage, which existed in the Kingdom of Siabhal in ages past and is still adhered to today. Courtiers in Corroch frown upon this practice, and the communal farmers of other Realms say that like other Siabhlach traditions it appears to hugely benefit the old families and place most of the burden on the peasant, but it cannot be denied that Siabhal\u2019s harvest are the most bountiful, and the farmers of Siabhal are justifiably proud of their efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grey Lands that border on Uasa are named not just for the wild moors but also the pale flax fields that stretch between the two Realms. The cultivation of flax, and the dyeing of the resulting linen, is a busy industry in Siabhal where the latest fashions are on everyone\u2019s mind from the Iarla down to the lowliest peasant. To the northeast, the Cla\u00ed Mountains are known to produce gold and other precious substances, especially in the Riding of Bolscar, the ancestral homes of the line of Ua Chonchabhair R\u00e9igs. In the northwest, the gentle rolling Hills of Torthu are home to vineyards and wheatfields, and Siabhlach wine is prized throughout the Realms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Siabhal foodstuffs, textiles and precious metals spread throughout the Realms. The best trade routes follow the high road west, avoiding the Grey Lands that border on Uasa (and the R\u00e9ig\u2019s tariffs on trade into Uasa) and winding around Loch Cleamh and down into the lowlands of Baol.<\/p>\n\n\n
All trade that passes through the lowlands of Baol is firmly in the grip of the trade guilds. Baolach statute dictates that all merchant caravans passing through the Realm must be under the auspice of one or other trade guild – firm evidence (as if it was needed) that the Iarlas of Baol are also firmly in the trade guild\u2019s grip – and Baolach trade guilds generally have contracts with the Siabhlach noble families who wish to send goods through the Proud Realm. One benefit of this protectionist policy is that the merchant caravans are heavily guarded by the guild militias, because they are often targeted for raids. For larger caravans bands of gall\u00f3glaigh are hired through the auspices of local Riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These raids come not just from regular bandits, beasts or Gwyllt, but from the highly organised and dedicated highlander caterans. Raiding the lowlands is a pastime and lucrative occupation for the highland Clanns, and the merchant caravans are a favourite target. The loot is carried back home where it sustains the Clann or gets sold off the western coast to the Krieger ships that sail the Sea of Fortunes. Those who pay the trade guilds to protect their caravans mutter that the several caravans per season that fall victim to the highlanders are in truth given as tribute as part of a relationship between the Clanns and the guilds that is far cosier than meets the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the highlanders are not raiding, they are herding their formidable cattle through the highland valleys, hunting the plentiful game, and searching for relics of the Amber Kingdom which they sell for a fraction of their true worth at the great markets (held under armistice) at Calldoon, Dunarragid and the other frontier towns between highland and lowland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trade guilds\u2019 wealth does not derive from profiteering alone. They also employ farmers to work the fertile lands in the Lakelands, or sponsor apprentices learning a trade who will be loyal to that trade guild for the rest of their career, selling their wares with them alone. The trade guilds claim that the competition between them keeps prices low and makes Baol prosperous, but outsiders wonder who truly rules Baol, the Iarla or the guilds?<\/p>\n\n\n
Winding their way south into the Green Marches, the borderland between Baol, Bruid and Dra\u00edod, many of the merchant caravans turn west and enter the Learned Realm. Due to its unique geography, Dra\u00edod is starved of good farmland. Sheep are plentiful on the surface of Dra\u00edod, but the larger settlements below the ground are dependent on trade with other Realms to keep their people fed. Smaller, poorer settlements can subsist on the edible mosses, fungi and algae which they cultivate, but those of higher social standing turn their noses up at such fare. Dra\u00edod meets the exorbitant cost of importing most of its food through its own exports: minerals and irons mined in the depths of the Realm, often by Fathach that have never seen the light of day. The Realm also does a lively trade in magical artefacts produced by mages of the Vartach and other species. Many of the most powerful enchanted items scattered throughout the Realms were originally acquired in such a manner\u2026although their owners generally concoct a heroic tale to go with their treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ring Mountains which surround Dra\u00edod are largely impassable, and the rumoured tunnels that link Dra\u00edod to every major settlement in the Five Realms are apocryphal, so apart from the Green Marches the other major route out of the Learned Realm is Vercontin\u2019s Pass. Trade through the Pass into Uasa is exempt from the R\u00e9ig\u2019s tariffs, and so the shepherds of Dra\u00edod drive their flocks into the Crown Realm for sale each year, and their arrival marks the start of an annual festival.<\/p>\n\n\n
Despite the extensive land reclamation which allowed the R\u00e9ig\u2019s seat at Corroch to be built, Uasa remains a marshy and waterlogged Realm, criss-crossed by many rivers of varying degrees of navigability. The common folk make a living plying these waters for fish, and guiding barges through to Loch Achar and beyond. The R\u00e9ig and their courtiers are sustained by the tithes which are claimed from the earnings of the gall\u00f3glaigh bands. As the only standing armies allowed in the Five Realms, the gall\u00f3glaigh are effectively a tax on the Tiarna\u00ed of the Five Realms, who must employ the gall\u00f3glaigh to face the various threats facing their Ridings and Realms, or else face the wrath of the R\u00e9ig for exceeding the strict size limits on local militias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B\u00e9alcaoch on the Blind Coast is the epicentre of trade in Uasa. It is the favoured port of merchant ships that come from the Eastern Reaches across the Shaper\u2019s Sea, and the Firetouched often bring ships from even farther afield. Of course B\u00e9alcaoch is also the home port of many smugglers who launder their ill-gotten goods through the port and up the Young River to the rest of the Realms. It is home to many artisans, a high proportion of whom hail from Baol originally and have escaped the clutches of the trade guilds. Trade from Uasa outwards benefits from the blessing of the R\u00e9ig and does not incur their trade tariffs, hence its attraction to all merchants both legitimate and illicit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trade tariffs were the idea of the Order of Teachers, who have their headquarters in the Citadel of the Shaper at Corroch. The Order encourages its cinniri to take up a trade, and many make good livings as merchants. They see it as their duty to enrich Uasa as the favoured Realm of the Shaper, but they also advise and instruct people throughout the Realms whether they seek to add to already incalculable riches or to scrape a living together, all to venerate the Shaper\u2019s great design. The Teachers are very commonly found in Bruid, where the Shaper\u2019s battle against the Gwyllt is encapsulated in the people\u2019s struggle to survive and to flourish in a land still heavily under the Gwyllt\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n\n\n
The most southerly and isolated of the Realms is also the most dependent on others for trade. Mostly covered by the Great Forest, Bruid\u2019s great resource is timber. Woodcutting is a dangerous occupation in any Realm, but in Bruid the danger is doubled due to attacks both from wild beasts and the Gwyllt. Many peasants opt to seek a safer life herding sheep, which thrive on the good farmland which lies fallow due to the proximity of the Forest. The Iarlas of Bruid offer large boons to settlers who will sow the land, but those brave few who take up the offer do not tend to last long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The advent of the Krieger has changed Bruid in many ways, and especially in terms of fauna and flora. The Krieger planted many hundreds of acres with a tree not native to Tirneach which they call the lorbeer, from which the Riding of Lorbeer got its name. The leaves of this tree are ubiquitous in Krieger cuisine. They also brought their favourite game and fighting beasts with them, which rapidly escaped from their loose captivity and are now widespread throughout Bruid. They are one and all formidable, as befits the Krieger homeland, and have met their match in the wilds of Bruid. The hives of the Trotzdolch, an enormous species of bee also called the dagger wasp, produce a honey that has no equal throughout the Five Realms. The Krieger know the secrets of collecting this bounty, and so Bruideach mead has earned a reputation for quality, and is sought after by all those who visit Zahnhafen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Krieger port on Bruid\u2019s western coast has maintained links with the Krieger homeland across the Sea of Fortunes, and their vessels bring many strange and exotic goods into Bruid which are traded throughout the Realms. Of course it is also the home port of the many Bruideach Krieger vessels which sail all around the Tirneach peninsula. How many of them may indulge in piracy is not a question that the Thing of Zahnhafen likes to be asked. Of course all Krieger in Bruid are loyal to the Five Realms and would not do such a thing. Those Krieger who come from abroad are of course outside of the Thing\u2019s jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n
Any sort of trade, commerce or agriculture in the Five Realms is dependent on the bands of gall\u00f3glaigh which roam throughout Tirneach. The Riders, Iarlas and R\u00e9ig form a warrior aristocracy, but they are acutely aware of the effect that martial threats can have on trade within their holdings. Hiring and dispatching the gall\u00f3glaigh is a noble privilege, and the bands often find themselves involved in border disputes and lesser wars over bountiful territory, but they will also take work from the Riders and Iarlas which is of direct benefit to trade. Come harvest time in Siabhal, local Riders often hire them to protect their fields and flocks from the Gwyllt, wild beasts, brigands, and other threats. In Baol, when the the highland raids provoke the lowlands too far, the Iarla will send the gall\u00f3glaigh bands on punitive expeditions into the Bolge or the Bight, to teach the Clanns a lesson. In Bruid, the protection provided by the gall\u00f3glaigh are essential for the day-to-day existence of shepherds and farmers who would otherwise be exterminated by the creatures of the Gwyllt. In Uasa the bands combat smuggling and ensure that the border with Siabhal is respected. In Dra\u00edod they patrol the caverns and tunnels, keeping them clear of many terrible and dire creatures. Without the gall\u00f3glaigh, commerce in the Five Realms would grind to a halt.<\/p>\n\n\n
Long ago in Tirneach there were many different coins accepted by merchants and hoarded by misers. The Kingdom of Siabhal of course had its own coinage, long flat sheets of gold emblazoned with the faces of kings and queens and the various sigils of the Ruby Court. These are still commonly found, and even still accepted in some parts of Siabhal, particularly the great city of Iomra. The king and queen of the Amber Hall in Baol are supposed to have given enchanted coins to their most favoured subjects which would be spent and then appear again in the owner\u2019s pocket the next day\u2026although any putative examples found today do not share this magical property. In other parts of Tirneach, the most common coins in circulation were those brought over by canny traders from the east, who had convinced the folk of Tirneach that they had some worth. A commoner looking to go to market might use coins from as far away as the homeland of the Firetouched in their pocket. All this came to an end with the unification of the Five Realms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nowadays the sole currency of the Five Realms is the pingin. There are different denominations and weights of pingin, such as five-weights and ten-weights. They are minted in Uasa, where silver is the most abundant precious metal. The weight of a pingin is prescribed by the courtiers of Uasa, whose agents will often turn up at markets and fairs throughout the Five Realms with their famous weighing scales, to ensure that the R\u00e9ig\u2019s coinage is not being adulterated or faked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course in the more rural and backwoods parts of Tirneach such as Bruid or the highlands of Baol, having a load of silver on hand is just not practical or safe. There, barter and credit are relied upon instead. In order to prevent the silver coins simply being melted down and used for other purposes, there are strict (many say draconian\u2026though never in earshot of the Drakeblooded) laws against tampering with the pingin, and anyone who does so, whether they be an artificer making a magical artefact or a merchant shaving off a few scraps of silver, can expect to face terrible retribution.<\/p>\n\n\n
While the magic of the Shaper makes some things easier, it cannot till the soil, milk the cows or bring in a catch of fish. The dearest wish that most commoners have is to have enough to feed their families, and perhaps a little extra to sell at the market. The Riders protect the people as best they can, and pay to bring in the gall\u00f3glaigh if the threats posed by bandits, beasts, undead or Gwyllt grow too fearsome. For this they receive tribute from the folk that live in their Riding, though the manner of this varies hugely. In Bruid the Riders often muck in alongside the people as well as personally fighting for the safety of folk who will generally be friends and followers who formed the Riding with them, and they are cared for in return. In Siabhal, ancient bonds and pacts bind the people to the land, and the land to the Riders; tribute is regular and formal, and escape from the station you were born to is difficult if not impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Artisans are highly respected in Five Realms Society, and those who achieve mastery of their chosen profession are highly sought after. A Rider might offer a gifted blacksmith a hefty sum to come and live within their Riding. Those who dabble in alchemy and the arcane are most often found in the larger settlements where the obscure ingredients their craft requires and the comforts their craft can afford them are in good supply.<\/p>\n\n\n
A gall\u00f3glach may sponsor any person who they think has the proper qualities to join a band. This often happens because the person has come to the notice of the gall\u00f3glach in some way, by doing them a service or doing something noteworthy in the gall\u00f3glach\u2019s presence. An enterprising commoner who wishes to become a gall\u00f3glach can often do so by being in the right place at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many occupations in Tirneach which are known to result in opportunities for aspiring gall\u00f3glaigh. Treasure hunting for ancient relics in the highlands of Baol or for the ruins of abandoned settlements in the Great Forest in Bruid is an extremely lucrative venture for those who can handle themselves, as they are likely to find all manner of things that gall\u00f3glaigh are interested in. Exploring the caverns and tunnels of Dra\u00edod is not a job for the faint of heart, but the Saoi are always keen to find what the limits of their Realm truly are. Smuggling goods is a good way to come to the attention of less scrupulous gall\u00f3glaigh, for better or worse, especially if you can prove yourself among the mist-runners of Uasa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Siabhal one of the most risky, varied and potentially rewarding occupations is that of tailor\u2019s factor. In the great fashion houses of Iomra, tailors constantly seek to outdo each other, seeking ever more elaborate materials and dyes so that they can craft the greatest garments and gain favour and fortune among the Siabhlach noble houses. Factors travel throughout the Five Realms and further to find weird and wonderful things to bring back to the Heart of the Realms, and some of their noble patrons are so focused on making a splash at the next feast that they will even engage the gall\u00f3glaigh to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the more ubiquitous occupations, and one of the most likely to draw attention of the gall\u00f3glach bands, is that of pit fighter. Duelling as a matter of honour is an important tradition in the Five Realms, common in legend and in life. Mock duels as a display of skill are common at festivals and market days where the mock duellists will put on a presentation for what coins the crowd might throw. Pit fights go further than any mock duel. Fighters risk injury and even death in bloody brawls and savage sword-fights while the crowd bays for blood and lays money on the victor. The Church of the Shaper officially disapproves of fighting where no insult has been offered or feud declared, but the popularity of pit fights prevents the cinniri from doing anything except advising the local Tiarna\u00ed that they should not condone pit fighting in their Ridings or Realms. The greatest of pit fighters can grow very wealthy, and those who impress the gall\u00f3glaigh who watch their bouts may have their pick of bands to join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course the crowning occupation for those who want an adventurous life is to join a band of gall\u00f3glaigh and swear the Five Oaths. Camaraderie, courageous endeavours and cold hard coin are just some of the many attractions. For those who are lowly born, becoming a gall\u00f3glach is a sure way to increase social standing and support their family or become wealthy and comfortable themselves. For the High Families, service in a band is often the only way to confirm that they are worthy of their station in life, and not just fortunate in their birth. Even for the most mercenary-minded of gall\u00f3glaigh, the secret hope that your deeds will one day be the stuff of legend is a motivation to fight and to win.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Five Realms exist in delicate harmony with one another. While the Iarlas jockey for advantage amd influence and are encouraged to do so by the R\u00e9ig and the R\u00e9ig\u2019s retinue, they also form alliances from time to time and trade is often the most crucial aspect of treaties and agreements. The Economy of Siabhal… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":987,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/847"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=847"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":848,"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/847\/revisions\/848"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fiveoaths.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}