Guide: Economics

[Maeve]

T’aquar is mainly self sufficient when it comes to its own needs for food and sustenance. Most of the folk of the realm at all levels of society hunt the creatures of the forests, using all the parts of the animal and taking their lives with reverence, acknowledging that the Mother is about Blood and Death as well as Life.

T'aquar has a small population for its large size. It does not use anything near all of its own resources on its own people, leaving a large surplus for trade. But its real wealth comes in the form of knowledge- scholars trained in Taloh are highly prized as are elvish healers, astronomers and the like.

Most travel and commerce takes place on the main River, the Awyl, and various waterways that have been Shaped by the elves. There is a main ‘gateway’ into the forest there, maintained by Border Patrol elves and by representatives of the merchants, who regulate the trade, folk, and goods passing in or out.

Most trade with outside sources is conducted in Taloh and - in a more limited way- along the network of rivers and ‘canals’ Shaped and traversed by Shaped riverboats that bring goods through the woodlands of the Inner Forest, stopping along the way to trade and supply at small settlements and estates.


Products
Imports: iron, gold, wheat, beef, horses
Exports: wood, herbs and spice, craft goods, silk, fruit, and rice

Trade is normally done on a barter basis, with coins being used mainly in the cities. The value of items varies from person to person, however the more pretty an object is will increase the value. So a brush or a tool that has more artistic look to it will hold more value.

Many ‘wild’ crops are semi-cultivated, particularly a hardy strain of dark thin rice(Mou rice) which grows near the swampy lowlands to the southeast of Taloh. This commodity is also exported abroad as are leather and ivory goods, all manner of woodland remedies and herbs, furs and pelts.

Elvish wines and spirits are also prized, although it may take some exposure to them for an outsider’s palate to adjust.

There is a large trade in magical cantrips, simples and potions, for although not all elves possess the art of magics, those who do have a long lifespan to perfect them.

Delicate and lovely musical instruments and ornaments are also prized trade goods, for many elves love music and anything requiring skill or grace to learn. Woven cloths and embroidered tapestries and fabrics are also made at all levels of society and elvish cloth is considered rare and valuable as well.

They are also wonderful breeders and trainers of animals, and T’aquar horses and cross bloods are much prized, and always have spotted coats. They also train birds of prey, hounds and other creatures, but are very careful about who they will trade and deal with- if an elf has any ‘sense’ that an animal will not be valued and well treated, he will break off all trade relations with someone.

Items the elves often trade for are : Metal and glass objects, especially weapons and the like. Books and other finished goods, as well as gemstones, cultivated grains such as wheat or barley and rye, and knowledge- a good source of information on any particular topic will be greatly valued by an elf with an interest in it.

Anything that outright destroys forest or any nature, or is of an industrious set up will meet resistance. The exclusion of this from T'aquar economy is a deliberate choice of government.

Thites

Both the government and the priests ask for thites from the citizens, which can be paid in coin or in labor. In fact to pay "in natura" is more common than coin. For instance one would serve for a while in the Border Patrol to serve ones duty for the community.