Trade Outside Teleleli

The shell, 'salt' and 'namber' are accepted in cities and larger towns, in inns and other establishments on the road between such settlements that cater to travellers, and by most travelling traders. But smaller towns and villages do not use money.

The Noble Spices are accepted as currency in many places, but in others it will be considered improper or even blasphemous to offer them in trade. Perhaps a temple may render what services they have if such spices are burnt on their altars, but they will look most unfavourably on vigorous bargaining. Herbalists and the like will of course be likely to buy or sell certain spices, depending on their needs at the time.

Barter is the most common form of 'currency'. The traveller should bear in mind that very few people have any need for such things as weapons and armour, and those that do will have found more reliable sources. The only exceptions may be desperate groups such as bandits and rebels. Horses and other mounts, by contrast, will find a market anywhere, and canoes anywhere near the sea or a river. Good quality blankets and lamps are similarly useful for smaller trades.

In large cities, as in Teleleli, almost anything of value will be accepted in trade. A notable exception is the City of the Amazons. The Amazons have never taken to currency and so in that city only foreigners, if anyone, will be likely to accept it.

Thus an unwary adventurer fresh escaped from the underworld, loaded with clockwork statuettes and the most delicate and symmetrical corals, and expecting to be treated like a very prince, may instead find themselves in the position of the proletarian in the works of Mister Marx, having nothing to sell but their labour.