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Merchants
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Merchants in Gondor fill the vital role of carrying on trade between the far-flung regions of Gondor. Merchants can be local or transverse distances for the sake of profit. Most of the trade that Gondor conducts is internal, owing in part to her size and the numerous resources therein, but also in part due to the hostile relations Gondor has with most of its neighbors. As a result, the economy in Gondor is a mixture of a command economy with the open market. It is also rather fragmented allowing the development of competing organizations in various regions. Most of the trade is regional, and those who control the trade tend to jealously guard it because of the profits involved. Contained in these files is more information concerning Merchants within Gondor.
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Charters
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The merchants of Gondor consist of multiple classes and perform the vital function of trade within the far-flung Kingdom of Gondor. As of this writing, merchant organizations must gain the right to trade within a fief from the local fief lord in order to conduct business. Here is a step by step process.
1) The merchant organization must be formed through investors with enough initial capital to start business. Some merchants turn to noble houses to help gain the necessary capital.
2) The organization must appeal to a Lord to gain a charter to deal in one of the Great Fiefs: Anorien, Ithilien, Lebennin, Belfalas, Morthond, Lossarnach, Lamedon, Pinath Gelin, Anfalas and Andrast.
3) The local fief lord may choose to grant a charter to one group or more. If the lord only gives one group an existing charter, this forms a monopoly of trade.
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Sample Charter
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In the year 3000 during the reign of Denethor son of Ecthelion the following has been acted and recognized as official concerning the Brotherhood of Merchants of the Bending Bough.
1) That they shall be given the right to conduct the trade between Rohan and Gondor.
2) That they goods and services brought into the Kingdom from the realm of Rohan shall be inspected by such people as appointed by the Council of Gondor.
3) Likewise, goods and services leaving the realm shall be inspected by such people.
4) These inspectors shall affix a stamp and receive in return no more than five percent of the total net worth of the goods and services in question.
5) This charter grants the exclusive right of trade for this organization only.
6) This charter will expire five years past the date of signature.
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On Commodity
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Gondor is a rich land and has little use for outside commodities. Here is a list of commodities that Gondor would typically export to her neighbors:
1) Produce - Wheat from the Pelennor, Grapes from Belfalas as well as other fruit and vegetable crops. Some of these crops may be welcomed in other lands, particularly in the north, where winters are more cold.
2) Finished Products - Notably Belfalan wine is a reknowned export. Also Gondor has an oversupply of war goods: Armours and weapons of divers make are sometimes also traded.
3) Raw Materials - Timber from Ithilien, Ore from the White Mountains, and leathers from the shepherds of Lossanarch are in plentiful supply.
As stated, Gondor on the whole has little need of imports though occassionally some products are brought in from the outside.
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On the Black Market
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There are of course some unscrupulous few who not gaining a charter will seek to conduct business anyway within and without the land of Gondor. These may be organizations that deal with contraband (such as goods from the Harad) or even stolen goods. Reasons for this are manifold when considering that the Black Market is customs and duty free and in this way profits are greatly increased.
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On Trade Routes
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Most trade-routes are by land, though there are several by waterways. The most noted trade-routes are the King's Road from Lebennin to Belflas, the Anduin Route vis-a-vis the port of Harlond nigh Minas Tirith to Pelargir and beyond, and the coastal trade route stemming out of Dol Amroth's townlands westward to the wide regions of Western Gondor.
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On Services
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Charters can be gained not only for the right to trade, but also other rights as well. Such services may include the right to transport people for a profit by ship, or it may include setting standards for certain arts such as music and singing. In sum, the services that can be provided and legally recognized in Gondor are vast, but they are also subject to the control of the Steward and Local Lords.
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