> For example, the town of Yellowstone is
> about 1000 people plus surrounding farms and steads. These would have
> some following of the Church. Among the Trader Princes it is very
> much expected and many of the surrounding people also worship in it
> as well - it is rather inclusive.
Sure. So the Ashura Church permits worship of gods and spirits alongside the Invisible God and its saints. Probably theologically indefensible, but pragmatically necessarily (and probably explains the appeal of Rokarism to some Malkioni in these mixed areas).
> Politically, the Trader Princes'
> hand is very light on the surrounding areas (except Bastis which
> seems to have gone feudal) lest the natives realize just how weak
> they really are. The Princes provide several essential services to
> the communities - trade and communication and peace-brokering - that
> cannot be gotten elsewhere in Wenelia.
Yep. Except now the land trade is dying, and barbarian confederations based on war are providing an alternative model. A tough time to be a Trader Prince.
> I think there are about 20-30 Houses but I only named a dozen or so
> in "Trader Princes." Some have been destroyed or subsumed into the
> locals but even then, there is usually some sort of Trader Prince-
> like group to maintain the road and magic - Jubal Town being an
> example of this. They claim "no princes here" but the Wenelians in
> the surronding hills and valleys really can't see much of a
> difference. Most Houses control the Trade Path for about a day's
> journey to either side of their stronghold but some are actually set
> off the beaten path so to take advantage of exotic trade. Green-on-
> Ochre who trade with the Elves from Tallcastle would be a good
> example of this. Another would be the enterprising fellow near Jadnor
> who's reopened the coal mines there.
Jubal Town amuses me to no end. The "free city" composed of Ashurans who have rebelled against rule by the Houses - a political revolution that makes absolutely no difference for most Wenelians.
> Oh, and the Trader Princes speak a somewhat archaic dialect of
> Safelestran with each other but they also know the local languages.
> The local languages differ radically along the Trade Road so having a
> common language reeinforces their common heritage. It also means that
> those who travel the road learn the language of the Princes and can
> communicate with others who are similarly inclined throughout the
> region...
And this language is probably used in the rituals and ceremonies of the Ashuran Church.
> ...but a bet a bunch of them speak Trade Talk too. However, it is not
> as useful as it is elsewhere around the Middle Sea. As a relic of the
> God Learner expansion, Trade Talk was (and is!) taboo to many
> Wenelians after they purged their culture of such influences.
I think people tend to overstate and overthink how folk reacted against the God Learners. For example, the greatest achievement of the God Learners was the Abiding Book - which is IIRC the core holy book of the Ashura Church. Same thing with Tradetalk - I think many communities kept knowledge of Tradetalk simply because it made it easier to speak with other communities that also knew Tradetalk. The God Learners encouraged this, but I don't necessarily see it as something most people would identify with the God Learners.
> The Nordic Rus rather than the later Teutonic settlers might be a
> good model to follow but I was thinking more along the lines of the
> Hudson Bay Company or the Nor-Wester's of the North American fur
> trade. The Trader Princes are not assimilating the way the Rus did
> for the reason that the Princes are very much about trade, travel and
> communication. The Grand Tour is probably the most important link
> they have. The Man in the High Castle by Jack Vance was of some
> inspiration to the Trader Princes to Nick Brook and I have to agree -
> excellent book about isolated communities surrounded by Other.
Is that "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick? Or did Vance write a book with a similar title?
> That seems about right or perhaps a bit low - I think the number
> might be as high as 50k. The Church may be extremely prevalent in
> County Bastis now and it has spread to the costal regions in recent
> years. There is a lot more cross church/pantheon/tradition
> overlapping in Wenelia than in more organized places. People worship
> whatever helps them survive. Only a fool or a fanatic discounts.
> Considering what a mess the God Learners left the region in, I can't
> say I blame them.
Hey, I think the Sundering of Slontos and the Eruption of the Vent has a lot more to blame for it. Curse those Caladralanders and Zzaburi atheists!
Jeff
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