Re: Arstola Elves & Trade (was: Re: What do humans trade with Elves?)

From: Nick the Nevermet <nick.the.nevermet_at_RR3XgrXze9pQxe8NSL9_8DJht0qmdF-qs7kVDZauqLQHfvjMPfQufd0d4P>
Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:29:19 -0000

>
> The elves may be trading away fruit or nuts, with the ultimate
> purpose of spreading their forest elsewhere. They want the humans
> to distribute their precious seeds to the far corners of the world.
>
> They don't actually care what they get in return, and would gladly
> give the seeds away for free, but they have leaned that if they
> don't demand something valuable in return, their fruit never leaves
> the local area. (who would go to the trouble and expense of
> transporting something cheap and common) By positioning thier fruit
> as rare and valuable, they increase the distance it is likely to
> spread, and the odds of some "clever" human planting their own
> orchards far far away. Orchards that eventually (on an aldryami
> timeframe) go feral and militant, establishing themselves as their
> own forest.

While I agree with this as far as it goes, the reforestation plan does not explain the origin of an ancient Human-Elf trading ground that is now controlled by an upstart and foreign Malkioni sect. Also, I hesitate to make a trading ground _nothing_ but an Aldryami plot to take over Maniria. Maybe I'm too confident in Asharan abilities, but I'd imagine trading in bad faith like that is something the Trader Princes would detect. I'm sure the reforesting plot is involved, but I also suspect 'real' trade is happening, due to a combination of Aldryami need, human demand & ability, and the presence of a magical site for ritual trade.

> I like the seasonal ritual ideas, but a fixed schedule seems way
> too mostali... the elves will have a "trading season" which
> requires complex observation of weather, temperature, and the local
> plant and wildlife to figure out. There is probably a grimouir
> devoted entirely to figuring out when and where the trade
> opportunities will occur.

That sounds about right. Trader Princes, Wizards, and Sorcerers will spend lifetimes trying to map out the timing of Aldryami trade. However, Aldryami just intuitively know when the key change in the song is coming. I suspect human shamans of Vorlan and members of the Oak Woman Practice would have a clue too, but that's a different (and highly speculative) rant.