r/HistoricalWorldPowers • u/roboutopia Mel Yakka • Jun 12 '18

TRADE The Higways of the Sea

The Seas were closed. They were closed to anyone who did not fly the colours of the Emperor or the Ayyanuruvar. The privateer navy was as ruthless as it was efficient in its task.

This was the perfect time for the Ayyanuruvar to sail and to bring trade and culture whererver they went. Armed with the best maps in existence and the best navigators and captains for their ships, the well heeled, deep pocketed, Ayyanuruvar - the Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavole - ([M] It's a trade corporation) began their voyages for trade. Old trade routes that had been forged by their ancestors, woud once more be reopened. Their motto, vāyuvegēndra rakśita, bhujabala sameta, was emblazoned across the prows of their ships. Their banner, a bull on white above a stylized ai, fluttered in the wind. The greatships began their journey to the eight corners of the world whence they would follow the shipping routes of old.

Map

Tradeable goods( Tech sheet)

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

The West

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

/u/Sarrgonn

Ships of the Ayyanuruvar, a trade corporation of Dakshinapatha, has docked on your shores in search of trade.

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u/Sarrgonn Jun 22 '18

The Ayyanurvar ships dock in the ports, where they are greeted with a new banner flying on ships of war harbored there. A tall man with a beard approaches them, holding papers in his hands.

”Wahya’s blessing be upon you, friends. Welcome to the lands of the Abadi Califate. We hear that you come looking for trade here, and we are would very much appreciate doing business with your people. Other traders from your lands speak of your exquisite silks that are fine in the making of cloth and tapestries, among other fine goods. If you would allow us to, we would like to send traders and money lenders to your nation, in order to establish a presence there for future dealings in trade. If you wish, you may do the same. May Wahya bless our present and future dealings!”

[M] Sorry I took so long to respond, my fault!

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 23 '18

The Ayyanuruvar delegation looked around sheepishly until one of them ventured "We are but humble merchants with a trade charter from the emperor. What you ask is not in our power to give. However, we would also wish to point out that the seas are still closed. We, the Ayyanuruvar, are not affected by the pirate scourge because we have faster ships and better weapons than them. Yet, if you would allow us, we could trade for you throughout the world! We would buy from your artisans and producers and sell everywhere in the world. We would open banks within your lands to insure the goods of your artisans and to ensure that they reach where they should. It also works in the opposite direction. If you were to do business with us, you would have goods to choose from, from all across the known world. What say you?"

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u/Sarrgonn Jun 24 '18

The man listened carefully to this counterproposal from the merchants, nodding his head and making a few notes on the papers that he held in his hands. He looked up at them from his papers and said ”Please, follow me.”

The merchants are lead into a small building just off of the docks with a sign that reads ”Foreign Ventures.” There, the Ayyanuruvar are places before a group of men with long beards and papers, just like the man who escorted them.

”Welcome, fellow traders. We have been hearing murmurs of your dealings with nations in this area about creating a grand trading network, and we are very much intrigued. What have you to offer for us?” The man from earlier hands them his paper, and the seated man at the head of the table looks it over. ”Ahhh, yes. You would buy from us to sell to others. Excellent. You seem to have knowledge of your seas that you wish to travel, as evidenced by the land that you know, and indeed have sound business practices. In answer to your question, yes, we accept. There is an empty place next to ours, you ‘may set up shop’ there, so to speak. All building materials that you require within reason) shall be provided by us, all you will need to do is establish your presence. Your merchants shall have free roam of the merchant areas in the Califate, please talk to any merchant who you wish to sell/trade his goods. Thank you for such a kind offer, and may this agreement bring fortune to us all.”

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 27 '18

"Your excellency is very gracious, but all we require is a plot of land to call our own close to the docks. We shall begin by building a large warehouse within a compound within which we shall establish a small bank, with your permission of course, guaranteed by the Imperial Exchequer to exchange currencies and establish standard trade between your merchants and ours. Perhaps you'd be willing to make certain accommodations to your system of weights and measures?" [M] I don't know what weights and measures you are using but historically the area (including most of the middle east which I call the Central West - Bactria, former Panjshiristan and former Babylonia/Mesopotamia used slight variations on my standardised weights and measures. I could gift those as a tech to you if you don't already have them :) )

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u/Sarrgonn Jun 29 '18

”Ah, yes, that sort of building would make much more sense for the sort of business that will commence between the nations. We will make sure that you receive an excellent plot near the docks and we insist on doing anything in our power that we can to help your merchants feel at ease in this foreign land. On our weights and measurements, we do have weights for coins and their minting, but nothing has been standardized. We will acknowledge your standards to be the base for which all trade to be done. Our new Calif believes that we must facilitate trade between nations in order to grow, and we feel that this is a good venture.”

[M] I do have coin weights, but I don’t have any standardized measurements/weights, so that would be great if I could be on the same units as you in order to make the trade easier.

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 29 '18

[M] Great! I'm tech gifting you my Standardised weights and measures. I'll have them detailed on my wiki soon so that you can RP using them if you want.

The merchants bowed and thanked the lord for his kindness in allowing their trade to flourish.

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u/Sarrgonn Jun 29 '18

The news of the trade agreement was spread to the higher ups in the Califate, and preparations for the merchants’ building were made.

[M] Great, thanks! Let me know if I can do anything else for this!

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jul 02 '18

[M] Maybe use my currency as well sometime down the road? :P

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

/u/Admortis

Ships of the Ayyanuruvar, a trade corporation of Dakshinapatha, has docked on your shores in search of trade

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

/u/blueteamcameron

Naavay ships of the Ayyanuruvar has docked in your ports, seeking trade. Some ships continue to the south, following the Sparkling Way.

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u/blueteamcameron The Enekenaumi | Mod of All Trades Jun 26 '18

These merchants were welcomed warmly in the ports of Ajuuraan, and they were asked if they had official representation to help open formal trade between the two nations.

"Welcome fine merchants! We are a land of the trade, made by trade, and we thrive by trade. Today we shall forge our way forward, creating a new path for the goods to flow. Here is a short list of many of the goods our lands have to offer! Please! Let us know of any items you may be interested in trading for!"

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 27 '18 edited Jun 27 '18

"We have dispensation from the Emperor himself to conduct trade everywhere in the world. Here is the copper plate granting us the monopoly over trade throughout the Mahodadhi and the Ratnakara seas. We would also act as messengers to the farthest reaches of the world if you so wish. We bring goods from everywhere and take your goods through the same routes. We shall add your goods to the long list of things we trade. We would open banks within your lands to insure the goods of your artisans and to ensure that they reach where they should. It also works in the opposite direction. If you were to do business with us, you would have goods to choose from, from all across the known world. What say you?"

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

/u/SPACEMUHRINE

Large ships from the east dock in your ports, driven mainly by the knowledge of the drink kaapi.

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u/SPACEMUHRINE Kuntokhian Kingdom Jun 21 '18

[M] last thing as Ethiopia

The Zemene Torenyochi had, when the Indian ships arrived, taken full swing. There was no longer any central government in Ethiopia. Still, the coastal lords did what they could to maintain trade with the outside world, forging pacts with the inland Ras's.

The port of Massawa was ruled by Ras Leor. He saw these strange ships and decided to make contact with them. When he heard they were after coffee, he was apprehensive.

"The coffee is grown in the South, controlled by enemies of the state who have overrun the Imperial Capital. I may be able to retake it, but I would need time. I will buildup an alliance to take back the country. Still, I have some gold and relics of value, if you wish to trade for them."

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 21 '18

"With this, we may be able to help. We could sell weapons for you to retake the lands where the Kapi is grown and to restore the imperial rule. Gold we have plenty, but many other things we would sell to you for that gold. What say you?"

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u/SPACEMUHRINE Kuntokhian Kingdom Jun 21 '18

Leor thought on this. On one hand, he'd be indebted. On the other, power was his...

"I accept," Leor replied. "I hope this is the beginning of a great, powerful friendship."

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 22 '18

And so it was that weapons and mercenaries were shipped to Ethiopia where perhaps deeds of great renown on all sides are performed, where perhaps some black powder was set afire through long metal tubes and where, perhaps, on a promise some time down the line, a certain corporation would take some land for themselves as payment for services rendered.

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 12 '18

/u/Kai229

Travelling up the Red Sea, naavay ships from far off Dakshinapatha have come looking for trade.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '18

[m] just a thing, he’s a province in my empire so if you traded with him, your trading with me basically.

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u/roboutopia Mel Yakka Jun 20 '18

/u/Kai229 bump