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A merchant, also known as a trader[1] or vendor,[2] is an individual who trades in commodities and buys and sells various items, typically in a business.[4] A cart merchant is a merchant who sells goods and conducts business from a cart.[5] Some merchants may belong to a merchant guild or merchant union.[6]

Seafaring merchants typically use trading ships.[7]

Types[]

  • Merchant lord
  • Merchant sailor
  • Military merchant
  • Spice trader

History[]

Worship of Avandra is common among merchants.[8] They often seek the graces of the goddess before taking any risky endeavor.[9]

Tal'Dorei[]

Within Tal'Dorei, the Master of Commerce works with all major merchant guilds and trading networks.[10]

There exists a ruling class of merchants in Stilben due to the city's robust trade of rare goods, textiles, and spices.[1] Merchants and sailors often refer to the city as the "Rotted Lot" because of its stench.[8]

In Kraghammer, traders and trappers use giant goats to transport goods to and from the market, while merchant lords employ serfs and laborers to carry their goods.[11] The wealthy merchant class of Kraghammer reside near the Center Slab.

Merchants were among the first "creature comforts" to funnel into Kymal after gold was discovered.[12]

The unique acrid flavor of shadegrass in the Umbra Hills draws the attention of wealthy merchants and spice traders.[13]

There are roads sanctioned for trade between Emon and Syngorn through the Verdant Expanse that well-protected merchants can use,[14] such as the Silvercut Roadway.[8] Most of Emon's merchant class resides within the city's Central District[9] and Syngornian merchants typically reside within the Memory Ward,[15] including some vendors doing work in the Spires of Yurek.[16] Additionally, at night, when the sound of a river guides a customer to a vendor, they speak in hushed Elvish.[17]

Westruun was founded by a trader and philosopher, Palest Westruun. After the fall of the Chroma Conclave, a group of idealistic young students and traders took issue with the idea of returning Westruun to its former glory, challenging the proposal with the question of when Westruun was ever "glorious" to begin with under the governorship of a Margrave.[18] Within the Market Ward district of Westruun is the World Market, an auction house wherein hundreds of vendors sell rare and unusual items from across Tal'Dorei.[2]

Wildemount[]

Merchant guilds are active in the Dwendalian Empire.[6]

Tiefling merchants are common throughout Wildemount.[19]

Blightshore[]

New Haxon maintains a thriving network of military merchants.[20]

With no official governing body, Rotthold is governed by a consortium of local guild leaders, merchants, and veteran adventurers. In Rotthold, the merchants are described as equally "unscrupulous" as the surrounding wilderness, allowing anything to be bought or sold.[6]

Greying Wildlands[]

At some point in the Savalirwood, the Nightback Clan mistook a caravan of merchants for thieves.[6]

In Shadycreek Run, groups of hunters and skinners have risen to become prominent traders.[6]

Menagerie Coast[]

Many of the Ravenites who travel to the Menagerie Coast tend to be merchants or wealthy generals, or politicians on vacation. Most half-orcs in the region come from Tal'Dorei as visitors, merchants, or mercenaries.[21]

The Clovis Concord was founded by an alliance between Ki'Nau islanders and Marquesian traders.[6]

The Revelry was founded after the Clovis Concord worked to enforce rising taxation on independent merchant companies operating on the Menagerie Coast,[6] and its members have no plans to return to their former lives as legitimate traders.[6] The pirates of the Revelry stalk ocean trade routes and hassle anyone they encounter, including merchants

Local merchant families compete for financial and political dominance in Feolinn, where merchants line the pockets of the Zhelezo with "tips".[6]

In Gwardan, merchants are among the individuals who conduct business in the Korrwa Ring.[6]

Some successful merchants in the Dwendalian Empire have gained the approval of the Cerberus Assembly to relocate to Nicodranas. Within the city, merchants live and operate throughout the Open Quay and Opal Archways districts.[6]

Othe sees outside goods from traveling merchants.[6]

Palma Flora is a favorite destination location for merchants.[6]

Wealthy merchants in Port Damali keep bodyguards and are either part of or indentured to the Myriad. A popular destination for these same wealthy merchants, in addition to other nobles and collectors across Exandria is the Exalted Collection Auction House in the Gilded Esplanade. It is rumored that entities from the Outer Planes will masquerade as merchants to collect particularly powerful relics.[6]

The Lapidus family of Port Damali rose to prominence after switching from employing merchants to mercenaries.[6]

Marrow Valley[]

Pride silk is often sought by nobles and wealthy merchants.[6]

Alfield, Odessloe, and Yrrosa are a minor stops for traders.[6][6][6]

The merchants of Bladegarden partake in the city's contests of skill and might.[6]

Private Monoliths in Grimgolir are hired to protect merchant families.[6]

Zemni Fields[]

In the Zemni Fields, traders and merchants traverse the roads in hopes of making a fortune in Rexxentrum.

At the Amber Crossroads, merchants exchange goods in the absence of oversight from the Dwendalian Empire. In the adventure hook Rob from the Rich, during the Carnival of Coin, the wealthy merchants of the Amber Crossroads were enchanted by a band of charlatans to enter a trance-like state, during which they would be compelled to sell their most expensive possessions for close to nothing. These merchants hired a party of adventurers to track the band of charlatans down.[22]

Within Rexxentrum, the city's resource-rich economy of Rexxentrum supports the powerful merchant class, and specialist merchants supply and promote unique wares in the city's Tangles and Shimmer Ward districts.[6]

Xhorhas[]

In Asarius, merchant unions are beholden to Den Olios.[6]

Traveling merchants infrequently visit Charis, making rare goods special finds.[6]

Each clan in Jigow maintains their own network of artisans and merchants.[6] Similarly, in Igrathad, each village maintains their own marketplace and merchant union. Igrathad also features rare commodities occasionally available from merchants and scavengers.[6]

Goblinkin merchants typically find comfort and profit in Rosohna.[6]

Backgrounds[]

In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, there are two Backgrounds related to merchantry: "Guild Artisan/Guild Merchant" and "Failed Merchant".

"Guild Artisan/Guild Merchant", from the Player's Handbook (2014), provides characters with proficiency in the Insight and Persuasion skills and one type of artisan's tools and language of the player's choice, in addition to a small series of merchant-themed equipment. The background also provides the features "Guild Business", which provides a list of potential professions the character's merchant guild would be associated with, and "Guild Membership", which provides a list of perks the character gets from being in a guild, with a monthly fee of five gold.

"Failed Merchant", from Acquisitions Incorporated (2019), provides characters with proficiency with the Investigation and Persuasion skills, one type of artisan's tools, a language of the player's choice, and a small series of merchant-themed equipment. The background comes with the feature "Supply Chain", providing characters with the ability to call upon connections with acquaintances in the trade.

References[]

Art:

  1. Fan art of the merchant Zorth, by Robson Michel (source). Used with permission.

External links[]

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