Editing Daily Life Under the Shadow (section)

==A Harsh Life Under the Shadow==

In the occupied lands in the Last Age, most villages are eaking out a marginal existence. They share limited resources, depending on the whim of the local Shadow representants. If the local legate has a touch of mercy, they may have the surplus to barter for goods outside of the community. In most rural communities,  a permit is issued, in the form of a brass chit that allows its bearer to pass unmolested by the Shadow patrols (this is not guaranteed at all times).

The manorial system also has brought with it its logical consequence; the beginning of a feudal society, with many farmers or artisans pledging their lives in the service of the local traitor prince or even legate. Since they place themselves under his protection, they effectively become his slaves, but on the other hand they are granted minimal security and food in exchange of their freedom. One of the biggest mistakes a group of PCs might make would be to assume that such people will want to be freed...

There is also a flourishing slave trade, which makes some Orcish tribes all the richer. Some even specialized in capturing halflings, as those are on high demand as slaves. But isolated human communities, especially those who did not choose to become the local tyrant's serfs, are prime targets for Orcish raids, capture and being sold as real (ie, with no rights at all) slaves. After all, any orcish regiment or legate will need free manpower for various duties, thus sparing the more important servants their time and efforts for more important matters.

Of course, being the local "lords", occupation troops and legates are still free to help themselves for whatever ware they need or simply catches their eye. But trade still subsists, in a very limited way, for other people.