Editing Daily Life Under the Shadow (section)

==Legal trade and its limits==

The gnomes have been given the freedom of trade up and down the Eren river, providing they do 'their part' for the forces of izrador. Much like the feudal system, they're essentially slaves to the Shadow, but do have a limited amount of freedom, which allows them to subtly aid the resistance.

Thus, most trade is focused around the waterways, and whole towns have sprung up around riverside markets in the Last Age. These towns are the middle men, like a midnight mall. Farmers and craftsmen from all over come to these towns once a month to sell their wares and buy what they need.

On the other hand, Eredane is a rather vast place, and there are towns and villages that are too far from a river to actively trade regularly.

This puts them in an isolated state, these towns on the most part have to be self sufficent, or rely heavily on the communities around them for resources. This creates a very anarchic place to be: trust is only really extended to people in the community that have somehting to offer. News are sparse, so rumours of the 'outside' world are wild and misleading. This brooks fear toward outsiders, especially those who could upset the balance of the fragile community. In a place like this, morale is low and resistance to the Shadow minimal, as people try to get on with their lives in their situation.
 
Those wishing to live free of the Shadow have moved as far away as they could from the waterways and old trade roads. Isolated communities have to be self sufficient or they may band loosely together without villages within a two to three day walk/ride. For example, there may only be one village with a competent smith/forge and the other local villages come to the smith to get what they need/can't produce. Several isolated villages may band together under a strong warrior or skilled channeler for protection against slavers and other nasty things coming from the north.

In the countryside, anyone is free to go "trade" within a 10 mile-radius around them (because, in case of control, the local soldiers or legates all know that it's only “old Joe” trying to sell his eggs to the village).

Beyond that range, a special authorization is given, only to those who swear allegiance to the Dark Lord. If they do, they are given a token that is proof enough that they are reliable persons. Of course, such tokens are often coveted by resistance groups to provide them a "cover story". However, only important figures (legates, etc.) are ever given the "magical tokens" described in MN01. Written documents are to be avoided, as literacy is a rare privilege in the Last Age. Many troops (human or orcish) stationed at checkpoints could not read them anyway, so what's the point?

Outside of the rivers, regular trade with established routes and deliveries does not exist in Midnight. Smugglers and people who move critical items through the wilderness, well off the beaten path probably still exists. Eredane is dangerous, but good woodland skills and the sense to stay off the roads will help. Orcs and Legates can be avoided if you're not carrying magic. Smuggling of skilled people (channelers, halflings) is also ongoing.

On the roads, the only goods that move legally on a large scale do it with hobgoblin caravans of boro's and mules dragging timber, weapons, cockingpots and what-have-you to large fortifications.  Tribute and supply caravans are not trade, but they do offer opportunities to a resourceful party to obtain supplies, gather information, or if they're wildly successful and probably suicidal, to infiltrate a Shadow garrison/stronghold. There are garrisons well clear of the rivers that need to be resupplied. The vast majority of the gnomes stay on the Eren River. That means most of the north has to be supplied by other means.