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* Absalom is the City at the Center of the World, surrounded by nations and city states that don't like each other.
* Absalom is a metropolis with markets and bazaars to match its 300+K population.
But what's there? What can I buy at Absalom that I can't buy anywhere in Taldor, Osirion or Cheliax?
This is not a question for adventurers, Pathfinders or NPC villains;
How I see it -- the way it makes sense for me (in my Homebrew concept) -- is that because Osirion doesn't like Taldor or Cheliax, they export their goods to Absalom. And Cheliax exports their goods to Absalom. So does Taldor and Qadira cuz they won't trade with each other either.
So that means you can find Osirion products in Osirion and Absalom only.
You can find Taldor's cash crops and exported goods in Taldor and Absalom only.
Ditto with Andoran (and what they have imported from Kyonin, Druma & The Dwarves), Cheliax (and what they have imported from The Umbral Court and Varisia), etc.
So the question I would love answered is this:
Finally, accepting my premise that Absalom, as City of the Center of the World, is where the rival nations export their common products and cash crops -- where does fit in?!?
Katapesh has stuff not found in Absalom. What is it and from where does it come? (Actually, this is not so much of a question -- Katapesh's remarkable products are not so much about common goods and food staples but slaves, magical beasts & other monsters, and novel magic items.)
So what about ?
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The start of a "list" that I have follows. But I'd really like others to chime in cuz my list is completely based on my impressions of places, not published material.
Cheliax exports tomatoes, grapes & wines, mountain lions, olives and oranges, chicken and swine. Cheliax also exports tropical fruits (from Sargava), horses (from Nidal), Varisian and "northern" stuff (from up north).
Qadira exports "different" horses, spices, silks, stuff from the far east.
Taldor exports wheat, corn, cattle,....
Andoran exports "the best" lumber, stuff from Druma, elf and dwarf stuff from Kyonin and The Dwarves.
Osirion...? (sand?)
Osirion, similar to Egypt (except grain I guess), linen, ivory, oils, papyrus, incense, artefacts, ostrich eggs, glass, natron ...
The start of a "list" that I have follows. But I'd really like others to chime in cuz my list is completely based on my impressions of places, not published material.
Cheliax exports tomatoes, grapes & wines, mountain lions, olives and oranges, chicken and swine. Cheliax also exports tropical fruits (from Sargava), horses (from Nidal), Varisian and "northern" stuff (from up north).
Qadira exports "different" horses, spices, silks, stuff from the far east.
Taldor exports wheat, corn, cattle,....
Andoran exports "the best" lumber, stuff from Druma, elf and dwarf stuff from Kyonin and The Dwarves.
Osirion...? (sand?)
Sargava is no longer a chelish colony, so Cheliax lost its monopoly on pineapples and such (unless they sell their souls for some delicious fruit- fare trade.
Osirion - dates, grain, textiles, paper
Taldor Osirion and Qadira- Citrus fruit
Katapesh will have more exotic stuff due to the fact it has trade with the not-so-nice states - Geb and Nex, and also with the eastern Mwangi expanse and the (unknown) southern Garund.
So Katapesh will have foodstuff from the major garundi provider- Geb (which has a lower than normal ratio of people who eat / zombies that farm). You can probably get exotic animals (and their meat, feathers, furs) from Katapesh. "Dark Markets" has a lot on the other stuff you can find in the markets, but as you said you are not interested in the stuff adventurers buy.
Katapesh also exports slaves (Mwangi, Garundi, Keleshite) many may end up in Absalom.
So I need to go to Osirion for my Axebeaks?
That's the cheapest and closest route I think, unless someone has a farm in the wilds of Kortos.
a few more
Qadira, beside silk and horses probably exports carpets, brocades, wool and cotton, myrrh, perfumes, precious minerals like lapis lazuli, and opium
Jalmeray, rubies from Vudra, cinnamon
Cheliax, marble, and possibly holds a monopoly on amber from Varisia or the Linnorm Kings, poisons from Nidal
Andoran, dyes
Ustalav, tin
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Sargava, Varisia, Nidal, Ilizmagorti, Linnorm Kings -- all have to pass the Arch of Aroden which Cheliax controls. I guess it makes sense that Sargava would sail south around Garund and then up to Absalom, though. (In my Homebrew design I have Cheliax retaking control of Sargava so that's not an issue for me.)
Katapesh's exotic stuff has to come through Qadira, first, doesn't it? Why wouldn't Qadira just send all the eastern products to Absalom (assuming Absalom is the higher bidder than Katapesh)? Or perhaps one can find eastern stuff equally in both Katapesh and Absalom (and Qadira, of course) -- that seems to make sense for Qadira, Absalom and Katapesh.
What grains would come from Osirion?
Dates and Palm nuts I see -- and sand could actually be legitimate: "The best sand in the world to make bricks or glass".
What grains would come from Osirion?
Wheat if we base Osirion on Egypt. And if has floods like Egypt it could produce great surplus of grain. Which might be reason why Qadira conquered it in first place - to secure supply of grain for themselves.
Dates and Palm nuts I see -- and sand could actually be legitimate: "The best sand in the world to make bricks or glass".
Sand might be too bulky to transport. I don't know how much sand is used in glass production but I imagine that it is quite large amount. So it would be better to turn it into glass near the place where it is gathered and export glassware instead.
Brevoy and Land Of The Linnorm Kings could export mead, of different kinds. In the same way Cheliax, Isger, Andorean and Taldor might compete in the wine market with different kinds of wines.
Egypt had emmer wheat, flax, barley and pekha (extinct).
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Adventurer's Armory had a few
Coffee: Sargavan Red and Qadiran Kahve
Linnorm Mead
Oldlaw Whiskey: Molthune
Riding dogs: reputable breeders in Absalom, Almas and Katapesh
Osirion's wise-eyed cats
Hawks: finest suppliers in Cheliax and Taldor
Ravens (clever): Cheliax
And from the Jade Regent Player's Guide we know that copper is one of the most prevalent trade goods that come out the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
Found some more.
Westcrown exports include sea salt, seafood, sun pearls, timber, sailcloth, textiles, wool, wine, olives, herbs, unique crimson pottery, and quality ships. Also Isger produces fine silks in Chitterwood, probably that goes through Cheliax.
Alum is Andoran’s most important and lucrative export next to antiquities.
Other trade goods are gold, silver, lumber, ships, luxury items, exotic furniture, ceramics, perfumes, spices, wax, honey and bales upon bales of almonds.
Taldor, only found ships of Cassomir and lace.
Rahadoum's brass is famous.
Irrisen, prized wooden furniture, high quality jewelry and bone (human) furniture, tools and utensils. Not sure on which trade route to Absalom that goes.
the most important is hemp from Tian Xia