Status Report: Bonnifuss
January 994
After spending time with the small Jackal Men of the plains I have at last arrived in Bonnifuss. The town is rowdy, loud, noxious, but full of life. Here the merchants guild reins supreme, and they let all know it. Rumor has that even the house members and constable here are under the ever-present thumb of the guild.
The guild conducts all trade with the Dwarven kingdom, and the Kingdom of Alleria to the southeast. With the taxes and revenues they bring in the guild is able to finance its own labor force, transports, miners, casino’s and taverns. In fact this whole town participates in one way or another in expanding the power of the merchants guild.
I did here an interesting bit of information in the alley outside the Prancing Lion. It seems a group of local lowlife, referring to themselves as the Free Traders Union has taken to smuggling coin and goods from the town and undercutting prices to the rest of the frontier and the kingdom at large. The old wino who informed me of this after I gave him a blanket said something about a brewer to talk to. I have no need in alcohol, not after seeing what it had done to that poor man, so passed up the chance at finding out more from the local brewers.
I will be taking point on a caravan to Gateway, the border town on the Crescent Moon mountains, before continuing on to Silverthorn herself for further posting. As far as the overland route to Bonnifuss goes, it would be possible as long as tall road markers and regular way stations were emplaced. With those aids, travel from the frotier towns of N’Tor and D’Albin could be cut by more than half.
Sure enough, not more than three years after Strider brought this report to Silverthorne, the Barony of Bonnifuss became an independent duchy under the control of Duke Gregory Mandolin. His rapid rise to fame and power is already legend throughout the kingdom. In addition to siring numerous offspring and ensuring their rise into vacated positions among the nobility, he has constructed an empire of trade here-to-fore unseen within the wilds of Silverthorne.
The heavily armed merchant caravans and luggers which hug the rivers and trade routes of Silverthorne provide the lifesblood of commerce to the young nation. Where before the rise of Mandolin trade was a rough and fickle thing, with no assurances of commodoties or even basic necessities reaching their destination, now trade flourishes under the watchful eye of Mandolin’s merchant guard.
Granted, the freedom to trade which existed before, and the ease with which neighbors could barter has disappeared, but it is all for the best when one considers the rich profits lining the coffers of wealthy merchants.
Bonnifuss itself has prospered in recent years though the area has long been settled. A herding town which has conducted trade in years past with Dwarves, Ga’Vin, and Hill Barbarians is reputed to have stood on this site for several hundred years. The town was also a regular stop for many bands of Guthries and is perhaps suited to their nature, being a busy, frolicking locale.
Recent years have seen its many rolling hills and gentle valleys become developed for farming and as the manor lands of wealthy merchants. Several thanes have purchased lands here, the land being cheap and readily available in grants from Duke Mandolin. However, the brutal winters off the plains contrast directly with the gentle summers and tall golden grasses which much of the nobility finds so appealing from their seats on horseback. Nearly as many take their retainers and sell back their lands to Duke Mandolin (at significantly discounted price of course) as arrive each season.
Raids on the behalf of the lightning lizards of the plains and the devastation wrought by the wyverns also plays its part in assuring the failure of many less hardy settlers. In recent years an increase in the numbers of the Slaar in this part of the Kingdom has also been noted. The strange tribal creatures raid in large bands during the night, often destroying entire homesteads before being run off by the troops of Bonnifuss. It is commonly believed that the creatures have been driven southward by the ongoing war in the North.