The Breadbasket
Nestled in the fertile fields between Port Caldir, District of Arcton and Astorium, The Breadbasket is a farming collective providing the majority of grain, fruits, and vegetables to the surrounding city states. The fields are easily identifiable by crop, as the fields are fertile for nearly all types of produce, so travelers will pass fields of grain for miles, only to switch to low growing fruits, and see groves of fruit trees in the distance.
The main road into the Breadbasket will lead straight into the Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market is where the city states negotiate with the farmers for their goods. A large collection of buildings in the center of this farming paradise looks out of place, but makes it all the more imposing for those on their way through. The Farmer's Market is a typical small town, with most small town amenities, but it's main purpose of for negotiating, and a large negotiating hall, with all the corresponding paperwork and associated confirmations, are done here. The lead negotiator is officially titled "Harvest Steward", but most people, both farmers and city-state negotiators alike, label him "The Scythe" for his extremely sharp mind and negotiating skills. All the farmers pay a percentage of the deals cut with the Farmer's Market, for additional security, overhead, and to pay for salaries for the Market teams. These taxes vary based on the crop being grown, the length of time the farmer has been working the field, the quality and quantity of the previous year's crops, and other secondary methods. The deals to the farmers have, in general, been good in the past, with a method by The Scythe to slowly wean weak farmers from the herd, and rewards farmers who produce solid goods. Solid work by all rewards all.
In the early days, the city states tried dealing with the farmers directly, trying to undercut the prices being charged by the Market. The outcomes for the offending parties were unpleasant. With pressure from the Market, all other farms, and surrounding city-states raised prices to the offender. The price of food might have been lower, but just about every other import into the city for the next year was increased by at least double. One year, a city state came out and burned fields to show the market who was boss. Other city states did the same. And within a few months, the entire breadbasket was soaked in blood. Famine and riots in all the surrounding city-states taught the ldeaders, both old and new, why the Market was so important. Since then, the city states provide protection for the farms nearest their area. Incidents, while infrequent, are dealt with quickly and efficiently by The Scythe and representatives from the city states.
The main road into the Breadbasket will lead straight into the Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market is where the city states negotiate with the farmers for their goods. A large collection of buildings in the center of this farming paradise looks out of place, but makes it all the more imposing for those on their way through. The Farmer's Market is a typical small town, with most small town amenities, but it's main purpose of for negotiating, and a large negotiating hall, with all the corresponding paperwork and associated confirmations, are done here. The lead negotiator is officially titled "Harvest Steward", but most people, both farmers and city-state negotiators alike, label him "The Scythe" for his extremely sharp mind and negotiating skills. All the farmers pay a percentage of the deals cut with the Farmer's Market, for additional security, overhead, and to pay for salaries for the Market teams. These taxes vary based on the crop being grown, the length of time the farmer has been working the field, the quality and quantity of the previous year's crops, and other secondary methods. The deals to the farmers have, in general, been good in the past, with a method by The Scythe to slowly wean weak farmers from the herd, and rewards farmers who produce solid goods. Solid work by all rewards all.
In the early days, the city states tried dealing with the farmers directly, trying to undercut the prices being charged by the Market. The outcomes for the offending parties were unpleasant. With pressure from the Market, all other farms, and surrounding city-states raised prices to the offender. The price of food might have been lower, but just about every other import into the city for the next year was increased by at least double. One year, a city state came out and burned fields to show the market who was boss. Other city states did the same. And within a few months, the entire breadbasket was soaked in blood. Famine and riots in all the surrounding city-states taught the ldeaders, both old and new, why the Market was so important. Since then, the city states provide protection for the farms nearest their area. Incidents, while infrequent, are dealt with quickly and efficiently by The Scythe and representatives from the city states.
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
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