Commodities

Commerce is often a catalyst of betrayal, petty or large. Monopolies on specific commodities, such as fur, leather, and iron, often lead to poisoned words and poisoned wounds. Much commodity trade occurs between friendly peasants, but the sponsoring of expeditions to source and sell raw stuff takes money, acumen, and underhandedness. Not many lack ethics and love lucre enough to get rich quick. Meanwhile, many a fledgling dies trying.