The Mercantile

The mercantile is a large network of rafts, lashed and nailed together as they drifted near one-another. Created around a carpenter's houseboat that had somehow survived the original rush of water from the flood, 7 people from two families, 4 men, two women and a child, managed to climb aboard and began collecting debris.

Luckily, the carpenter had had a couple fishing rods, sturdy ones he had made himself. The families that had boarded the ship would be fed.

Eventually, another raft drifted towards the houseboat, and, using the carpenter's tools, were affixed to the side of the low houseboat. This group brought with them a few wheat seeds, and had made their cart from the wagon their farmer father had been driving. This group was comprised of two younger women, their father supposedly pulled under and eaten by some sort of shark people.

As more rafts slowly came to join the houseboat, a large box was created over a few of the rafts, and cracks were nailed over. This box was filled with the organs of the fish that were caught by the rafts, as well as night soil, and after the fish had decomposed enough, seeds were planted.

As the days were at their longest, a strange man drifted near the Mercantile. His skin was scaled and colored a fiery red, and he introduced himself as Torrin, red dragonborn and apprentice fire wizard. While Torrin really was barely an apprentice, he could make fire through his breath and cast bonfire, which was enough to quickly make him a necessity on the raft, and he quickly became a second hand to the leader of the rafts, Rein.

Over 50 years, the mercantile grew steadily, expanding outwards until they had no more rope or nail, and had to use makeshift ropes of grasses or seaweed. The Mercantile has grown to the size of a village, with more than five hundred inhabitants ruled over by an all powerful elite.

Demographics

Mainly human and sea elf, some minority races, one dragonborn and no drow, tieflings, or half-orcs.

Government

The noble family and the spark rule over the raft, the noble family normally more responsible than the spark for ruling as he must keep the fires of the raft lit. There is one supreme leader of the rafts, chosen by lineage to the original leader, Rein Farhailm.

Infrastructure

The Mercantile has holes under outhouses for disposing of sewage, all outhouses are near the back of the raft, as are farms to avoid smell. The masts on the raft keep this end downwind.

Architecture

Wooden planks of various craftsmanship make up the base, driftwood and thatch huts make up all shelter aside from the houseboat, which is expertly crafted.

Natural Resources

Wheat and fish.

Alternative Name(s)

The trading ship, the great raft, the mercantile rafts.

Type

Village

Population

524

Inhabitant Demonym

Rafters, merchants