“ Orcish currency is derived from glass beads. The art of glassworking is well beyond them, but perhaps the orcs have something of value to the civilized races, such as animal pelts, and well made axes, and bows. The humans trade beads for the goods, and the orcs will trade the beads amongst themselves as a form of their own currency. Perhaps they value blood red beads above all others, or animistic orcs favor beads in the colors of their gods.
Inspired by Indian trade beads, some of which could be quite ornate and beautiful. Most North American Indian beads were made in Italy. Surprise!”
“ The PCs encounter an elaborate trap room, designed to fill with water, drowning those inside. Clever and resourceful, they disable the trap and move on.
Only later do they discover that this room is part of the elaborate cooling system that prevents beasts of elemental fire from overrunning the complex. While the fiery beasts run rampant, they begin setting fires, which causes the complex to become increasingly hot and smoke-filled. Additionally, the PCs now have to fight their way out past aggressive fire creatures...”
“ What to export or import....
Fabric: wool, linnen, silk...
Wood: raw-material, furniture
Stone
Marble
Coal
Metals: iron, gold, silver, copper...
Wine, beer, mead, spirits...
Animals: horses, sheep, swine, cows...
Weapons
Armour
Slaves
Salt, spices
Cheese
Grains
Coloring-powder (for fabric, ink...)
Yarn
Raw-material to make fabric: unprocessed wool, linnen, silk...
Leather
Glass: Windows, figurines, glasses, raw-material...
Shoes, clothes
Tobacco
Medicines
Poison
Coins
Pottery
Musical instruments
Tea (not sure about my spelling here, but I mean the hot drink Englishmen drink instead of coffee!)
Gem-stones: diamonds...
Dried meat
Dried fish
Dried fruits
Flour
Chocolate”