“ This tome looks like a haphazard collection of random notes on different types of paper stitched together and bound within a wooden cover. The pages describe all of the 300,000 gods of the world, each in the language of the people who worship them. The book is stored high in the mountains, kept safe by an order of monks. Reading the entire book confers a deep understanding on the nature of the cosmos and access to incredible power. This only works, however, if it is read without translation, meaning that the reader must master each language contained within. The various monks know these languages but there is typically only one alive at a time who knows them all. This monk would be an excellent source of information and/or magic. IF the PCs learn about it; IF they can find the monastery; IF they can convince the monks to help them; AND if they can understand the convoluted riddle given as an answer.”
“ 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”
“ 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!”