SPICE MERCHANT 1
Apothecary’s Guild, Fargil of Krunos, was known to be a
stuck up elitist and was unpopular. A few carefully placed
bribes to the right people and the Mangai accepted his ar-
gument, supporting his plan to open a spice shop.
Using funds he had earned in his youth on a number
of successful expeditions (some might call piracy) he pur-
chased a mercantyler’s franchise from the local guild. He
opened his shop in 695TR and began to import and sell
spices. His uncle’s vast trading network meant that he
could provide a wider selection of spices at better prices
than the Apothecary’s Guild and so he became the sup-
plier of choice to the wealthier clans and senatorial class.
In 712TR after Kuseme was returned to the Thardic
NILSTROMHUS Republic, Fydanar decided to build his own home and
SPICE MERCHANT shop. Never one to over pay, he avoided the outrageous
property prices in Coranan by buying cheap land across
the river in Kuseme. He built a spacious home for himself,
his family and employees. Stoutly built of stone, Fydanar
home is a traditional Ivinian clan house, unofficial Ivinian
embassy and private temple of Sarajin. Ever conscious of
his position as a wealthy foreigner, outsider and follower
of a strange religion, his home is built like a small fortress
with small, heavily barred windows, robust iron covered
oak doors and a slate roof.
NILSTROMHUS – SPICE MERCHANT FIRST FLOOR
Location: Kuseme, Thardic Republic 1. Sales room. This room is the heart of Fydanar’s
Holder: Master Fydanar Nilstrom business. Here he deals with customers and displays his
Size: 4 (Master, 2 Journeymen, 1 Apprentice) wares. During the daytime, he is always present, sprawled
in his comfortable overstuffed chair like a king on his
Others: 7 (3 Wives, 2 Daughters, 1 Son, 1 Guard)
throne. Customers are invited to relax, sip some exotic
Quality: (Excellent) tea (imported at great expense) and inspect his wares. A
Prices: High (110 – 130%) large heavy chest in the corner holds his rarest and most
expensive spices in addition to his (substantial) portable
GENERAL DESCRIPTION wealth sorted into many heavy bags of silver coins. Be-
Just across the river from Coranan on Moleryn Road, sides himself, he usually has an apprentice to select and
Nilstromhus is a well known and popular spice shop. The bring the spices to him, an armed guard standing watch, a
proprietor, a wily Ivinian mercantyler named Fydanar Nil-
strom, has lived in Tharda for twenty-six years. He ar-
rived in 694TR at the age of twenty-five representing his CREDITS
uncle’s trading network. He rented a small house in
Coranan and began investigating the local market. A tal- WRITER
ented mercantyler, Fydanar soon discovered an opening Kerry Mould
in the market, there was no good, steady supply of exotic
foreign spices. Given the sometimes abysmal quality of MAPS
meat and fish, strong spices are necessary to cover up the
taste of salt and rot. Patrick Nilsson
Fydanar approached the local Mangai and argued that
since spices were not herbs or medicines they should not
ARTIST
be monopolized by the apothecaries. Mercantylers should Richard Luschek
also be able to sell spices. It helped that the leader of the
© 2004, Kerry Mould, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc. HârnWorld
SPICE MERCHANT 2
journeyman delivering spices throughout the city and his Over the last four years, he has become a member of the
youngest son fetching tea and doing odd jobs. family and the younger brother Fydanar never had. Be-
2. Store room. Fydanar’s large array of spices are all sides acting as a guard, he is arms master to the young
carefully sorted and inventoried on shelves in the back men of the household. His room is simply furnished.
room. Small bags containing one to six ounces of spice 6. Junior wives’ room. Nadonna and Merlael share
repackaged for sale. When new shipments arrive, this this room. Fydanar visits them regularly and they have no
room is often filled to overflowing with large sacks of cause for complaint. The room is bright and cheery with
spices. A large tapestry in black velvet depicting a man colourful blankets decorating the beds. Each woman has
with an outlandish hairdo and snarling lip, given as pay- her own chest with a selection of fine clothing befitting the
ment of a debt, hangs in the store room. Fydanar finds it wives of a rich merchant. When she is not in the hall,
particularly ugly and refuses to let it be hung any where Nadonna can often be found here embroidering.
else. He regularly concludes his business dealings with 7. Master’s room. The finest room in the house is re-
the phrase “Can I interest you in buying a tapestry?” served for the master. This spacious room has its own
Most would agree it is spectacularly tacky. His wives find fireplace, a good quality double bed for Fydanar and
it funny and frequently jibe him (in a friendly way), “Have Forissa, a table under the window where the mercantyler
you bought any more tapestries today?” can do his accounts and a pair of chests for the couple’s
3. Main Hall. If the sales room is the heart of the good clothes. Seven diamonds (value £24) are hidden in
house then the hall is its soul. It is always full of life. Fy- the hollow leg of the writing table. They are Fydanar’s
danar’s three wives, Forissa, Nadonna and Merlael work emergency reserve. No one knows of their existence ex-
here happily. All former slaves, they were bought and cept the master himself.
freed by their husband who truly loves and treasures them
all. Rescued from drudgery and hard labour, instead they
now have a life of health and happiness. Forissa, the sen-
ior wife, has a beautiful voice and loves to sing. Her joyful
tunes are a constant accompaniment to Fydanar’s day. 1 3
SECOND FLOOR
4. Corridor. The upstairs hallway serves triple duty.
During the day, it serves as a work area. Taarin, the
young apprentice, uses it when he is transferring spices
from the large shipping sacks to small packages suitable
for sale. Fydanar tolerates no waste, so Taarin lays out a
canvas sheet to catch any spillage and sweeps it up into 2
the last package. During the night, bedrolls are laid down
and the corridor serves as a sleeping area for the master’s
two daughters and young son. Several times a year it also
6
serves as a temple to Sarajin, especially during the Ilben-
gaad Festival and Bjarri’s Feast, when the city’s small
Ivinian community gathers at Fydanar’s house to cele- 7
5
brate their faith. A pair of hand axes mounted on the wall
is the only outward display of the household’s religion.
5. Guard’s room. Due to compact and highly valuable
nature of spices, the presence of large amounts of coin
and the continued enmity with the Apothecary’s Guild,
there is always the danger that someone will try and rob
the house. Fydanar has suffered six attempted robberies
in the eighteen years he lived in Coranan. Twice he killed 4
the thieves, the other four times he and his journeymen
were able to drive them off. After the last attack, he hired
an out of work Ivinian mercenary recommended by a fel-
low merchant. Well paid, fed and with an easy job, Turis
is overjoyed to be working for one of his own countrymen.
HârnWorld © 2004, Kerry Mould, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc.
SPICE MERCHANT 3
SPICES FOR SALE his brain. He is as sharp and wily an old trader as can be
found in Coranan. He has a battleaxe, brigandine byrnie
Fydanar keeps a large stock of spices, some common (now much too small), plate half-helm in the large chest in
and some extremely rare. A list of those spices normally his room. His round shield hangs above the bed. He car-
available is shown here: ries a dagger with him at all times.
Spice, Alum 16d per ounce He keeps in close touch with his clan in Ivinia and
buys most of his spices through them. Their extensive
Spice, Colombine Powder 20d per ounce
network gives him access to spices from as far away as
Spice, Ginger 30d per ounce Molnasya. Fydanar can be aggressive and extremely in-
Spice, Pepper 36d per ounce tent, but he speaks slowly, as if translating his sentences in
Spice, Bdellium 40d per ounce his head. This is an act, after twenty-six years he speaks
Harnic fluently with a distinct Thardic accent.
Spice, Cinnamon 40d per ounce
Spice, Keddryth 45d per ounce
Spice, Galingale 50d per ounce
Spice, Camphor 50d per ounce
Spice, Nutmeg 50d per ounce
Spice, Mace 50d per ounce
Spice, Cardamom 50d per ounce
Spice, Cumin 50d per ounce
Spice, Anise 60d per ounce
Spice, Cloves 60d per ounce
Spice, Grains of Paradise 60d per ounce
Spice, Frankincense 70d per ounce
Spice, Nard 100d per ounce
Spice, Myrrh 150d per ounce
Spice, Ginseng 170d per ounce
Spice, Lashu Powder (rhubarb) 180d per ounce
Spice, Turmeric 180d per ounce
Spice, Marthyn 200d per ounce
Spice, Saffron 360d per ounce
Sugar 60d per pound
Tea 35d per ounce
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD FYDANAR NILSTROM
Ivinian Mercantyler
Fydanar is a wealth man and he supports a large Str 11 Eye 13 Int 12
Sta 18 Hrg 12 Aur 10
household in considerable comfort. However, his ongoing Dex 09 Sml 16 Wil 13
rivalry with the Apothecary’s Guild and his status as a for- Agl 08 Voi 09 Mor 12
eigner has made him quite leery of hiring Thardic ser- Cml 12 Sunsign – Hirin
Combat Abilities: End 14 Mov 08
vants. Thus, his household (with the notable exception of Skills: Riding 60, Rhetoric 95, Intrigue 90, Mathematics 76, Law 62,
his wives) is made up of Ivinians and his own kin. Foraging 48, Survival 44, Heraldry 24, Physician 22, Weaponcraft
22, Seamanship 27, Piloting 33, Weatherlore 45, Drawing 24
Languages: Ivinian 71, Harnic 71, Scripts: Runic 81, Lakise 81
THE MASTER – Fydanar is a heavyset man, now fifty- Ritual: Sarajin 11, Piety: 25
one years old. He was a formidable fighter in his youth Combat Skills: Initiative 66, Dodge 40, Unarmed 36, Battleaxe 70,
Broadsword 60, Dagger 84, Round shield 60
and still can be dangerous if provoked, however too much Daily Armour / Weapons: Fine cloth tunic and leggings, cloak with
good food and fine wine has caused him to become fat hood, fur cap in cold weather; leather calf boots; Dagger.
and slow. Only a fool would think that this has affected
© 2004, Kerry Mould, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc. HârnWorld
SPICE MERCHANT 4
BODYGUARD – A mercenary from Lokis, thirty-one year THE WIVES AND CHILDREN – All three of Fydanar’s
old Turis is Fydanar’s bodyguard and confidant. A skilled wives are freed slaves. Forissa was the first and is the
huscarl, he was happy to take service with such a wealthy unquestioned leader. Now forty-six, she has borne her
merchant. He was tired of the travel and poor treatment husband three strong, healthy sons. The two eldest,
he received when people found out he was Ivinian. Taaga and Sorinal, are teenagers and have travelled to
Normally, he only wears a thick cloth tunic, plate half- Ivinia to do their apprenticeship with their father’s cousin.
helm and carries round shield, but he has a quilt Her youngest, Bjarri, is only twelve. He is extremely
gambeson and chain mail hauberk in the chest at bright with blond hair like his mother. Nadonna is the
the foot of his bed which he dons if trouble is ex- second wife. She has two teenage daughters, Elesbeth
pected. The town guard frowns on him wearing it and Lise. Both girls are strong, intelligent but rather
in public. He has been tasked by his master to in- plain. Merlael is the youngest wife at just twenty-six.
struct the journeymen and Fydanar’s youngest son She has had three miscarriages and is pregnant again. She
in the weapons of their homeland. hopes this child will survive. The miscarriages would
have been unbearable without the support of the other
wives. All three wives speak some Ivinian (ML 55). The
children are completely bilingual.
JOURNEYMEN AND APPRENTICE – Fydanar has two
journeymen and one apprentice. All are Ivinian. When
his uncle died, his cousin took over as Clanhead and chief
trader for the Clan’s intricate web of trading posts and
ships. Fydanar sent his sons to learn the Ivinian way of
life and the world of trading. In return, his cousin has sent
three young members of the clan to Coranan to learn
Harnic and the ways of the Misty Isle. The two journey-
men are Soris and Jnaar, strapping lads in their early
twenties. Turis is educating them in the military arts while
Fydanar teaches the art of trading with the locals.
Taarin, the apprentice, arrived only three months ago
with the last shipment of spices. Only fourteen, he cannot
speak Harnic and is frightfully homesick and lonely. He
and Bjarri have become inseparable friends.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Part of the Profits – The PCs come recommended. Fy-
danar wants to see if there is enough demand to open an-
other shop in Shiran. He offers the PCs a 1/3 cut of the
profits if they escort Soris to Shiran for the next fair. The
Apothecary Guild in Shiran has no intentions of allowing
TURIS DALINSEN Fydanar to break their monopoly.
Ivinian Huscarl
Str 16 Eye 10 Int 10
Time for You to Leave – The local guildsmen have fi-
Sta 13 Hrg 12 Aur 12 nally had enough. This Ivinian scum is cutting too deeply
Dex 14 Sml 09 Wil 17 into their profits. They hire the PCs to convince him to
Agl 13 Voi 11 Mor 11
Cml 10 Sunsign – Aralius / Feniri Cusp leave by any means possible. Non-violent means first, but
Combat Abilities: End 15 Mov 13 if he doesn’t take the hint, then perhaps more “persuasive”
Skills: Riding 90, Foraging 52, Survival 56, Heraldry 28, Physician 22,
Weaponcraft 38, Seamanship 42, Piloting 22 means might be required.
Languages: Ivinian 73, Harnic 45, Scripts: none
Ritual: Sarajin 14, Piety: 22
Just a Pinch of Thyme – The PCs patron is throwing a
Combat Skills: Initiative 96, Dodge 65, Unarmed 56, Battleaxe 77, big party. The cook needs a number of rare spices to
Hand axe 77, Spear 73, Dagger 71, Round shield 71 complete the preparations. The PCs have been dis-
Daily Armour / Weapons: Good cloth tunic and leggings, cloak
with hood, Plate half-helm; leather calf boots; Spear, hand axe, patched to buy the spices from Fydanar. Unfortunately,
dagger, round shield. the spices they need are stuck on a ship in Kuseme Haven
and can’t be unloaded because of a Teamster’s strike.
HârnWorld © 2004, Kerry Mould, N. Robin Crossby & Columbia Games Inc.
