Mercantile Power Struggles

"I haven't pulled them along that far, they won't fight for us yet," Ashlynn said with a sad shake of her head. "It doesn't matter to them whether the Vale rises or falls. It's too far away and nothing is at stake. The few who still trade with us only trade in meager quantities. It's not enough to fight a war to defend."

"The Vale of Mists was once a gateway to trade between the eastern lowlands and the western highlands," Ashlynn continued. "Blackwell County is the same. It's one of three gateways between the Kingdom of Gaal and old countries across the sea. People will pledge soldiers to protect their wealth," she said firmly. "We just need to give enough people on this side of the mountains a reason to tie their wealth up in the Vale of Mists."