Tarshukwantashagayas Aknuntas

While the Messellat Mdûlûn have a group of traders called Yamad Yayussê, the Andapernan equivalent are the tatshukwantashagayas aknuntas, traders of Olive oil. While Yamad Yayussê trade all kinds of things, also Olive oil, the Andaperna people are only alllowed to cross the Hruzk Mountains to trade oil, as the Messellat Mdûlûn are protective of their homelands. Only few people, like diplomats or these traders are allowed to cross over, with the Mdûlûn having erected control posts at all the mountain passes which allow larger numbers of people to come through. Andaperna people on the other hand are eager to trade and to see the world outside of their large river valley. Becoming a tarshukwantashagayas aknuntas is one of the ways in which this can be accomplished.

Trade between the Andaperna peoples and the Messellat Mdûlûn started around the year 1500 of the Era of the Earth. With the Messellat Mdûlûn being so distrustful of strangers, the right to trade Olive oil directly is at all times only restricted to a very limited number of traders. This makes the job very sought after among Andaperna people, especially because the Messellat Mdûlûn are known to be hospitable and charitable. So those having crossed the mountains come back with not only interesting, but also positive stories about welcoming people, beautiful cities and good food.

Being traders, the main role in society is buying Olive oil on behalf of their contractors in the city states across the mountains. While Andaperna has some Olive oil production of its own, it is not sufficient to supply the demand there is, so import from elsewhere is necessary. The only area around Andaperna with a fitting climate is the area around the Grey Sea, so trade with the Mdûlûn there is the only choice. In all other regards, except metals and wood, Andaperna can rely on itself, but has to exchange goods via domestic trade. Many of the other areas around Andaperna are either for a real or for a perceived reason not accessible for trading, let alone travelling. This makes the special position of the tarshukwantashagayas aknuntas all the more attractive for those inclined to look beyond the mountains around Andaperna.