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Along the Sword Coast, speed often matters more than storage. Ale spoils, grain attracts pests, and caravan space is never free. For the Waterdeep Trading Company, letting goods sit idle is not always wise. In many cases, the safest and most profitable choice is to keep them moving.

Cross-dock replenishment is the practice of receiving goods and forwarding them without placing them in long-term storage. Crates arrive, are checked, sorted, and routed, then leave the same day for shops, inns, or onward caravans. Coin is protected by reducing handling, reducing risk, and reducing time.

This article explains how cross-dock replenishment works in Faerûn, why it matters, which products fit the model, and how the Waterdeep Trading Company applies it across its trade routes.

What Cross-Dock Replenishment Is

Cross-dock replenishment is a logistics method where inbound goods are matched directly to outbound demand. Inventory passes through the warehouse, but does not truly enter it.

At the Waterdeep Trading Company, this means a shipment arriving from Baldur’s Gate in the morning can be split and loaded onto outbound wagons to Daggerford and Neverwinter by nightfall. The dock is a meeting point, not a resting place.

This approach relies on timing, trust in suppliers, and clear commitments from customers.

Why It Matters to the Waterdeep Trading Company

Storage has a cost even when rent is paid in advance. Every extra day a crate sits increases the risk of loss, spoilage, theft, and tied-up coin.

Cross-docking matters because it reduces.

  • Handling labor, fewer touches per crate
  • Inventory value on the books is lower, and working capital
  • Damage and spoilage, especially for food and drink
  • Congestion inside city warehouses

It also improves service. Taverns receive fresher ale, healers receive timely herbs, and merchants can promise delivery dates with confidence.

Products That Fit Cross-Dock Replenishment

Not every product belongs on a cross-dock. The Waterdeep Trading Company uses product strategy to decide what moves fast and what rests.

Cross-docking is most effective when demand is known before the goods arrive.

How the Cross-Dock Flow Works

Cross-dock replenishment follows a strict rhythm. If timing slips, the benefits vanish.

Inbound caravans arrive during scheduled windows. Goods are checked for quantity and condition only; no detailed inspection is performed. Crates are tagged by destination and staged briefly on the dock floor. Outbound wagons or river barges are already assigned and waiting. Goods are loaded and depart the same day.

The dock behaves more like a crossroads than a warehouse.

Cross-Dock Versus Traditional Warehousing

Understanding the difference helps planners choose the right model.

The Waterdeep Trading Company uses both models, often side by side in the same facility.

Worked Example: Ale Replenishment for Sword Coast Taverns

A shipment of 120 crates of ale arrives from the breweries near Baldur’s Gate at dawn.

Orders already exist for Waterdeep Dock Ward taverns, Daggerford inns, and a Luskan caravan. Instead of placing the ale into storage, the crates are divided immediately.

By nightfall, the dock is empty, and coin has already been earned from fulfilled orders.

Risks and Controls

Cross-dock replenishment trades storage risk for timing risk. When something goes wrong, the impact is immediate.

Common risks include delayed caravans, missing outbound capacity, and mismatched quantities. To control this, the Waterdeep Trading Company relies on confirmed orders, fixed dock schedules, and clear cut-off times. If an inbound caravan misses its window, goods are diverted to standard storage instead of blocking the dock.

Cross-docking is never forced. It is chosen when conditions are right.

Realms Aware Considerations

Faerûn adds its own flavor to cross-dock operations. The weather can close mountain passes. Guild inspections can delay unloading. Magical interference can spoil timing spells used for coordination.

For this reason, cross-docking is more common near major hubs like Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate, where routes are dense and backup options exist.

Final Thoughts

Cross-dock replenishment is not about speed alone. It is about intent. Goods that are meant to flow should be allowed to flow.

For the Waterdeep Trading Company, cross-docking protects coin, reduces waste, and supports reliable trade across the Sword Coast. Used wisely, it keeps warehouses clear and customers satisfied.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon page where supporters can access exclusive content, tools, and training labs, and even influence the project’s future. Your support fuels more than just development; it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement: Rusty Cavalier, Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

Across the Sword Coast, community halls, temples, schools, and guild shelters often host fundraisers to fund repairs, sponsor apprentices, or support relief efforts after storms or skirmishes. The Waterdeep Trading Company has long participated in these events by supplying goods at a reduced internal price, thereby allowing the fundraiser to retain the surplus from sales. This practice blends goodwill with proper ledger control, giving community groups a safe way to raise coin while keeping company accounts sound.

This article explains how these events are prepared, priced, tracked, and settled within the company. It is written in the style used by the Arcane Treasurers and the Records Office, combining clear trade practice with Faerûnian flavor.

What These Fundraiser Events Are

A fundraiser event is a temporary partnership between the Waterdeep Trading Company and a local group. Goods are supplied at a price below the normal selling price, often at or slightly above cost. The fundraiser sells them at a standard market price during an event such as a harvest fair, temple supper, or guild apprenticeship drive. The fundraising group retains the positive difference, and the company records the revenue reduction as part of its community contribution ledger.

Why This Matters

These events strengthen ties with communities across the Sword Coast. They also require careful accounting, since goods leave company stock at one price yet retail on the street at another. The company must track the inventory, the reduced price, the contribution value, and any unsold items returned from the fundraiser.

How the Company Handles the Process

Event Setup

The Records Office creates an internal event record with:
• Fundraiser name and sponsor
• Dates of the event
• Goods offered
• Discounted fundraiser price
• Expected quantities

The Arcane Treasurer team reviews the discounted price to ensure it covers basic costs.

Pricing and Inventory Release

Goods are transferred from the central storehouse at a special fundraising price. This avoids confusion with regular wholesale or retail orders. Freight or handling costs are either waived or absorbed into the community contribution line.

Sales and Settlement

When the fundraiser concludes, the group submits its sales scroll, which shows quantities sold and coins collected.
The fundraiser retains the surplus between the retail price and the discounted purchase price.
The Waterdeep Trading Company posts revenue only for the discounted amount.  Any unsold goods are returned to stock at the same reduced value.

Components of the Fundraiser Arrangement

The table below introduces the core elements of these events, enabling all clerks to reference them during setup, and outlines the key components of the fundraiser setup and how each supports the event.

Worked Example

A temple in the North Ward hosts a winter cloak drive. The Waterdeep Trading Company agrees to supply wool cloaks at a reduced price.

The retail price of each cloak is 20.00 FSD.
The fundraiser price is 12.00 FSD.
The temple sells them for full price and keeps the surplus.

This table walks through the financial results using simple numbers.

The temple raises 320.00 FSD to help residents in need.
The Waterdeep Trading Company reports fair revenue from the reduced price and records the support in its community contribution ledger.

Realms Aware Considerations

Regional demand affects which goods are best for fundraisers. Cloaks do well in the North. Lanterns do well in Luskan. Dry goods or herbal kits resonate in smaller towns. The principle remains the same across all provinces: provide suitable goods, apply a responsible discount, and maintain clean accounts.

Final Thoughts

Fundraiser promotions demonstrate how trade can serve the common good while adhering to proper accounting practices. Community groups gain needed support, and the Waterdeep Trading Company strengthens its standing across Faerûn through dependable and fair dealings.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon page where supporters can access exclusive content, tools, and training labs, and even influence the project’s future. Your support fuels more than just development; it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement: Rusty Cavalier, Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

Across Faerûn, merchants and guilds work with goods that rarely behave in uniform ways. Some arrive with uneven cuts, some stretch or shrink when handled, and others flow or coil into shapes that defy standard form. Two tracking methods address these challenges within the Waterdeep Trading Company. These are catchweight and variable measures. The two are often confused, yet each follows a distinct tradition rooted in long-standing trade customs from the Sword Coast to the inland markets.

This expanded article explores how each method works, why they diverge, and how the company applies them to tangible goods.

What Catchweight Is

Catchweight is used when an item is traded and inventoried as a single unit, yet its value depends on its actual weight. The piece is counted as one, but no two pieces weigh the same. The ledger must therefore carry both the count and the weight for every item received. This method applies to goods shaped by hand, harvested in uneven portions, or carved from natural materials.

Boar meat from farms near Daggerford offers a clear example. Hunters deliver each haunch as a single piece, but the weight of each cut varies. The company must accept the count as a whole unit and price the cut based on its recorded weight. The same applies to the stone blocks quarried in the Western Heartlands. Each block is counted as a single unit, yet the density of the stone and the irregularity of its cut make the accurate measure of value. Even cheese wheels brought in from Amn follow this rule. Farmers shape them by hand, and each wheel comes out slightly different. Merchants rely on weight to ensure fair payment between buyers and suppliers.

In all these cases, the company treats each item as one object, one unit in stock, yet uses weight as the companion measure for valuation. This duality is central to catchweight.

This table highlights the essential traits of catchweight and why it is applied to certain goods.

What Variable Measure Is

Variable measure is used when an item has no practical piece count at all. Instead, its measure is the only value that matters. These goods are destined to be cut, poured, stretched, or shaped during use. A piece means nothing. Only the remaining measure matters.

Cloth from the Waterdeep Weaver’s Guild is a perfect example. A bolt may arrive with forty-five yards, and tailors may cut ten yards for a robe, two yards for a sash, or a fraction for lining. The bolt does not shrink as a piece. It simply loses length. The ledger tracks the remaining yards until the entire bolt is consumed. Rope coils behave the same way. A sailor may cut a short length for a rig, and the ledger only needs to record how many yards remain in the coil. Timber beams brought from the Western Heartlands also fall under this method. A carpenter trims a beam to fit a frame, yet there is no expectation that the leftover sections be counted as separate pieces—only the remaining length or volume matters.

Variable measure places complete focus on the unit of measure. It assumes goods will change form and size through regular use. No count is required, and no record of pieces is ever created.

This table outlines the essential traits of variable measure and why it differs from catchweight.

Why These Methods Are Not the Same

Catchweight and variable measure appear similar because both acknowledge irregular goods. Yet their rules diverge sharply.

In catchweight, the piece is the item’s core identity. A smoked boar cut is one cut. A cheese wheel is one wheel. A quarry stone is one block. The weight varies, and this variation affects the cost and selling price. The ledger, therefore, carries two values at all times: the count and the weight. Workers know that the item cannot be freely divided without changing its identity. A cheese wheel cut in two is no longer a single wheel, and the tracking method fails. The item must remain whole.

Variable measure takes the opposite approach. The item has no identity as a piece. A bolt of cloth is not one object in the same sense as a cheese wheel. It is simply forty-five yards of fabric. Cutting it into sections does not change its identity. A rope coil does not become two pieces in the ledger when a length is cut. It becomes a smaller total measure. Pieces do not matter because pieces do not exist.

This fundamental difference shapes how the company handles stock, cost, and issue.

Expanded Examples

The Cheese Wheel: When a caravan from Amn arrives with six cheese wheels, the ledger records six units, each with its individual weight. One wheel may weigh twelve pounds, another thirteen, and a third eleven and a half. The workers stack all six wheels together, yet the enchanted scales beneath the receiving table track each weight precisely. Later, when the cheese is sold to taverns in the Dock Ward or noble kitchens in the Sea Ward, the invoice reflects the recorded weight, not a fixed price per wheel. The identity of each wheel remains whole. Cutting the wheel would force it out of its tracking method, so the guild sells wheels intact unless a special arrangement is made.

The Cloth Bolt:  A bolt arriving from the Weaver’s Guild is handled quite differently. A forty-five-yard bolt is logged simply as forty-five yards. When tailors request fabric for company uniforms or mage robes, they draw the exact length required. After cutting, the ledger updates the remaining measure. No one records the number of cuts taken from the bolt. When it is finally used up, there is no history of pieces, only a record of how many yards were issued and to which workshop. The bolt’s design allows division, so the tracking method supports it without penalty.

The Stone Block:  Stone quarried in the Western Heartlands is carried to Waterdeep as single blocks. Each block is heavy and irregular. Workers measure its weight upon receipt, then use that value in both cost and freight calculations. A mason could reshape the block later, yet the original count and weight must be preserved for audit purposes. This reinforces the rule that the block is a single-tracked unit, and the ledger will not follow every future chip removed by masons. It cares only about the original block.

The Rope Coil:  A coil of rope behaves in the exact opposite way. A sailor or warehouse worker needs only a length sufficient to secure a load or repair a harness. Cutting the rope is expected, repeated, and unremarkable. The remaining coil remains unchanged. The ledger reflects only the new measured total. No worker needs to track how many pieces the rope becomes divided into.

Side-by-Side Comparison

This table compares how the ledger treats the two methods and why they are not interchangeable.

Why the Company Keeps Them Separate

Each method influences freight rules, vendor contracts, customer pricing, and internal cost control. Catchweight affects transport fees because heavier items cost more to haul. Variable measures affect workshop planning because cuts must be tracked precisely during production runs.

The Waterdeep Trading Company separates these methods to avoid confusion in mixed cargo shipments, ensure fair valuation when trading with coastal guilds, and maintain clarity when issuing goods across its workshops. The distinction also prevents disputes when merchants, adventurers, or craftsmen question why prices differ even when goods look similar.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the difference between catchweight and variable measure is essential for any merchant working with goods that do not conform to standard forms. In Waterdeep, this knowledge keeps ledgers clean, contracts clear, and trade flowing without delay. Across Faerûn, it marks a merchant as trained, careful, and ready to stand behind every recorded measure.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon page where supporters can access exclusive content, tools, and training labs, and even influence the project’s future. Your support fuels more than just development; it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement: Rusty Cavalier, Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

Facility maintenance across Faerûn is a constant effort. Weather from the Sea of Swords wears down roofs and stonework. Workshops hum with arcane devices that need careful inspection. Storehouses carry goods from every coast, and their upkeep protects both inventory and reputation. The Waterdeep Trading Company depends on steady maintenance to keep its halls safe, its warehouses efficient, and its trading operations uninterrupted.

This article explains how facility maintenance works within the company, why it matters to both accounting and logistics teams, and how the company structures its routine and long-term upkeep across the Sword Coast.

What Facility Maintenance Is

Facility maintenance covers all tasks that keep property, structures, and equipment in proper condition. In Waterdeep, that means stone repairs, timber replacement, arcane ward checks, chimney sweeps, roof inspection after storms, and routine upkeep of forges and loading areas.

These tasks fall into three main groups.

  • Planned maintenance occurs on a schedule.
  • Reactive maintenance corrects failures or damage.
  • Capital improvements enhance the property’s long-term value.

The Waterdeep Trading Company treats each group differently through its ledgers, work orders, and supply planning.

Why Facility Maintenance Matters

Strong buildings keep workers safe and goods protected.

Predictable upkeep prevents costly failures during peak trade seasons.

Precise financial tracking allows the company to separate expenses, investments, and losses.

Accurate records help the guild justify labor costs for city inspections.

Maintenance also supports merchants’ trust in secure storage facilities.

Location and Asset Hierarchy

The Waterdeep Trading Company maintains a structured hierarchy to manage every facility, room, and piece of equipment. This hierarchy helps clerks assign work orders, track maintenance history, and record costs at the correct property level.

The hierarchy is built in four levels.

  • The Site represents the city location, such as Waterdeep or Baldur’s Gate.
  • The Facility represents each central operational building.
  • The Area groups rooms or working spaces.
  • The Asset represents the specific item requiring upkeep.

Below is a view of the hierarchy used across the Sword Coast.

This table shows an example hierarchy for the Waterdeep primary operations area.

A second example of arcane equipment follows.

This table shows how magical assets are grouped within the Trades Ward workshop.

These structures ensure maintenance orders are always posted against the correct area and asset. They also enable the company to generate reports that show where failures recur or where investment is needed.

Components of Facility Maintenance

The company organizes upkeep into four areas.

  • Structural upkeep includes walls, floors, beams, doors, and roofs.
  • Utility systems include lantern lines, water pumps, heating runes, and ventilation.
  • Operational equipment includes hoists, lifts, carts, loading arches, and warded vault doors.
  • Grounds upkeep includes yard areas, stable maintenance, and perimeter inspection.

This table lists common cost types used in planning and reviewing maintenance.

Maintenance Types and Their Use

This table helps overseers select the proper work classification for each job.

Worked Example

Below is a sample roof repair at the Dock Ward storehouse.

Realms Aware Considerations

Faerûn presents special conditions that influence upkeep.

  • Salt air from the Sea of Swords causes fast corrosion.
  • Arcane flux near magical districts requires routine stabilizer checks.
  • Forest settlements face creature interference.
  • Seasonal storms strain roofs and drainage.

These conditions guide the company’s maintenance calendar and supply plans.

Final Thoughts

Facility maintenance keeps the Waterdeep Trading Company steady through every trade season. Strong buildings support safe storage, stable operations, and predictable financial results. A clear hierarchy, proper classification, and careful planning help the company control costs while protecting the value of its assets.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon page where supporters can access exclusive content, tools, and training labs, and even influence the project’s future. Your support fuels more than just development; it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement: Rusty Cavalier, Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

Ownership in Faerûn carries weight in both coin and standing. A share in the Waterdeep Trading Company grants a vote in council meetings, a portion of seasonal surplus, and a clear place within the guild’s long history. Greta Ironfist relies on equity shares to invite investment while keeping the company’s direction firm and stable.

This article explains how shares work within the company, how they support expansion across the Sword Coast, and how equity accounts in the Faerûn Standard Chart of Accounts record every change in ownership.

What Equity Shares Are

An equity share represents a unit of ownership. Common shares grant one vote and a portion of surplus. Preferred shares grant early surplus rights but no vote. Guildmaster shares belong only to Greta Ironfist and carry weighted voting strength.

Shares allow the company to raise funds for new routes, enchanted storage, and protection contracts. They also create a path for dedicated workers to share in long-term success.

Why Equity Shares Matter

Shares determine who guides the company. They allow outside investors to support major plans while keeping authority in the hands of confirmed shareholders. They help fund caravan lines, warehouse expansions, and arcane upgrades without drawing on moneylenders.

The share ledger maintained by the arcane treasurers keeps every transfer clear. The Scriveners’, Scribes’, and Clerks’ Guild verifies each scroll before it enters the official record.

Share Classes Used in the Company

The Waterdeep Trading Company uses three classes of shares.

This table shows how each class participates in votes and surplus.

This structure encourages investment without weakening leadership.

Equity Accounts Used for Share Management

Ownership activity is recorded in a series of equity and liability accounts. These accounts come from the Faerûn Standard Chart of Accounts and include both existing accounts and new ones created to support preferred shares, guildmaster shares, surplus tracking, and treasury share activity.

This combined table brings all share-related accounts together, making the overall structure clear.

This structure supports transparent reporting in both regular seasons and expansion periods.

Worked Example: Preferred Share Issue

The council votes to open a new trade route to Calimport. To fund the enchanted crates, caravan guards, and advance payments to Rashemi traders, the company issues 500 preferred shares at 100.00 FSD each. The nominal value is 80.00 FSD, and the remaining 20.00 FSD per share becomes share premium.

This strengthens the company’s position without altering council control.

Worked Example: Surplus Declaration

At season’s end, the council declares a surplus distribution of 12,000.00 FSD.

Payment later clears the liability.

Realms Aware Notes

Share values may rise or fall with supply routes, arcane costs, seasonal demand, or shifting regional tariffs. Trade lines in Luskan or the North may require preferred share structures to attract outside backing.

The Scriveners’, Scribes’, and Clerks’ Guild must seal every transfer scroll before it becomes valid. This keeps the ledger clean and reduces disputes in high-value share exchanges.

Final Thoughts

A strong share structure supports the Waterdeep Trading Company as it grows. These accounts keep every change in ownership clear, protect decision-making rights, and ensure that surplus is shared fairly. With a unified ledger and well-defined share classes, the company stands ready to expand across Faerûn with confidence.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon page where supporters can access exclusive content, tools, and training labs, and even influence the project’s future. Your support fuels more than just development; it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement: Rusty Cavalier, Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

In a realm where caravans share the roads with wyverns and trade ships brave seas patrolled by sahuagin, commerce must be guarded as fiercely as it is managed. The Waterdeep Trading Company, ever watchful of both profit and peril, has expanded its reach through the Complete Merchant Stall Program, a fully managed retail partnership combining supply, training, branding, enchanted marketing, and now, comprehensive protection for both merchants and their goods.

This initiative turns local traders into empowered partners, equipped with training, logistical support, and the trusted crest of Waterdeep’s premier trading guild, all while operating under the protective watch of Company-hired guards and warding specialists.

What It Is

The Complete Merchant Stall Program is a turnkey merchant partnership that provides everything needed to operate an official Waterdeep Trading Company retail stall. Each stall is outfitted with preselected goods, standardized signage, and embedded magical safeguards, all supported by advanced accounting and replenishment systems built within Dynamics 365 Faerûn Edition.

Participants receive shipment coordination through the Company’s caravan, sea, or portal networks and gain access to financial integration, profit-sharing, and now, professional-grade Protection and Security Services that safeguard goods in transit and merchants at the stallfront.

Every partnership is backed by the Waterdeep Trading Company’s honor and defense guarantees, making it one of the safest and most profitable ventures available in Faerûnian commerce today.

Why It Matters

Trade across the Realms is not without danger. Bandits, magical mischief, and rival guild interference have long plagued independent merchants. The Waterdeep Trading Company understands that a profitable partnership is only as strong as its security.

The Complete Merchant Stall Program ensures that every stall operates with the same logistical precision, brand power, and now, defensive infrastructure, enjoyed by the Company’s headquarters on the Sword Coast.

Merchants receive the stability of centralized operations, the prestige of the Waterdeep name, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their livelihood is protected by trained guards, warding glyphs, and contracted escort companies.

Components of the Program

Stall Vendor Training

The Waterdeep Trading Company believes that a skilled merchant is as vital as a stocked shelf. Each partner undergoes the Stall Vendor Training Series, designed to combine commerce, magic, and safety.

All graduates earn the Waterdeep Merchant Seal, authorizing the operation of branded stalls across Faerûn.

Stall Marketing and Signage

Marketing within Faerûn blends craftsmanship, artistry, and subtle magic. Every partner stall includes a complete branding and signage kit:

  • Crest Banner of Waterdeep, woven in enchanted thread that resists fire, water, and illusory tampering.
  • Illuminated Pricing Plaques displaying exchange rates in local tender.
  • Soundstone Announcers broadcasting promotions or bardic jingles.
  • Holo-Banners that shimmer with current seasonal campaigns.
  • Rune-Marked Loyalty Tokens, trackable across all partner stalls via the shared ledger.

Each region receives localized aesthetic adjustments, for instance, copper and teal tones for Baldur’s Gate or silvered frostwood panels for Icewind Dale stalls. These variations respect local culture while maintaining brand recognition across the Realms.

Social Media and Bardic Partnerships

The Company has partnered with bardic guilds and illusionist messengers to maintain presence through BardLink, Faerûn’s premier network of enchanted media and public broadcasts.

Merchants may promote their stalls through:

  • BardLink Feeds: Performers singing product highlights or enchantment demos.
  • IllusionPost Walls: Visual advertisements displayed in taverns and marketplaces.
  • GuildTag Promotions: Sigil-linked broadcasts connecting all Waterdeep-branded merchants.

Each stall gains a monthly media budget to commission bards or illusionists for promotional performances, ensuring continuous engagement with local patrons and adventuring parties.

Protection and Security Services

The Waterdeep Trading Company now extends its influence into protection and logistics security through the Guild Guard Partnership, administered by Korrek Ironhand, Chief of Security and decorated veteran of the Baldur’s Gate campaigns.

Each merchant stall and delivery caravan receives tiered security coverage based on product value and location risk:

Deliveries are safeguarded through a dedicated Secure Freight Network, operating enchanted chests sealed with sigils traceable via the Company’s Logistics Ledger. Lost or damaged goods trigger automatic insurance reimbursement through the Arcane Treasury Office, ensuring merchants are never left vulnerable to misfortune or malice.

Example:
A Silver-tier merchant in Silverymoon receives bi-weekly shipments of enchanted lanterns. Each crate is warded with a tracing glyph, and guards accompany it through Evermoor Way. In the rare event of ambush, a scry-linked orb alerts nearby Company watchposts to dispatch aid.

Worked Example: The Alchemist of Athkatla

Marwen, an aspiring alchemist, joined the program and received her Alchemy & Curiosities Stall. Her stock, potion bases, herbal extracts, and focus crystals, was shipped via Company caravan escorted by a Silver-tier protection detail.

Her stall’s luminous signage displayed her products beneath an enchanted glass canopy. BardLink promotions featuring the jingle “Marwen’s Mixtures Make Magic Manageable” echoed through Athkatla’s promenade.

One night, thieves attempted to breach her supply chest. The warding glyph triggered an auditory illusion, a phantom guard patrol, and dispatched a warning via her scry orb to the local Company guard post. Within minutes, the culprits were apprehended, and her inventory remained untouched.

Her monthly report, automatically posted to her Faerûn D365 ledger, confirmed a profit increase of 32 percent with no losses.

Realms-Aware Considerations

Security services adhere to the Guild Code of Defense, ensuring lawful, proportional protection within city jurisdictions. Magical warding follows the Mage Guild Arcane Trade Accord, guaranteeing that deterrence enchantments cause no harm to customers or non-aggressors.

All security operatives are members of the Mercenary’s Charter of the Sword Coast, trained in nonlethal subdual and cargo escort. No stall is left undefended, and all shipments are traceable from warehouse to storefront.

Additionally, all alchemical and organic components, such as Troll Fat Extracts and serpent oils, are ethically sourced, honoring the Trollkind Preservation Compact and Venomcrafting Charter of Chult.

Final Thoughts

The Complete Merchant Stall Program is a fusion of commerce, enchantment, and security, an entire ecosystem of prosperity and protection. By combining merchant training, bardic marketing, and robust defensive support, the Waterdeep Trading Company ensures that every stall operates as a beacon of reliability and safety across Faerûn.

From Waterdeep’s glittering wards to Icewind Dale’s frozen markets, merchants can now trade with confidence, knowing that their livelihood, their customers, and their goods are protected under the crest of Waterdeep.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon where supporters can gain access to exclusive content, tools, training labs, and even influence the future of the project. Your support fuels more than just development ,  it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt, and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn, and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here: Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Jesper Livbjerg, Peter Lorre, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement:  Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted, and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

In the mystic halls of the Waterdeep Trading Company’s Department of Arcane Inscription, a new craft has emerged that bridges art, magic, and structured design: GlyphForge.
GlyphForge serves as both a philosophy and a system, a structured language of symbols that can describe, evoke, and empower. Much like accountants use ledgers and artificers use schematics, glyphwrights use glyphs to bind meaning and magic into form.

This guide provides the full codified structure of the Glyphic Arcanum, a system that standardizes the creation, fusion, and interpretation of glyphs across the known realms.

What Is GlyphForge

GlyphForge is a structured design system for creating, explaining, and visualizing ancient magical symbols. It defines every glyph as a fusion of runic logic, elemental association, and symbolic intent. Each glyph, whether carved into sandstone or inscribed upon parchment, represents a self-contained enchantment.

These symbols are carved into the ledgers of the Arcane Treasury, drawn by cartographers upon planar maps, and even etched upon cooking stones by culinary mages who seek to perfect their art.

The Structure of a Glyph

Every glyph follows a three-layered hierarchy, balancing core meaning with elemental and directional intent.

When multiple meanings overlap, glyphs are nested within a Containment Ring (⚲), ensuring magical stability.

The Logic of Symbolism

Each element follows a specific visual motif, grounded in the ancient design languages of the Arcane Guilds.

Design Standards

Glyphs must be centered in perfect geometry. They glow faintly when active and often appear etched upon stone, metal, or parchment. Each element determines the hue of its glow.

Constructing Glyphs

To create a glyph, select one symbol from each layer:

  1. Core Rune: What action is being performed?
  2. Aspect Mark: What element or essence powers it?
  3. Focus Stroke:  Who or what is affected?

Then fuse them together in sequence.
Example: ⌘ + 🔺 + ∩ = Flame Ward, a shield of protective fire surrounding an area.

For complex symbols, enclose the fusion in ⚲ to stabilize it.

Example Glyphs

Below are the most recognized glyphs of the Glyphic Arcanum.

Ingredient Glyphs

The Guild of Culinary Mages frequently inscribes ingredient glyphs into cauldrons, allowing meals to sustain magical potency.

Glyph Syntax Rules

Just as merchants rely on standardized ledgers to ensure their accounts align, so too must glyphwrights follow precise structure when combining symbols. The Glyph Syntax Rules serve as the grammatical foundation of the Glyphic Arcanum, ensuring that each rune, aspect, and focus interacts correctly within an inscription.

Without proper syntax, a glyph’s meaning can shift, unravel, or even invert, turning a ward into a snare or a blessing into a curse. These rules govern how layers are ordered, nested, or stabilized, defining whether energy flows harmoniously or collapses upon itself.

By following these conventions, artisans can craft complex and stable glyphs that remain consistent across spellbooks, scrolls, and arcane seals. This syntax is the unspoken language of magic itself, the logic that binds artistry to precision.

Every glyph name carries more than identity, it conveys purpose. The naming suffixes of the Glyphic Arcanum act as linguistic markers that reveal a glyph’s function or nature. Whether denoting creation, protection, transformation, or containment, these endings help scholars and artisans understand a symbol’s intent at a glance.

Worked Examples

Healing Flame
Fusion: ⚚ + 🔺 + ∧
Meaning: Healing fire directed toward a living being.
Visual: Central flame motif wrapped in soft, circular lines of light.

Stone Memory
Fusion: ⚷ + ⬛ + ,
Meaning: Knowledge engraved in earth, remembrance through matter.
Visual: Rectangular foundation with an inward spiral of awareness.

Bread Sigil (Moltar)
Fusion: ⚲(⚒ + ⚚ + ⌖ + ☉)
Meaning: Creation of life through craft, nurture, and fire.
Visual: A ring of grain and droplet motifs surrounding a central rising flame.

Image Prompt Guidelines

When rendering glyphs as images:

  • Use centered, circular designs.
  • Show glowing etchings on aged material.
  • Maintain symmetry and reverence.
  • Avoid modern or religious symbols.

Why GlyphForge Matters

For the Waterdeep Trading Company, GlyphForge is more than artistry, it is a business tool. Recipes, enchantments, and protection seals are all standardized using this system, ensuring that magical formulas can be transferred between workshops without misinterpretation or fraud.
Each symbol’s precise layering deters tampering, as even the smallest alteration changes its meaning or nullifies its magic entirely. Thus, the placement of a single rune safeguards both art and commerce across Faerûn.

Final Thoughts

GlyphForge unites the visual and the arcane into one structured discipline. Whether used for potion design, artifact sealing, or enchanted trade documentation, it brings clarity and consistency to the mystical craft of inscription.

As the scribes of Waterdeep often say: “A word may lie, but a glyph remembers truth.”


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon where supporters can gain access to exclusive content, tools, training labs, and even influence the future of the project. Your support fuels more than just development ,  it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt, and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here:  Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement:  Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted, and mildly judged.Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

In Faerûn, storage is more than a matter of shelf space, it is a balance between mundane logistics and arcane ingenuity. The Waterdeep Trading Company must manage everything from crates of grain and barrels of ale to relics humming with latent enchantments. Whether items are placed in physical bins, Bags of Holding, or secured within vault cells, the principles of organization and accountability remain the same, though the methods differ greatly.

What It Is

A warehouse bin is a physical location within a storage facility where items are placed for tracking and retrieval. In mundane warehouses, bins are organized by item type, serial, or lot number. In arcane operations, however, magical containers introduce entirely new dimensions, literally.

Magical containers such as Bags of Holding, Portable Holes, and Vault Cells of Holding expand space through extra-dimensional means. These containers allow a trader to store vast quantities of goods in a fraction of the space required in the physical world. Yet, their use introduces challenges in accounting, safety, and traceability.

Why It Matters

Without precise tracking, items may vanish into extra-dimensional limbo or become subject to spatial interference. The Waterdeep Trading Company uses specialized inventory controls within its enchanted warehouse system to balance efficiency and risk.

Proper bin and container management ensures:

  • Accurate stock visibility between planar and physical spaces.
  • Prevention of duplication, misplacement, or loss in dimensional folds.
  • Compliance with guild regulations for enchanted goods.
  • Efficient use of vault space for high-value or volatile items.

Components or Breakdown

Each storage method serves a distinct purpose and should be recorded differently in the company’s inventory ledger.

Worked Example: Storing Enchanted Blades

When the Waterdeep Trading Company receives a shipment of enchanted blades from the Baldur’s Gate Blacksmiths Guild, the items are classified by storage requirement:

Each entry includes a traceable ID, whether physical or magical. Items in Bags of Holding are logged using the Container Ledger, linking to the owner’s sigil for accountability.

Realms-Aware Considerations

  1. Dimensional Safety: Mixing two Bags of Holding or inserting one into a Portable Hole tears the planar fabric, releasing contents, and sometimes handlers, into the Astral Plane. Always log magical container interactions in the Arcane Safety Register.
  2. Audit Visibility: Magical inventories require synchronization spells, often performed by Sage Archivists. Each synchronization event should be tied to the general ledger’s Inventory Reconciliation journal.
  3. Teleportation Freight: Items in magical containers are subject to extra tariffs under the Guild of Transplanar Commerce. Ensure cost allocation includes dimensional fees.

Final Thoughts

Balancing physical and magical warehousing requires both discipline and enchantment. Whether managing a mundane barrel of flour or a vault-bound crown jewel, the guiding principle is the same: every item must have a home, and that home must be known to the ledger.

By uniting warehouse bin management with arcane storage tracking, the Waterdeep Trading Company maintains not only control of its stock but also mastery of the unseen spaces between planes.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.  To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon where supporters can gain access to exclusive content, tools, training labs, and even influence the future of the project. Your support fuels more than just development ,  it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons.  To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt, and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here:  Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeper path, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement:  Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted, and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?  Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

The Waterdeep Trading Company knows that profit is not only what is carried, but how, when, and in what quantity it is delivered. Perishable goods demand speed, luxury goods reward distance, and transportation—whether caravan, ship, or portal—carries its own costs. Scale, the merchant’s hidden lever, can turn a marginal route into a fortune.

Perishables: Fighting Spoilage

Perishable goods—food, drink, herbs, potions, and livestock—lose value with time. Every week of travel cuts into margin unless preserved by salt, ice, or enchantment.

  • Caravans: slow, cheaper per unit, but high spoilage.
  • Ships: faster, large loads, but weather-sensitive.
  • Portals: instantaneous, preserve freshness, but costs scale poorly.

Luxuries: Gaining with Distance

Luxury goods—spices, silks, jewelry, perfumes, planar reagents—gain value with distance. Buyers pay for scarcity, prestige, and the risks endured to bring them.

  • Caravans: increase value with each league, but invite theft.
  • Ships: move bulk luxuries at moderate cost, maximizing margin.
  • Portals: flatten distance premiums, but allow nobles to secure rare goods instantly.

The Role of Transportation & Scale

Transportation cost is not fixed. Moving one crate by teleportation circle may equal the cost of an entire caravan. Merchants calculate economy of scale before deciding the method.

Caravan Freight

  • Cost: Low per unit when wagons are full.
  • Scale Advantage: Larger caravans reduce per-unit guard and wagon costs.
  • Limitation: Spoilage eats margin for perishables.

Maritime Shipping

  • Cost: Moderate per unit, with large holds reducing cost further.
  • Scale Advantage: Best for bulk grain, silks, and ore.
  • Limitation: Risk of storms and piracy.

Arcane Portals

  • Cost: Extremely high base (e.g., 500 FSD per casting).
  • Scale Advantage: Costs spread across more goods if the portal is fully loaded.
  • Limitation: Not suited to bulk, but invaluable for high-value perishables and urgent luxuries.

Comparative Economics Table

To bring these principles together, it is helpful to compare how different goods behave under varying methods of transport and scale. The following table illustrates the practical economics of moving both perishables and luxuries by caravan, ship, or portal, showing not only the base cost of each method but also how per-unit expenses shift when moving small loads versus bulk consignments. By examining both spoilage and appreciation alongside transportation cost, merchants can see where profit is gained, where coin is lost, and why the Waterdeep Trading Company selects routes with such care.

Realms-Aware Considerations

While ledgers and tables reveal the numbers, true trade in Faerûn is shaped by the lands, climates, and powers that goods must cross. A caravan moving through the frozen North faces different challenges than a ship sailing to Calimshan, just as planar imports demand rules unlike any mortal route. These local and magical conditions shape spoilage, scarcity, and demand in ways no simple calculation can capture. The following considerations highlight the realities that every Waterdeep Trading Company factor must weigh before sending a wagon, ship, or spell across the Realms.

  • Bulk vs. Urgency: Grain caravans thrive on scale; healing potions justify portal expense.
  • Climate: Hot regions make portal transport more attractive for perishables.
  • Noble Demands: Aristocrats often pay for instant luxury, ignoring efficiency.
  • Planar Imports: Exotic reagents justify high costs because no local substitute exists.

Final Thoughts

Economy of scale separates thriving merchants from failed ones. Perishables belong to wagons and ships unless urgency demands portals. Luxuries grow more valuable with distance, but risk premiums and transport costs must be measured carefully. The Waterdeep Trading Company prospers by balancing spoilage, scarcity, transportation, and scale to turn every journey into profit.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.

To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon where supporters can gain access to exclusive content, tools, training labs, and even influence the future of the project. Your support fuels more than just development ,  it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons

To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt, and Eryndor Fiscairn, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here:  Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeperFpath, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement:  Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted, and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?

Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!

In Faerûn, wealth flows in two forms: the clean decimals of the guildhall and the jangling coins of the marketplace. The Waterdeep Trading Company unites both under a dual system of Financial Currency (FSD) and Coinage Currency. To better support large-scale trade, a new instrument has been added to the ledger ,  the Faerûn Pound Note,  bridging noble contracts and inter-kingdom finance with trust and paper.

Financial Currency: The Faerûn Standard Dollar and Pound

The Faerûn Standard Dollar (FSD) remains the base reporting unit for all accounts. It is now joined by the Faerûn Pound Note (FPN), a high-value financial denomination equal to 20 FSD. The Pound Note is not minted but scribed, sealed, and backed by vaults ,  a symbol of trust between guilds and noble houses.

Usage:

  • FPN: Treasury bonds, noble house contracts, cross-border financing
  • FSD: Guild ledgers, ERP, taxation
  • Shillings, Pence, Farthings: Decimal fractions for books, not minted

Coinage Currency: Minted for the People

Coins remain the lifeblood of Faerûn’s markets. Here, shillings follow the traditional rule of 12 pence to the shilling, a standard that predates the decimal ledger.

Reconciling Ledger and Market

The Waterdeep Trading Company enforces a clear reconciliation between the ledger and the purse:

  • 1 Pound Note = 20 FSD
  • 1 FSD = 10 Ledger Shillings = 100 Pence
  • 1 Market Shilling = 12 Pence ≈ 0.12 FSD
  • 1 Penny = 4 Farthings = 0.01 FSD

Thus, a merchant may sign a contract for 5 Pound Notes, while the tavern still demands a shilling for ale.

Time-As-Money

The currency also mirrors labor:

  • 1 Pound Note ≈ 20 days of work
  • 1 FSD ≈ 1 day of work
  • 1 Ledger Shilling ≈ 1 hour (decimalized)
  • 1 Market Shilling ≈ 1¼ hours (traditional)
  • 1 Penny = 15 minutes
  • 1 Farthing = 3–4 minutes

Guild proverbs reflect both sides:
“Count pounds in the ledger, but shillings in the street.”
“Never waste a farthing’s time.”

Final Thoughts

The introduction of the Faerûn Pound Note marks a turning point in the Realms’ finance. Ledgers now have a high-value denomination for great contracts, while coins remain unchanged for daily trade. The FSD keeps decimals neat for ERP, the Pound Note enables treasury-scale trust, and the shilling-penny-farthing chain preserves cultural authenticity.

The Waterdeep Trading Company thrives because it honors both: the ink of the ledger and the weight of the coin.


Support the AD&D365 Project on Patreon.

To grow this world, we’ve launched an official Patreon where supporters can gain access to exclusive content, tools, training labs, and even influence the future of the project. Your support fuels more than just development ,  it expands the guildhall, forges new scrolls, and empowers the next generation of configuration wizards.  Begin your journey: https://www.patreon.com/adnd365/

A Grateful Salute to Our Patrons

To all those who stand behind the vision, thank you for helping bring this world to life. Our Benefactors, Andre Breillatt, and Eryndor Fiscairn‡, your boundless generosity fuels the arcane core of this project. Without your magic, the weave would falter. Our Apprentices, the spell engines turn and the training labs thrive thanks to our current Apprentices: Michael Ramirez and Andreth Bael’Rathyn‡. Special thanks to our past Apprentices, whose contributions helped us get here:  Ralf Weber, Wendy Rijners, Shashi Mahesh, Julia Tejera, Ben Ekokobe, Tiago Xavier, Naveen Boyinapelli, Marcos Tadeu Wolf, Kathryn Greene, Jason Brown, Mark Christy, and Ashish Singh. Our Initiates, Gregory Brigden, and Martin Grahm, your commitment marks the start of the deeperFpath, stepping beyond mere observation into the active shaping of this realm. Our Followers, your steady presence along the journey is a beacon of encouragement:  Eric Shuss, Sunil Panchal, Sarah D. Morgan, Nick Ramchandani, Daniel Kjærsgaard, and Tomasz Pałys. And our Voyeurs, Harry Burgh, Abdelrahman Nabil, and Basil Quarrell, ever watching from the shadows, clearly intrigued… but not enough to part with a single gold piece. Your silent curiosity is noted, and mildly judged.

Want to design your own economic models in Faerûn?

Get your own AD&D365 Environment and guides at adnd365.com/start, and request access to the public view of the current database at https://public.adnd365.com – Login npc@adnd365.com, Password N0nPl@yC#822!