As always Gents, my two bits. If you don't like Terry's time line, just switch up the names and faces to suit. - Far from a complete list and very long.
The whole trade of Saralis, U-Lyshak and most of the trade of Zor (before it?s destruction) would have gone through Cynar and Norek. And their would have been a big rivalry between Norek and Lethys.
Not necessarily Walt. Zor had some low lands along the the inland seas, there are also two large arteries from L'kyran (lower inland sea) to the Bay of Ulor. When Zor was a power they could have very easily taken the inland seas to Lu'nak, Saralis, even to Rhakhaan and U-Lyshak. By taking the arteries the inland kingdom's had a much faster route to the outside of the west side if Jaiman. In the day and age of Rhakhaan ruling a huge portion of Jaiman, they would still be using those inland sea routes. As my father said to me my entire life, a straight line is faster. I also think it would be cheaper and offer less danger. Sure there are inland waterway pirates, but not near as many as bandits. Also, as great as the old highways may be, they lack a military presence in a number of areas making merchants a fat target. At least on the water ways, you cut that target in half, and cut the travel down by a 1/4.
So what do you do now that you have established trade on the inside coast of Saralis, you make deals with the Warlords and Jiax, The King of Saral. Which Rhakhaan would do. Trade is a must, by both land and sea, or Jaix and the Warlords can't pay off their loans, can't make further loans, can't build fortifications, pay builders, stonemasons, smiths, buy horses, pay soldiers, people to cloth the soldiers, food, cattle, gardens and peasants, cart builders... holy crap I can go on for a while.
So all of these power players are bolstering their defences and coffers by trade, raiding, conquest and expansion of farming lands, lumbering and building ships, river boats, fishing vessels. They need people, possibly offer land to those willing to swear an oath to help and not steal away profit. The honour of these warlords may be suspect, but I am thinking that the self styled King Jaix is playing nice. He would fortify everything within 100 miles and run skeleton units, bolstering his soldiers with mercenaries and local militias. Those militias may not have a choice in this. He may be forced to accept Rhakhaan forces, and once in, they will never leave. While he builds his strength up he will be sending negotiators to every warlord, but only offering real deals to those that can help him. Rhakhaan will be doing the same thing, Jaix will be looking to gain time out of these negotiation, while Rhakhaan will be looking for remote powers to build on. If Rhakhaan can get a warlord or two to work with Jaix, then it serves the Empires interests. If they can build a contingency plan in case Jaix crashes, then they will float between who they feel is the better option.
So now Jaix will work his serfs to the bone, claim and sell as much produce, fish/sea creatures, minerals as he can. He will need trading companies to take these products and he will have to sell at a smaller margin since his people may not own enough ships.
To encourage trade, he may give shipping companies a lease that lets them bypass certain taxes and tariffs. At this point Warlords will want a bit of his pie. They will start to in-fight, raids against mines, taking produce trains, Money will be a target, so the lock boxes that are being transported by other soldiers. Now there is corruption...
The Smart Warlords will probably sign on with Jaix, gaining a title of Duke. With Rhakaan backing them, there would be a sense of legitimacy to the title and the lands held by the warlord. These new Dukes may even ask for advisers, who will play a balancing act across the country trying to keep things stable while ensuring Rhakhaans interests.
What about the monsters, lugroki, garks and, add a dozen cults. Warlords sometime make friends with the wrong sort of Mages, sometimes with forces they really don't understand. Now a freshly minted Duke has a problem with one of his former allies. A necromancer or even Litch, or just a real mean SOB of a mage makes trouble, angry that he didn't get what was ?promised?.
Raiders from all sides, dip into profits, as merchants are forced to take more dangerous ways and some just don't bother. So the raiders have to be dealt with.
Lets not forget about the new Duke playing his own games, trying to undermine the King so that he can step in and become king. Now you have a strange tension between all the powers, yet they will trade and smile at each other because they need each other.
Rhakhaan will offer less tax on merchants going to Saralis, ship captains pay half the docking toll. Maybe a ministry will offer funds for merchants to go to Saralis. New roads will be built, fortifications expanded and new structures planned. Promises of land on this new frontier. One day Jaix is King the next he is a figure head for the Emperor.
I would say that with Rhakhaan's help, Saralis will see an unprecedented growth. Even if people don't feel safe they will go there, hoping to make more money on the first wave work. Every copper that Rhakhaan offers comes with a string.
You may even see war ships in the bay of Ulor, making a clear presence to discourage pirates.
Although this may seem like an annoyance for Rhakhaan, it just means Rhakhaan doesn't have to bare the brunt of the work. They can offer skilled craftsmen, resources, soldiers, training for soldiers, administrators and teachers. Rhakhaan may even provide a spy network, which will of course keep as much an eye on Jaix as the realm.
As for outside traders, I don't think Ulor wants the attention just yet. In the past Ulor would have taken what they want or charged a hefty fee to travel their water ways. Yet who is to say that Ulor didn't just let things happen, once he takes over Jaiman, he will need these traders as much as the current leaders do.
Now we have people creating hard lines for borders, unknown powers will look for ways to gain from all this sudden organization and order. Minor players could become major ones with a clever deal or betrayal.
That is just the beginning dood. What about the Lords from Rhakhaan that move the Saralis and demand land and rights? Or the churches, with the Church of Orhan demand entry to these new lands? Those cults are dug in deep, who will remove them? A local lord wants to spy on another, who will do that dirty work. A Duke kidnaps another Lords wife and the Lord wants her back ? alive and healthy... Merchants need guards. Forts want mercenaries. Sea Captains need bodies to help fend off pirates.
Of course, everything will have a string attached, and each string will lead back to the Emperor.
