PAXLAIR, CHESAPEAKE - Ideas for a Merchant Association are starting to swirl around the shops in PaxLair, a city on Chesapeake. A simple bar maiden, Vienne, of the PaxLair Survival Shop approached some of the local shopkeepers with ideas to start a merchant association. They agreed some organization would really help their businesses and also help service all the patrons of PaxLair and the realm.

There are more than 15 shops in the local PaxLair area and all sell various goods at various rates and quality. Many have full time vendors within their shops, but PaxLair is best known in the merchant market for "over-the-counter" service.

Vienne is originally from Delucia and has worked at the PaxLair Survival Shop for several weeks.

"Here is what I propose," Vienne said. "There are several shops in PaxLair, some of them are run by actual shopkeepers but many of them choose to only leave vendors. If a merchant association could get word out that these shops exist and to bring in customers, it would encourage many people in running their own shop, which I believe is a wonderful element to the town of PaxLair. Also the association would see that the shops do not fight each other for the market (therefore none would go out of business).

"Also most importantly, this association could stimulate the economy by hiring the locals to do certain work such as: gather hides, cut wood, mine ingots, etc. In turn this would give the locals gold to shop with, increasing the demand for goods. The shops would need to hire more people to supply the demand. Gold would be exchanging hands and stimulating the economy.

"Of course this does not happen over night. It takes hard work, lots of organization and the support of the townsfolk and merchants," Vienne concluded with a smile.

"We can get a real economy going here," said Luthien, Chairman of the PaxLair Council.

A merchant association, in Mayor Winfield's opinion, is extremely consistent with the city's focus on openness to all and a major crossroad in Britannia. "Shops draw people," he said, "and when people come, much more happens in our city than just buying and selling. The latest legends are told and the adventurers meet new people. The association can help us add to the commercial workforce and streamline how we offer the best goods."

"Many people ask me about opening a shop or offering to work in one of the shops," Mayor Winfield continued. "Yet, it is difficult to reach many of the proprietors and know what their needs are. I hope the merchant association will help solve this problem."

People interested in this merchant association are encouraged to contact Vienne in the PaxLair Survival Shop. She is usually there every evening according to the Eastern Sky.