[b]Seven Rivers, Lydiah[/b]

Thane Iliah looked up from his book. He was standing on his balcony during the late evening, facing the sea. Before him lay a beautiful land, blossoming with fruit and flowers. It was watered by the Seven Rivers, which gave the province its name. Roughly three miles away lay the small port town of Melian, the only major settlement in the region. Even from this distance, Iliah could see the ships sailing to-and-fro across the bay and the long, narrow barges gliding through the many canals that entered the town, heading inland. 

The province was flourishing. Trade was high, citizens from northern Lydiah were flocking southwards for their holidays, and Iliah had just been chosen as the governor of one of the new city states in the New World. Never before had he been tasked with such a responsibility.

A noise behind him caused him to cease his ponderings and turn, revealing a messenger.
"My lord," he began. "A message from the Duke has arrived. I bore it here as swiftly as I could." The Thane plucked the scroll from the servants hands and thanked him. He fumbled with the seal and unravelled the parchment, which was lined with the long, loopy handwriting of Elvahn. 

[hider=The Message]
To the Thane Iliah,

As you will probably know, the economy is improving at the moment. I therefore have two commands for you:

1) Make Seven Rivers a free trade area, much how the Lance Empire has done in some of its territory. We need to attract even more trade parteners.
2) To begin this process, send messages to Corustaria. We have yet to form any kind of relationship with them, and it is high time we did so. Offer, with my blessing, to trade with them whatever you have to offer. Melian will be the main port town for trade with their nation.

I wish you all the best, and hope that you will continue to rule greatly and benevolently over Seven Rivers, and the city-state you shall govern hereafter.

From his Grace,
Duke Elvahn.
[/hider]