'Free' Traders

The ‘Free’ Traders
A small group of Merchant houses operating trading ships that continually circumnavigate the North Island. The Merchants claim no political allegiance and insofar as it is possible will trade with everyone. This open trade agreement means that in turn, pirates will tend to avoid attacking a free trader, simply because to do so would result in their home base being embargoed.
There are 6 main houses:
House Thornish (Larston)
Kellaton Free Traders (Wendover)
Sea Eagles (Tor’Karn)
Lord Marnit Trading House (Tradeport)
North West Trading Company (Royal Farport/Norport)
Golden Hawk Traders (Willston)
The ships generally used as similar to the Viking Knarr, although slightly larger (60’ long and around 16’ beam) and with rudimentary fore and stern castles. Each ship normally manages a circumnavigation in around 3-4 months and will then spend a couple of months for repairs and maintenance. Whilst the ships and crew are perfectly comfortable overnighting at sea, many of the captains will plot their courses intending to berth overnight for trading (even at small settlements).
Passengers are carried, although in general mounts will not be carried (they take up too much cargo space). Normal passenger rates are 7sp/person/day, but facilities will be rudimentary and all passengers are expected to contribute to ships welfare.