Explorations and trade routes of the Tileans, showing the Silk Road.
The Silk Road, also called the Old Silk Road, is a great commercial artery that stretches overland across the Known World's largest continental landmass and connects the markets of Grand Cathay in the Far East to those of the nations of the Old World in the west.[1a]
The ancient Dwarf road leading from Tilea into the Worlds Edge Mountains and the old Dwarf holds had long been known to Tilean merchants. Usually it was Dwarf traders who used this road to reach the cities of Tilea and the coast, where they could exchange metals and gems for High Elf gold, pearls, exotic timber and other luxuries brought in on ship from Ulthuan. Of course some enterprising Tilean merchants followed the road back to the Dwarf kingdoms where they tried to introduce the Dwarfs to such luxuries as wine, perfume and soap, but without much success![1a]
As to what lay beyond the Dwarf kingdoms, to the east little was known. The Dwarfs just tugged their beards, shook their heads and advised the Tileans not to go there. Beyond the mountains, they said, there was just a barren wilderness inhabited by Goblins and Chaos Dwarfs. Those who went barely two day's journey into the east found this to be true.[1a]
Then one day, the brothers Ricco and Robbio, Tilean merchants operating in Karaz-a-Karak, bought a tattered but exceptionally fine silk banner from some Dwarf adventurers who had been far to the east. They claimed to have captured it from a band of Hobgoblins. The banner bore the symbol of a Cathayan Dragon, and the Dwarfs, not bothered about keeping what they believed to be an Elf banner, were eager to sell it for gold.[1a]
The significance of the banner was not lost on Ricco and Robbio. If it was an Elf banner captured by the Hobgoblins, it could be the answer to a question which had been vexing the minds of many Tilean merchants: was it possible to get to Ulthuan by going eastwards as an overland route instead of sailing westwards over the sea? If such a thing were possible, it could mean that Ulthuan was at the eastern end of the great Old World continent! It would also mean that the mortal world was round and not flat as most people believed.[1a]
Elven seafarers had never revealed much about Ulthuan. The Norse seemed to think it was an island. Marco Colombo in his writings speculated as to whether it was an island or a peninsula of a great northern continent attached to Lustria. He believed, as did many others, that only this could explain where the Dark Elves came from and why they fought against the High Elves.[1a]
Ricco and Robbio suspected that if they journeyed far enough to the east they would either arrive in Ulthuan, or maybe even Lustria, or on the far coast of the Old World continent opposite Ulthuan. Unfortunately this coast might be held by Dark Elves whom it was generally agreed were undesirable trading partners. The fine workmanship of the silk banner and its Dragon motif suggested a High Elf origin. Perhaps it had been lost in battle with the Dark Elves and captured by Hobgoblin lackeys in their employ?[1a]
Ricco and Robbio scoured the Dwarf strongholds of the Worlds Edge Mountains seeking more artefacts of Elven workmanship which had come out of the east. They acquired a small hoard of objects including scrolls bearing what appeared to be Elven writing, weapons, and silks which Dwarf traders were pleased to sell for gold.[1a]
The two brothers returned to their home city of Verezzo and tried to raise funds for an expedition into the east. Their intention was to find an overland route to Ulthuan and possible even Lustria. This would avoid the hazards of a long sea voyage and show the High Elves that they might rule the seas but not the land. Also it would enable Verezzo to get one up on her trading rivals in Remas, which was enjoying a monopoly on the western sea trade at the time.[1a]
The Prince of Verezzo was very enthusiastic and all the Merchant Princes of the city followed his example. Merchants from Luccini, Miragliano, and Pavona also contributed to the enterprise. It was decided that the expedition was so dangerous that only a powerfully armed force could be expected to fight its way across the continent. Therefore a great mercenary army was gathered, led by the best mercenary commanders of the day. Furthermore, there was a large civilian contingent of merchants, artisans, craftsmen and others, together with their wives and camp followers. The baggage train stretched for over a mile.[1a][1b]
The intention was to set up a trading post as far east as possible. As the expedition passed through the lands of the Border Princes it gathered further contingents motivated by a sense of adventure. When it reached the Dwarf Kingdom, several Dwarf contingents joined the column, notably Troll Slayers, attracted by the generally held belief that the expedition was doomed! In 1699 IC the expedition, now numbering over a thousand Tileans and various other mercenaries, left Karaz-a-Karak for the east, travelling up the Worlds Edge Mountains to the Road of Skulls and beyond![1b]
It was many years before anyone in Tilea heard of the fate of the expedition or what they had discovered. Then in 1714 a merchant caravan of pack yaks arrived at Verezzo, laden down with bundles of silk. With the bales of silk came a message from Ricco and Robbio explaining that they were now residing in the westernmost outpost of the Empire of Cathay! Of course, up to then no one in Tilea, or for that matter the Old World, had known that Cathay existed at all.[1b]
It was now clear that there was no eastern route to Ulthuan or Lustria. The world was indeed flat and much much larger than anyone could have imagined. Instead of Elves, the Tileans had encountered an entirely unknown realm. Indeed it was a populous empire of vast extent and unimaginable wealth.[1b]
Apparently Ricco and Robbio had not been permitted to enter the Empire of Cathay because, as the Cathayans had politely explained, they were hairy and uncouth barbarians! However, the Emperor Wu, greatest of all the Cathayan Emperors, had been intrigued by these strangers. He had been delighted with the return of the banner of the Palace Guard and was gratified to receive the submission and tribute of the entire land of Tilea![1b]
This caused great mirth in Verezzo where they guessed that the cunning Ricco and Robbio had appealed to the vanity to this oriental potentate in order to avoid being summarily beheaded! The message went on to say that the Emperor had agreed to hire the entire expedition having been impressed by a mock battle which the mercenaries had held off a small part of the Cathayan army. The Tileans accompanying the pack yaks explained that it had not been a 'mock' battle and the army, although small by Cathayan standards had in fact outnumbered the Tileans by about three to one![1b]
Since that time a merchantile quarter has flourished in Shang-Yang which is the westernmost of the Cathayan fortress towns on the 'Silk Road'. This is the name by which the trade route to Cathay, opened up by Ricco and Robbio has become known. Trading caravans go along this route very rarely and only a few reach their destination due to the terrible hazards of the journey and the scourge of the Hobgobla Khan and his great horde which, when all his loyal tribes are drawn up for the battle, is said to extend from horizon to horizon![1b]
The mercenaries in Shang-Yang have become 'guests' of the Emperor of Cathay and valued warriors in his service. The Emperor uses these troops to help defend his western frontier against the wrath of the Hobgobla Khan. Of course by doing this, the Tileans serve their own interests by keeping open the Silk Road.[1b]