Trade request from Chester

Chester has approached me today requesting wool. We recently purchased 293 balls from the Breton trader, and have 347 in stock. We have used some 500 since I took office in the end of May. I did not give Chester a correct inventory, stating that we had less on hand than is indeed in our inventory.

Based on the numbers, we use about 250 - 300 per month in Somerset. Given that there is no assured supply of wool, I am chary of offering any to Chester, and told Saj that we had none for sale at this time. I'm aware that Bath often runs a surplus, yet between Bridgewater and Chard, the County easily uses more than Bath can supply. In addition, prices for wool around England are higher than the County's buy/sell price. Cornwall, for instance, has some for sale at 12.95, while we have bought and sold at 12.00.

Does anyone feel that it would be prudent to sell 50 to 100 balls of wool to Chester, albeit at a higher price than the County sells to our towns? I do not, but wished to enquire after your thoughts.

You are correct in that we have no continuous source of wool.
We also have a lot of citizens in Somerset who will be leveling up and need clothes.
We can't keep up with wool in GC so I would say if we do give them any at all, 50 - 100 no more, and that at the best price we can get.
Somerset will be needing alot of wool ourselves.
I am sorry if this seems selfish but we must look to our own citizens first.

I also agree with this summation as wool has not been in over abundance for almost any county as is evidenced by demands for it in HOP trade threads.

Melora mentioned the other day in HOP having a small surplus that Saj might want if you wish to direct him that way.

If we do not have enough we cannot afford to be generous. It is not the most Aristotelian attitude, but we should look after our own first.

Greg, that pretty well sums up my feeling. We have as much as we do because sucessive trade ministers have made a point of purchasing all that was available at a reasonable price. Our first responsibility is to the people of Somerset, all other concerns must remain a distant second. As we have about a one month supply, I shall not reconsider my refusal to Saj.

If we do not have enough let's keep it. Our citizens come first