The Code of Trade Honor

The Code of Trade Honor stands as one of the most revered and enduring legacies of the Rethar people, guiding the principles of commerce, social conduct, and law for over 5,000 years. Its roots trace back to an age long before the establishment of the Rethar Kingdom—to a time when scattered tribes and small merchant clans sought order and fairness in their dealings. Initially born from necessity, the code evolved over millennia into a comprehensive system that shaped not only the economy but the very moral fabric of Rethar society.

The Birth of the Code (3100 B.T.E.)

In the early years, around 3100 B.T.E., the Rethar people were still in the throes of forming their society. Living primarily in the rugged highlands and along the coast, they engaged in regional trade with neighboring tribes and peoples, exchanging goods such as textiles, metalwork, salt, and unique coastal produce. As commerce flourished and Rethar merchants expanded their trade routes, they encountered new cultures, many with vastly different traditions and practices.

It was during this period that the first seeds of the Code of Trade Honor were planted. In the small trading settlements scattered along the coasts, merchants began to develop a shared understanding that the trust and reputation of one’s word were more valuable than gold. Trade was not just about goods, but about integrity. The earliest form of the code was a collection of informal practices, passed down through oral traditions and kept by respected elders. These principles were born out of necessity: to prevent dishonesty, ensure fair exchanges, and uphold honor between traders, no matter their origins or the size of the deal. The first version of the code contained only 20 principles—simple yet profound edicts that focused on the honor of trade. These early laws established basic concepts such as the fair valuation of goods, mutual respect between parties, and the reliability of contracts. The code emphasized the importance of maintaining one’s reputation, as a dishonest merchant would face not only personal loss but the scorn of the entire trading network.

This rudimentary code was not enforced by any central government or kingdom but through the collective conscience of the trading community. It was an oral contract, an agreement made between merchant families, coastal communities, and those who sought to join the burgeoning trade networks.

The Codification and Early Formalization (1500 B.T.E.)

By 1500 B.T.E., Rethar society had advanced significantly. The coastal settlements had grown into city-states, and the need for a formalized system of trade laws became evident. During this time, the Council of Elders, a body of respected merchant leaders, noble patrons, and wise elders, began to codify the principles of trade. The 20 principles evolved into written form, carved into stone and metal tablets that were displayed in marketplaces, guild halls, and sacred temples. These documents outlined in precise language the values and ethics of the trading community, enforcing a growing sense of shared responsibility and legal accountability.

During this era, the original Code of Trade Honor began to serve a dual purpose: it was a moral guide for individual merchants and a legal framework for merchant guilds. As the first stone tablets and scrolls were written, priests and scribes in Rethar temples took it upon themselves to preserve these principles, passing them down through generations. By this time, the Code had spread beyond the coastal regions and reached the inland cities and mountainous tribes. It became a cultural pillar, recognized not only by traders but also by the noble families that ruled the early Rethar states. The Code was not only about trade but became entwined with the social order—a way to ensure that wealth and power were exchanged fairly and that no one, regardless of status, could abuse their position for personal gain.

The Union of the Houses (500 T.E.)

In 500 T.E., a pivotal moment in Rethar history occurred with the Union of the House of Valthar and the House of Morundin, which officially formed the Rethar Kingdom. This event, forged through marriage alliances and the desire for mutual protection, brought together the disparate city-states, tribes, and merchant clans under a unified rule. The Rethar Kingdom ushered in an era of greater political stability and economic prosperity, and with it, the Code of Trade Honor took on new significance.

The Kingdom's first monarch, King Urithzan I, understood the immense value of the existing Code, but also recognized that the expanding kingdom's increasing complexity demanded a more comprehensive and legally enforceable system. As the Rethar Kingdom's borders stretched from the mountain ranges to the coastal cities, the original 20 principles of the Code were no longer sufficient to manage the complexities of growing trade networks, international relations, and the integration of new territories.

In response, the Kingdom's Council of Merchants and Royal Advisors expanded the code, transforming it from a cultural guide into a legal framework. By the time of King Valthar II, the Code had expanded to a full 50 principles—each representing a nuanced aspect of trade, commerce, and social conduct. The new laws focused on everything from interkingdom trade to diplomatic exchange and even addressed issues such as merchant guild authority, fair wages for laborers, and the treatment of foreign traders.

The principles were no longer only an ideal to aspire to; they were now laws that had to be followed, enforced by the Royal Courts of Trade and overseen by appointed Trade Governors. The expansion of the Code marked the moment when Rethar trade, commerce, and even the cultural landscape were woven tightly together. Trust, honor, and fairness were no longer abstract concepts but legal requirements for anyone involved in business or trade.

The Core of the Code: Key Tenets and Legacy

With the Code's expansion came a detailed system of dispute resolution, penalties, and remedies for violation, including fines, restitution, and in extreme cases, banishment from the trade networks. The key principles of the Code still held true: fairness in exchange, respect for agreements, and the maintenance of one’s reputation. However, it also emphasized public accountability, the rights of laborers and artisans, and the concept of shared prosperity—all woven into a legal system that balanced the power of rulers, merchants, and guilds alike.

By the time of the Rethar Kingdom's decline and the formation of the various Rather States. Code of Trade Honor remained a central tenet of society, still observed in both the legal and cultural spheres. The code’s origins—rooted in trust, fairness, and respect for trade—remain at the heart of Rethar society, passed down in written form, recited in schools, and upheld by the people in every market, guildhall, and port.

The 50 Principles of the Code of Trade Honor became the law of the land, a testament to the unity of the Rethar people under the reign of the unified kingdom, and ultimately, a moral guide for all future generations of merchants, noble families, and rulers. Even as the Rethar Kingdom itself fell into history, the Code

The Original 20 Laws of the Code of Trade Honor

Code	Principal
1. Oath of Good Faith	All traders and merchants must honor their spoken promises as if etched in stone; deceit upon the trade route leaves a stain upon one’s name that no wealth can erase.
2. Fairness of Exchange	Trade must flow at fair values. Deceptive practices such as false weights or unreasonable prices are a stain on the merchant’s honor and punishable by exclusion from markets.
3. Sacredness of Agreement	Every contract, written or spoken, holds the weight of law. Breaking one’s word in trade is an offense not only against the party but against the ancestors who honor the deal.
4. Steadfast Neutrality	Merchants are bound to trade without taking sides in conflicts. Business is sacred and must continue unbroken, so long as peace endures at the market.
5. Protection of the Innocent	No merchant shall exploit those burdened by hardship, nor seek undue profit from the poor, the orphaned, or the widow. Such acts dishonor the spirit of the trade.
6. Bond of the Guild	A merchant must remain loyal to their guild, abiding by its rules and codes. Betraying one’s guild for profit brings shame upon both house and name.
7. Debt to Kin and Heir	Debts, as matters of honor, pass to the next of kin; they are sacred until fulfilled unless a guild or court deems them unjust.
8. Mercenary Obligation	Hired guards and protectors must defend merchants solely and without favor in conflicts, safeguarding the sanctity of trade without bias.
9. Duty of Goods' Keeper	The merchant holds all responsibility for goods until the agreed exchange, treating damaged goods as a loss upon their own honor unless caused by divine or natural force.
10. Rightful Tolls and Passage	Traders may be taxed for using routes, yet this tax must be reasonable, ensuring safe passage. Excessive tolls defile the paths and are condemned.
11. Sanctity of Market Ground	Market spaces are considered sacred grounds of peace. Those who bring violence to the market disrupt the flow of the trade and risk banishment.
12. Truth in Measure	All goods must be weighed and measured truthfully, with scales and measures kept honest. False measures tarnish the merchant's name and legacy.
13. Burden of the Debt Keeper	The holder of another’s debt must approach with dignity and fairness; to harass or force undue terms upon debtors is to disgrace the spirit of trade.
14. Sacred Trust of Trade Goods	Goods entrusted for sale or transport must not be tampered with or used for any purpose other than the agreed trade. Dishonoring entrusted goods taints the trade and curses the profits.
15. Justice in Dispute	Should disputes arise between merchants, they must be settled by an impartial party within the guild or market. Public quarrels are forbidden, for they stain the market’s honor.
16. Standard of the Word	A merchant’s word, once given in promise, carries equal weight to written bond. Breaking one’s word upon the road brings dishonor not only to the speaker but to all who witness it.
17. Wealth as Responsibility	Competing merchants must honor each other’s standing and goods; foul play or slander against rivals shames the doer and is forbidden by all guilds.
18. Law of Last Claim	The wealth gained through trade must be managed with respect to the well-being of one’s kin and community. Reckless hoarding or misuse of riches brings shame.
19. Pact of Silence in Trade Secrets	If a trader dies in the line of trade, their goods and debts pass first to their kin; guild members may lay claim only if no rightful heir stands.
20. Respect for Rivalry	Any knowledge shared in confidence regarding routes, suppliers, or crafts is sacred. Betrayal of a trade secret is a wound upon honor that even wealth cannot mend.