The TR folk hardly trust their neighboring villages more than they can throw them. They're not going to welcome people from another COUNTRY into their trade with open arms. Look how many years it took Fain to gain their trust, AND what he did with it.
Last we heard, they have more immigrants now than original "natives", and the influx of people from trading nations like Arad Doman has totally changed their outlook on trade.
The TR area is already "opening up". It would certainly welcome a trade road to the South, if it was not that aside from Ghealdan, a nearly wrecked nation at the moment (Masema has all but emptied the major cities, a few of which are half burned), it only leads to Seanchan territories...
No major development like the building of a giant bridge over the Manetherendrelle and the deforestation of a large area to build a road are going to happen in the short term anyway (and in the long term, it may well become a moot point, with Ghealdan already absorbed by the Seanchan or perhaps more likely with a diplomatic settlement that will re open the normal trade routes and solve the whole problem of the Seanchan conquests. As far as we know, Jordan meant for Tuon and Mat to go to Seanchan to reconquer it five to ten years after TG, so plot twists are definitely coming on that front). It would be a feat of engineering to make such a bridge at this point (channellers could perhaps make the bridge, but no one probably has the knowledge in engineering to design it... and the knowledge to make alloys and other reinforced materials is still unrediscovered) and it's rather low priority considering that major cities like Maradon have already been razed, Cairhien and the capital of Arad Doman are in shambles etc. - with winter coming after TG and tons of people living in those areas that will need a lot of help from masons, builders, engineers and channellers (and Caemlyn itself was now in major danger, last we heard...not to mention the damages in Tar Valon).
That, and beside, the Seanchan are still at war. It's bad enough they can Travel now, no one is going to make it even easier by providing them with new mundane means to cross North. We also know from Aviendha's visions that if the war isn't stopped soon, it's not going to go well at all post TG for Elayne's alliance or the WT/channellers. They rather loose against the Seanchan, the last remainder from that side being pushed back into the Waste eventually.
So yeah, theorically a trade route north might help Ghealdan remain in the sphere of influence of Perrin and Elayne rather than fall in the Seanchan sphere (and why would that be so bad for Ghealdan anyway? It's the folk's best chance at bringing order and safety back fast, if it were not for TG starting...), but there's just too many factors in play right now anyway to predict how things will stand politically post TG...
Ghealdan needs a road
04/11/2011 07:05:21 AM
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Ghealdan does have a road to the east.
04/11/2011 02:37:38 PM
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I wonder if they'll realize they can use their explosives for road work... *NM*
04/11/2011 02:49:05 PM
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I think his point is that road goes through Seachan held northern Altara. *NM*
04/11/2011 06:10:17 PM
- 298 Views
Only if they stay on a southern course. Altara is actually farther south.
04/11/2011 07:43:01 PM
- 592 Views
Not according to the map you provided.
04/11/2011 09:01:50 PM
- 633 Views
Yes it does, actually.
09/11/2011 07:45:25 PM
- 599 Views
No, no it doesn't.
10/11/2011 03:16:19 AM
- 720 Views
I think you are incorrect, but not b/c of map - because of what the projection of force would need
10/11/2011 03:07:43 PM
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Re: I think you are incorrect, but not b/c of map ...
10/11/2011 06:05:07 PM
- 613 Views
Yes, Andor is in a bad position.
11/11/2011 10:05:09 PM
- 637 Views
Re: Yes, Andor is in a bad position.
12/11/2011 04:08:40 AM
- 699 Views
The really atypical atrocity in the Seanchan's conquests...
12/11/2011 06:55:33 AM
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Re: The really atypical atrocity in the Seanchan's conquests...
16/11/2011 09:30:09 PM
- 702 Views
Oh, is that what you think happened?
17/11/2011 06:04:12 AM
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Re: Oh, is that what you think happened?
18/11/2011 06:57:53 PM
- 655 Views
I said the road goes through northern Altara, and you disagreed, claiming Altara was further south.
10/11/2011 06:12:11 PM
- 582 Views
Yes - I said Altara is effectively south as they don't control or patrol most of their lands.
11/11/2011 09:58:41 PM
- 625 Views
Re: Yes - I said Altara is effectively south as they don't control or patrol most of their lands.
11/11/2011 11:28:40 PM
- 597 Views
Re: Yes - I said Altara is effectively south as they don't control or patrol most of their lands.
14/11/2011 05:44:42 PM
- 557 Views
A road north would be useless at this point.
05/11/2011 04:23:11 PM
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Choices of Ghealdan
07/11/2011 05:55:38 AM
- 618 Views
Re: Choices of Ghealdan
07/11/2011 03:38:03 PM
- 655 Views
A couple points
08/11/2011 12:31:57 PM
- 660 Views
A road to the TR would not be profitable.
08/11/2011 12:57:18 PM
- 574 Views
Re: A road to the TR would not be profitable.
08/11/2011 06:33:09 PM
- 667 Views