We've completely redone how commodities are introduced into the system.

Townes now produce raw materials, which are then refined by the
cities/councils. Raw materials must be transported from the townes to a
city's refinery room by requesting, leading, loading, and delivering a
caravan. Caravans are obtained from the city's refinery room.

Townes can set the price at which raw materials will be sold.
Cities/councils can set the price at which they will purchase raw
materials. It's probably in the best interests of the cities and
councils to ensure that their citizens can make some money delivering
raw materials.

Raw materials are processed by the refinery automatically. Every so
often, one lot of the raw material will be consumed, and some
commodities will be added to the city's comm shop. As an example, when
one lot of rock is consumed, a stone commodity will be added, an
obsidian commodity will likely be added, but something like diamond or
emerald will only rarely be added.

While transporting a caravan (which can take some time), you may be
attacked by bandits who wants to steal the raw materials from your
caravan. It might be a good idea to take some friends with you.

Relevant commands for this new system can be found in HELP COMMODITIES,
HELP TRADE, HELP TOWNE AIDES, and HELP TOWNE GOVERNORS.

We're going to leave the existing comm shops that aren't in townes open
for a little while longer, while we iron out the inevitable bugs with
this sytem. At some point in the near future, they will be removed.

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Naturalis, in the year 483 AD.