A Crisis of Population Density

The point at which my campaign world differs from what is described in A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe and Dungeon Masters Guide 2. A static, hereditary aristocracy seems illogical in a world where adventurers accumulate wealth and power in epic proportions. My aim is to describe a setting that is much more an extrapolation of the D&D rules, rather than an emulation of a pseudo-Medieval, high fantasy setting.

Which is not to say that Helsmuth and Eastrealm do not contain pseudo-Medieval elements and an aristocratic class. However, that is not the driving force of civilization. Instead, the basic building block is the adventurer who achieves "name level" and establishes a stronghold. This harks back to 1st edition AD&D, which is part of why I like it, but is still just as relevant in 3rd edition (particularly with the Landlord Feat as described in the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook, and the Leadership feat as described in the DMG).

Feudalism

Landlord Feat as it applies to Fighters, Clerics & Bards

how far to the next village?

Description of population density as described in MMS:WE

Contrast with my own understanding as derived from the DMG and Stronghold Builders Guide

Trade

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Empire#Silk_road

"With rare exceptions such as Marco Polo or Christian ambassadors such as William of Rubruck, few Europeans traveled the entire length of the Silk Road. Instead traders moved products much like a bucket brigade, with luxury goods being traded from one middleman to another, from China to the West, and resulting in extravagant prices for the trade goods."

I imagine that this would be the case within Eastrealm, and even moreso between the other Realms of Man (Khemet & Rokugan). It might take less than a fortnight to sail from Helsmuth to Laveril, but overland travel is much slower and more dangerous. Merchant caravans would carry goods that could not be produced locally, and travel back and forth between adjacent cities.