Why Might A D&D Society Reject Traditional Kingdoms and Feudal Economic Systems in Favor of a Capitalist Market?
I'm creating a setting, and have long wanted companies and corporations to take the place of interested parties throughout the campaign. Whether that be Quest givers, Vendors, random NPCs or even a vehicle for the BEEG to carry out his schemes.
In this setting, the corporations and companies have colonized an island that has been inaccessible to anyone in Faerûn since the beginning of recoded history. It's only recently that a war between two races of dragons reached it's standstill and the aloof Gem dragons who claimed victory care very little for the activities of humans are have allowed them to settle there. The party will arrive to the island a mere 50 years into the corporations development of the land, and navigate the demands of the companies, the Dragons, and the island itself.
For some additional context, I also plan for the BBEG to be in secret control of one of these organizations, so this could have been an intentional manipulation at his hands as well.
So my question is, why might these corporations have taken power in the first place, why might the people of my alternative Faerûn adopt a free trade system?
My initial ideas felt a tad bit complicated. I've been toying with the idea that the first major corporation to gain power on the mainland was once part of an Imperial army. The army was commanded by an unjust tyrant, and years of working under his morally draining yoke stirred resentment in his Generals, who promptly rebelled and created Basho, a private army who would go on to support many of the other corporations in their infancy. Protecting stores from Kings who demanded tribute, enforcing corporate policies, and busting strikes. They will be one of the two major corporations, the other of which will be secretly commanded by the BBEG, but there will be plenty of others as well.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.