easiest way I found to make some quick cash in bryt is buying salt/ores/whatevs in villages, you can usually make a few hundred per item.
I make my money by slavery. Even near-useless low-tier bandits like morths are worth over 100 gold (because I don't remember how to spell Brytenwalda's currency) each. On top of this, lots of low-tier units from towns and villages have blunt weapons so you can just nab those guys and unleash a horde upon the bandits, gaining plenty of new, breathing investments. I've made enough to buy a boat and a lair (40000 total) in 100 days and maintain a ~2500 gold army constantly, with some stimulus from tournaments of course.
On that note, how do you increase your prisoner capacity?
So.... Started a new player who was suppose to have lived a hard life and struggled his way to the top, won a tournament in the first city I entered, and won the best armor in the game right off the bat (Brytenwalda). So much for a challenge.
I've gotten a few swords from the tournaments. I kept the first and gave the others to my companions. I've yet to win anything else.
My other special gear includes the golden helmet from the hero in the sacred grove and the shield from one of the bandits in the cave. I think I got an axe or something from one of the cave bandits too, but I threw it out at the market because I didn't need it.