How do I establish a trade route?

Question

I have recently picked up King of Dragon Pass, and I like exploring the strangeness of thin setting. Many of the things either make sense to me or I'm willing to try and figure them out, or I found some guidance online for the more mechanical things I'm less willing to try and try again, but I cannot figure out how to establish a trade route.

I have sent caravans with the goal of “establish trade route” to clans near and far, allied or owing favours or friendly, before and after building a shrine to Issaries, and yet no trade route was ever established.

What are the necessary conditions to establish a route? If they are met, how do I improve the chances that it actually happens?

Answer 1

From the manual;

“Increase your ability to support trade routes by increasing the size of your Issaries shrine, spending magic on Sacred Time Trading rituals, increasing your population, and creating a tribe. Also, finding unusual raw materials on your lands will let your crafters make unique items which can boost your trading prowess.”

You didn’t mention the last (or an Issaries temple).

Answer 2

Instead of making a specific trade (e.g. Goods for Cattle), choose the Establish Route radio button as the goal.