Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post
Overview
The Bonesetter of the Torfast Trading Post is an Imperial title awarded to an Imperial Orc citizen. It is part of the Northern trade network which effectively came into being shortly before the Autumn Equinox 380YE, with the construction of the offices of the Overseer of the Westward Road in Delev.
In the past, the Winterfolk maintained trade routes south and west from the town of Torfast in southern Skarsind. In the years since Skarsind was recovered, the roads were repaired and some work went towards re-establishing trade, but the Wintermark focus was more on the routes through the passes into Hahnmark in the north-east. When the Winterfolk withdrew from Skarsind, and the Imperial Orcs claimed it, several of their bonesetters began to look east and south, eager for the opportunity to restore the valuable trade routes with Hercynia, Temeschwar, and Karov.
Similar trading posts were established in the Glen of Shadows, in Temeschwar city, and eventually in Delev in Karov (the Treji Northern Wayhouse, the Northern Traders Guild, and the mercantile office of the Overseer of the Westward Road respectively). These improved the opportunities in Torfast, widening the range of goods that could be acquired to include herbs from Hercynia, metals from Temeschwar, and the bounty of the forests of Varushka.
In Summer 381YE, in response to an opportunity offered by the Thule orcs of Otkodov, a new partner joined the Northern Trade Network bringing valuable crystal mana to the markets of the northern Empire. This crystal mana, of course, remains available only while the Empire remains at peace with the Thule. Following the Autumn Equinox 384YE, the activities of dreadful heralds in the forests of Metri threatened to sever Temeschwar from the network, leading to instability along the trade routes, reducing the options available via the southern trade route. During the Winter Solstice 384YE the Order of the Rod and Shield were instructed to go and clear out these heralds which saw the disruption to trade end.
During the Summer of 385YE, following the construction of the Temeschwar-Otkodov Mana Exchange far more traders from Otkodov are making the trip to Temeschwar to sell their wares instead. The completion of the Iron Roads saw an influx of Varushkan trade goods passing through Delev Market in Karov, providing additional opportunities to purchase goods from them.
Responsibilities
The Bonesetter is expected to keep the trade flowing along the roads that lead from Skarsind south through Temeschwar, east into Varushka, and west into Hercynia. The close contact with the traders allows ample opportunity for the Bonesetter to acquire supplies at bargain prices. If one of the three existing trade routes were endangered, the production of the Torfast Trading Post would be endangered, and the Bonesetter would likely be responsible for working with representatives of the other nation to restore it.
Powers
Ministry
| Southern Route (Temeschwar) | |
| 7 Crowns | 5 measures of beggar's lye, 4 ingots of weltsilver, and 3 ingots of green iron |
| 17 Crowns | 10 measures of beggar's lye, 8 ingots of weltsilver, and 6 ingots of green iron |
| 35 Crowns | 15 measures of beggar's lye, 12 ingots of weltsilver, and 9 ingots of green iron |
| Western Route (Hercynia) | |
| 7 Crowns | 5 drams of bladeroot, 4 drams of true vervain, 4 measures of ambergelt, and 2 measures of dragonbone |
| 17 Crowns | 10 drams of bladeroot, 8 drams of true vervain, 8 measures of ambergelt, and 4 measures of dragonbone |
| 35 Crowns | 15 drams of bladeroot, 12 drams of true vervain, 12 measures of ambergelt, and 6 measures of dragonbone |
| Eastern Route (Karov) | |
| 7 Crowns | 6 measures of ambergelt, and 2 measures each of iridescent gloaming, beggar's lye, and dragonbone |
| 17 Crowns | 12 measures of ambergelt, 4 measures each of iridescent gloaming, beggar's lye, and dragonbone |
| 35 Crowns | 18 measures of ambergelt, 6 measures each of iridescent gloaming, beggar's lye, and dragonbone |
| 60 Crowns | 24 measures of ambergelt, 8 measures each of iridescent gloaming, beggar's lye, and dragonbone |
| Northern Route (Urdur) | |
| 8 Orichalcum | 8 mana crystals |
| 19 Orichalcum | 16 mana crystals |
| 39 Orichalcum | 25 mana crystals |
As a ministry, the title of Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post allows the holder to purchase quantities of special materials at a set price. The Bonesetter makes their decision on how much money to spend during downtime from their character page. Money is removed from, and resources are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.
Unlike a standard ministry, the Torfast Trading Post deals with merchants from four neighbouring territories - Hercynia, Temeschwar, Karov, and Urdur in Otkodov. As such, the Bonesetter has not one but four streams from which they can purchase material. The Bonesetter can spend differing amounts on each stream - for example, they could spend 17 crowns on one, 7 on another, and none on the third and fourth.
The Eastern Trade route represents the ability to buy additional goods from Varushkan traders, and thanks to the Iron Roads offers additional opportunities to buy goods. This additional opportunity remains available as long as the Iron Roads continue to support the transportation of valuable materials easily through Delev market.
Following the imposition of sanctions on trade with Otkodov during the Winter Solstice 382YE, the cost to purchase crystal mana increased by roughly two-fifths reflecting the fact that the crystal mana and the orichalcum were both subject to tariffs when they crossed the border with the Thule nation. The Imperial Senate voted to amend tariffs on the Thule during the Autumn Equinox 384YE to grant them free trade which saw the costs of purchasing from the Thule reduced to the level before sanctions were imposed.
Appointment
This title is appointed during the Spring Equinox by Imperial Orcs who control military unit personal resources who supported an Imperial army during the previous year. The larger the military unit an individual has, and the more often they supported the Imperial armies, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.
Only an Imperial Orc character may hold this title. They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. They cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Equinox 386YE | Bloodcrow Reek | 97 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 385YE | Ringforge Kerath | 81 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 384YE | Ringforge Kerath | 195 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 383YE | Rek | 58 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 382YE | Tulva | 34 Votes |
| Spring Equinox 382YE | Irontide Kragg | |
| Spring Equinox 381YE | Irontide Kragg | |
| Spring Equinox 380YE | Irontide Kragg |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Bloodcrow Reek; it will be reelected at Spring Equinox 387YE. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
The Title in Play
The role does not provide additional information about events in the Empire, nor allow the player holding it to request special reports or downtime actions. These details are assumed to be below the abstraction layer. The title holder is encouraged to create their own stories about their activities within reasonable limits and to get involved in events appropriate to their title during the game, but they do not have any powers beyond those explicitly listed in the section on powers.
These details exist partly to provide context and character to the role - and partly to allow our writers to use the title as a plot hook. Plot that involves the position will be rare - but all the campaign positions in Empire have these details to create the potential for it to happen.