Business
Definition
A business can represent almost any structure or property that could produce an income, such as inn, a smithy, a brothel, theatre or similar structure. It shouldn't be land or a farm - if that is what you want to take then we would recommend you choose the farm resource instead. But it can represent a trader who buys and sells goods within the Empire (if you want to represent a character who travels overseas to trade then choose a fleet).
Production
A business produces 9 crowns. This represents your disposable income each season; things like supporting your lifestyle, paying taxes, and the like all exist below the abstraction layer.
Downtime Options
There are no downtime options for a business. It produces income automatically.
Upgrades
A business can be upgraded using white granite obtained from the Bourse. Each time a business is upgraded, the owner receives an additional income of 36 rings from then on.
To upgrade a business requires Imperial wains of white granite equal to the level the business is being upgraded to. So the first upgrade of a starting level 1 business costs 2 Imperial wains of white granite, from 2 to 3 costs 3 Imperial wains, etc.
Diversification
A business can be diversified to sacrifice income for resources. To diversify a business costs 1 throne. Each time a business diversifies, the owner chooses one resource produced by a mine; the business produces 2 ingots of the chosen metal but produces 36 rings less income.
The Sarcophan Delves enclave in Sarvos - the Alvetti Estates - allows a business to be diversified to gain an income of herbs as well. This also costs 1 Throne, and reduces the production of the resource by 36 rings. The business then produces two herbs of the chosen type.
National Implications
Senators in the League are chosen on the basis of who can command the most support of individuals with substantial investments in the city. This is represented by the business personal resource. A League character who has been operating a business personal resource in a League city receives 10 votes for that city's senatorial elections. If a business is upgraded - then the character who operates that business receives 2 additional votes for each upgrade.
Rituals
The table below shows a list of the rituals in Imperial lore which can affect the production of a business.
| Ritual | Effect | Realm | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streams of Silver | Produces an additional 24 rings for a season | Autumn | 2 |
| Rivers of Gold | Produces an additional 180 rings for a season | Autumn | 12 |
| Gift of the Wily Broker | Produces additional resources for a season | Autumn | 15 |
| Like Water Through Your Fingers | Reduces production by three quarters for a year | Autumn | 30 |
| Thunderous Deluge(1) | Reduces production by 72 rings for a season | Spring | 46 |
| Winter's Ghosts(1) | Reduces production by 36 rings for a season | Winter | 50 |
- This curse affects an entire territory