Overseer of the Westward Road
Overview
The Overseer of the Westbound Road is an Imperial title awarded to a Varushkan citizen. It is part of the Northern trade network, and was the last of the four original components completed.
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. Over Winter 379YE, work began on restoring a trading network along the northern territories with Torfast Trading Post in Skarsind as a central hub, and subsidiary offices in Delev, the Temeschwari guilds and the Treji Wayhouse.
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 to the Overseer. 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.
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.
Responsibilities
The Overseer is expected to keep the trade flowing along the roads that lead from Delev west into Skarsind and east to the rest of Varushka and Dawn. The close contact with the traders allows ample opportunity for the Overseer to acquire supplies at bargain prices - metals from Skarsind and Temeschwar, and herbs from Hercynia. To a lesser degree, the Overseer can be seen as responsible for keeping an eye on trade opportunities across the northern Empire, and ensuring that Varushkan merchants are properly positioned to take advantage of them.
Powers
Ministry
| Trade Profits | |
| 7 Crowns | 5 ingots of green iron, 3 ingots of orichalcum, 2 ingots of weltsilver, and 3 drams of bladeroot |
| 17 Crowns | 10 ingots of green iron, 6 ingots of orichalcum, 4 ingots of weltsilver, and 6 drams of bladeroot |
| 35 Crowns | 15 ingots of green iron, 9 ingots of orichalcum, 6 ingots of weltsilver, and 9 drams of bladeroot |
| 48 Crowns | 20 ingots of green iron, 12 ingots of orichalcum, 8 ingots of weltsilver, and 12 drams of bladeroot |
| Thule Trade (Urdur) | |
| 8 Ambergelt | 8 mana crystals |
| 19 Ambergelt | 16 mana crystals |
As a ministry, the title of Overseer of the Westbound Road allows the holder to purchase quantities of special materials traded from the north at a set price. The Overseer 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.
Delev welcomes Thule merchants from Otkodov, as well as Imperial merchants. As a consequence, the overseer has not one but two streams from which they can purchase material. The Overseer can spend differing amounts on each stream - for example, they could spend 17 crowns on one, and 11 measures on the other.
Following the imposition of sanctions on trade with Otkodov during the Winter Solstice 382YE, the cost to purchase crystal mana has increased by roughly two-fifths reflecting the fact that the crystal mana and the ambergelt are both subject to tariffs when they cross 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 Winter Solstice by Varushkans who control forest and mine personal resources. The larger the forest or mine an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.
Only a Varushkan character may hold this title, but there is no requirement for them to be from Delev (the title notionally involves encouraging trade throughout Varushka). They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. As a title appointed through the Bourse, they cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Solstice 385YE | Vlodikaz Ivarovich Vardovich (known as Vlod) | 45 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 384YE | Borys Vardovich Straskovich | 153 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 383YE | Borys Vardovich Straskovich | 175 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 382YE | Borys Vardovich Straskovich | 190 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 381YE | Borys Vardovich Straskovich | |
| Winter Solstice 380YE | Pavel Novak | |
| Autumn Equinox 380YE | Pavel Novak |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Vlodikaz Ivarovich Vardovich (known as Vlod); it will be reelected at the next summit. 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.