Spider's Tollkeep

Overview

The Spider's Tollkeep is an Imperial title associated with the Spider's Dream, a unique suspension bridge that links Madruga and Sarvos. The position of tollkeeper is a sinecure, requiring minimal responsibility but offering a regular income drawn from the tolls paid by merchants crossing the bridge across the furious river Vassa.

During the reign Emperor Walter the sinecure lapsed as the bridge was allowed to fall into an increasing state of disrepair. Eventually, the cost of maintaining the sinecure in the absence of regular tolls resulted in the Senate voting to stop supporting the title. While it still existed in theory - and still had responsibility for ensuring the Spider's Dream was kept in good repair - in practice it ceased to be relevant.

Following the repairs overseen by Avisena i Ezmara i Guerra, the sinecure is once again available and was appointed for the first time in five years at the Autumn Equinox 377YE. Historically, the need for six senators from two nations to be in unanimous agreement has made this sinecure particularly difficult to assign ... The peculiar method of determining the title's holder stems from the fact that it is connected with a bridge. While it is often considered to be 'in' Madruga, the bridge spans a river and so is legally in both Madruga and Sarvos. Needless to say, this sinecure is among one of the most often contested Imperial titles, as consensus between senators from two nations has regularly proved ... difficult ... to achieve.

In Spring 380YE, Grendel orcs attached to the forces involved in the sack of Sarvos made an attempt to take advantage of unusually high flooding in the river as part of an attempt to destroy the bridge entirely, cutting the Freeborn territories off from the rest of the Empire. They were stopped by the brave action of Imperial heroes, and the bridge preserved - and along with it the ability for armies to pass from the south-western Empire into Sarvos and Tassato, and vice versa.

Following the Spring Equinox 385YE, the Jotun sent raiders to attack the bridge. Despite the best efforts of the defenders, it was seriously damaged to the point where it can no longer be safely used. With no merchants using it, there is nobody to pay tolls and thus no money coming to the Spider's Tollkeep - not until the bridge is repaired at least.

Repairing the Bridge
The damage to the Spider's Dream is quite significant. Until it is repaired, the Spider's Tollkeep receives no money from merchants passing between the Brass Coast and the League. More importantly, the damage presents significant difficulties to campaign armies trying to move between Madruga and either Tassato or Sarvos (or vice versa). Any army that does so must immediately stop in the other territory, even if they still have movement remaining. Repairing the Spider's Tollkeep is not as straightforward as restoring the Sapphire Stair; the Senate will need an appraisal to determine how best to replicate the genius of the suspension bridge's original architect without damaging its integrity.

Responsibilities

The title holder is expected to ensure that the Spider's Dream remains open and in a state of good repair. The actual job of operating the tollbridge falls to civil servants and locally recruited agents.

Powers

Merchants' Crossing

The Spider's Tollkeep gains custodianship of a sinecure. Unfortunately, thanks to the Jotun attack, that sinecure is not currently providing any money and will not do so again until the bridge is repaired. Each season the Tollkeep used to receive an income of 2 thrones drawn from the tolls paid by merchants crossing the bridge; now they get nothing.

Appointment

The Spider's Tollkeep is unusual in that it is appointed by unanimous decision of the senators of the Brass Coast and the League. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the Imperial Senate instead.

The title can be held by either a Freeborn citizen or a citizen of the League.The Spider's Tollkeep has tenure, and serves until they die or step down.

In accordance with its peculiar method of appointment, the Spider's Tollkeep can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Freeborn National Assembly, the League National Assembly, and by the Assembly of the Nine.

The Spider's Dream

The Spider's Dream is an elegant and unique bridge that spans the tumultuous river Vassa, connecting Trivento in Sarvos to Torres in the Brass Coast. It is a marvellous piece of engineering, a suspension bridge whose cables resemble the strands of a spider's web. It was built in the reign of Emperor Giovanni from designs created by the talented engineer Carmen i Dehasa i Erigo. Passage across the bridge requires a toll. The only alternative is to travel the long way round, up through Tassato.

Despite it's strategic importance, the bridge has not always been well maintained. Resources initially used to maintain it were siphoned off in the time of Emperor Walter, and the bridge became increasingly dangerous to cross. In Spring 377YE, however, the Imperial Senate took steps to ensure its restoration to full functionality - reinstating the Imperial Title of Spider's Tollkeep in the process and heading off potentially unpleasant implications for the people of both Sarvos and Madruga.

The bridge has been the target of multiple attacks in recent years. In Spring 380YE, Grendel orcs attached to the forces involved in the sack of Sarvos made an attempt to take advantage of unusually high flooding in the river as part of an attempt to destroy the bridge entirely, cutting the Freeborn territories off from the rest of the Empire. They were stopped by the brave action of Imperial heroes, and the bridge was preserved - and along with it the ability for armies to pass from the south-western Empire into Sarvos and Tassato, and vice versa.

Then in 385YE, the bridge was heavily damaged by the traitorous Stephen of Sarcombe as part of a targeted raid out of Jotun-held land in Kahraman. It became impassable, with damage to the bridge impeding the Military Council's ability to move armies between Madruga and both Sarvos and Tassato. It also made it impossible for those fleeing the invasion of Madruga by the Grendel to reach the relative safety of the League. The Senate commissioned an appraisal of the steps needed to repair the bridge at the Autumn Equinox 385YE, and the results were delivered by EEilian Sweetwater at the Winter Solstice.

Summit	Elected
Autumn Equinox 384YE	Marguerita Serafini di Sarvos
Winter Solstice 377YE	Rafa'eet i Contra i Guerra

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Marguerita Serafini di Sarvos. This title has tenure, the occupant may hold the title until it is revoked, they die or they relinquish the position. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.

Further Reading

• Dreaming in strands - 385YE Winter Wind of Fortune detailing the appraisal presenting proposals for repairing the bridge
• Shallows and miseries - Summer 385YE Wind of War detailing the attack on the bridge by the Jotun