Imperial Bourse

Resources are available to those who can afford them.

Overview

The Imperial Bourse is the economic hub of the Empire. Its role is to ensure the prosperity of the Empire and to provide access to much needed resources to those who can afford them.

Role within the Empire

The Bourse is designed to ensure that ilium, mithril, weirwood and white granite are directed to where they can provide the most economic benefit, rather than being assigned by political or military patronage. Merchants bid for a position on the Bourse and those that are successful gain control of one of the Bourse positions that control production. It is then left to them to sell the resources at whatever price they can. Although there are frequent accusations of profiteering, when the market functions as intended it ensures that significant sums of money are paid to the Bourse for use by the Empire.

Decisions within the Bourse are taken by auction, with members placing money in the Bourse coffers to register their support for or against a motion. Such auctions are rare however, most of the Bourse activity is economic in nature and takes place without central organisation. The money collected by the Bourse, as part of the process of selecting members and making decisions becomes the property of the Empire.

The Bourse has gained two other roles over the years, operating the public and private auctions. The public auction is open to anyone present; most goods sold are herbs, mana crystals, resources, building materials and occasionally even Ilium are sent to the Bourse by Imperial citizens who want a good price for their goods but have neither the inclination nor the time to attend the meetings at Anvil. The private auction is for Bourse members only and sells rare and unique items that agents of the Bourse have sourced from across the Empire and the World.

Entry requirements

There are over a score of different Bourse positions, the majority of which are auctioned off once a year. Although a citizen may bid for as many positions as they choose, an individual can only hold one Imperial title. The auction itself uses an open bidding system and payments must be made immediately.

There are a handful of Bourse positions which are not auctioned off. These positions reflect the relative economic wealth and priorities of nations like Varushka. As a result these resources are controlled by vote of members of that nation based on what resources they control. These positions are identified separately below.

You can find details of who holds which seat here.

Elections and Appointments

During each season, all the Bourse Seats (both Imperial and National) that produce a single material are re-elected or re-appointed. During the event that a seat is due to be re-elected, the current holder does not receive any materials. Once the seat has been re-elected, the new holder receives that season's production, and secures the production until the next time the seat is due to be re-elected.

• Weirwood seats are re-elected at the Winter Solstice.
• Ilium seats and the Master of the Imperial Mint are re-elected at the Spring Equinox.
• White Granite seats are re-elected at the Summer Solstice.
• Mithril seats are re-elected at the Autumn Equinox.

Losing the title

What happens when a Bourse seat loses their title depends on how they lost it.

• If the holder of a Bourse seat dies, the seat is re-auctioned (or appointed). The new holder of the seat does not receive any wains or rings of ilium until the start of the next event. The money raised by the auction (if any) becomes part of the estate of the dead character, and the Magistrates do their best to ensure that money goes to the seat's beneficiaries.
• If the holder of a Bourse seat resigns their position, the seat is also re-auctioned (or appointed). Again, the new holder of the seat does not receive any wains or rings until the next event. The money raised in the auction is paid to the character who resigned their seat.
• If the holder of a Bourse seat receives a Writ of Excommunication, they are stripped of their Bourse seat. It is re-elected (or appointed), and the money raised is claimed by the Imperial Synod.
• The holder of a Bourse seat cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.

In all cases, the money initially paid for a seat remains as part of the annual budget of the Imperial Senate.

Proxies

Any member of the Bourse, may appoint a proxy. It is not uncommon for Bourse members to auction the right to stand as their proxy to another party - as this allows the proxy to bid in the private auction.

History

Mithril, weirwood and white granite are essential to the prosperity of the Empire and its citizens. Deposits of these materials tend to be large but few in number so they are carefully protected. Ilium is also rare and almost priceless due to its arcane powers. When the Empire was formed control of key supplies of these materials was placed in the control of the Bourse; it was explicitly designed to keep control of these precious materials out of the direct control of the Empress and the Senate.

Over time the role of the Bourse has grown, its members instituted a private auction to give them access to some of the most valuable items in the Empire. This was so successful it was eventually copied and a second public auction was introduced to allow citizens of the Empire to sell basic goods at the Bourse.

Powers and functions

Control of Ilium and Building Materials

Mithril, weirwood and white granite are essential to upgrade a personal resource to make it more productive. They are also needed for the large projects authorized by the Senate such as the creation of new armies or the building of bridges and fortifications. Ilium is used by artisans and magicians to make rituals and enchantments permanent. Each Bourse member has control of a single resource, for a single year (unless they are replacing an existing position which has become vacant). They can dispense this resource as they choose.

Access to the Private Auction

The Bourse holds a single private auction, only Bourse members can attend and bid on the items auctioned. Bourse agents scour the Empire and the world looking for rare and potentially valuable items to bring them to the Bourse where they are auctioned off to the highest bidder. Details of the handful of lots are usually posted in the Bourse several hours before the auction begins.

Operation of the Public Auction

Although not formally one of the powers of the Bourse, the public auction takes place in the Bourse and is operated by the civil servants who run the Bourse. The auction is open to all and supplies of herbs, mana crystals, resources, minor magical items and small lots of weirwood, mithril and white granite are auctioned to the highest bidder. It is relatively rare, but not unknown for more valuable items like Ilium, true liao or powerful items to appear in the public auction. Details of the lots are posted in the Bourse one hour before the auction begins.

Auction of Appointments

Over the years the Bourse has helped to create various minor Imperial positions and officers to help the Empire function. Individuals are appointed to these positions by auction - Bourse members commit funds in support of their preferred candidate. The candidate that receives the most support is appointed - and all bids by their supporters become the property of the state.

Imperial Bourse Positions

There are sixteen Bourse positions that are assigned to the highest sealed bid. These positions are available to any citizen of the Empire who does not already control an Imperial title or position. This means that members of the Synod, military or senate can bid for one of these Imperial Bourse position, but must resign their position if they are successful.

National Bourse Positions

These appointments are Bourse positions, but they can only be filled by a citizen of the appropriate nation. In addition they are not auctioned off, as Imperial Bourse positions are, but voted upon by resource owners from that nation. The larger the personal holding an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting for national Bourse positions is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.

National Bourse positions are otherwise identical to Imperial Bourse positions.

Mithril Seats

All mithril seats are re-elected during the Autumn Equinox.

Imperial Seats

• The Singing Caves in Mournwold produce 28 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
• The Fortress of Salt in Temeschwar produces 25 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
• The Brilliant Star in Redoubt produces 24 Imperial wains of mithril every season
• The Great Mine of Briante in Kahraman produces 22 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
• The Great Pits of Ennerlund in Holberg produced 27 Imperial wains of mithril every season. It is unclear how much, if any, production now remains or what measures may need to be taken to restore the pits to an operable state. The mine is also currently unassigned; it is not clear if it will remain an Imperial Seat or become a League National Seat.

The Singing Caves

The Singing Caves are found in Mournwold not far from the besieged settlement of Overton. Still in Imperial hands, albeit only just, the Singing Caves take their name from the strange voices that echo forth when the wind blows above. Many Imperial citizens are concerned about what will happen to the Singing Caves when the Jotun invaders make a significant attempt to conquer the last Imperial hold outs in this desolate territory.

This Bourse position produces

The Fortress of Salt

In the mountains north of Temeschwar is the famous Fortress of Salt. The fortress guards the entrance to one of the richest deposits of mithril in the Empire, and is massively fortified as a result. The mine workings also produce large amounts of salt and most of the walls are covered in a fine layer of white powder.

This Bourse position produces 25 Imperial wains of mithril every season.

The Brilliant Star

In the peaks of Tomari in Redoubt, overlooking the Urizen spire of Delving is the Brilliant Star. Allegedly the most beautiful of all the star shaped tunnel complexes that undermine the mountains, its walls gleam slightly even when there is no other light.

This Bourse position produces 24 Imperial wains of mithril every season.

The Great Mine of Briante

At the heart of the mining settlement of Briante is the great mine that shares its name. Perhaps the deepest mine in the Empire, it has been dug deeper and deeper over the centuries to excavate the precious mithril that is found deep underground.

This Bourse position produces 22 Imperial wains of mithril every season.

The Great Pits of Ennerlund

Holberg was rightly famous for its impressive engineering works and few are more impressive than the Great Pits of Ennerlund, with their complex mine workings and mechanized pumps. The pits were lost when Holberg was overrun and the mine - and its bounty of mithril - were sabotaged by the Druj barbarians during the liberation of Holberg..

Under Imperial control this Bourse position produces 27 Imperial wains of mithril every season. It is unclear how much, if any, production now remains or what measures may need to be taken to restore the pits to an operable state.

Weirwood Seats

All weirwood seats are re-elected during the Winter Solstice.

The Golden Trees of Seren

In the heart of the Miaren are the ruins of Seren, destroyed a millenia ago by the Vallorn and slowly being reclaimed. The area is still dangerous, but the Vallorn growth here left large copses of weirwood trees dotted through the surrounding forest.

This Bourse position produces 28 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

The Hunt of Alderei the Fair

The hunt is a great weirwood forest that was also the site of one of the most vicious battles against the forces of Alderei the Fair, the tyrant-boyar of pre-Imperial Varushka. At the foot of the Opascari mountains, this vital strategic asset was nearly burnt to the ground in the wake of the Imperial victory, and said to be haunted to this day. The site is believed to take its name from the treasure seekers who combed the surrounding woods looking for traces of Alderei the Fair in the decades after his defeat.

This Bourse position produces 26 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

The Heartwood of the Great Vale

The Great Vale in Hercynia contains large areas of precious weirwood. Although the area is threatened by Thule barbarians, the Empire has maintained control of the Heartwood, albeit barely.

This Bourse position produces 25 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

The Weirwater Vales

Weirwater is named for the forests that dot this landscape and the rich supplies of weirwood they produce. Legend claims that the first weavers made a pact with the Eternals to make the land fertile, but that the magic has slowly dwindled with time.

This Bourse position produces 23 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

The Canterspire Circle

The lower slopes of Canterspire are marked by strange circles of weirwood that grow rapidly despite the barren soil. It is clear that some magic is responsible for their ruddy health, but no ritual has ever been devised that can repeat this phenomena which certainly predates the arrival of the Urizen.

This Bourse position produces 22 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

The Great Forest at Reikos

On the borders of Reikos, the great forest is an abundant source of valuable timber including precious weirwood. It was lost when the territory was over-run by Druj barbarians and is not currently being auctioned.

Under Imperial control this Bourse position would produce 25 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

White Granite Seats

All White Granite Seats are auctioned or appointed during the Summer Solstice.

Imperial

There are four Imperial Seats that produce white granite:

• The Damation Cliffs in Kahraman produce 27 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
• The Night Quarry in Miekarova produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
• The Arratan Gamble in Tassato produces 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
• The Sutton Stone Quarries in Upwold produce 23 Imperial wains of white granite every season.

National

There are three Nation Seats that produce white granite.

• The Granites of Veltsgorsk in Volodmartz produce 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season. Control of Veltsgorsk is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of forest resources.
• The Brilliant Shore in Skarsind produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season. While control of the Shore was previously assigned to whichever Wintermark candidate received the most support from Wintermark owners of military units, the reassignment of Skarsind has left it's status confused.
• The Vigilant Swan in Reikos produced 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season. Control of the Vigilant Swan was assigned to whichever Highborn candidate receives the most support from Highborn owners of congregations. While it was liberated by Highborn and Navarr forces, the decision about its future is still uncertain.

Ilium Seats

All ilium seats are re-elected during the Spring Equinox.

Syrene's Wisdom

In the silver mines above Syrene there are sometimes found brilliant blue seams, no more than a few inches long, that dull chisels upon the first strike. Although these seams are small and difficult to work they yield a constant supply of Ilium.

This Bourse position produces 7 rings of Ilium every season.

The Scorrero Nets

A wise Hakima learnt by chance many years ago that the Scorrero carries ilium in its waters, washed from the land and carried towards the sea. Now nets are placed in the water at key points, primarily along the length of the Scorrero that runs through Feroz, to sieve out the precious material before it can be lost forever.

This Bourse position produces 5 rings of Ilium every season.

National Bourse Positions

These appointments are Bourse positions, but they can only be filled by a citizen of the appropriate nation. In addition they are not auctioned off, as Imperial Bourse positions are, but voted upon by resource owners from that nation. The larger the personal holding an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting for national Bourse positions is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.

National Bourse positions are otherwise identical to Imperial Bourse positions.

The Master of The Imperial Mint

The Master of the Imperial Mint is a Bourse position reserved for the citizen of the League who presents the largest bid. The Master has powers to speak and address the Senate.

Castellan of Spiral Castle

Until 368YE, the Castellan of Spiral Castle was a Bourse position reserved for a Dawnish citizen, appointed with the support of Dawnish military units. When Spiral Castle disappeared behind a wall of impenetrable mist, the title and the seat it represented effectively became vacant. The Castellan had powers to order the resupply of Imperial armies stationed in Weirwater.

Mithril

All mithril seats are re-selected during the Autumn Equinox.

The Eternal Shafts of Time

In the mountains near Vorota in Karov are the Eternal Shafts of Time. These ancient shafts were old long before the Empire was born and the size and shape suggests that those who once worked them were not human. Time seems to run strangely in the shafts, workers claim some days simply run longer than others and the output of the mines supports their claims.

Ownership of the Shafts was hotly contested between the citizens of Temeschwar and those of Varushka in the early days of the Empire, but in the end the Varushkans retained control of them. Control of the Shafts is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of mine resources.

This Bourse position produces 27 Imperial wains of mithril every season.

The Legacy

This vast mine complex is one of the few places in Spiral that remain under Imperial control. It is mostly played out today, but still manages to produces significant quantities of mithril for whoever controls it. According to legend the site was part of a great gift to the Urizen people but the details are lost to time.

Control of the Legacy is assigned to whichever Urizen candidate receives the most support from Urizen owners of mana sites.

This Bourse position produces 22 Imperial wains of mithril every season.

Weirwood

All weirwood seats are re-appointed during the Winter Solstice.

The Thimble

The Thimble is a vast stretch of forest that covers a series of rolling hills allegedly laid out in the pattern of a tailor's thimble. The Thimble was one of the earliest areas of Therunin to be cleared of Vallorn influence and it now provides an impressive supply of valuable weirwood for the Navarr use.

Control of the Thimble is assigned to whichever Navarr candidate receives the most support from Navarr owners of herb gardens.

This Bourse position produces 24 Imperial wains of weirwood every season.

White Granite

All white granite seats are re-appointed during the Summer Solstice.

• The Brilliant Shore in Skarsind produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season. Info needed

The Granites of Veltsgorsk

Deep in the mountains of Volodmartz lie the open mines of Veltsgorsk. The white granite that comes from these mines is sometimes streaked with pink quartz - storytellers claim it is steeped in the blood of all those who have died fighting over Volodmartz in the past, and will help give life to nearby vegetation as a result.

Control of Veltsgorsk is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of forest resources.

This Bourse position produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season.

The Vigilant Swan

This quarry complex north of Riverwatch was one of the last outposts of the Highborn during the Druj invasion. It fell to the barbarians in late 377YE, despite the efforts of the brave defenders at Tabernacle. The stoneworks is now a massive, open-cast quarry - an open wound in the face of the earth. When they retreated from the quarry, the Druj slaughtered most of their defenceless slaves, completing the degradation of the Vigilant Swan by turning it into a great open grave.

Control of the Vigilant Swan was assigned to whichever Highborn candidate receives the most support from Highborn owners of congregations. While it was liberated by Highborn and Navarr forces, the decision about its future is still uncertain as of the start of Spring 379YE..

This Bourse position produced 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season.

Ilium

All ilium seats are re-appointed during the Spring Equinox.

Bourse seats that are allocated on the basis of raids conducted by military units, piracy by fleets, or similar are based on the total effective size of all the contributing resources over the last four seasons.

The Steel Fist

In recent years Imperial Orc forces have swelled the ranks of the Imperial armies, tipping the scales against the barbarian threat. The previous Empress Britta enjoyed particularly strong support from the Orcs and in return she helped create the position of the Steel Fist.

To reward the Imperial Orcs for the work undertaken in supporting the Imperial armies, the Bourse allocates the Steel Fist to whichever legion provides the most assistance to Imperial armies on campaign. Small legions combine their efforts so that they can be counted together to compete for this great prize which is awarded every Spring Equinox.

This Bourse position produces 8 rings of Ilium every season.

The Broken Shore Bounty

The Grendel represent a powerful threat to the Empire and only constant raids by Imperial vessels against the halls and vessels of the Broken Shore serve to prevent them invading the Empire. The seat comes with a well-protected villa in the port-town of Cazar, in Feroz. The corsairs families of the Brass Coast see it as a point of honour to control the Broken Shore Bounty. The ilium is collected and overseen by members of the i Orieni i Riqueza family. The current dhomiro of the i Orien family is named Riguel.

To reward the Freeborn for the risks they take, the Bourse allocates the Broken Shore Bounty to whichever fleet performs the biggest raid against the Grendel port of Dubhtraig. Small fleets combine their efforts so that they can be counted together to compete for this great prize which is awarded every Spring Equinox.

This Bourse position produces 7 rings of Ilium every season.

The Stonefield Ice Caves

Large deposits of Ilium are buried in this massive glacier, but the ice is every bit as hard to work as stone and the precious metal must be picked from the walls of the frozen tunnels.

To reward the Winterfolk for the risks they take, the Bourse allocates the control of the Stonefield Ice Caves to whichever military unit performs the biggest raid. Halls often combine their efforts so that they can be counted together to compete for this great prize which is awarded every Spring Equinox.

This Bourse position produces 5 rings of Ilium every season.

The Regario Dossier

Established in 173YE, the Regario Dossier serves to support the League diplomats active all over the world, making contacts with foreign powers and attempting to sway them to the Empire's side. Such activities require considerable funds but the gains for the Empire are difficult to overstate. If too many foreign powers were to ally with the barbarians, the fate of the Empire would surely be lost.

This Bourse position is reserved for a citizen of The League who presents the largest bid. It is widely claimed that the payment is used to pay for bribes and other diplomatic arrangements. In fact this is hypothecation, the costs of operating the dossier are fixed and the money from the auction goes to the Senate.

This Bourse position produces 4 rings of Ilium every season.

Other Titles

A number of other titles are also appointed through the Bourse. Any title that has economic power or responsibilities is likely to be bound to the Bourse. Unless the position includes administration of a supply of mithril, weirwood, white granite, or ilium however it does not bring with it a seat on the Bourse or access to the private auction. The appointment of all these titles is organised and processed by the civil servants attached to the Bourse.

A list of other titles bound to the Imperial Bourse can be found here