Northbound Trademaster
Overview
The Northbound Trademaster is an Imperial title awarded to a League 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 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 Temeschwar; merchant offices in the town of Delev in Karov, and a brokerage in Hercynia known as 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. 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 Trademaster. 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 Trademaster is expected to keep the trade flowing along the roads that lead from Temeschwar north into Skarsind and south to the wider Empire. The close contact with the traders allows ample opportunity for the Trademaster to acquire supplies at bargain prices. To a lesser degree, the Northbound Trademaster can be seen as responsible for keeping an eye on trade opportunities across the northern Empire, and ensuring that League merchants are able to take advantage of them.
| Trade Profits | |
| 7 crowns | 6 dragonbone, 4 ambergelt, 2 orichalcum |
| 17 crowns | 12 dragonbone, 8 ambergelt, 4 orichalcum |
| 35 crowns | 18 dragonbone, 12 ambergelt, 6 orichalcum |
| 48 crowns | 24 dragonbone, 16 ambergelt, 8 orichalcum |
| Thule Trade (Urdur) | |
| 8 Beggar's lye | 8 mana crystals |
| 19 Beggar's lye | 16 mana crystals |
Powers
Ministry
As a ministry, the title of Northbound Trademaster allows the holder to purchase quantities of special materials traded from the north at a set price. The Trademaster 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.
Temeschwar welcomes Thule merchants from Otkodov, as well as Imperial merchants. As a consequence, the Trademaster has not one but two streams from which they can purchase material. The Trademaster 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 beggar's lye 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 Summer Solstice by citizens of the League who control business personal resources. The larger the business 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 League character may hold this title, but there is no requirement for them to be from Temeschwar (the title notionally represents opportunities for trade for the entire League). They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. As an Imperial title appointed through the Bourse, they cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.
| Summit | Elected | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Solstice 386YE | Uberto Alessandri di Caricomare vacino a Sarvos | 308 Votes |
| Summer Solstice 385YE | Antonio Benedito Altassato | 412 Votes |
| Winter Solstice 384YE | Antonio Benedito Altassato | 247 Votes |
| Summer Solstice 384YE | Valentina von Temeshwar | 84 Votes |
| Summer Solstice 383YE | Claus Friedrich von Holberg | 54 Votes |
| Summer Solstice 382YE | Aurèlio Duarte | |
| Summer Solstice 381YE | Jan von Schmeid de Temeschwar | |
| Summer Solstice 380YE | Jan von Schmeid de Temeschwar |
Recent Elections
This title is currently held by Uberto Alessandri di Caricomare vacino a Sarvos; it will be reelected at Summer Solstice 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.