Weirwood
Overview
Weirwood is a precious resource in the Empire, used primarily in building navies, trade agreements with foreign nations and in opportunities. Cut from giant trees that grow only in certain rare groves, the golden wood is deeply prizes for it's straight grain, flexibility and strength. The durability and natural resistance to fire of weirwood make it particularly prized in the building of boats. Weirwood is bought and sold in Imperial wains. These weigh about 500kg, with a volume of half a cubic metre. Due to the vast weight, trading is done in Bourse Certificates provided by the civil service.
Weirwood Seats
There are few places in the Empire that produce weirwood. A weirwood seat can be a source of great wealth and prestige to whoever holds it. Elections for weirwood seats are held in winter each year.
Table of Bourse Seats
| Name of Resource | Method of Appointment | Location | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Canterspire Circle | Imperial | Morrow, Operus | 22 wains |
| The Golden Trees of Seren | Imperial | Miaren, Serenael | 28 wains |
| The Great Forest at Reikos | Imperial | Reikos, Broken Ride | 25 wains |
| The Heartwood of the Great Vale | Imperial | Hercynia, Summersend | 25 wains |
| The Hunt of Alderei the Fair | Imperial | Volodmartz, Opascari | 26 wains |
| The Pallas Docks | Imperial | Redoubt, Limus | (Ministry) |
| The Thimble | National, Navarr, Herb Gardens | Therunin, Eastring | 16 wains (see history) |
| The Weirwater Vales | Imperial | Weirwater, Wickmoor | 23 wains |
Recent History
The Great Forest at Reikos was seized by the Druj barbarians in 367YE. In Winter 379YE, the seat was liberated by Imperial armies. The Highborn attempted to have this allocated as a National seat, but the Senate appointed it an Imperial seat in Spring 380YE
In Winter 380 YE, Dawnish witches attacked the shipment from the Weirwater Vales , and took a 5 wains of that season;s output.
In Spring 381YE, the Imperial Senate built a set of dedicated docks, trading with Magician-Prince of Pӓrnau Principality in Eastern Jarm. The resultant Pallas Docks depends on the Empire retaining good relationship with Jarm.
In Autumn 381YE, the Senate permitted the Great Forest Orcs to work the trees in the Thimble for the Empire in return for a bounty of four wains of weirwood each season. This means there is no costs to the Senate for the running of the forest and orcs could use the weirwood they gained to create herb gardens and similar in Therunin.
Following the imposition of sanctions on the Principalities of Jarm during the Winter Solstice 382YE the cost of purchasing weirwood through the Pallas Docks increased by roughly a fifth.
In Spring 383 YE, Varushkan merchants offered to pay 1000T to turn the Hunt of Alderei the Fair National instead of Imperial.
Uses of Weirwood
Buildings
Weirwood is primarily useful as a building material. The Senate can commission a range of buildings that fortify, enrich or uplift the Empire. Weirwood is usually required in the construction of:
- Imperial Navy
- Ministry - a ministry built with weirwood would allow the purchase of herbs.
- Sinecure - a sinecure built with weirwood would generate rings or herbs.
- Great work - a great work built with weirwood would generate rings or herbs.
- Runeforge
- College of Magic
- Shipyard
- Folly
Upgrading personal resources
Weirwood can be used to upgrade:
- Fleet - each upgrade increases military strength of the unit is increased by 20
- Herb Garden - each upgrade gives 2 additional herbs, as chosen by the owner.
- Farm - each upgrade gives 36 additional rings per season
To upgrade a resource requires Imperial wains of weirwood equal to the level the resource is being upgraded to. So the first upgrade of a starting level 1 forest costs 2 Imperial wains of weirwood, from 2 to 3 costs 3 Imperial wains, etc.