Bailiff of the Grand Market
Overview
The Bailiff of the Grand Market is an Imperial title awarded to a Marcher citizen. It is a national position appointed through the Bourse.
The Bailiff has offices in Meade, but it is a rare Bailiff who spends much time there. While the title is associated closely with the weekly or bi-weekly markets of Mitwold, the Bailiff is regularly involved in trade fairs and markets across the Marches, and Marchers from every territory have regularly held the post. The title pre-dates the formation of the market towns, and comes from a time when almost every town and village in the nation would have their own regular market.
The Bailiff has some authority to ensure security at fairs and markets across the Marches. In return, they traditionally are given a minimum of one meat pie and a tankard of ale. More importantly, however, the Bailiff is generally given an opportunity to buy some goods before the market officially opens - allowing them to secure some rare bargains.
Within the space of a season, the Bailiff might find themselves in a position to buy beggar's lye and ambergelt at a fair from a village in the birchwoods of Upwold; a cask of Wintermark mead and some measures of dragonbone from a Suaq peddlar in a town square in Mitwold; a basket of tempest jade from a scowling stallholder at the great market in Meade; a basket of assorted herbs at a dour fair in Bregasland or even a handful of crystal mana at a strained gathering in Overton.
Responsibilities of the Bailiff
The Bailiff is expected to ensure fairs, markets and trade gatherings in the Marches are undertaken in a traditional and honest fashion. They also have some responsibility for ensuring that the major roads between towns and villages remain free of bandits and feni who might otherwise restrict trade. In practice, this is quite a tall order for a single individual - many markets have their own local bailiff or sheriff who sees to the security of their fair.
Specifically, the Bailiff oversees the Grand Market in Meade which takes place on the third weekend of each month and attracts traders from across the Marches and even occasionally from Wintermark to the north.
Powers of the Bailiff
Ministry
As a ministry, the Bailiff of the Grand Market can purchase quantities of trade goods at a set price. The Bailiff decides 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.
| Total Money Spent | Production |
| 6 Crowns | 2 measures each of Ambergelt, Beggar's Lye and Dragonbone; 2 ingots of Tempest Jade, and 1 dose each of Imperial Roseweald, Marrowort and True Vervain |
| 14 Crowns | 3 measures each of Ambergelt, Dragonbone and Beggar's Lye; 3 ingots of Tempest Jade, 2 doses Imperial Roseweald, Marrowort, True Vervain and Bladeroot; 1 mana crystal and 2 doses of liao |
| 30 Crowns | 5 measures each of Ambergelt, Dragonbone and Beggar's Lye; 5 ingots of Tempest Jade; 3 doses each of Imperial Roseweald, Marrowort, True Vervain, Bladeroot; 2 doses of Cerulean Mazzarine ; 2 mana crystals and 2 doses of liao |
| 70 Crowns | 11 measures each of Ambergelt, Dragonbone and Beggar's Lye; 11 ingots of Tempest Jade; 5 doses each of Imperial Roseweald, Marrowort, True Vervain, Bladeroot; 3 doses of Cerulean Mazzarine ; 4 mana crystals and 3 doses of liao |
Selection of the Bailiff of the Grand Market
This title is appointed during the Winter Solstice. The Bailiff of the Grand Market is selected through open auction, handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.
Only a Marcher character may hold this title, and so only a Marcher character may bid for the position. They do not receive a seat on the Bourse nor access to the private auction.
Removing the Bailiff of the Grand Market
The Bailiff of the Grand Market is appointed every year. They cannot be revoked by any Assembly of the Imperial Synod.
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.