Overview

The Master of Sarcombe Metal Market is an Imperial title awarded to a Marcher citizen. It is a national position appointed by unanimous decision of the Marcher senators.

The Sarcombe Metal Market was established as part of a wider scheme to revitalise the market town and the prosperity of the Mournwold. In particular, given its location, it is possible that if Liathaven were returned to Imperial control there would be additional opportunities to trade metal with the inhabitants of the south-western forest.

Responsibilities

The Master of Sarcombe Metal Market gets first choice on the materials that pass through the great hardwood doors, and as a consequence is expected to ensure that all materials are safely stored for the market. if anything threatened the vault, or by extension the market town of Sarcombe, they would be expected to deal with the problem.

Powers

Mournful Hills

Metals of Sarcombe
7 Crowns6 ingots of green iron, 2 ingots each of tempest jade, weltsilver, and orichalcum
17 Crowns9 ingots of green iron, 5 ingots each of tempest jade, weltsilver, and orichalcum
35 Crowns12 ingots of green iron, 8 ingots each of tempest jade, weltsilver, and orichalcum
48 Crowns15 ingots of green iron, 11 ingots each of tempest jade, weltsilver, and orichalcum
62 Crowns18 ingots of green iron, 14 ingots each of tempest jade, weltsilver, and orichalcum

As a ministry, the title of Master of Sarcombe Metal Market allows the holder to purchase quantities of special materials at a set price. The Keeper makes their decision 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.

Appointment

The Master of Sarcombe Metal Market is appointed during the Winter Solstice each year. It is chosen by unanimous decision of the Marcher senators. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the title may be appointed by the Imperial Senate instead.

The title can be held by any Marcher citizen. They can be revoked by the General Assembly, the Marcher National Assembly, and by the Assembly of the Nine.

The Sarcombe Metal Exchange

The grey stone building stands proudly in the centre of Sarcombe. It is entered through a grand double door made of polished hardwood brought all the way from Alderly, with mithril filigree depicting miners resting under an apple tree. Above the door a mithril plaque reads "Sarcombe Metal Market" and underneath "Courtesy of Applewood".

Much of the building is given over to a large hall that hosts the Sarcombe metal market itself. Underneath the market is a large vault, dug into the stone and made of the finest mithril to allow safe storage of the materials. Whilst normally hidden from public view, the great vault door depicts the Applewood livery etched lightly into the surface.

Miners from all over the Mourn come here to have their ore evaluated, stored, and sold; visitors from Matilda Stone Quarries and Jonah's Lament are particularly regular visitors. Traders from as far afield as Kalpaheim and Tassato make the journey here to purchase fine Mournwold metal.

Edith12024.jpg
Edith Forrester Guildenstern (left), Master of Sarcombe Metal Market
SummitElected
Autumn Equinox 385YEEdith Forrester Guildenstern
Winter Solstice 384YEAidan Weller
Spring Equinox 384YEMillward Cowley
Winter Solstice 382YEAidan Weller

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Edith Forrester Guildenstern; it will be reelected at the next summit. 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.