Quaymaster of the Black Sails

Overview

The Quaymaster of the Black Sails is an Imperial title, responsible for overseeing the Black Sails Quay, part of the Imperial docks at Crown's Quay in Necropolis. The Back Sails Quay is dedicated to the use of ships from Axos involved in trading valuable Axou goods for Imperial liao. Following the mandate raised by Maximillian Ankarien in Summer 383YE, encouraging Imperial traders to seek out closer ties with the people of Axos, an influx of traders from the Chambers of Issyk and Halls of Maykop brought additional opportunities to sell large amounts of liao directly for cash.

When they were first established, the title of Quaymaster was assigned by the Loyalty assembly. In 384YE however, after several low-key incidents involving accusations of heresy, the merchants of Axos requested a different method of appointment be implemented as they were uncomfortable dealing with "agents of the Creator." The Synod was resistant to their demands, but during the Spring Equinox the Imperial Senate amended the title so that it would instead be auctioned. This also had the effect of moving the title from being a Synod position to being a Bourse position - meaning it could no longer be revoked by the assemblies.

Responsibilities

The Quaymaster of the Black Sails is expected to ensure that the citadels of Axos continue to exchange trade goods for Imperial liao. If this trade, or the Black Sails Quay, were ever directly threatened, the Quaymaster would be responsible for dealing with those threats - but also for making decisions about any opportunity related to them. The continued operation of the quays, and thus the ministry, requires that relations between the Empire and Axos remain cordial - the Quaymaster thus has a vested interest in ensuring friendship between the two nations continues.

Powers

Ministry

Materials
8 doses of Liao	3 measures of beggar's lye, 3 ingots of orichalcum, 3 ingots of tempest jade, and 2 mana crystals
20 doses of Liao	6 measures of beggar's lye, 6 ingots of orichalcum, 6 ingots of tempest jade, and 4 mana crystals
40 doses of Liao	9 measures of beggar's lye, 9 ingots of orichalcum, 9 ingots of tempest jade, and 6 mana crystals
56 doses of Liao	13 measures of beggar's lye, 12 ingots of orichalcum, 12 ingots of tempest jade, and 8 mana crystals
72 doses of Liao	16 measures of beggar's lye, 15 ingots of orichalcum, 15 ingots of tempest jade, and 10 mana crystals

Selling Liao
25 doses of Liao	25 crowns
50 doses of Liao	51 crowns
75 doses of Liao	79 crowns
100 doses of Liao	108 crowns

As a ministry, the title of Quaymaster of the Black Sails allows the holder to purchase quantities of special materials at a set price. The Quaymaster makes their decision how much liao to spend during downtime from their character page. The liao is removed from, and resources are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.

Appointment

This title is appointed during the Autumn Equinox. As of Summer 384YE, the title is auctioned by the civil servants associated with the Bourse.

The title may be held by any Imperial citizen. As an Imperial Bourse title, the Quaymaster cannot be revoked by the Imperial Synod.

Black Sails Quay

Crown's Quay in Longbeach sees significant international traffic, much of it diplomatic in nature. Shortly before the Autumn Equinox 381YE, some modifications were made to one of the quays, modifying them to better accommodate the sleek black sailed ships from the Citadels of Axos. At the same time, a building opposite the quay was converted for the use of the Quaymaster and the Axou merchants with which they will deal.

The exchange itself is a wide squat building, characterised by large rooms with lots of open space. What furnishings exist are comfortable, but perhaps unsurprisingly for a building facilitating meetings predominantly between Highborn civil servants and Axou traders the decorations can only be described as austere. Even though the Quaymaster is appointed by the Synod, and located in Highguard, and deals in a uniquely spiritual material, the exchange has less religious imagery than might be expected. That said, a small area is set aside that can be consecrated to one of the virtues specifically for the use of traders who prefer to conduct their business in such a setting.

Summit	Nation	Elected	Bid
Autumn Equinox 386YE	The League	Luca Lucati	6 thrones 4 crowns
Autumn Equinox 385YE	The Brass Coast	Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo	1 throne 4 crowns
Autumn Equinox 384YE	Varushka	Volkov Mikhailovich Strascovitch	10 thrones 4 crowns
Autumn Equinox 383YE	Urizen	Able the Taller
Autumn Equinox 382YE	Urizen	Able the Taller
Summer Solstice 382YE	Wintermark	Veli Garwulfson
Autumn Equinox 381YE	The League	Illaria Notturno di Sarvos

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Luca Lucati; it will be reelected at Autumn Equinox 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.