Imperial Bourse
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<!--Each citizen with the relevant personal resource has a voting strength determined by the current base production, including upgrades and reduction for being out of Imperial hands, but excluding enchantments, curses etc.--> | <!--Each citizen with the relevant personal resource has a voting strength determined by the current base production, including upgrades and reduction for being out of Imperial hands, but excluding enchantments, curses etc.--> | ||
Votes are cast in the Hub with the Civil Service who have a list of all relevant resource holders in each Nation. Each citizen may vote for anyone in their Nation, however some Nations prefer to agree candidates in advance so it may be wise to discuss with other compatriots before voting. A citizen may change their vote at any time until the vote closes. | Votes are cast in the Hub with the Civil Service who have a list of all relevant resource holders in each Nation. Each citizen may vote for anyone in their Nation, however some Nations prefer to agree candidates in advance so it may be wise to discuss with other compatriots before voting. A citizen may change their vote at any time until the vote closes. | ||
If the winning citizen already holds an Imperial Title they must either resign their current title to take up the seat, or if they wish to forfeit the seat it will pass instead to the person with the next highest number of votes. | |||
If you would have difficulty accessing The Hub and have already [[Accessibility#Getting_Help_Accessing_GOD|arranged for another player]] to be able complete GOD admin on your behalf, this person can also bring your vote to the Hub if required. | If you would have difficulty accessing The Hub and have already [[Accessibility#Getting_Help_Accessing_GOD|arranged for another player]] to be able complete GOD admin on your behalf, this person can also bring your vote to the Hub if required. |
Revision as of 11:02, 19 April 2019
Overview
The Imperial Bourse is the economic hub of the Empire. Its role is to ensure the prosperity of the Empire and to provide access to much needed resources to those who can afford them.
Role within the Empire
The Bourse is designed to ensure that ilium, mithril, weirwood and white granite are directed to where they can provide the most economic benefit, rather than being assigned by political or military patronage. Merchants bid for a position on the Bourse and those that are successful gain control of one of the Bourse positions that control production. It is then left to them to sell the resources at whatever price they can. Although there are frequent accusations of profiteering, when the market functions as intended it ensures that significant sums of money are paid to the Bourse for use by the Empire.
Decisions within the Bourse are taken by auction, with members placing money in the Bourse coffers to register their support for or against a motion. Such auctions are rare however, most of the Bourse activity is economic in nature and takes place without central organisation. The money collected by the Bourse, as part of the process of selecting members and making decisions becomes the property of the Empire.
The Bourse has gained other roles over the years, such as operating the public auctions. The public auction is open to anyone present; most goods sold are herbs, mana crystals, resources, building materials and occasionally even Ilium are sent to the Bourse by Imperial citizens who want a good price for their goods but have neither the inclination nor the time to attend the meetings at Anvil.
Entry requirements
There are over a score of different Bourse positions, the majority of which are auctioned off once a year. Although a citizen may bid for as many positions as they choose, an individual can only hold one Imperial title. The auction itself uses an open bidding system and payments must be made immediately.
There are a handful of Bourse positions which are not auctioned off. These positions reflect the relative economic wealth and priorities of nations like Varushka. As a result, these resources are controlled by vote of members of that nation based on what resources they control. These positions are identified separately below.
You can find details of who holds which seat here.
Elections and Appointments
During each season, all the Bourse Seats (both Imperial and National) that produce a single material are re-elected or re-appointed. During the event that a seat is due to be re-elected, the current holder does not receive any materials. Once the seat has been re-elected, the new holder receives that season's production, and secures the production until the next time the seat is due to be re-elected.
- Weirwood seats are re-elected at the Winter Solstice.
- Ilium seats and the Master of the Imperial Mint are re-elected at the Spring Equinox.
- White Granite seats are re-elected at the Summer Solstice.
- Mithril seats are re-elected at the Autumn Equinox.
A list of seats to be appointed at the upcoming event can be found on the recent history page and on notices around Anvil. Once appointed, the new seat holders are announced via the Bourse noticeboard in the Hub.
Imperial Seats
Imperial Bourse seats are appointed by open auction. In Anvil this takes place as detailed in the event schedule.
Bidding is in Thrones and the payment for each seat is completed before bidding for the next begins to prevent interested citizens bidding on seats they cannot afford. The person bidding on the seat need not be the person who takes the Imperial Title if successful, however the prospective title holder must be present during the auction.
National Seats
National Bourse seats are appointed by election with votes cast by certain personal resource holders in each Nation. The exceptions to this are the League positions of Regario Dossier and Master of the Imperial Mint which are appointed by closed auction to members of The League only. In Anvil this takes place as detailed in the Event Schedule.
Votes are cast in the Hub with the Civil Service who have a list of all relevant resource holders in each Nation. Each citizen may vote for anyone in their Nation, however some Nations prefer to agree candidates in advance so it may be wise to discuss with other compatriots before voting. A citizen may change their vote at any time until the vote closes.
If the winning citizen already holds an Imperial Title they must either resign their current title to take up the seat, or if they wish to forfeit the seat it will pass instead to the person with the next highest number of votes.
If you would have difficulty accessing The Hub and have already arranged for another player to be able complete GOD admin on your behalf, this person can also bring your vote to the Hub if required.
Losing the title
When a Bourse seat holder dies or loses their title for any other reason, then they receive back any money they paid for the seat - in proportion to the number of seasons of production remaining. If there are two seasons production left, they get half their money back.
The seat is auctioned off again - and the refund is paid to the seat holder or their estate after the auction is concluded. Any shortfall is taken from the Imperial treasury, any excess is added to it. There is no refund payable if a title is resigned.
Proxies
The wains (or rings of Ilium) are distributed directly to title holders each season and once received function as personal property which must be transferred between individuals like any other item. If a title holder will not be present at a summit, they may not appoint a proxy to collect Bourse resources at Anvil.
History
Mithril, weirwood and white granite are essential to the prosperity of the Empire and its citizens. Deposits of these materials tend to be large but few in number so they are carefully protected. Ilium is also rare and almost priceless due to its arcane powers. When the Empire was formed control of key supplies of these materials was placed in the control of the Bourse; it was explicitly designed to keep control of these precious materials out of the direct control of the Empress and the Senate.
Over time the role of the Bourse has grown, its members instituted a private auction to give them access to some of the most valuable items in the Empire. This was so successful it was eventually copied and a second public auction was introduced to allow citizens of the Empire to sell basic goods at the Bourse. The private auction has suffered in recent years for various reasons and lapsed towards the end of 380YE.
Powers and functions
Control of Ilium and Building Materials
Mithril, weirwood and white granite are essential to upgrade a personal resource to make it more productive. They are also needed for the large projects authorized by the Senate such as the creation of new armies or the building of bridges and fortifications. Ilium is used by artisans and magicians to make rituals and enchantments permanent. Each Bourse member has control of a single resource, for a single year (unless they are replacing an existing position which has become vacant). They can dispense this resource as they choose.
Auction of Appointments
Over the years the Bourse has helped to create various minor Imperial positions and officers to help the Empire function. Individuals are appointed to these positions by auction - Bourse members commit funds in support of their preferred candidate. The candidate that receives the most support is appointed - and all bids by their supporters become the property of the state.
Imperial and National Bourse Positions
Imperial Seats on the Bourse are assigned to the highest bidder. These positions are available to any citizen of the Empire who does not already control an Imperial title or position. This means that members of the Synod, military or senate can bid for one of these Imperial Bourse position, but must resign their position if they are successful.
National Seats on the Bourse, by contrast, can only be filled by a citizen of the appropriate nation. In addition they are not auctioned off, as Imperial Bourse positions are, but voted upon by resource owners from that nation. The larger the personal holding an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting for national Bourse positions is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse. National Bourse positions are otherwise identical to Imperial Bourse positions.
Mithril Seats
All mithril seats are re-elected during the Autumn Equinox.
Imperial Mithril Seats
There are four Imperial Bourse Seats that produce mithril.
- The Brilliant Star in Redoubt produces 24 Imperial wains of mithril every season
- The Crawling Depths in Ossium produces 14 Imperial wains of mithril every season
- The Fortress of Salt in Temeschwar produces 25 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
- The Great Mine of Briante in Kahraman produces 22 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
- The Great Pits of Ennerlund in Holberg produce 27 Imperial wains of mithril every season.
National Mithril Seats
There are four National Bourse Seats that produce mithril in Imperial hands.
- The Eternal Shafts of Time in Karov produce 27 Imperial wains of mithril each season. Control of the Shafts is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of mine resources.
- The Legacy in Spiral produced 22 Imperial wains of mithril each season. Control of the Legacy is assigned to whichever Urizen candidate receives the most support from Urizen owners of mana site resources.
- The Pride of Ikka's Tears in Sermersuaq produces 15 Imperial wains of mithril each season. Control of the Pride of Ikka's Tears is assigned to whichever Wintermark candidate receives the most support from Wintermark owners of military unit resources.
- The Singing Caves in Mournwold produces 28 Imperial wains of mithril every season. Control of the Singing Caves is assigned to whichever Marcher candidate receives the most support from Marcher owners of farm resources.
Weirwood Seats
All weirwood seats are re-elected during the Winter Solstice.
Imperial Weirwood Seats
There are six Imperial seats that produce weirwood.
- The Golden Trees of Seren in Miaren produce 28 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
- The Hunt of Alderei the Fair in Volodmartz produces 26 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
- The Heartwood of the Great Vale in Hercynia produces 25 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
- The Weirwater Vales in Weirwater produce 23 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
- The Canterspire Circle in Morrow produces 22 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
- The Great Forest at Reikos in Reikos produced 25 Imperial wains of weirwood each season.
National Weirwood Seats
There is one National weirwood Bourse Seat.
- The Thimble in Therunin produces 24 Imperial wains of weirwood each season. Control of the Thimble is assigned to whichever Navarr candidate receives the most support from Navarr owners of herb garden resources. As of Autumn 381YE, and the decision of the Senate to Permit Great Forest Orcs to work the Thimble, the production has effectively fallen to 20 wains each season but the resource requires no upkeep from the Imperial Treasury.
White Granite Seats
All White Granite Seats are auctioned or appointed during the Summer Solstice.
Imperial White Granite Seats
There are five Imperial Seats that produce white granite:
- The Damatian Cliffs in Kahraman produce 27 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
- The Brilliant Shore in Skarsind produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season
- The Night Quarry in Miekarova produces 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
- The Arratan Gamble in Tassato produces 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
- The Sutton Stone Quarries in Upwold produce 23 Imperial wains of white granite every season.
National White Granite Seats
There are two National Seats that produce white granite.
- The Granites of Veltsgorsk in Volodmartz produce 26 Imperial wains of white granite every season. Control of Veltsgorsk is assigned to whichever Varushkan candidate receives the most support from Varushkan owners of forest resources.
- The Vigilant Swan in Reikos produces 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season. Control of the Vigilant Swan is assigned to whichever Highborn candidate receives the most support from Highborn owners of congregations.
Ilium Seats
All ilium seats are re-elected during the Spring Equinox.
Imperial Ilium Seats
There are two Imperial Seats that produce ilium.
- Syrene's Wisdom in Casinea produces 7 rings of ilium each season.
- The Scorrero Nets in Feroz produce 5 rings of ilium each season.
National Ilium Seats
While in theory there are four National ilium Bourse seats, the Stonefield Ice Caves has been ceded to the Thule and is not in Imperial hands. All ilium seats are re-appointed during the Spring Equinox. Bourse seats that are allocated on the basis of raids conducted by military units, privateering by fleets, or similar are based on the total effective size of all the contributing resources over the last four seasons.
- The Steel Fist provides 8 rings of ilium each season. it is appointed by the Imperial orc legions who provide assistance to Imperial armies on campaign.
- The Broken Shore Bounty provides 7 rings of ilium each season. It is appointed by the Freeborn fleet captains who engage in privateering in the Bay of Catazar.
- The Regario Dossier provides 4 rings of ilium each season, along with an annual report relating to the activities of foreign powers. It is reserved for the League citizen who presents the largest bid.
- The Gift of the Dwindling Star provides 4 rings of ilium each season. It is appointed by Varushkan owners of mines and forests.
Not In Imperial Hands
This formerly national Ilium seat is not in imperial hands.
- The Stonefield Ice Caves provided 5 rings of ilium each season. It was allocated to whichever Wintermark military unit performed the biggest raid against the barbarian orcs. The Stonefield Ice Caves are not currently in Imperial Hands, having been ceded to the Thule.
Other Bourse Seats
These appointments come with a Seat on the Bourse, but are not tied directly to the production of mithril, weirwood, white granite, or ilium.
The Master of The Imperial Mint
The Master of the Imperial Mint is a Bourse Seat reserved for the citizen of the League who presents the largest bid. The Master does not receive an income of Bourse resources, but is privy to privileged information about the Imperial economy and has powers to speak and address the Imperial Senate.
Castellan of Spiral Castle
Until 368YE, the Castellan of Spiral Castle is a Bourse Seat held by a Dawnish citizen, appointed with the support of Dawnish military units. The Castellan has powers to order the resupply of Imperial armies stationed in Weirwater. The Seat spent many years vacant, but a new Castellan has recently been appointed following the return of Castle Spiral to the mortal world.
Other Titles
A number of other titles are also appointed through the Bourse. Any title that has economic power or responsibilities is likely to be bound to the Bourse. Unless the position includes administration of a supply of mithril, weirwood, white granite, ilium, or says otherwise, it does not bring with it a seat on the Bourse. The appointment of all these titles is organised and processed by the civil servants attached to the Bourse.
The Bourse also auctions the unique title Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave. These three titles each allow an Imperial citizen to commission certain types of structure without going through the Imperial Senate, but retain their title for only a single season.
Table of Bourse Seats
Name of Resource | Method of Appointment | Location | Output | Election |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Arratan Gamble | Imperial | Tassato, Enterio | White Granite (25) | Summer |
The Brilliant Shore | Imperial | Skarsind, Gildermark | White Granite (26) | Summer |
The Brilliant Star | Imperial | Redoubt, Tomari | Mithril (24) | Autumn |
The Broken Shore Bounty | National, Brass Coast, Fleets, Privateering | Feroz, Cazar | Ilium (7) | Spring |
The Canterspire Circle | Imperial | Morrow, Operus | Weirwood (22) | Winter |
The Cavabianca Dock | National, The League, Businesses | Sarvos, Cigno | White Granite (Ministry) | Summer |
The Crawling Depths | Imperial | Ossium, Ghalath Fields | Mithril (14) | Autumn |
The Concordium Dock | Imperial | Redoubt, Limus | White Granite (Ministry) | Summer |
The Damatian Cliffs | Imperial | Kahraman, Damata | White Granite (27) | Summer |
The Eternal Shafts of Time | National, Varushka, Mines | Karov, Wieliczka | Mithril (27) | Autumn |
The Fortress of Salt | Imperial | Temeschwar, Metri | Mithril (25) | Autumn |
The Gift of the Dwindling Star | National, Varushka, Forests and Mines | Volodmartz, Brez | Ilium (4) | Spring |
The Gloaming Road | National, Brass Coast, Ambassador to Faraden | Faraden | Mithril (Ministry) | Any season |
The Golden Trees of Seren | Imperial | Miaren, Serenael | Weirwood (28) | Winter |
The Granites of Veltsgorsk | National, Varushka, Forests | Volodmartz, Brez | White Granite (26) | Summer |
The Great Forest at Reikos | Imperial | Reikos, Broken Ride | Weirwood (25) | Winter |
The Great Mine of Briante | Imperial | Kahraman, Briante | Mithril (22) | Autumn |
The Great Pits of Ennerlund | Imperial | Holberg, Ennerlund | Mithril (27) | Autumn |
The Heartwood of the Great Vale | Imperial | Hercynia, Summersend | Weirwood (25) | Winter |
The Hunt of Alderei the Fair | Imperial | Volodmartz, Opascari | Weirwood (26) | Winter |
The Legacy | National, Urizen, Mana Sites | Spiral, Ossuary | Mithril (22) | Autumn |
The Master of the Imperial Mint | National, The League, Bid | Tassato, ??? | Senate | Spring |
The Mines of Gulhule | National, Imperial Orcs, Military Unit | Skarsind, Gulhule | Mithril & Ilium (Ministry) | Spring |
The Night Quarry | Imperial | Miekarova, Mieriada | White Granite (27) | Summer |
The Pallas Docks | Imperial | Redoubt, Limus | Weirwood (Ministry) | Winter |
The Pride of Ikka's Tears | National, Wintermark, Military Units | Sermersuaq, Suaq Fount | Mithril (15) | Autumn |
The Regario Dossier | National, The League, Bid | Tassato, Tassato Regario | Ilium (4) | Spring |
The Scorrero Nets | Imperial | Feroz, Oranseri | Ilium (5) | Spring |
The Singing Caves | National, The Marches, Farms | Mournwold, Greensward | Mithril (28) | Autumn |
The Steel Fist | National, Imperial Orcs, Supporting Armies | Necropolis, Hedrossan | Ilium (8) | Spring |
The Sutton Stone Quarries | Imperial | Upwold, the Heath | White Granite (23) | Summer |
Syrene's Wisdom | Imperial | Casinea, Syrwatch | Ilium (7) | Spring |
The Thimble | National, Navarr, Herb Gardens | Therunin, Eastring | Weirwood (20) | Winter |
The Vigilant Swan | National, Highguard, Congregations | Reikos, Riverwatch | White Granite (25) | Summer |
The Weirwater Vales | Imperial | Weirwater, Wickmoor | Weirwood (23) | Winter |