Morek/Trading Proposal

This is a short informational article on the proposed internal trading system to be used by Morek to attract more Knights out of the cities where tax revenues are very high and into the rural regions where they typically receive less tax but are needed for the greater good of Morek.

Drafted by the Marquess of Cold Spring, Rohk Darksun, with the support of the Viscount of Huanghai, Pierre von Genf.

Roles

Each member of the heirarchy has a role to play in this system. From the Dukes through the Lords to the Knights as Stewards or Traders all the while being watched by the Coffermaster. There are a variety of parts in this mechanism that need to be working together.

Coffermaster

The Coffermaster has an important role in this system. He is one of the few who is able to see reports of the entire realm's food supply. As such, he can identify opportunities for trade for Lords and Dukes as well as serving as an expediter for emergency orders. The Coffermaster should also maintain a list of where each region can reach with their private caravans. Due to regional conditions, region A may be able to reach region B but not vice-versa.

Dukes

The Duke is typically going to be the purchaser of food. He will set the price at which he is willing to buy bushels of food.

Region Lords (Stewards)

The Region Lord or Steward has one of the most important positions within this system. They are required to balance the profit potential of selling their food with the well being of their region. Overselling can cause starvation, underselling can cause upset Knights. The risks from the former outweigh the later, but that is another topic.

Region Lords can also be consumers of food. Some non-rural regions will need to set up buy orders and secure supplies from their fellow Region Lords. Future economic expansion may make this sort of inter-region trade lucrative. This will be good practice.

Traders

Traders are the expediters. They can travel much faster than a regional caravan and are able to transport goods over a longer distance. They will primarly be used in situations where monster attacks have destroyed food stores or private regional traders refuse to cross a dangerous region to reach a needy one.

Making Trades

There are several ways to make trades within the confines of established priciples of commerce (aka Game Mechanics). This proposal outlines the suggested routes for the various types of trade.

Intra-duchal

The Duke, or Lord/Steward of the consuming region, sets an open buy order to buy all food at a price of X if they have less than the amount which they believe they need to survive until the next harvest. They can then annouce that their markets are open so that producing regions will know to send their food.

(OOC: Command --> Warehouse... - check the warehouses (new caravan system) --> Change)

Region Lords (or Stewards) can utilize their caravans to send food from their warehouse to these destinations.

(OOC: Command --> Send out Caravans... - sell or buy food)

Inter-duchal

Since the producing Duchy should be given first priority to the food intra-ducal trading but would require permission from both Dukes involved. These trades may be funded directly by the Dukes and possibly expedited by a trader depending on need and geography.

Inter-realm

This remains the perogative of the Coffermaster. Typically arranged by the Coffermaster and the trading corps.

Guidelines

To provide for the right amount of competition and reward for those involved there will be certain guidelines.

Prices

Prices can be agreed to at a duchy level.

Expedited Requests

Expedited requests are for emergency situations only. Monster invasions, wars, famine or rebellions are good rationale for expedited requests. Expedited requests can be expected to cost more, as a trader will need to be involved in obtaining, transporting and delivering the food.

Hording

Hording food should be an offense that is punishible by a fine at the request of the Duke of the Region Lord.

Donations

Those Lords that are especially pious can send food to Caiyun at the price of 1 gold per 100 bushels. The Cardinal can then set up the buy order to purchase food for 1 gold per 100 bushels (refunding the caravan price).