Messages

Dan your writing is what keeps bringing me back to EFU. Your ability to convey an aesthetic through both evocative, well chosen words and placeables is a golden standard that I try to pursue.

A little late, but I hope you enjoyed your birthday, may you have many more.

Dear Deputy Chief Scribe Al-Samar,

Your payment is ready, please come find me in the coming days.

Sephidra Niridhe

Dear Deputy Chief Scribe Al-Samar,

Very well, then lets make a proper appointment.
I propose you and I meet in 24 hours from when this letter is delivered
within the Palatial Pyramid ground floor.

If this time is not suitable to your needs, please propose another, until we find one
equitable.

Sephidra Niridhe

Dear Deputy Chief Al-Samar,

It seems we must be missing one another.

I have the payment for the last and this week ready. But you are a rare woman to find.

Please come find me. Or appoint someone else who I can hand the money too so it may reach you.

Sephidra Niridhe

[The document above is signed by Sephidra Niridhe in an elegant, cursive handwriting.]

[New District Project]

[The following letter is delivered to the office of Legate Marcellus Seanus. A second copy exists with the addressee 'Scribe Bashir'. The text is written in a cursive, delicate handwriting.]

New District Project

As discussed in our meeting. Below is a list of all the options we considered to finance the district. The Chief Scribe had issued us a presumptive, temporary price range of;

500.000 Dinar for the Walls & Gate
500.000 Dinar for the District

The list in full:

Licenses
Fines
Property Taxes
Property Sales
Tolls
Loans
Water Sales
Sponsored Games or Festivities
Attacking and Plundering Settlements
Selling bonds

Groknak Skull Discount
Tlonsiyya Windmills
Using the Rose derelict buildings as a Foundation
Empty plots of land, leaving construction to citizens
Spend less on Allotments

Ways of increasing revenue:

Licenses

Licenses issued and sold by our scribes contribute to the state treasury. At the moment there are seven licenses in circulation; Divination, Engineering, Archaeology, Alchemy, Herbalism, Narcotics and Trading. There are three factors we can consider when using licenses to increase our revenue; Adding new licenses, Encouraging people to buy more licenses and require licenses to be renewed after a term.

Ideas for new licenses include, but are not exhaustive: A license for selling luxury or magical goods, a license for keeping pets, a license for organizing public gatherings such as festivals, debates and sports, a license for keeping poisons, a license for proselytizing and sermons. Each of these can be introduced by law, and sold. Simple and straightforward.

To encourage people to buy more licenses we would benefit from defining where what licenses apply and inform the Janissaries to pursue the possession of licenses in those scenarios more carefully. Educating our citizens about the need and application of licenses will result in further sales. Furthermore, various craftsmanship as trade and alchemy can be encouraged with incentives and requests. And as the appeal for such craftsmanship will increase, so will the people engaging in them and the licenses sold.

My suggestion regarding license renewal is to charge 200 to 300 dinar once a month, per license, for owners of licenses. For this scribes will be expected to note and archive the dates of licenses sold and inquire one month later for a new sum. With a Janissary being informed if the payment is more than a week late, to revoke said license. I would personally suggest to not pursue license renewal retroactively, as this is a lot of work and hard to chase down. But simply do so going forward. In a few months time this new law will reap rewards. As such I suggest condoning old licenses. Or ask people to come forward, and then condone those that don't do so.

Fines

Deposited Janissary fines end up in our state treasury. They are dependent on citizen infractions and the ability of the fourth legion to pursue them. We have some control over both factors. We can encourage Janissary recruitment, which in itself can be costly. We can reward the Janissaries who acquire the most fines by making it a competition and through doing so encourage their chase. The screws we can turn on the side of citizen infractions I do not encourage using, as the political ramifications would be large for small gains, but would include adding silly laws that people are likely to break, just to fine them. Such as 'everyone must wear brown clothing' laws, or similar. Lastly, you can order Magistrates and Sergeants to issue primarily fines as punishment for serious crimes.

Property Taxes

Property taxes can be used to increase revenue for the state. Simple and straightforward. But always caught up in a fine balance with property sales. As the higher the tax is, the less likely people will feel encouraged to rent property. But certain people, particularly merchants and companies, will hold unto their properties regardless of the rent. Who I believe currently are the main property owners as of our discussion. So unless we can increase property sales, there is only revenue loss overall if we choose to keep the property taxes as low as they currently are.

Property Sales

To increase and encourage property sales and maintenance of their rent, I suggest we incentivize people to holding property, even empty property. The appeal of being able to store your belongings seems to only hold sway over merchants, to add a further incentive we could appeal to status. We could do this by for example giving landowning voiced extra weight during assemblies, such as being allowed to speak before normal voiced. Or making it a prerequisite to buying multiple licenses from the scribes.

Tolls

Gates cost money. Both in maintaining them and building them. As such it is fair practice to make frequent users pay a little extra for their use. Tolls, of even five dinar, at all three gates, could significantly contribute to either directly financing the state treasury. Or doing so indirectly, by adding the toll money to Banda Rossa and Janissary pots respectively, and thus reduce the burden on state allotment. You could make the practice competitive by allowing the respective groups to adjust the toll by their own Sergeants and Balestierés.

Loans

We have the option of acquiring loans to cover our expenses. Various city states and private companies can be scouted to provide such a loan. I do not believe such wealth is internally available within our own city. Perhaps the Clergy of B'aara, extended from Baz'eels great Temple. See also the next segment for the collateral.

Water Sales

As you know our city produces an estimated 500 barrels a month. Roughly 50 of those are consumed by the accord and the city itself. The remaining 450 barrels disappear to Baz'eel as tithe. And our current policy for water is to tithe all the barrels 'that the city does not use'. But we have many citizens of the sultan clinging outside of our walls. They need both water and we need funds to help them. As such I consider the best solution to are predicament that we inform the delegates from Baz'eel that we will only be able to donate 400 barrels starting this month. And that the remaining 50 barrels will need to be bought by private companies in Baz'eel (or elsewhere).

This new monthly influx of funds can then be used as collateral in a loan of about a million dinar, which we can use to immediately fund the new district and start construction. If the estimated net-income (after Baz'eeli important taxes and transport) for these barrels is between 50.000-100.000 dinar, we will be effectively committing 50 of these barrels for the next 1-2 years. But it will allow us to grow immediately, and as opposed to slow grow, we will be able to rescue more lives and increase our labour force. 

Many variations on this idea exist; such as not selling the water to Baz'eel, but elsewhere. Not going into debt for a slower effect. Withholding even more barrels from the tithe. Taking a loan from another city, such as Il Modo. But I think we both agree Baz'eel should be our first choice.

Citizen Donations

An appeal to charity can be made, and we can accept citizen dinar to fund a portion of the project.

Sponsored Games or Festivities

Leaning on our artists and proactive organizers, we can have the state support the creation of plays and sports and ask the crowd to pay for entry. Important in such activities is that the crowd pays more than prize-money for the participants and actors. Else there is no revenue to be had.

Attacking and Plundering Settlements

This one deserves mentioning as an option. And applies to chiefly lizardfolk and orc encampments. But I would strongly discourage raiding and plundering civilized settlements like Kha'esh, Tlonsiyya or Qadira.

Selling bonds

The state can accept citizen donations through bonds rather than charity. And promise them something in the future in exchange for their money now.

Ways to decrease cost of the District:

Groknak Skull Discount

You had expressed we might get a discount on construction from the Stonefolk community for adhering to their wishes on the lives of Groknaks. This will need to be investigated.

Tlonsiyya Windmills

The town of Tlonsiyya has offered to sell us their spare metal windmills. Devices which run on baublium, but that they themselves also use to deflect the ashstorms that plague our world. As expansion of the shade comes with its own price tag and costs, the costs and investment of the windmills should be investigated as an alternative and compared in price costs. There is also the unwritten cost of addicting Ephia's Well to the narcotic of Baublium. Which tarnishes our self sufficiency some. But given that we also depend on Alkab for feeding our population, this is nothing new.

Using the Rose derelict buildings as a Foundation

The presumptive temporary price range suggested by the Chief Scribe was based on construction around the Rose gate. And uses the derelict buildings from Orentid times as a foundation. It will need to be investigated if this is part of the equation the Chief Scribe made. And whether clearing these structures will cost more, or less than the Sand gate option.

Empty plots of land, leaving construction to citizens

If we start construction with the wall and the windmills and/or shade. We will have a region that is relatively safe but won't yet have houses. This is a valid intermittent step and breaks up some of the urgency required. As people in tents behind walls under the protection of our shade are still needy, but not in direct danger.

Spend less on Allotments

Fairly straightforward, comes with a lot of consequences.

We should stay in contact on developments on this program.

Yours Faithfully,
Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe

I don't really like this idea.

Mostly because Rogue is a very versatile class. And this would hardlock in the battle option, but comes at the cost of social options. If they give us this, it only makes sense to not also give us the other things.

I enjoy taking the Rogue class (pure) on characters that don't do much combat at all, and invest in charisma or intelligence. And simply get a diverse selection of skills.

[A map is later sent to the same four recipients.]

[Inventory of Evidence:]

4

Accused: Radik Kozlo
Prosecutor: N/a
Civil Defence: N/a
Overseeing Judge: Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe, Magistrate Aaisha Al-Samar, Prelate Nasreen Shabani
Date: Subat 15, IY 7787
Charges: Brooking

Inventory of Evidence:
Ashfolk Skull, found in the pack of the accused
Intestines, found in the pack of the accused
Two Written Testimonies

Testimonies:
Apothar Mevura Cosine
Sergeant Andvari Lawcleaver
Jannissary Atreya Lightdew

Verdict: Exile

Reasoning: The accused had originally been captured by Sergeant Lawcleaver and Jannissary Atreya Lightdew. And was scheduled to attend the courtroom for murder and brooking. But escaped mere moments before the trial due to Djinn trickery. For leading a small force of Djinn against the defenders of Ephia's Well however, We decided exile in a closed room, absentia trial was sufficient to allow janissaries to act and circumvent further jailcell failures. We conducted the trial with the power of two attending magistrates and a prelate temporarily mandated by the legate to take his place, to strengthen a judgment that would ideally be made in the Hall of Jurisprudence.

[Honourable Legates,]

[Four copies of the following letter is delivered to the Palatial Pyramid and the Krak des Roses and is marked to be received by the following people: Legate Marcellus Seanus, Legate Domhnall Guivarch, Prelate Nasreen Shabani, Acolyte Narwen Alendiel. The letters are written by hand in a neat and elegant script.]

Honourable Legates,

The text you are about to read contains the written account of Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe on her journey to the mountain fort of Tlonsiyya on the 11th of Subat, 7787 IY. The delegation for this journey consisted of the following people; Acolyte Narwen Alendiel, Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe, Scribe Bashir Khatara, Student Daoud al-Maaz, Magistrate Alejandro Benjazar, Ariel Hysair, Hamdan al-Hamdan and Apothar Mae Stern.

Before setting out we determined that we would pursue the following objectives:

1. Apologise and make reparations on behalf of Ephia's Well for the mistreatment of Tlonsiyya's envoys by the hands of Al-Sayyadin's Ast Ironbanner.
2. Assess the Nature of the People living within Tlonsiyya.
3. Assess the relationship Tlonsiyya holds towards Qa'im as a neighbouring settlement.
4. Establish a Friendly relation that can bloom into trade prospects.
5. Discuss their claim over the salvage of the well and investigate archaeological dig potentials.
6. Obtain access to their barge for troop transport

It is my belief that our expedition accomplished the first five objectives successfully. The sixth was abandoned as a preliminary request. And something we wished to post pone until relations were further developed.

As organizer of our trip, Narwen Alendiel had prepared for us a guide by the name of Watchful Gorl, from the Ferric Exiles. Normally residing within Ephia's Gutters. He guided us to a newly constructed bridge we had spotted earlier. On the south end of the Spindlebridge. From there we followed a winding path until we came to the canyon that contained the Hissar of Tlonsiyya.

Nestled between the high canyon walls we could spot a large and sturdy gate. There were signs the place had been an old fortress of sorts, built into the canyon itself. Upon entering we could see it for what it really was; A small fortress that had been built around a place a learning specialized in machinery; A Madrassa. And around the fortress itself were houses and slums of the labourers and  workers lived. A small market and a humble docks along the banks of the Edutu.

The city was notably fitted with madrassan coils, beeping machinery, large metal mills and metal components were visible within the workshops and markets. No place of the city had been spared such devices, and the whole population was either making use of this machinery or producing such machinery themselves.

To make the clear distinction here; the machinery was present within the city, but not within the people. We beheld no one with metal limbs, or otherwise people reduced to a construct as we have come to expect from Qa'immi.

At the gate we were pleasantly received by Zham Tal, Advisor to the Vice Chancellor. The vice Chancellor being de facto ruler of Tlonsiyya. Seeming to have been elected for life as part of the internal leadership of the Silver Madrassa.

Zham Tal explained to us that the fort was built hundreds of years ago by Sultana Zainab II, in the wake of her mother's work, Zainab I, the "Mother of Mountains". After using a form of geomancy on great scale.

He went on to say that the legend tells that she gave herself in sacrifice, to raise the mountains which house the Spindlebridge, to protect Baz'eel from the assaulting Qa'im. Her daughter then spent much to raise the "Hisar". Watch fortressess. Such as Tlonsiyya, Ghulati and Korumak. There are many more along the banks of the Edutu and beyond. Each watching the others. And many wars had been fought over them in the past.

I had asked Zham Tal if the displacement of the third legion from Korumak brought dangers to the Hisar of Tlonsiyya. He answered by saying it had brought some new dangers. But that the legions of Qa'im are much less interested in certain things than the Legions of Baz'eel. And the legions of Baz'eel, in turn, have their own particulars.

From this and later talks we were able to surmise that Tlonsiyya has roots in Baz'eel, but because of its unique geographical location to Qa'im, is forced to endure spies from both sides. But is independent in a manner similar to Ephia's Well.

Zham Tal went on to say that Tlonsiyya was a place of learning, as much as it was a home to their people. That they are an industrious people, Engineers, Mechanists who turn rusted salvage into wonders of motion and meaning. He gave as example their own Vice Chancellor, who is apparently a Horologist of some skill.

In regards to trade, Zham Tal specified they enjoy trade from both sides of the Edutu. And via the Edutu, to the Sea of Pearls itself. Apparently they imported fish food from Il Modo.

During the tour, we met a man on the street, Havanjar Skerak, who was very interested in news from afar. Hamdan handed him an Ephian Newspaper of his own make. I told him about the war between the Thousand Clans and the Lizardfolk Legions of Esam. Refugees Fleeing Banafsi near Qadira. This was potentially one of the spies from Qa'im or Baz'eel. The man appeared human however. And might have simply been a Waradim wanderer. Zham mentioned he was not local and a vagrant.

We were then allowed to view the tradeport. And beheld a curious trade barge called an auto-sail. It had a large metal propellor in the water behind it. Zham tal told us it consumes baublium, but has the ability to move fast and with more cargo than normal. And even upstream.

There was a security check within the fort itself. Performed by a metal defender. Some kind of modular construct humming on top of a ball of energy. We all passed inspection except Mae Stern. Who was called out for having 'unrecognized salvage' upon her wrist. I am not entirely sure if this was the Astronomer lens, or something of her own creation. I suspect the latter.

Shep Lenak, the attending technician, came to assist us and disabled the construct that was accosting Mae Stern. It fell into a thousand pieces by the single use of some remote device. But with just as simple a gesture it reassembled itself. After being reassembled it seemed to have lost its interest in Mae Stern. Zham Tal called the construct "The wonders of the Arteries, made manifest".

And with this we need to discuss the central feature of Tlosinyya. The Silver Madrass – the Machinery focused research institute – was constructed there because their Well is not a well that leads to water. After all, they are blessed by the mighty Edutu river, and have no need for water wells. Instead their well hosts a lift that leads into a dig site far beneath the sand banks. Likely brought up during the large geological shifts by Zanaib I.

The dig site is known as the Arteries, and seems to have a surplus of metal slag, old machinery and baublium. Similar to what we have found in the Dunes of Rust or beneath the Caliphal city of Al-Nasr beneath our own city. But seems far richer, and less plundered than the Dunes of Rust are. The city of Tlonsiyya retrieves all of its products and raw materials from expeditions into the Well.

Captain Ivoka Yjeso ushered us into the Silver Madrassa itself. Upon entering the entry chamber our senses were assailed by smoke and machinery pumping in the corners of the room. A large red carpet, and an ostentatious Elephant shaped shrine hanging above the man we soon came to know as Pakas Oruko, the Vice Chancellor.

Earlier, Zham Tal has told us that an ashstorm had rendered their temple to the Magi Idzu inaccessible. We could only see a barricaded series of steps leading to a cliffside in the canyon wall. Which had made me a little leery of religion in Tlonsiyya. And concerned that they may be falling to Pra'raji influences due to proximity to Qa'im. Finding that the metal elephant idol they worshiped was not familiar to me, did not help. But I am no expert on the worship of Idzu, the Scholar. And will delegate such worries to someone more qualified. It made me regret we did not have wheel clergy along with us on the journey.

As we began our meeting with the Vice Chancellor Pakas Oruko, our agreed upon speaker Hamdan al-Hamdan apologised for how their envoy was treated when they came to Ephia's Well. We offered a collection of gifts to smooth over this mistake and begin friendly relations. The following gifts were offered; 10000 dinar, private collections of Well Water, Literature, Cartographical pieces, Gemstones, Astronomer Artifice and Food sample from Mro Po.

A moment of tense stand off followed, until the Vice Chancellor laughed and said he would accept out gifts. His demeanour seemed to shift after Hamdam cleverly dodged the Vice Chancellors mention that the gifts were missing Ast Ironhammer's head. Calling him clever and gifted with his tongue. After this introduction, he shifted his tune, and began to speak to us on matters of trade.

We made it clear that we were not there to establish a trade agreement right away, as we did not have the authority to make such decisions for our city. But that we were inspecting and examining, and would be reporting our findings and offer our recommendations to our legates.

One suggestion he made stood out; we could purchase their turbines. To protect our refugees from the storms of ash, that linger outside our Shade. The other options being defences; automatons, cannons, or farm-equipment; methods of mechanical water distribution. Finally he showed us crates full of baublium, which were going for multiple thousands, he said.

I had asked the Vice Chancellor what sort of things Ephia could offer Tlonsiyya in exchange for the salvage, knowledge, machinery and salvage licenses they offer us. And Pakas Oruko listed a few things; Water, Food, Dinar, Labourers, information, schematics, scholars and engineers.

Finally the Vice Chancellor said individuals would be permitted to buy salvaging licenses and descend into the Tlonsiyya Well. To retrieve salvage on their own. Of course he would be taking his cut. But most of it would be gifted to the explorers. There were dangers however to such a prospect; silent gas, exhaust passageways, flooding, overloading energy arrays and automaton defences.

The Vice Chancellor also agreed to have a private meeting with Ariel's Consortium, to pre-empt state business, and deal with private business at a later date.

After such, we were dismissed and escorted out.

As a final piece of analysis, I will join myself with the words Daoud stated; That in presentation the Vice Chancellor seemed more interested in striking a deal, acquiring wealth and conducting trade. And did not seem like a scholar or a benevolent ruler. He seemed more like a stark reminder of what Ephia could be if a gold league legate would turn our heritage into an open machine market.

And yet, as a foreign power, with many innovations to share. There is a potential to put a selection of these machines to use to the good of the people of Ephia's Well. As long as we are willing to pay the price of dependency to the drug known as baublium.

For any further questions or information, feel free to contact me or other members of the expedition.

Yours faithfully,

Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe

[Inventory of Evidence:]

3

Accused: Rogro Teathert
Victims: Don Souk and Riccardo Corvo
Prosecutor: Jannissary Arnock Reyer
Civil Defence: Ariel Hysair
Overseeing Judge: Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe
Date: Subat 7, IY 7787
Charges: Brooking, 3x Assault, Theft

Inventory of Evidence:
6 written Testimonies
2 Pieces of Gore found on the person of the accused

Testimonies:
Don Souk
Riccardo Corco
Nadiri Ashley Scherwin

Verdict: Exile

Reasoning: The accused admitted to the crimes early on in the trial. Denying none of the claims of the Jannissaries. He showed contrition and asked for Mercy. The Jannissaries explained that they only had evidence that he had used his brooked powers to subdue and steal money from the victims. He did not maim or kill. As such I opted to give him a chance with exile, rather than immediately deal a death sentence, even though most exile is just that all the same.

[Sephidra Niridhe's Court cases]

Honourable Legate Marcellus Seanus,

Here is brief summary, of the court cases this week:

Sephidra Niridhe's Court cases

1

Accused: Rur Aksa
Victim: Sedhanna
Prosecutor: Anvari Lawcleaver
Civil Defence: Zain al-Saiba
Overseeing Judge: Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe
Date: Subat 3, IY 7787
Charges: Murder

Verdict: Three days of Conscription to the fourth legion

Reasoning: The victim was a necromancer who attacked the accused in the gutters. The accused defended himself in self-defense. But as a paladin of the headsman oath, he was forced to take the life of the necromancer he subdued. The accused was found guilty because this was a case of vigilantism. The necromancer did not need to die, and was supposed to be brought to the Garrison for the courts to prosecute. The reduced punishment is to accommodate for circumstances; He would have been innocent if he had killed, and not knocked out the necromancer in the din of battle.

2

Accused: Amadeus Bucket
Victim: Bashir Khatara
Prosecutor: Riordan Wulf
Civil Defence: Ariel Hysair
Overseeing Judge: Magistrate Sephidra Niridhe
Date: Subat 4, IY 7787
Charges: Assault, Unlawful Resistance

Verdict: 400 gold fine, tasked with removing the poop from the stockade.

Reasoning: The victim was struck with a flame bolt, causing superficial damage. A disabling spell was fired, but blocked by a ward. The victim bellowed that he would turn himself in, but just used that opportunity to throw a turd at the Jannissary. Was later captured in the Gutters. The accused showed little remorse, but the acts were more that of a prankster than anything that appeared nefarious. Punished as such.

The prerequisite for a spell focus is the ability to cast level 1 spells or higher. For bards, and bards alone, this means 2 levels or more. Other spellcasting classes get their first level spells at level 1 after all.

The prerequisite for brew potion is at least 3 levels of a spellcasting class.

The prerequisite for craft wand is at least 5 levels of a spellcasting class.

So yes, for a human bard at level six, it would be impossible to have a spell focus, greater spell focus brew potion and craft wand. While the same would be possible for a cleric, druid, astrologian, sorcerer and wizard.

Bards are already quite strong, and it prevents fighter/rogue/wizards from having one dip in wizard and being able to craft their own shield wands. I like it when options require some prior investment.

I can usually identify when an area is made by Abala just by how little mistakes can be found. And the few that do make it through, never exist for long.

Abala is the most meticulous and devoted dungeon master. And her ability to channel hardship and negativity into a learning experience and create something beautiful is an incredible trait.

I love v6, thank you for all your time and passion.

[Honoured Students of the Esoterical,]

Honoured Students of the Esoterical,

I write you today because I wished to request the use of your lecture hall in the coming week. I wish to recount the tale of the recent war our city was embroiled in. And touch upon some of the consequences that still play out in our city today. As someone who witnessed most of the interactions between the Tonsured and the Well first hand, I will dive into the nitty details of what was discussed, and how our actions shaped the present.

I eagerly await your decision,

Yours faithfully,

Sephidra Niridhe