Kick Backs

Me want to make sure me know what you say. Words like punching. Better you hit few hard hits.

Me need pay Lord 5 to 10 gold a year.
If me make building me need to pay another 10 gold no matter how big me make it.

If me no give kick back you send collector. Maybe me pay, maybe him take me things, maybe me not like too much collector visit, maybe me wind up in ditch.

Ok, what me get out of deal?
Maybe someone want stay with me, maybe me charge them 1 gold a month. Maybe me have to make building like Jonas. Then me make lots of money and only have to pay 10 gold a year.

Dear Blade,

You must pay the King's tax. That is 5 gold pieces per year. If Lord Blackthorne wants to charge you a higher tax to cover the expenses of Alisandria, he may do so. If you happen to own a building in Travance Proper (perhaps on the lands given to the four Lords during their stay each moon), that building will be charged 10 gold each year. At this time, the Barony will not charge you for buildings you may own outside the Proper itself.

What do you get out of it? You get the continued protection of His Excellency and his Lords. You get to keep selling your lovely cigars to people, because they actually feel safe here and are willing to travel to Travance. You get to travel to the Proper once a month on good roads maintained by the taxes you pay, patrolled by troops your taxes pay to employ, who are armed with swords and wearing armor that your taxes help pay for, who can then arrest brigands and put them in a sturdy jail your taxes help build. These things are just a few of the things in Travance your taxes help pay.

As I am still the Chancellor of Trade, I know that your merchant's license is up to date and that if you wished to build a building in the Proper like Jonas Kane and charge people staying there 1 gold piece per month, you can do that. If you had one person stay with you per year, you would have 12 gold pieces at the end of the year. You would pay 10 gold pieces to the Barony for the building and have 2 gold pieces left over. I would personally recommend having more people stay with you each year. You could set up a room where you sold drinks and your fine cigars as well.

If you would like, we can discuss this in more detail at the next Feast.

Sincerely,

Translation:

Blade,

Words like punching just for you.

You pay King 5 gold each year.
Maybe your Lord make you pay him 5 gold each year, too.
Maybe you have building. If so, you pay 10 more gold each year.

What you get?
Taxes pay guard. Taxes pay Armies. Taxes equip both army and guard. Taxes fix roads. Taxes pay for stuff we all use. Better roads means more people can come to buy cigar from Blade.

Seneschal says he did math.
Math says charge gold for stay in building good idea.

Ok, so me build then me get to charge people gold to stay, then me kinda like lord. But me think me should build big. Then me more like lord, make more tax, pay same tax up. Me understand mountain racket. Work out ok for everyone not on bottom. Me ok, me just want make sure me not on bottom of mountain.

Sleep with Blade, coming soon! Good view! You give money to sleep with Blade maybe me give you free cigar! Special group rates available! You want special meeting, you not want people know? Special hour rates available! Extra if you want me tell stupid people go away.

Blade, you will never be at the bottom of the mountain. Build big or small, what ever makes you happy. I for one would love to stretch out at your fine establishment. I am sure it will be a good experience laying back with a nice cigar!

Blade,

You are a credit to Ogres everywhere. Never have I met one as economically minded as you and daresay I could learn a thing or two. Please keep doing what you are doing, and those finely wrapped cigars flowing.