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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3123792" data-attributes="member: 3448">Thanks, HO HB!-----Session 11:The strain on the Duke of Brightspan’s face was palpable.  “Your eminent grace… it has been most difficult to learn of my son’s involvement, and of the full scope of the threat we face.  If I may, I would return to my house where I can more fully recover.”“Before you go, there’s one more matter I would like to discuss,”  replied Alistair.  “Our Chancellor of the Exchequer would never forgive us if we did not discuss the matter of the tariffs you’ve imposed on goods from the south.”The Duke stiffened.  “I can assure you, we forward every copper penny that the Archduchy is entitled to on to your treasury.”Alistair held up a hand.  “Of that I have no doubt, your grace.  But our concern is not with our share, but with the effect that the tariffs have on trade.”“Yes, some of the merchants are upset by it, I know.  And I worry about the effects it has on the refugees.  They are just getting their feet under them, and the tariffs make it hard for them to establish legitimate trade.”“Exactly our concern, your grace.  The refugees need the spice trade to develop.”“Indeed.  I suppose we could rebate parts of the tariff to merchants from the developing refugee communities.”“That would be most appreciated, your grace.  May I ask why you have imposed the tariffs? They cannot be profitable for you, either.  Better to receive a smaller tariff on a much larger amount of trade.”“No, they are not.  But I did not impose them for purely fiscal reasons.  Some of the specialized guards that my wife brought in have caught several spice merchants with contraband.  Ordinary means of deterrence have failed to prevent them from continuing their vile trade, but the guards my wife has hired, while effective, are very expensive.  By raising the tariffs I have been able to reduce the number of caravans to a more manageable number, and I receive enough tariffs on a per caravan basis to be able to hire enough guards to keep a close eye on all of the caravans that do pass through.  What’s worse, one of the merchants poisoned one of our major salt mines while trying to escape from my guards.  They brought the merchant in, but it will take years to leach the poison out of the mine, and it has cost us dearly.”</blockquote>

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