From: wsb1@dolphin.upenn.edu (Bill Brickman)
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:59:52 -0400 (EDT)
Well, if the second version of charter on Lydia's page makes the rounds, it will be supported by Vasha. He still feels that some legal issues remain to be ironed out, and will gladly discuss Hermetic Law with those inclined to do so, but his points have been added, and it works for him.
And, now that his finances are his own again, I decided to look further into the +3 Virtue I took: Business- You own a business which generates significant wealth for you, but which provides you with little (if any) political clout, and which you must manage and protect. You have a yearly excess income of about 250 silver pennies...
So, not only do I get a base of operations in Ragusa, a house, contacts, etc., I'm also making money! Of course, I have to run the place. That's what Vasha's going to be doing for his Winters, setting down in the shop in Ragusa, meeting with merchants who are speculating on the Spring shipments, and all in all living his city life, ignoring somewhat his magical studies (since he's generally at -4 all winter). Since Mike has ruled he can't study from books and run the shop, he'll just be hanging out, ready for story hooks and other problems to arise.
However, I also took the flaw Expenses, (25%-50% goes to some organization or expenses, in my case paying off the protection rackets, bribes to minor officials to keep the church off my back, rent, taxes, etc.), so I'm getting less than 250, say 150 silver pennies of expendible income per year, by using a season (winter) running the shop each year. Vasha's doing well, that's better than most poor knights with some land. It's enough to buy a longboat, or almost any service, or a wagon, or...
This means that Vasha won't be using up covenant stores or funds for his own projects. It also means that Vasha might be able to do his service to the covenant for a year by making purchases with his own cash for the good of the covenant. I mean, as much as he loves his studies, and his new found place at the covenant, he's not going to stop taking care of his shop-- it's his life, his birthright. So he'll be using the season a year to maintain it, of his own volition. However, losing another season in doing some odious task for the covenant reduces his seasons of study in half. So expect Vasha to try to buy his way out of service every so often. He's already doing a lot, so don't think he'll be weaseling out of every duty coming his way-- he likes to help the covenant. What I'm saying is that Vasha will use his money as an ace in the hole should some petty mage try to convince people that Vasha must do something he'd hate to do. "Yes, I'd love to help you track down the vile Wurm, do you want my support in cash or do you take Hospitaller letters of credit?"
And, last but not least, since Vasha's a meddler by disposition, and the temptation to meddle in the affairs of wizards is too great, expect mysterious "grants" from Vasha to differing mages from time to time. "Oh, the Council ruled against your request for funds to raise an army, Asid? Well, just sit down right here and tell me what you need..."
;-)
Bill
P.S. Mike, I'll be keeping track of Vasha's yearly income during the whole aging roll, yearly XP, etc sessions. I'll have to add a "business ledger" to the many extra bits of info already in my folder. ;) Don't worry, it will probably read "1,000sp bal, spent 300 on Cain's cannon, spent 50 on Alanus' spice plants, 650sp bal." and so on.
Hmm... 25sp a year in taxes getting you down, Tariq? Maybe I can help... this year.