Fox's Return

[bravesirrobin]

[About 16 days after the last time you see him - Fox turns up again. He needs to tell you what he was up to. And you can fill him in on what he missed in Tredemin. Have fun:]

[Blackrat]

Fox hops off a trade caravan coming through Tredemin en route from Kharadron and yaps a quick thank you to the driver. Although no passer-by would know it, as his face is covered by his customary hood, there's a pensive look in his eye, which colours the usual sparkle. He hurries back to his quarters in the palace...

When he appears at the dinner table that evening, he answers the brief outburst of greetings and questions with a grin. He sits down, awkwardly as ever, and tears into a chicken leg before he starts his account.

"Well. I went to Kharadron. Interestin' place - a trade town, basically. Most of the significant trade roads in the region cross there, although the river's to the South through Elemyr, obviously. I got a rough map of the roads if you want to look - pretty much there's one going out to the North-East, which is the one that comes through Tredemin, then there's one going Westward and one going South. Not much to say on that score; it's a trade town, so there's traders - and plenty of 'em.

"Now the thing about traders is they get to talk to a lot of people. New people every day, too. And in a town like Kharadron I reckon they've got themselves a fair bit of influence, too. So I thought no better place to start spreading the message about the Solar Lord and the return of his Chosen..."

He pauses to grin again, and swig at his beer.

"... so I did. Hopefully the rumours are spreadin' thick and fast through Kharadron, not to mention bein' taken down the trade routes by anyone who's got half a mind to believe 'em. And you know what people are like. Gossip thrives, especially if it might mean change or some trouble among the higher powers. Anyway, so that's part of what I spent the last couple of weeks doin'.

"The other part was a bit less important really. More interestin' to tell about, though. I've set myself up among the... less-than-honest in Kharadron as someone useful to know. Mainly because I am someone useful to know. So I got a few contacts there, which might be useful. Azir, if you can supply me with some top-notch herbs and powders - and I don't mean the healing kind - then we could have some pretty sweet deals goin', which would be pretty useful for influence and information, like. What d'you reckon?

"Interestingly, they seemed a little reluctant to listen about the Unconquered Sun. They seemed to think they didn't need anyone better than this chap called Kerrin. At least, I think he's a chap. No-one'll talk about 'im really so he could be a small god or somethin'. I need to look more into that. Anyway, whoever or whatever he is, he looks after them all and keeps 'em safe. And it ain't a protection racket either, 'coz they're not scared of 'im. I dunno what's goin' on. But if we can set up some decent links between them an' us (through me, I'd suggest), I reckon we might be able to dig a bit deeper. I reckon he'd be worth knowin', either to ally with or to be wary of."

[Learned Hand]

'This "Kerrin" certainly merits further investigation. Unfortunately, we have a problem closer to home. There appears to be someone or something with some considerable power interfering with Tredemin. We have seen protests that, frankly, should have been impossible'

[oneiros]

"Split authority may be something we can work with should there be issues with our endeavours to sway Estetin Meer. I'll note it for consideration. As to your request Friend Fox, I'ld be happy to provide supplies. My workshop is ready and preparing some medicaments at the moment. I can turn my attentions to the sort of thing you're looking for shortly.

"I concur with Friend Kairos though - something or someone has been stirring up the populus which is problematic on two fronts. One, we need to be able to move materials through Tredamin unhindered and two, a lack of social cohesion threatens to undermine the changes we need to push through to achieve our unifying goal.

"I'm sure you all understand that we want want as few setbacks as possible and if there is a malicious agent at work - as is suspected - then they must be dealt with as soon as possible. We are about to send out the invitations to the other rulers; let us hope this is not an espionage attempt."

After a short pause, Azir continues, "I wonder if it would be worthwhile to recruit an Intelligence operative to help shore up our efforts..."

[Blackrat]

"I reckon it would. So what's going on?"

[Learned Hand]

'I have used my guild connections to provide an influx of slaves into Tredemin. In exchange for more workers, the salt gods have lowered their salt rates to levels that match those of The Realm - in other words, the best in creation. If we can provide even more workers, the rates will go even lower. These low rates provide us with the bedrock we need to build a societ where everyone is better off'.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to persuade the populace of the correctness of this course of action, around half of the citizens seem opposed to it. Frankly, the only explanation for resistance against the.... 'force' of our arguments is that somebody is opposing them with the exact same 'force'. I suspect that one of the lunars your friend Kilik offended may be behind it. We must flush them out'

[oneiros]

"Steps should probably have been taken to introduce these 'indentured servants'," whereupon Azir looks slightly pointedly at Kairos before continuing dryly, "in a more circumspect manner but the concept is sound to providing a economic boost while I try and get from the woodlands a bountiful production of medicaments and... other herbal products.

"But whatever has excited the townsfolk needs to be calmed and you're probably the best for the job Friend Fox. We should aim to dispel the notion of 'slavery' and pass these folk off as servants of the crown with a fixed period of labour after which... well, whatever is necessary to ensure stability. The hope of 'freedom from servitude' should be adequate incentive to both them and to calm any furore."

[Learned Hand]

'Quite. I would suggest 10 years of good service guarantees full citizenship; 5 years if you vounteer for the army. We can also perhaps introduce a system, whereby particularly dedicated work reduces the time you must spent as an indentured servant'

[Blackrat]

"Wait, so you're behind the slave trade in Tredemin? Well that explains a lot... Yeah, I'd say I was in the best position to calm them down, since I was the one that stirred 'em up in the first place!

"So run this by me again. You think that helping the guild to ruin the lives of millions of innocent civilians and generally oppressing the people who can't defend themselves - the poor, the unlucky, the disabled, the disfigured - is a good thing because...?"

[oneiros]

"Ah, well that certainly puts a different colour on things... hmmm.

"Not wishing to speak for Friend Kairos, we have to be pragmatic. I don't know about you but we're not setting out to dismantle the Guild here, we're trying to forge a new society and the transition might be slightly painful at first. What's done is done, the Guild has taken these folk and disrupted their lives. Instantly freeing them is not likely to solve much since they are probably far removed from their previous lives.

"Our actions here build a new stability for them - we are providing work, shelter, medical care, incentives and the opportunity to shine in the light of the Unconquered Sun. Yes it is unfortunate how they came to be here but better our care than the other pernicious fates that could await them - at the hands of those depraved sensates in House Cynis for example."

[Blackrat]

"We might be planning on treating 'em well, but we're still creatin' demand for slaves, so we're supportin' the slave trade. Simple as that. I'm not lookin' to take on the Guild, obviously, but you can't say 'They're slaves already so it's fine' - the more people want slaves, the more people will be enslaved. We should be showin' other kingdoms how an ideal one should be run - and for my money, that means no person owns another."

[oneiros]

"We don't own anybody. They serve the state who saw to their freedom and they agree to work the bond created thereof to earn their citizenship. I'd say that is a fair deal for extracting folk from the market. Remember, an ideal kingdom will not prosper without a working base to support it after all.

"Look, I agree with you that it is not the best of circumstances and we could have handled the situation better - but I guess this is a learning curve for us all. My point, though, is that us *not* rescuing people from the Guild is not going to suddenly depress the market and have these slavers disappear.

"The market, unfortunately, is going to exist and continue to do when there are Realmsfolk and others who will quite happily pay for this to continue. The best we can do is help those we can and ensure that our own communities do not fall prey to their predations. After all, these actions show that those who follow the Unconquered Sun are merciful and compassionate but determined and pragmatic enough that they do not let their compassion blind them.

"However, I'm a doctor not an advocate, these are just my opinions of the present. I will consent to any course of action that is fair and reasoned. I fear that my voice is preventing Friend Kairos from making his case."

[Blackrat]

"Yeah - no, I see what you're saying, granted. But you also seem to be saying that they ain't really slaves, which is not the idea I got from the people I spoke to on Tredemin's streets. They seemed to reckon they'd be owning slaves - which I object to, though I take your point. If we're allowing previous slaves to work for the state in order to be free, I reckon that's entirely fair - but it's very, very different.

"Kairos, is that what you had in mind?"

[Learned Hand]

[mainly though, friend Kairos was teaching. Bah!

Also, sorry, had started writing this before BR posted]

I agree with you that simply using the slave trade in its current incarnation is immoral, Fox, I really do.

However, as Azir says, we must face reality. I have experience of The Guild and I can assure you that, thanks to The Fae, the demand for slaves in this part of the world exceeds the supply. Whether or not we buy slaves or not, the total number of slaves will not change.

Therefore the only thing we can change is the fate of the slaves. Are they to be taken and sold to The Fae, where they face a horrific fate? Not if I can help it. Will they be taken and sold to a country that will mistreat them? Not if I can help it. Will they be taken and sold to a master who will work them until their bones and spirits crumble. Not if I can help it.

We are in a position to offer those slaves a better choice. It would be nice if we could simply buy them and set them free. I hope that one day we can. Sadly, that day is not today. If we immediately free 100 slaves today, there will be thousands who die in bondage because we were unable to help them.

The best we can do for these slaves is buy them for a fair price, and then ask them to work until they have earned us exactly that amount of money and not a talent more. Then, we give them their freedom; they will have bought themselves. As a gift we offer them full citizenship in our new, equitable country. Otherwise, we will gladly send them back to their families.

The exact length of work they must do is difficult to calculate, but my early estimates suggest 10 years of labour, based on the assumption that we will pay them the exact same that we pay our regular workers. Of course, some types of service may be more valuable to us. Soldiers are paid more than miners, and slaves who choose to be soldiers (and the choice will be freely made) will be able to buy their freedom earlier. It may be that we choose to colonise the fertile lands to the East and North (we surely want Tredemin to be at the centre, not the corner, of our empire). I put it to you that slaves who agree to be colonists are granted freedom straight away, although I own that I have not thought such a course of action through.

I also suggest that those slaves who do work especially hard are rewarded with more money. This will effectively amount to grants of full citizenship earlier. Can you think of another country that rewards a good slave with anything other than more work?

Naturally we will need to discuss the fine detals, but I hope that you can see that everybody wins, Fox? Our country grows until it is in a position to tackle the whole idea of slavery. The slaves lucky enough to come here are freed from a lifetime of bondage, in exchange for a decade. Our country will grow more populous as slaves choose to stay in the lands that were so good to them.

In the meantime, the slaves will be guaranteed the same protections under law as our citizens. They shall not be beaten, mistreated, or underfed. So long as they stay within the confines of our lands they shall have freedom of movement and assembly (with no more or fewer restrictions than the current populous). If they do not work, they shall not be beaten. Why should they? They will simply have to face the same realities as our own citizens. Namlely, that they will not earn anough for food. I put it to you that there are very few senses in which these men and women are slaves. In how many ways will their lives differ from that of our peasantry? Only that of not being able to leave the country.

Of course I wish that they had not been forced to leave their homelands at all, and that we would not have even that restriction (but remember we must think of future generations of slaves who need saving). Frankly, if their families so wish it, why not let them come and live here, as citizens? I will pay for the delivery of the letters myself.

Sadly they have been forced to leave; we cannot change that. If we do not buy they The Fair Folk will. We can do better than anyone else though, and guarantee them a return home. For the few, that is, who do not consider Tredemin their home at the end of their contracts.

I guarantee than the slaves themselves will be grateful to us. If they had known what was in store for them, they would have given thanks to whatever Gods they esteem. In time, they will give thanks to The Unconquered Sun for guiding them here.

What say you, Fox?

[bravesirrobin]

[I should inject here something else that Kairos will know, but the two others may not. Often slaves sold to the Fair Folk are then bought back for smaller amounts of money and sold on as slaves again - they are generally highly docile and obedient.

This practice can distort the local slave market somewhat, so it's not quite so simple in terms of ananlysing supply and demand as one might like. There's a good chance that some fraction of the slaves here/on their way are slaves of this type.]