Northern Trade Alliance First Summit Meeting

Chello nodded as she listened. "I think I can speak for Elon when I say that I believe the free passage of religious clergy should be respected. Indeed, hospitality and the protection of those who have dedicated their lives to Aed's service is a sacred duty in Elon. However, I agree with King Grendel that the passage of priests is entirely unrelated to commercial trade and I believe the more we stay out of religious affairs the better. Like Grendel said, our goal is not for the NTA to be a means for religious or idealistic promotion."

"On the other hand, the issue is clearly important to the Firetooth Clan. I think it would be well for the NTA to allow for a platform of sub-charters or trade stipulations, which can be optional and applied more specifically. Maybe a series of oaths which nations can participate in, or abstain from and which may be used to help guide nations when choosing their trading partners. Indeed on the more controversial matters that are strongly effected by times and circumstances this may be the best method, as it would be easier to later modify or rewrite these sub-charters to fit the controversies of the era and nations need no bind themselves to an everlasting promise on an issue that could change drastically in the course of only a few years. An agreement of religious freedom and the protection of clergy could be written up and signed by all nations willing to participate, those who do not won't be banished from the alliances, but their abstinence can be take into consideration during elections and be valid basis for consideration of project priority by the Guildmaster. The Firetooth can also choose to only trade with nations who agreed to this charter and and make the declaration known to the whole guild. They could also lobby for other nations who share their beliefs to do like wise."  

"As for the tolls and tariffs, Grendel makes some good points, but this is another matter that could be subject to changes, controversies and the internal growth of an individual nation. I personally still think such matters would be best left to the negotiations and and agreements between the individual nations involved on the routs, but will grant that it is an issue that could be subject to abuse no mater which side we eventually come down on."

"Such being the case, I propose we write up a sub charter on tolls and tariffs, which the Alliance will encourage members to participate in, but not necessarily enforce as law upon sovereign lands, and which could later be voted upon again and revised with council approval, according the the ebb and flow of commercial circumstances. At this time, with so many routs still to be constructed, I think we should ban tariffs and tolls. It will be much more productive overall and will protect many of the smaller nations located inland, or on the more remote edges of the map, until such a time as they have a thriving and stable economy. However, I do not approve of making it a part of the core charter, or in the NTA having the authority to so directly control the national laws and economies of the member nations. Perhaps any nation that does not participate could be fined, or given lowest priority in its consideration for assistance in projects, but would not be entirely excluded from the alliance."        

" I too have 2 more cents to add to the growing pile. I do back the Grud in the limits of priest. If I were to find a opposing preacher in my lands he will be firmly ejected from said lands post haste, like any other none welcomed, none hostile intruder. Hostile one are killed after a extensive and extreme interrelation session.

My issue is with the limits of the guild leader I propose that instead the current rules that allow 2 nations to simply hand the position to each other. Instead, I propose we have a round Robbin type of leadership. Each nation will have have to wait until each and every other nation has had a term of office so one power block dose not control the league, and each faction has a equal say." Gregan cast his eyes at the 3 original nations at this statement. " If you feel that there is a faction that will not serve the leagues internist then I would suggest not letting them into the league in the first place. The order of leaders can be determent by vote as normally.

To back the orcs words what will we gain by joining this league?
In addiction if we fear the military might of this league why not cut its purse strings and reduce its dues to 1000gps. That in it self makes this treaty look like its worth signing.
The vary idea of sub-charters is just crazy. To think of coming back here to vote on some little bit of crap that someone propose turns my stomach at the wasted time and lost profits. So lay everything on the table now and let us shift through the dirt to find the nuggets of gold now instead of putting it off tell later.

"So far all I have seen is that you dismiss every idea we have so you can stick to your piece of paper" Gregan crumbles the copy of the charter in front of hem " I say, if we have no say in how this league is made then why should we be apart of it." Gregan then tosses the charter in the nearest fire " I for one will call for a vote right now on the issues raised instead of you just dismissing them!

For round robbin elections. I vote yay.
For the free priest travel. I vote nay.
For the reduction of the dues. I vote yay.
on the restriction of tariffs on the league members. I vote yay

"Regretfully I cannot agree that your proposal will be beneficial or worthwhile for the Firetooth Clan. Since it seems that our original assurances were mere empty promises." Gormith glanced at Naozumi accusingly "- and the agreement would incur great costs with doubtful benefits, I cannot agree to it. The Firetooth will not be joining the Northern Trade League. I wish you all good fortune until the next time we meet." Gormith stood and bowed to the other delegates. "I will see myself out."

((Quick note: Gormith is not an Elder. He is a highly influential member of a major house.))

Gormith paused, having already stood from his seat. He glanced around the meeting, especially at Ishui and Naozumi. Part of the reason he had prompted Naozomu to act was the assurance that the elves meant to stick by their promises, which clearly was not the case. Naozomu showed no interest in actually pushing for the conditions that he had so easily guaranteed. Could Ishui push the other founders to accept Firetooth terms? He doubted it.

"Free passage along the length of the Ryn, a policy against the persecution of missionaries and converts, and provisions that would provide tangible benefits that outweigh the cost of dues, all assured in a binding agreement, not some optional provision."

Chello read over the proposal carefully. She hadn't expected another nation to bring a proposal, but supposed it would be for the best. She certainly didn't plan on abandoning the original charter, but Grendal's had plenty of good aspects and an integration of the two would probably do very well.

"While this document has a lot of merit, I see several flaws as well. It seems more likely to put nations in debt ,or even create the potential for mass destabilization, while doing very little to truly benefit the nations. It is makes the guild dependent upon interest rates and loans and I have serious doubts about how reliable such methods will be, especially considering the strict limitation upon how the lent out money can be spent. Also your proposals for leadership seem very convoluted and inefficient. However, let me start at the beginning."

"In my opinion your first article is a drastic overreach of power and infringes much to heavily upon the sovereign rights of the nations. You accused the original charter of trying to be a replacement Empire, but even the Empire did not meddle so much in how a nation conducts its economy. We should be an alliance of free nations and even in matters of commerce I would not have an outside power dictating the details of national economy and laws to this existent."

"Your second article, while I think it has some merit, relying on a one time flat fee and then loans to maintain the whole NTA is unreliable and potentially will either put nations into great debt or else bankrupt the NTA and destabilize everyone's economies. Also 6 gold is a hefty amount to pay in order simply gain access to essentially a bank. There is plenty of other recourses nations may take to gain gold and I see little benefit to joining alliance that provides little beyond loan options to it's nations."

"Your third article also has some merit, but like the second, I don't foresee it being especially useful. Why should nations sell resources so cheaply to the NTA when they could trade directly with each other or outside sources for a better price. I only foresee this being helpful if a nation has a surplus of a item no want else in the north is interested in buying. This could happen, but I doubt it will be a common occurrence."


"Your forth article is where I foresee the most trouble. It seems terribly inefficient and overly complicated with the pace of travel and communication I fear it will take months to get anything of import done and the bureaucracy around the shifting chairs could become very arduous."

((OOC guys. Essentially I think the council thing while it sounds good as far as balance and government will be impossible to implement with these game mechanics. The reason I had the giuldmaster as one player making the big decisions in the original plan is because I think that's probably the only way things will get done quickly. Game turns aren't going to wait on NTA debates and elections before moving forward and the more player involved the longer it takes to get anything done. For example this topic has already laster nearly three turns which is 9 months, even though it's only be a day in play. With the comparative speed of turn actions vs multi-player diplo topics a council that will vote on and debate every issue that comes up will be impossible. If we want things to be able to keep up with the turn actions, I really think we will have to go with the giuldmaster making of the decisions alone. While it give a player a lot of power, it's temporary and if the screw others over, we just never elect them again. ))

"I completely agree with your fifth article, though rather than agressor not being on a council I would want to keep the offices from the orignal charter and say they can not hold office. I approve of article number six as well. I think it is essential that whatever charter we decide on, members should be able to add to it or edit it at a later time in accordance with shifting circumstances and concerns. The forbearance on execution and the extradition clauses could be argued as being another over reach of power that infringes on a nation's sovereignty, but I think the amount of respect and forbearance it enforces is just."

"In conclusion, while I would not accept this charter as it stance I would be in favor of combining many of its aspects with some from the original charter. As such,"

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Trade



1: All nations will use standardized currency.



2: NO overly burdensome tolls (1 gold or more, small fees that wouldn’t add to more than one gold could still be charged in order to maintain national roads and routs) shall be extracted from NTA trading.



3: Given the choice between a non-alliance trade route, and an alliance trade route, the alliance trade route is to be treated as preferable.




Treasury and Fees



1: Members pay a flat 4 gold entry fee and then a membership fee of 1/season. (This could be increased or decreased at a future time)

2: The treasurer may lend out money at a 1/3 interest rate to any member nation for any reason, save the direct funding of war and training of troops. Loans to nonmember nations may be give under consideration by the NTA treasurer

The NTA may use treasury funds for NTA protects, which will have priority over money lending.


Guild House


1: Proposes the formation of Alliance Guild house.


2: Non-Perishable and non-slot Resources (Stone/Wood) can be sold to the guild house automatically at a set price of 2g each automatically each turn as funding allows. This purchase uses the funds from the Alliance as available. Alliance members may purchase these resources from the Guild-house for 3g each supply permitting. Non-Alliance factions may purchase these so long as they posses a trade route with a guild-house for the price of 4g each supply permitting.

3: All profits from these transaction goes into the NTA Treasury.


Leadership

1: Propose the following offices: Guildmaster (Merchant, Ambassador or Administrator), Treasurer (Merchant or Administrator), Explorer (Explorer), Emissary (Merchant, Spymaster or Ambassador),

The rolls and responsibilities will be as follows:


- NTA Guildmaster: Determine which project proposals to fulfill, represent the NTA in diplomatic ventures with other nations, direct the other NTA officers when necessary. Oversee NTA summit meetings.

- NTA Explorer: Explore territories and report the discovery of resources to the giuldmaster and the NTA council meetings. May be hired by NTA members for specific explorations job.

- NTA Treasure: Manage loans and interest collection, help the Guildmaster in determining funding for projects. Determine weather or not to give loans to outside nations.

- NTA Emissary: Assist in negotiations on the NTA’s behalf and reach out to non-member nations with invitations and proposals. Mediate quarrels and differences between member nations, be alert for rumors that may lead to threats to the NTA and investigate claims that may justify boycotts or ostracizing a member, collecting unbiased evidence. May be hired as an emissary by member nations.

((Existing PC retinues may be elected and will remain under the control of their native nation's player. There needs to be guildmaster, other offices can be added as needed in the future. If nominated and elected, there may be multiple officers of all offices except the Guildmaster. If any offices remain completely unfilled and the NTA has determined to activate the office, all but the Guildmaster may be filled by NPCs, which will be controlled by the same player controlling the Guildmaster. NPC officers automatically loose to nominated PC retinues in elections.))


2: Retinues from any member nation may be nominated for election.

3: Any member nation may nominate a candidate.

4: Elections will be decided by a electoral counsel made of a board comprised of representatives from half of the members rounded up to the nearest odd number and never exceeding 7.

5: The electoral counsel will vote on candidates for all offices once a year.

6: Every year the representative on the electoral counsel will be shifted with one representative getting dismissed and one being added. This shall be done on a rotation so that each member nations gets to serve on the counsel in turn.


Joining

1: All factions, peoples, and faiths that do not have outstanding debt to the Trade alliance may join it, this cannot be changed by any means.


Projects

1: Once a year a nation may propose a project to be funded or partial funded by the NTA, or else second a proposal put forward be another nation.

2: The projects should be directly connected to the advancement of trade or the discovery and development of resources. 

3: The Giuldmaster will determine what projects to take, but must gain the approval of the treasure on order to spend NTA funds.

4: The NTA can not take on any projects not submitted by a member nation. Unless it is accepted by a vote of all members with a 2/3 majority. 

Meetings

1: Once a year all NTA members must send a representative to participate in alliance officer elections and to vote on any outstanding issues that are beyond the authority of the the guild officers.

2: Any nation that does not participate for 3 years in a row will ben excluded from the guild.  

War

1a: Should two internal factions within the NTA conflict the aggressor may not have a representative elected into any NTA Office until the mater is resolved.

1b: An "Aggressor" is defined for the purpose of this document as a nation with an army active, or recently active in the domain of another nation.

1c: Should an aggressor nation be in office at such a time, they must immediately step down.

2: The NTA may not act in policies that clearly favor one waring member faction over the other member faction, until both nations boarders are secure.

3: Due to the nature of war, it is the onus of each nation to decide if they wish to send merchants into warzones.

Addendums

1: A summit of nations may add or alter the items listed herein as needed. The items must contribute to the overall ability to function profitably with other nations.

2: Peaceful retinues, such as Priests, Healing mages, Merchants, etc. Cannot be executed without provable crime, and may only be arrested and extradited if found within boarders.

2a: Extraditement must be done in a timely manner, and abuse during the process may be met with fines to be set at a later date.

2b:  For the purpose of this document, "Crime" must be determined by a neutral third party nation, must include a willful breaking of the law.