I write this post to bring to you facts regarding the apparent cause of
the leather shortage, and ask your help in stopping it.

Sir Jarik, a rogue Runewarden of Ashtan, has been monopolizing leather
for the past Achaean year, if not longer. When confronted with the
allegations, he admits hoarding leather, claiming to possess a couple
thousand leather pieces. Jarik did claim to consistently use nearly 150
leather pieces a month in forging and other production, but how much
stock you may put in his estimate is up to you. He has also attempted to
sell his leather supplies at three to four times market price to
numerous buyers desperate for leather.

While Jarik has every right to purchase leather for production, Jarik
does not have a right to monopolize the leather market by selling
limited amounts for highly elevated prices. While Jarik does have a
right to maximize his profits, he does not have the right waste leather
resources in his possession.

Jarik does have a right to purchase leather. /If/ he is preventing
others from acquiring leather, he does not have that right to form
anti-competitive barriers to entry. However, he certainly does not have
a right to monopolize the market for his own benefits at the expense of
Sapience's welfare.

I ask Jarik to sell his leather for no more than 10% greater than market
price. I ask Jarik not to hoard leather that he is not actually using to
produce wares.

If Jarik will not comply with these two reasonable demands, I ask all
the citystates, merchants, citizens of Sapience-every one of you who
wear shoes on your feet, clothes on your skin, and armor on your skin to
utterly refuse to buy Jarik's leather. Prevent Jarik from acquiring
leather-he certainly needs no more if he has "a couple thousand"
already. Reach the commshops, and purchase leather before he does.
Simply do not let his blatant lack of economic welfare ripple throughout
Sapience any longer.


-Sir Brinn

Penned by my hand on the 21st of Daedalan, in the year 321 AF.