Greetings!

The following is a public service announcement.

Merchants Ordinance of Shallam

Welcome to the realm of shopkeeping in Shallam. Shops are a serious
matter that the city does take an active interest in. Owning a shop in
Shallam requires a great deal of responsibility. Likewise, the city has
a responsibility to ensure its shop owners and the populace of Sapience
a rewarding experience. All current and future shop owners are advised
that the following rules are currently enforced.

Responsibilities of Shallam

1. In accordance to Shallam Law, any peaceful visitor is under the
protection of Shallam. The Security Ministry and the City Council can
demand that persons suspected of ill intent keep out of all shops or
completely out of the city to prevent theft or other planned crimes.
Failure to comply with these demands can lead to being enemied to the
city. Any theft, successful or not, from any store inside the city, is
considered a crime against Shallam. Prisming, gating, portaling,
entering or being within a storeroom without the shop owner's permission
is considered alledged theft.

2. All shop owners are entitled to an initial title and description
change free of charge and every five (5) years that are divisible by
five (5).

3. Owners may choose to sell a shop directly to the city instead of
floating it on the open market. Prices may be negotiated.

4. From this day forward, no shopkeeper may own/operate more than ONE
(1) shop within the city. Exceptions being A) shop owner/operator who
also owns/operates a guild or an order shop. B) Shop owners having two
(2) shops prior to this date.

5. The city will help promote Shallam shops by advertising over market
channel and placing occasional advertisements. If a shop owner desires a
more personalized ad, arrangements can be made by contacting the
Chancellor or an aide.

6. As an additional service to our shopkeepers, the Chancellery will do
its best to place owners in contact with suppliers offering their
services. If you desire this service please notify the Chancellery.

Responsibilities of Shopowners

1. The shopowner shall not use said shop for deceitful, nefarious
purposes. (e.g. Establishing the shop as a base for attacking the city)

2. A shop will be closed after two (2) annual reminders from the
Chancellery to pay his tax. A six (6) month grace period shall be
granted, with the shop closed, for the owner to bring the outstanding
tax balance up to date in full. A failure to do so shall result in the
shop being seized the Chancellery. The city is not obliged to offer
compensation, although the Chancellery will review each situation on a
case-by-case basis.
A) The first late notice can be expected near the end of the first late
year.
B) The second late notice will be sent at approximately 1 and 1/2 years.
C) If it is necessary to send a second late notice the shop will be
fined 5,000 gp.

3. A shop will be ordered closed if the owner blatantly flouts any
existing legal price floors or ceilings recognised by the City of
Shallam two (2) times. The offender will be fined 10,000 gp in order to
have the shop reopened. Any subsequent offences of a similar nature will
result in permanent seizure of said shop by the Chancellery.

4. A shop will be ordered closed if the owner is constituted a grave
danger to the city. (e.g. being a city enemy) In such a situation, the
city is not obliged to offer compensation, although the Chancellery will
review each situation on a case-by-case basis. The offender will be
given one (1) year to revoke his enemy status and he is not permitted to
transfer or sell said shop to a third party during this period.
Likewise, a shop owner cannot give, convey, mortgage, lease, or sell his
shop to a city enemy or to anyone the city has banned citizenship.
Failure to abide by this clause will result in immediate confiscation of
said shop by the Chancellery without compensation.

5. Any private transaction of a shop shall be made known to the
Chancellery before the transaction is completed. Failing to do so will
result in closure of the shop until a 5,000 gp fine is paid to the city.

6. All shopkeepers are obliged to respect the laws of the city while
conducting his/her business.
7. A shop which has been declared 'Underutilized' by the city shall be
fined 5,000 gold. Failure to pay this fine or repeated offences will
result in seizure of said shop by the Chancellery one (1) year after the
fine is levied or after three (3) offences.
A) 'Underutilized' is defined as: A shop which has -less- than 15
different, individual items and no less than than 30 items total for
sale during an average of one (1) year.
B) Items sold should be deemed suitable for mass consumption and priced
reasonably.

INCENTIVE BONUS!!

To reward shop owners who have paid taxes in a timely manner (NO late
notices received) *and* have stocked their shop to EXCEED the minimum
required items for a period of three (3) years, the Chancellery will
declare the fourth (4th) year TAX FREE and the taxes for this year will
be forgiven.

Disclaimer - All rules and responsibilities are subject to change and
are subject to final interpretation by the Chancellor of Shallam

Penned by my hand on the 13th of Miraman, in the year 359 AF.