Citizens of Sapience,

Since the creation of the new laws concerning the distribution of venoms throughout our fair land, I have seen a great number of you become quite upset over something which I believe is a very small matter. Obviously, a treaty which is created between cities and a guild is going to benefit both sides. How does it benefit both sides? The cities themselves each have organizations which make use of these venoms other than the serpent guilds. The Paladins of Shallam, the Infernals of Ashtan, and the Exodus Battalion of Hashan. The serpent class guilds benefit from this because of a number of reasons. First, they now have more venoms openly available to the public. This means more sales, which in turn means more money. Also, by setting minimum prices on the sale of venoms, all serpents selling venoms legally can make more profit than otherwise due to the elimination of undercutting prices not only by shopowners but by other serpents.

However, the benefits do not end there. In our realm, there seems to be a never ending plague of those horrid rats. While they are an obvious discomfort, they also give every citizen, save those who would wish to remain permanently in the Grace of the Gods, the opportunity to partake of the seemingly bottomless pockets of Hakhim, Liirup, and the Ratman. And where does this gold go to? To buying equipment of course. Now, if suddenly prices go up on a number of items, and we will use venoms as an example, people will, for a short time, be required to work a little harder to afford them. Thus is the nature of inflation. However, as individual serpents grow wealthier due to the increased prices on their venoms, they are then more obliged to spend more of their gold on other things.

What other things? Well, that new dagger they've been wanting maybe. Or perhaps they'd prefer to stock up on herbs for the next decade or so. Maybe they are feeling particularly wealthy and wish to purchase some enchantments from the Mages. Wherever their money is spent, the money is still there. This then enables those of other classes, the Concoctionists, the Forgers, and the Enchanters, to then purchase these venoms more freely, as well as anything else they might desire. As in all things, as situations change, people adapt. Sometimes slowly, sometimes more quickly. But in the end, change is almost always for the best, whether it is at first realized or not.


Cyre Elseth, Sultan of Shallam

Penned by my hand on the 3rd of Glacian, in the year 267 AF.