[Disclaimer: The thread name was Kaitou's idea. Blame him.]
Brief Survey of the Thayan Trade Mission of DR 1373
Almost from the start, Thay has been a military power, conquering bits and pieces of surrounding territory, as well as launching a number of ultimately unsuccessful attacks upon the neighboring nations of Rasheman and Aglarond. The combination of powerful magic and rampaging barbarians led the Thayan military adventures to ruin time and time again. Some twenty years ago, Thay changed tacks. This was the birth of the vaunted Enclave system, wherein Thay goes in and establishes a mercantile embassy of sorts, selling cheap magical items as well as less legitimate services. In one stroke, Thay ingratiates itself into the economies of dozens of nations, and acquires a vast flow of gold, resources, and slaves back into Thay. The Enclave system has been a resounding success.
Not all Zulkirs and Tharchions benefited equally. Aznar Thrul, the militant Zulkir of Evocation and overlord of Priador, as well as chief rival of the Zulkir of Necromancy Szass Tam, argued against the Enclave system, so when the profits began to roll in, he received very little of them. This galled him to no end, especially since the Guild of Foreign Trade was located in Bezantur, the commercial capital of Thay and Aznar Thruls home city. And so the Zulkir launched a plan to secure some of that money for himself. And this plan involved the mage-city and trade center of Sshamath.
Now, Sshamath has been a center of magical trade for millennia, and Red Wizards have been going there for ages. No formal relations have ever been established. Thayans are among the most racist and egotistical peoples on Faerun, easily a match for the Drow in that area, and the idea of acknowledging the Council of Sshamath as equals was not something they were willing to do at first. With the dawn of the Enclave system, a mixture of residual prejudice and contentment with the status quo of lone Red Wizard buying and selling magic and spell components there kept formal relations from ever developing.
Aznar Thrul plans to steal a march on his rival for wealth, Samas Kul of the Guild of Foreign Trade, and on the chief supporters of the Enclave systems, the Zulkir of Transmutation Druxus Rhym and the Zulkir of Abjuration Lallara. Thrul plans to dispatch a trio of Red Wizards to Sshamath and request a formal Enclave, with a beneficial trade treaty. The caveat is that all of the wealth of that Enclave will flow through Aznar Thrul. Aside from the impressive economic benefits that a permanent and organized Enclave will provide, Sshamath is a city with an ancient and radically divergent magical tradition from Thay. Who knows what kinds of spells and items they may have developed? If Aznar Thrul can gain a monopoly on the wealth and information that will flow from this Enclave, he stands to gain a great deal of power and prestige.
Vitally important, however, is choosing the appropriate Red Wizards. The first, Akoros Tyrador, came to his attention of his own accord when Thrul let it out it very quietly that he was planning an expedition. Tyrador petitioned him vigorously, and after some thought, Aznar Thrul acceded and let the young Abjurer head the mission. The man was a scion of an old noble family and a successful judge. Hed make a satisfactory diplomat, and even if not, Thrul still had the money with which Akoros petitioned him.
For the actual running of the Enclave, Aznar located an older man, an illusionist currently on probation from the Guild of Foreign Trade after an incident in Mirabar that resulted in the death of the Khazark, or head, of that enclave. The promise of wealth and preferment lured Cevdet Tarik over quickly. If the man was not necessarily loyal then he was competent, and was a common-born. Thrul believed he knew exactly what strings to pull to make Tarik dance in attendance.
For the third man, Thrul chose one of his own Evokers, Ergin Kadri, both for security and to have one of his own men at the scene, just in case. That Kadri came from an old family of magical artificers was merely icing to the cake. Along with a squadron of two dozen Blooded Orc guards and a chest of gold and magical items as gifts and starting funds, Thrul sent the three Red Wizards off.
Of course, the mission is hazardous and dubious in the extreme. Quite aside from the machinations of Drow politics, the other mage-merchants of Sshamath, such as Zikthann of the Six Scepters from the Hosttower of Luskan, are likely to be decidedly unhappy with new and organized competition. And of course, should Samas Kul of the Guild of Foreign Trade back in Thay, or one of Thruls Zulkir rivals learn about this, then they are likely to attempt to sabotage the Enclave however they can. And this is assuming the three Red Wizards of the trade mission dont tear themselves apart in their own petty ambitions.
In the end however, the risk is worth the reward. The Enclave has the chance to become a connection between two ancient and powerful magocracies, the fulcrum of an exchange of ideas and innovation such as is rarely seen. He who holds his hand over it can name his price.
Brief Survey of the Thayan Trade Mission of DR 1373
Almost from the start, Thay has been a military power, conquering bits and pieces of surrounding territory, as well as launching a number of ultimately unsuccessful attacks upon the neighboring nations of Rasheman and Aglarond. The combination of powerful magic and rampaging barbarians led the Thayan military adventures to ruin time and time again. Some twenty years ago, Thay changed tacks. This was the birth of the vaunted Enclave system, wherein Thay goes in and establishes a mercantile embassy of sorts, selling cheap magical items as well as less legitimate services. In one stroke, Thay ingratiates itself into the economies of dozens of nations, and acquires a vast flow of gold, resources, and slaves back into Thay. The Enclave system has been a resounding success.
Not all Zulkirs and Tharchions benefited equally. Aznar Thrul, the militant Zulkir of Evocation and overlord of Priador, as well as chief rival of the Zulkir of Necromancy Szass Tam, argued against the Enclave system, so when the profits began to roll in, he received very little of them. This galled him to no end, especially since the Guild of Foreign Trade was located in Bezantur, the commercial capital of Thay and Aznar Thruls home city. And so the Zulkir launched a plan to secure some of that money for himself. And this plan involved the mage-city and trade center of Sshamath.
Now, Sshamath has been a center of magical trade for millennia, and Red Wizards have been going there for ages. No formal relations have ever been established. Thayans are among the most racist and egotistical peoples on Faerun, easily a match for the Drow in that area, and the idea of acknowledging the Council of Sshamath as equals was not something they were willing to do at first. With the dawn of the Enclave system, a mixture of residual prejudice and contentment with the status quo of lone Red Wizard buying and selling magic and spell components there kept formal relations from ever developing.
Aznar Thrul plans to steal a march on his rival for wealth, Samas Kul of the Guild of Foreign Trade, and on the chief supporters of the Enclave systems, the Zulkir of Transmutation Druxus Rhym and the Zulkir of Abjuration Lallara. Thrul plans to dispatch a trio of Red Wizards to Sshamath and request a formal Enclave, with a beneficial trade treaty. The caveat is that all of the wealth of that Enclave will flow through Aznar Thrul. Aside from the impressive economic benefits that a permanent and organized Enclave will provide, Sshamath is a city with an ancient and radically divergent magical tradition from Thay. Who knows what kinds of spells and items they may have developed? If Aznar Thrul can gain a monopoly on the wealth and information that will flow from this Enclave, he stands to gain a great deal of power and prestige.
Vitally important, however, is choosing the appropriate Red Wizards. The first, Akoros Tyrador, came to his attention of his own accord when Thrul let it out it very quietly that he was planning an expedition. Tyrador petitioned him vigorously, and after some thought, Aznar Thrul acceded and let the young Abjurer head the mission. The man was a scion of an old noble family and a successful judge. Hed make a satisfactory diplomat, and even if not, Thrul still had the money with which Akoros petitioned him.
For the actual running of the Enclave, Aznar located an older man, an illusionist currently on probation from the Guild of Foreign Trade after an incident in Mirabar that resulted in the death of the Khazark, or head, of that enclave. The promise of wealth and preferment lured Cevdet Tarik over quickly. If the man was not necessarily loyal then he was competent, and was a common-born. Thrul believed he knew exactly what strings to pull to make Tarik dance in attendance.
For the third man, Thrul chose one of his own Evokers, Ergin Kadri, both for security and to have one of his own men at the scene, just in case. That Kadri came from an old family of magical artificers was merely icing to the cake. Along with a squadron of two dozen Blooded Orc guards and a chest of gold and magical items as gifts and starting funds, Thrul sent the three Red Wizards off.
Of course, the mission is hazardous and dubious in the extreme. Quite aside from the machinations of Drow politics, the other mage-merchants of Sshamath, such as Zikthann of the Six Scepters from the Hosttower of Luskan, are likely to be decidedly unhappy with new and organized competition. And of course, should Samas Kul of the Guild of Foreign Trade back in Thay, or one of Thruls Zulkir rivals learn about this, then they are likely to attempt to sabotage the Enclave however they can. And this is assuming the three Red Wizards of the trade mission dont tear themselves apart in their own petty ambitions.
In the end however, the risk is worth the reward. The Enclave has the chance to become a connection between two ancient and powerful magocracies, the fulcrum of an exchange of ideas and innovation such as is rarely seen. He who holds his hand over it can name his price.
