Letters of Marque...?? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Letters of Marque...?? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Naudachu
08-09-05, 10:07 PM I seem to remember reading about Letters of Marque that you could buy for each nation allowing you to take and sell antiques of the Dhakaani Empire, etc. But the description in the ECS only mentions Xen'drik.

I've tried to track this down in other books, but I haven't had much luck. I'm wondering if it was on the board here somewhere, but I can't seem to find it here either.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about (sometimes I don't :) )? If not, do you think this is a good idea? Should the price be cheaper? Basically should it normally be illegal to be tomb robbers? Amature archaeologists?
KP91
08-09-05, 10:21 PM S:CoT has a part in the Law section that mentions the Code of Galifar or the Treaty of Thronehold to forbid tresure hunting on Khorvaire. Although if you have proof in document that the item belongs to your family, you can do it. I suggest using the price for the House Sivis blank document and 1 or 2 more GP to but a fake document saying it belongs to you.
Edymnion
08-09-05, 10:49 PM What you read was a brief history on letters of marque. In that you USED to be able to get them to loot all sorts of places across Khovaire, but today they are worthless, except for the ones for Xen'Drik.
Sarlax
08-09-05, 11:12 PM Not only are letters of marque worthless on much of Khorvaire, but they're bound to be pointless for Xen'drik and every other continent as well soon enough. There's no longer an empire to enforce their use. Don't have one from Breland? No big deal, just sell the loot in Aundair. Or Lhazaar. Or Droaam.
Beleriphon
08-10-05, 12:16 AM Not only are letters of marque worthless on much of Khorvaire, but they're bound to be pointless for Xen'drik and every other continent as well soon enough. There's no longer an empire to enforce their use. Don't have one from Breland? No big deal, just sell the loot in Aundair. Or Lhazaar. Or Droaam.

You could, but then the problem arises from the fact that virtually all travel from Xen'drik at some point travels through Sharn. Its usually the first stop. Its still a useful item to have, as it basically ensures that you are the legal owner of the loot. While Audair might not uphold the law, an Audarian travelling in Breland with illegal Xen'drik treasures may be in for some trouble.
Edymnion
08-10-05, 12:34 AM Heh, actually, I've got a character based out of Sharn thats going to Xen'Drik soon. Said character also just spent almost all of their reward from the last mission (about 5,000 gp) buying a piece of the tower. Nice middle class place in Tavick's Landing, known for, among other thing, its wide range of shops and residential areas.

If we find kickin' Xen'Drik loot, I'll get a business liscense from Sharn and open up a shop to sell it directly to collectors and the like. :D
Sarlax
08-10-05, 02:16 AM Its still a useful item to have, as it basically ensures that you are the legal owner of the loot. While Audair might not uphold the law, an Audarian travelling in Breland with illegal Xen'drik treasures may be in for some trouble.
"The law?" Galifar's gone - there is no law against this kind of looting in any meaningful sense. Magical items, artifacts, etc. can all be quite valuable and their trade can stimulate economies. Magic items in particular are remarkably important - why should Aundair or Karrnath arrest adventurers for trying to sell giant-era items that can give insight into creating new magical advancements? For that matter, why should Breland?
ekomega
08-10-05, 02:22 AM In S:CoT it mentions a sort of "customs" in Sharn where they check people who come from Xen'drik. These persons must also declare what items they are selling and which they are keeping. I wish I could remember the page numbers.

Also, I recall that the standard letter of marque only lasts one year, so that might limit the length of a xen'drik expedition.
Edymnion
08-10-05, 03:38 AM Also, I recall that the standard letter of marque only lasts one year, so that might limit the length of a xen'drik expedition.I don't remember a time limit, but even if there is, we know you don't have to get the letter in person. You could get one yourself for when you leave, then have somebody still in Sharn get you new ones until you return.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Naudachu 08-09-05, 10:07 PM	I seem to remember reading about Letters of Marque that you could buy for each nation allowing you to take and sell antiques of the Dhakaani Empire, etc. But the description in the ECS only mentions Xen'drik. I've tried to track this down in other books, but I haven't had much luck. I'm wondering if it was on the board here somewhere, but I can't seem to find it here either. Does anyone know what I'm talking about (sometimes I don't :) )? If not, do you think this is a good idea? Should the price be cheaper? Basically should it normally be illegal to be tomb robbers? Amature archaeologists?
KP91 08-09-05, 10:21 PM	S:CoT has a part in the Law section that mentions the Code of Galifar or the Treaty of Thronehold to forbid tresure hunting on Khorvaire. Although if you have proof in document that the item belongs to your family, you can do it. I suggest using the price for the House Sivis blank document and 1 or 2 more GP to but a fake document saying it belongs to you.
Edymnion 08-09-05, 10:49 PM	What you read was a brief history on letters of marque. In that you USED to be able to get them to loot all sorts of places across Khovaire, but today they are worthless, except for the ones for Xen'Drik.
Sarlax 08-09-05, 11:12 PM	Not only are letters of marque worthless on much of Khorvaire, but they're bound to be pointless for Xen'drik and every other continent as well soon enough. There's no longer an empire to enforce their use. Don't have one from Breland? No big deal, just sell the loot in Aundair. Or Lhazaar. Or Droaam.
Beleriphon 08-10-05, 12:16 AM	Not only are letters of marque worthless on much of Khorvaire, but they're bound to be pointless for Xen'drik and every other continent as well soon enough. There's no longer an empire to enforce their use. Don't have one from Breland? No big deal, just sell the loot in Aundair. Or Lhazaar. Or Droaam. You could, but then the problem arises from the fact that virtually all travel from Xen'drik at some point travels through Sharn. Its usually the first stop. Its still a useful item to have, as it basically ensures that you are the legal owner of the loot. While Audair might not uphold the law, an Audarian travelling in Breland with illegal Xen'drik treasures may be in for some trouble.
Edymnion 08-10-05, 12:34 AM	Heh, actually, I've got a character based out of Sharn thats going to Xen'Drik soon. Said character also just spent almost all of their reward from the last mission (about 5,000 gp) buying a piece of the tower. Nice middle class place in Tavick's Landing, known for, among other thing, its wide range of shops and residential areas. If we find kickin' Xen'Drik loot, I'll get a business liscense from Sharn and open up a shop to sell it directly to collectors and the like. :D
Sarlax 08-10-05, 02:16 AM	Its still a useful item to have, as it basically ensures that you are the legal owner of the loot. While Audair might not uphold the law, an Audarian travelling in Breland with illegal Xen'drik treasures may be in for some trouble. "The law?" Galifar's gone - there is no law against this kind of looting in any meaningful sense. Magical items, artifacts, etc. can all be quite valuable and their trade can stimulate economies. Magic items in particular are remarkably important - why should Aundair or Karrnath arrest adventurers for trying to sell giant-era items that can give insight into creating new magical advancements? For that matter, why should Breland?
ekomega 08-10-05, 02:22 AM	In S:CoT it mentions a sort of "customs" in Sharn where they check people who come from Xen'drik. These persons must also declare what items they are selling and which they are keeping. I wish I could remember the page numbers. Also, I recall that the standard letter of marque only lasts one year, so that might limit the length of a xen'drik expedition.
Edymnion 08-10-05, 03:38 AM	Also, I recall that the standard letter of marque only lasts one year, so that might limit the length of a xen'drik expedition.I don't remember a time limit, but even if there is, we know you don't have to get the letter in person. You could get one yourself for when you leave, then have somebody still in Sharn get you new ones until you return.