Veria: Difference between revisions

By 1712, High King Talan VIII had granted royal monopoly rights to no less than seven of the most prominent Verian guilds, most notably an exclusive monopoly on timber presented to the Baldurbannal, a major guild that originated as a woodcutter’s association in Seanaire. The terms of the monopoly granted the Baldurbannal rights regarding the production and export of timber from the entire island of Àthia, and as Verian fir wood was (and remainsstill is) one of the nation’s most valuable products, the so-called Baldurbann Monopoly was nothing short of lucrative. The other guilds, most of which had been granted minor monopolies over colonial goods in Galemòr, objected, accusing the High King of favoritism, while the nobles of Àthia expressed their outrage at the power a single guild had been given in land they legally owned. To rectify the situation, Talan VIII revoked the Baldurbann monopoly, and issued Guildmaster Eònan mac Baldur with a minor title and the position of Lord-Woodsman of Veria. While the potential disaster the Baldurbann Monopoly represented had been successfully defused, one of the magnates now held a court position, and one that gave him and his guild almost as much power in their industry as the original monopoly grant.