The several stakeholders were in the Alebreaker
that late morning trying to remember exactly what they'd seen inside the castle
the day before. Hangovers didn't help of course, but having a gnome and dwarf
who held their liquor well sure did. They took turns with their daggers carving
out the map of the place in the huge wooden table there as best they could
remember it.
The tabletop was so large that the tree it came
from must have been older than the elfs. Older than the druids even. The table
was older certainly than the pub, for there was no door grand enough to get the
thing in and out. Alebreaker was clearly built 'round the table rather than the
table being built for the Alebreaker and its dregs.
Just then, in come Ned Chunk and his brother.
Both are mud workers of some very low intelligence. Somehow they track mud
everywhere and leave muddy hand prints despite being quite a ways in space and
time from their jobs in the mud works. Like the mud just grows from them. Like
maggots from meat. Ned and his brother Fat Stanley are themselves
unremarkable aside from the stench and natural wretchedness. Somehow
though, rumors and news follow them around.
It was pay day and they come to the Alebreaker
Arms Pub and Inn to have a couple of pints and make the immediate vicinity
unpleasant with their unusually-offensive voluptuary. But also, Ned tracks in a
handbill which had gotten stuck to his galoshes, which then subsequently he
leaves behind when departing- for he had no knowledge of it in the first place.
Anyway they didn't read and any news inside would probably be lost to them.
Sidru, the utterly mercenary fighting-man and
his old mate Angel, the cleric to Stella Solim, pick up the handbill and read
together from the part that wasn’t smudged over. After well regarding the
contents extant, Sidru called the other stakeholders over and Angel read aloud:
Prime
Minister's given another lousye speech and many of the Delegates t' th'Livery
are grumblin' f'r a new election or least-ways some re-alignment to oust t'oaf
from 'is perch. Business won't be moving throu not less the Prince calls up a
new election.
Ghostfire inspiration struck had Sidru, who
decided then and there that he was going to install a man in Livery to have a
say in City politics.
“Say, wouldn’t that link boy, Little Liam, make
a fine delegate? He’s chipper but at the same time as thick as wheel of cheese,"
said Sidru, rubbing his hands together like over a fire.
“Quite so,” replied Angel.
“We shall make it so. We shall ply wee
Liam’s strings, our Linkboy in the Livery, and by his lantern we shall see our
fortunes fair and brightening!”
“Did you...” started Angel, “did you just make
up that couplet?”
“Couplet?”
“Never mind.”
“We shall have to get him into a guild,"
schemed Sidru. "Somewhere midgish where the journeymen and masters haven’t
time nor coin to make attend to Livery.”
“I know of such a guild: the tallow chandlers.”
“Aye. Liam would fit in with them, that ghastly
sodding.”
—
The city has one supreme ruler: the Prince. But
it also has a structure of government that is intentionally Byzantine. It was
designed to keep any one group from amassing enough power to challenge the
Prince, while giving everyone buy-in so that nobody important feels
disenfranchised. And for the last 200
years, this has worked.
There are two houses of council to the Prince in
Port. One is the Worshipful Assembly of Livery (Called Livery) and the other is the Peerage.
Today we will talk about the Livery.
The
Livery: The Livery is comprised of two delegates from each of the
99 chartered guilds in the city and two Company delegates, each from one
non-voting Company. The total number is 200, with three not voting, for a total
of 197 voters.
The Livery are listed in the Order of
Precedence, which is the order in which the delegates are recognized to speak.
The first four guilds rotate precedence based on the size of their delegation
coalition.
At the start of each Livery on St. Johnsfeast
and into the next week or so, the four top guilds scurry about currying favor
with the other guilds. The one to gain the largest coalition on 1 October will
be the majority and set the legislative priority and calendar for that season.
The other three main guilds will also gobble up what support hey can get in
order to vote and speak in blocs.
Usually lesser guilds will not have speakers
unless it is of particular importance to that guild, but will rather defer to
the leader of the guild with which they have coalesced.
All legislative business originates in the
Livery and then goes to the Peerage for Advise & Consent.
The last day of the season is Twelfth Night,
which is 6 January, so there are approximately 10 weeks to do the Prince’s
business.
Furthermore, one of the delegates will forego
his vote and act as the Speaker, who keeps the legislative calendar moving by
calling on speakers, limiting debate time and calling for votes.
1.
Worshipful Company of Mercers (Merchants’
Guild)
2. Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (Weights
and Measures)
3. Honoured Company of
Fishmongers (Dockworkers’ Guild)
4. Worshipful Company of Librarians (The University)
5. Worshipful Company of Faculty (magicians and
magicians’ apprentices)
6. Worshipful Company of Grocers (spice
merchants)
7. Worshipful Company of Drapers (wool and
cloth merchants)
8.
Worshipful Company of Skinners* (fur traders)
9.
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors*
(tailors)
10.
Worshipful Company of Haberdashers (clothiers
in sewn and fine materials, eg. silk & velvet)
11. Worshipful Company of Salters (traders of magic
item components)
12.
Worshipful Company of Ironmongers
13.
Worshipful Company of Vintners (wine
merchants)
14.
Worshipful Company of Clothworkers
15.
Worshipful Company of Dyers
16.
Worshipful Company of Brewers
17.
Worshipful Company of Leathersellers
18. Worshipful Company of Pewterers (pewter and
metal manufacturers)
19. Worshipful Company of Barbers (incl.
surgeons and dentists)
20.
Worshipful Company of Cutlers (knife, sword
and utensil makers)
21.
Worshipful Company of Bakers
22. Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers (wax
candle makers)
23.
Worshipful Company of Tallow
Chandlers (tallow candle makers)
24.
Worshipful Company of Armourers and
Brasiers (armour makers and brass workers)
25.
Worshipful Company of Girdlers (belt and
girdle makers)
26.
Worshipful Company of Butchers
27.
Worshipful Company of Saddlers
28.
Worshipful Company of Carpenters
29.
Worshipful Company of Cordwainers (fine
leather workers and shoemakers)
30.
Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
31. Worshipful Company of Curriers (leather
dressers and tanners)
32.
Worshipful Company of Masons (stonemasons)
33.
Worshipful Company of Plumbers
34.
Worshipful Company of Innholders (tavern
keepers)
35. Worshipful Company of Founders (metal
casters and melters)
36.
Worshipful Company of Poulters (poulterers)
37.
Worshipful Company of Cooks
38.
Worshipful Company of Coopers (barrel and
cask makers)
39.
Worshipful Company of Tylers and
Bricklayers (builders)
40.
Worshipful Company of Bowyers (long-bow
makers)
41.
Worshipful Company of Fletchers (arrow
makers)
42.
Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
43. Worshipful Company of Joiners and
Ceilers (wood craftsmen)
44.
Worshipful Company of Weavers
45.
Worshipful Company of Woolmen
46. Worshipful Company of Scriveners (scrollmakers
and notaries public)
47.
Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
48.
Worshipful Company of
Plaisterers (plasterers)
49. Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper
Makers (broadsheeters, dirt merchants and publishers)
50.
Worshipful Company of
Broderers (embroiderers)
51.
Worshipful Company of
Upholders (upholsterers)
52.
Worshipful Company of Musicians
53.
Worshipful Company of Turners (lathe
operators)
54.
Worshipful Company of Basketmakers
55.
Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of
Glass
56. Worshipful Company of Horners (horn workers,
some magic items)
57.
Worshipful Company of Farriers (horseshoe
makers and horse veterinarians)
58.
Worshipful Company of Paviors (road and
highway pavers)
59. Worshipful Company of Loriners (equestrian
bit, bridle and spur suppliers)
60. Worshipful Society of
Apothecaries (physicians and pharmacists, some potions)
61. Worshipful Company of
Shipwrights (shipbuilders and maritime professionals)
62.
Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers
63.
Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
64.
Worshipful Company of Glovers
65.
Worshipful Company of Feltmakers (hat
makers)
66.
Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters
67.
Worshipful Company of Needlemakers
68.
Worshipful Company of Gardeners
69.
Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers
70.
Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
71.
Worshipful Company of Distillers
72. Worshipful Company of Patternmakers (wooden-shoe
makers)
73.
Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers
74.
Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach
Harness Makers
75. Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre
Drawers (threadmakers for military and society clothing)
76.
Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
77.
Worshipful Company of Fanmakers
78.
Worshipful Company of Carmen (vehicle
drivers)
79.
Honourable Company of Master Mariners
80. City
Barrister's Company (lawyers)
81.
Worshipful Company of Farmers
82. Honourable Company of Rare Bestiers (Flying
mounts, magical beasts)
83.
Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and
Tobacco Blenders
84.
Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
85. Worshipful Company of Chirugeoners (Medical and
alchemical tool makers)
86.
Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
87.
Worshipful Company of Chequermen Infang and
Outfang (Accountants)
88. Worshipful
Company of Builders Merchants
89.
Worshipful Company of Launderers
90. Worshipful Company of Propositioners (Insurance
salesmen)
91.
Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
92.
Worshipful Company of Mechanicals (dirt and mud
workers)
93.
Worshipful Company of Fuellers
94.
Worshipful Company of Interrers (cemetaries and
crypts)
95.
Worshipful Company of Constructors (wondrous
items)
96.
Worshipful Company of Scrollers (scroll scribes)
97.
Worshipful Company of Pilot-Boatmen (ferry
pilots)
98. Worshipful Company of Sergeants (Private
security providers)
99.
Worshipful Company of Scholars (Sages)
Other companies:
100. Company of Parish Clerks
101. Company of Watermen and Lightmen
These two companies have one delegate each but
do not vote. They are controlled directly by the Prince and are responsible for
stenography and the Prince’s house maintenance.
As the Livery sends delegates who serve for one
term, it is important to gain favor within your guild if you wish to be
considered for service. Most guilds are very small, some even just a few
people, and the service is considered a chore. But for ambitious Men, becoming
a fixture in the Livery brings wealth, prestige, and a chance to help one’s
friends and harm one’s enemies.
—
Then on they went to the dungeon, within which
they lost two: the barbarian retainer Lionel and the aforementioned Little Liam
Linkboy. Both hilariously killed by animated topiary. Lionel squeezes out some
last words as he died in his boss’ arms: his dying wish was to have the company
inform his wife of his passing. Rest In Peace, little Liam. Rest In Peace,
Lionel the Barbarian. Your NPC note cards will forever reside in the Dead
Character graveyard.
