Following missive is sent to Edmund Lothere. It smells lightly of smoke and there is a small wine stain.
To the esteemed Legate of the Second Seat,
Edmund Lothere
It is my hope that this message finds you in good health and spirits. Alas, the muse of Good Governance continues to elude me, so little new ideas can be provided on the three matters you asked of.
1. Revenue - I still see primary solution in the form of the tax previously discussed. Even S.A. agrees that it would solve Well's financial issues for a foreseeable future. Exact percentage can, perhaps, be lowered about rebuilding period is successfully concluded (assuming no problems demanding large treasury will arise in the meanwhile).
In addition, lowering salary of Legates and Prelates to a match that of scribes may be desirable.
2. Titles - if both Seats are still of opinion that selling titles is necessary, I can propose introduction of the Custom Titles, which is to say - customized by the winner of the auction, and approved by representatives of the Scribes and clergy to be neither offensive nor blasphemous.
Further, an official title of "Champion of Ephia's Well" may be granted to Asherias Myl, former Legate, and champion of the War Council, who slew Iakmes Ir-Emmum in a single combat.
3. Arslan - with Arslan, we should prepare for a long haul. I expect it will take several terms, at the very least, to put affairs to order there. As previously discussed, we should seek to ensure their iteration of the experiment is more successful than ours, and as free as it can be from constrains that stifle our development. Under no circumstances we should allow anyone to exploit Arslan any further; instead Heron should seek to safeguard 'younger sibling', until it can fly on it's own (winged elephant?). In the long term, we can view it as a second tree of a Garden, that begins in Ephia's Well.
Of course, first step would be actually reviewing current situation, as it is now. We can expect all sort of Meddling, but once again - our goal should be clear - growing a strong and steadfast ally in storms to come.
Beyond the three questions, other matters could benefit from legatorial attention, including the following:
4. External - peace is passing, we could use all the help we can get.
4.1. Kha'esh - possibly most glaring external issue. I currently have no factual insight on the matter, but we may as well prepare for the worst - yet consider options for averting - or at least delaying that.
4.2 Banafsi Civil War - a long standing issue, yet something that we could, perhaps, affect. As you may recall, royalists requested Z.N. to improve their chances not long ago - who was deemed too essential for Scald Campaign to be sent north. Perhaps now, with orcish threat neutralized, it may be possible to do something in that direction.
However, understanding full well extent of war exhaustion Ephia's Well currently experiences, this decision must be weighted carefully. If it is to be taken, our goal should be maximum results with minimal danger to our personnel; we should absolutely avoid causalities among any of our forces deployed there.
There were different opinions on viability of diplomacy there - late M.S. mentioned local Orentids to be particularly ruthless and bloodthirsty, but, lamentably also late, K.B. believed there is a possibility of some sort of settlement.
If our efforts, whichever path is taken, are successful there - Banafsi may aid with issues # 3 and 4.1.
4.3 "Goreheart" at the Red Hill - last time the matter was raised at the Divan, both Priory and the Tower claimed to be monitoring the issue, yet I believe it is in our best interests to see it fully contained (and eliminated) as early as possible, or at least before it develops into another issue on a scale of Lake Rayyan.
4.4 Tlonssiya - while to my knowledge, history of Ephia's Well relationships with the settlement is very short - indeed, declaration of friendship was negotiated by vizier J.A. shortly before the Scalding Campaign began, their tools proved to be of great benefit. And there is little doubt that deepening diplomatic bond will be worth the challenges that may arise.
4.5. Spring's Gift - about a week ago, late N.A. (so many dead) lamented the lack of legatorial interest in renewing declaration of mutual friendship between Ephia's Well and Spring's Gift. While direct benefits of such may be obscure, I see no harm in renewing the declaration - assuming Spring's Gift is inclined to do that.
4.6 Qa'im, Sibilant, and others - are still out there.
5. Internal - not all is well in the Well.
5.1 New Districts - "Industrial" district, and "Rose" districts are once again a subject of discussion. Size of deposit to Gohari Heavy Industries for the Industrial District, state of, and plans for the Rose district must both be investigated carefully. We want the Well expanded, certainly, yet "the Great and the Good" will likely attempt to claim various degrees of ownership (same as 5.2?), which comes at expense of all others.
5.2 The Quarry - problem dragging at least from the autumn, and through the terms of legates of all three leagues. It had been original request of the workers that they are given good salary and their working conditions are improved. While we are currently unlikely to be able to afford the former, we might see to latter. Of special note is the necessity to guarantee safe access of the workers to the Ephia's Well itself, as route, while short, is rarely safe.
As for the quarry itself, I believe it should be controlled directly, being essential for 5.1. Still, current arrangements with Baz'eel and Kha'esh must be kept in mind due to 4.1 and 4.6.
5.3 The Scribes - scribes are essential to functioning of the state. Yet it is sometimes forgotten that they are also citizens, and are entitled to benefits this implies. Ways to improve their working conditons should be investigated. Certainly DCS B.K. should be consulted, but reasonable hours and shifts, holidays and sick leaves, and exceptions to mandatory uniform wear are to be expected.
After that is done, a possibility of outlawing personal bribes above certain sum should be reviewed; in example - with sums instead donated to a dedicated fund, one third of which is to be distributed by CS and DCS between best performing scribes. Remaining funds are to go to Treasury (1).
5.4 General Development - a very broad issue, including cultural and scientific development. It is further complicated by many bright individuals being lost at Bet Nappahi, rendering some things no longer relevant. Still, individual cultural initiative should be actively supported.
Sandstone College (a "privately owned" keep near the center of the Well) remains underutilized and uninvestigated, to my knowledge, despite agreement of legates of both seats to perform the audit. Actual identity of the "benefactor" and extent of their Baz'eel connections should be clarified, before charting course of Ephian educational and industrial future.
5.5 Creep - another old issue, especially relevant now with law-related activity surrounding Gutters (still of considerable importance to archaeologists and alchemists), which may put denizens of the Creep into even worse position. Yet criminals and exiles there may be, it still falls into jurisdiction of Ephia's Well. Process of cleaning it up will be very slow, with better access to food and medical support being essential first step.
5.6 Religious Prosecution Laws - should be removed entirely, or at the very least seriously amended. Those currently benefit none, except perhaps prospective Purple League candidate.
In service,
Prelate of the Second Seat,
R.H.Sobhy