Hysairian Economic Theory

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Hysairian Economic Theory
Gausim al-Marain

While the woman may have been considered far and wide to be a bitter, spiteful, and ultimately murderous creature there is one matter in which she cannot be disputed. Her economic theories on Ephia's Well have proven immaculate - be it the instance of a sun dial right twice a day, or a degree of wisdom borne from the Protector.

Introduction: The First Economic age

A threshold has been reached in the civilization of the Economy of Ephia's Well which has often gone unconsidered. I shall be using this text to attempt to highlight her theories and - with some insights beyond her understanding, advocate for a path forward.
 
Removing the woman from the theory the barest principle is such: Sustainable growth cannot be borne of a Salvage-driven economy. As we have seen and heard over the last eleven years a great many have made their fortunes in water, in hard goods, in tangible proceeds.

Within the last two years time though has come a new phenomenon - the rush of the Awoken, the arrival of the Caravans, the collapse of Il Modo, and more. It has lead to a push upon our economic structures which has been highlighted in various instances of micro and macroeconomic theory. For a time it lead to a boom of merchant success, quick flipping of product, purchasing salvage from the Gutters, from the Monster-Hunter, from the Boardworker. These goods were then catalogued, tallied, advertised, and resold.

Many of the Early Voiced of the awoken, so too the Criminals, and more all found their fortunes in these short-market tradings.

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Example 1: The Accorded Veteran

You strike out into Ephia's well and you are subjected to piecemeal work. Errand for the scribes, for the Accord, the Leagues.

A few days pass, Delving into the Gutters. Violence increases, you find yourself beset by monsters below, the fell ratkin, the machines, you arm yourself with what you can muster from a merchant.

A few more days pass, you graduate to the Upper Board. You find yourself better supply, better equipment, you find yourself greater damagem you arm yourself with your new found fortune to secure a Merchant's boons.

A few more days pass, you reach the zenith of the mercenary trade. The highest life, from the lowest board. You are known as your bellows muster dozens eagerly waving hand hoping to be selected by your elite cadre. You secure fullplate mail, arms, armors into the thousands, you are wealthy, you are equipped, you are ready for more.

A few more days pass. You find yourself a tempting offer. Trade your reputation for legitimacy in the eyes of the State, an Accorded recruit able to find your way into the ranks of the Voiced, of the Assembly, of aspiring for place among the

Now ask me this.

What use has a Nadiri for magical tunic? And you begin to see some of her wisdom.

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Example 2: The Full Chest

A concurrent action may be attested to the proliferation of Palmwood and other expansions of the tradecraft. The pursuit of the Merchant lifestyle is a harrowing one, so beleaguered, so burdened by ware and having to choose the option of something that sells swiftly and is light or holding onto a stockpile for a grande deal of Dinar.

What began by the tandem Stonefolk of Sol Auk and Bruk Tok, who took parallel but differing paths on this matter lends to light the second dilemma raised by Ariel's economic theory. When one has such unfettered access to storage space, when one has such unbridled investment in simply cargo chests and treasure-crates, the market becomes saturated.

When the likes of those who live in the Krak de Rose fill four, five chests with surplus adventuring gear what need have they for consignment.

When the likes of one who lives in the Tablet, a Voiced who keeps company of many voiced, fills their mud-hut with enough to act as a Warehouse, what rush is there to move equipment?

Absent the need for mastery the amateur sabotage the artisan trade. No longer a matter of cutting artful deal with the accord to sell on consignment, no more traveling to far and distant lands in the cutting of new trade deal for new and unseen riches and prize to bring back to Ephia to tempt the market.

The Refugees, learning from the Stonefolk, simply become junk peddlers.

Sitting upon piles of aspect equipment, rusted metal, and scavenged trash.

And it is a wonder why none partake of the Souk.

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 The Second Economic Age - Hysarianism

Much like the curated world of the finest artisan sculptures and paintings, when a flooding occurs the artisan adapts. The Master's Studio for carving stone gives way to the illustrious Gallery - museum and showcase of the artisan's craft in new and differing light allow a number of patrons to make of rarest purchase or if they are truly wealthy, to bestow patronage upon the artist.

In her adaptation of the Stonefolk duo's.... barest principles - the child like "Write down what you want and I can get you it" and the equally child like "I have a pile of boxes put stuff in it" - she has served as alchemic catalyst for the second economic age of Ephia's Well.

Where as her predecessors and others such as Qari of the Gold League have offered bespoke merchandise to illustrious clientele in search of aspectral rings or more to unlock the unique magics within, she took to elevate such even higher.

Acquisitions of the highest order, eliminating the search for equipment and providing not simply a pile of scavenged junk from the wasteland but the service of operating as eyes, ears, and hands in the marketplace on behalf of wealthy client.

One does not even need a Warehouse when your focus is on procuring three custom pieces to make your sales for two weeks time. Even less so when you are able as Ariel did for a short while to recruit and enlist lesser curators to your company effort.

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The Merchant Zahra

As these acquisition efforts continue it's clear there is traction to be had. While the occasional refugee has come forward howling where have all the merchants of the Souk gone, it can be seen plain in the portents of the marketplace.

The likes of good Faisal al-Karim, suffering unduly under such burdensome equipment he cannot even give away to a newcomer without them asking for a quarter price.

Zahra though, fair and true, in her merchant efforts have brought a bridged gap. She has taken the old methods of consignment to secure the likes of the Torchbearers, the Janissary, and other surplus equipment.

So too though has she adopted the practice of acquisitions - seeking mercenaries, professional soldiers, treasure hunters, and more to her side in a refined and quantifiably and measurable improvement over Hysarian Economic Theory.

It is not unexpected of course that one of the former servants of the Sixth Legion is well familiar with the trends and tactics employed to find unconventional profit.

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Conclusion: In search of The Third Age

In conclusion the future is a simple one -

Ephia's Well cannot survive as it is. It simply cannot. For even as much headway as Zahra makes there is a capacity reached by Hysairian Economics. This Second Age, while it adapts and grows, cannot be the final stage of Ephia's economic future.

For even if one offers to the wealthiest of clientele a small army of curators and subjected scavengers to the dangers of the waste - quality over quantity is not in any circumstance a long term business model. It is a short sided effort - of which allowed Ariel to survive and finance numerous political campaign efforts, but it was not enough to break the Pyramid, or the Banks, or even La Banda Rossa as she was forced into debt.

The Souk will run fallow and as more adopt to the Hysairian Economic Theory as Zahra has they shall make headway, be able to raise company, and be able to improve. But at the fundamental core-

What use has Apothar Cosine for equipment? What use has a Janissary?

No. It is goods, it is services, it is manufacturing.

A true and dedicated output of economic engineering must be undertaken if Ephia's Well is to survive.

Companies must move beyond scavenging for barest dinar for voice and resource.

They must move beyond curation of bespoke prizes for wealthy client in pursuit of further purse.

They must build. Make. Grow. Else we will merely langusih. This - ultimately, the lesson of Ariel Hysair.

If we wish to grow we must be prepared to invest. Or court Investor.

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