Letter of Marque

A letter of marque is a formal agreement between a kingdom government and a pirate/smuggler designed to turn illegal skills to financial kingdom-wide gain. After a series of devastating defeats complete destruction of the Keoland Navy, King Scotti issued negotiated an official truce between Keoland and Sea Lord Kanuha Eldare. In this agreement, official navy ships were barred from attacking Sea Prince vessels, but private contractors were not mentioned. The letter of marque is a historical document that has recently gained favor within the two kingdoms as a workaround between the treaty. In Keoland, letters of marque are issued by the High Court of Admiralty.
This document is seen as a face-saving alternative for war and a domestically friendly tax-alternative for generating reconstruction funds.

Famous Holders of Marque

When first introduced, letters of marque were considered reliable ways to instill law abiding habits into pirates and smugglers. This largely proved true, and Marque-giving kingdoms quickly saw financial benefits. However, Rachel Ridd, "The Rascal" became part of seafaring legend for her abuse of the Marque system. She petitioned for Letters of Marque from two warring kingdoms. Through illusion magic she was able to project a completely different image onto her ship, allowing her to attack whomever she wanted. During a particularly grueling battle, the ship wizard fainted from exhaustion, and the illusion dissipated, baffling the attacking ship. This provided enough hesitation to allow Rascal Rachel's ship, The Lyra Alei to safely escape. Subsequent letters of marque were written in blood to prevent system abuse.

Terms and Clauses

Letters of marque are issued by the High Court of Admiralty and considered life-long contracts renewed in 5-year spurts. Captured ships and goods were to be brought before the admiralty courts for condemnation and sale. Holders of Marque are given a share of the profits and the appreciation of a grateful nation.

Document Structure

Legal status

Letters of Marque are considered valid only under the kingdom with which they were issued. Sometimes inter-kingdom treaties will include clauses honoring other letters of marque. This is usually done to prevent being a marque target. If an individual is captured by another kingdom while holding a letter of marque, they are treated as attackers and either sentenced to a long prison stay or execution. All goods aboard the offending ship are confiscated.

Historical Details

Public Reaction

The letters of marque are not well known to the public, but within the smuggling world, Letters of Marque are seen as desirable alternatives to execution. Members of the Navy look at letter of marque holders with a hint of disdain. These individuals rarely follow the same code of military honor, and are seen as opportunistic contractors, which they are.

Read the Document

Letter of Marque

King Scotti the Seventh, by the grace of the Gods of Alignment, King of Keoland to our trusted Captain Rachel Ridd, commander of the Lyra Alie, with a crew of 60.

Greeting: Whereas we are informed that Capt. Zarog Madrog, Capt. Quil Rylion, and Captain Writher Brog, and other subjects, native, or inheritance of the Sea Princes and elsewhere in the Azure Sea, have associated themselves with divers others, wicked, and ill-disposed persons, and do, against the law of nations and Gods, commit many great piracies, robberies and depredations on the seas up on the parts of Keoland and in other parts, to the great hindrance and discouragement of trade and navigation, and to the great danger and hurt of our loving subject, our allies, and all others, navigating the seas upon their lawful occasions. Now know ye, that we being desirous to prevent the aforementioned mischief, and to bring the pirates and sea-rovers to justice, have seen fit and do hereby give and grant Rachel Ridd full power and authority to apprehend, seize, and take into custody the said Capt. Zarog Madro, Capt. Quil Rylion, and Captain Wryther Gerg, and all such pirates, sea-rovers which you shall meet upon the seas or coasts, with all their ships and vessels and all such merchandises, money, scrolls, goods, and wares as shall be found on board, or with them.

If they will not yield without fighting, then you are by force to compel them to yield. We also require you to bring, or cause to be brought, such pirates, and sea-rovers to a legal trial to the end that they may be proceeded against according to the law in such cases. And we do hereby command all merchandises, money, scrolls, goods, and wares as shall be found on board, or with them to be brought to the High Court of Admiralty for taxation and accountance. We do hereby command you to keep an exact journal of your proceedings in execution of the premise and set down the names of such pirates, and of their officers, and company, and the names of such ships and vessels as you shall by virtue of these present takes and seize, and the quantities of arms, ammunition, and provisions of such ships and the true value of the same, as near as you can judge. In return, the Lyra Alie will be provided 20 cannons and applicable ammunition. The Lyra Alie will be afforded of the revenue. Rachel Ridd and crew will be provided preservation within Keoland. Rachel Ridd, crew, and the Lyra Alie will be the recipients of thankfulness of a grateful nation.

In witness whereof, we have caused our great seal of Keoland to be affixed to these presents. Given at our court in Niole Dra, the Seventh Day of Midwinter in the 612th year of the Third Age.

— Contract between King Scotti and Rachel Rachel Ridd, The Rascal

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Type

Contract, Civil

Medium

Paper

Location

Keoland

Authors

• King Scotti