Letter of Marque & Reprisal

Letters of Marque and Reprisal are commonly found documents in the world of Voltera. Since most nations on Voltera have sea ports or ties to the sea and not all have an overstuffed treasury or funding to maintain a big navy or even one at all in comes the need to hire or contract Captains, ships and crews for Defense, Patrol contracts, military transportation, Trade and commerce harassment to all out assaults and war against other nations or even pirates.
They are basically a contract with a regional noble or monarch or governing power stipulating the various conditions of the agreement between the bearer of the letter usually a captain that extends protections to his ship or ships listed in the Letter of Marque and their crews "Any person listed in a Signed Ships Crew Roster"
Most letters of Marque and Reprisal Stipulate approved nations or regions shipping one may attack and or patrol and protect. They would typically have a term of service or time they are good for usually no more than 1-2 years. They will also stipulate how Loot gained from such ventures is to be distributed and reported. Most Nobility and Monarchs want at least 50% of the loot gained from such ventures and may even require that an active log of all loot take is recorded and reported to a royal prize court. Some of these prize courts have been known to take months to reach decisions on large bounties of loot or captured vessels.
Nations that are commonly known for using Letters of Marque and Reprisal are Ageron in Particular ruling lords of Seaton, Brindlemar, Salisboro, and Falcon's Cove. Other nations like the Merchant Princes on Dabron Isle and Sandforte Cay with most of the Letters of Marque and reprisal being issued by the Merchant's league of Batavious for contracting Merchant escorts and regional defense patrols and incursions from the Pirates of the Hold of the Sea Princes.
Letters of Marque and Reprisal usually need to be obtained through methods of Influence, diplomacy and at times they can be bought depending on the need or desperation level of the issuing authority. Depending on ones reputation or influence weighs heavily on a captains chance of obtaining a letter of Marque and Reprisal and even the stipulations or conditions within the letter.
Having a letter of Marque and Reprisal can often protect a captain and crew from being charged and punished for piracy. It often clears Captains, Ships and their crews to seek refuge in ports of a certain nation or region but it is also a document that can incriminate a Captain and Crew of piracy if it falls into the hands of Enemy Lords or authorities.
The Letter of Marque and Reprisal is a fairly common document given the Nautical nature of the world of Voltera.

Type

Licence, Private (Letter of Marque)

Medium

Vellum / Skin