(Arachné will just let Carmen introduce Solomon to the mess).
So, the finance proposals.
Last time Carmen, as Treasurer, gave us a breakdown, we had the following, each year:
Creo 16, Intellego 11, Muto 12, Perdo 13, Rego 14 for the techniques
And for the forms, we had Animal 10, Aquam 10, Auram 12, Corpus 10, Herbam 10, Ignem 22, Imaginem 10, Mentem 10, Terram 12, Vim 28
That's roughly 200 pawns, as incredible as it sounds.
And we're even more blessed, as, due to our arrangment with the redcaps, we have an even exchange rate, ensuring we don't have to worry about type of vis, so long as we plan enough and don't ask for anything stupid. This makes things so much easier, I'm relieved.
Here are my ideas.
As I see it, our first priority is to ensure our security.
To that end, we need not only a strong aegis, but enough reserves to renew it is nescessary, or face down an emergency.
To that end, we should put out 10 pawns toward the Aegis.
We should put as much towards the covenant coffers. This gives us wealth the council can allocate toward any project, such as paying for longevity rituals of useful specialists and servants, buying a specialist's services, or even the kind of vis gift Carmen gave us a few years ago. With 2 restrictions: Such expanses must be approved by council vote, and we should always have enough vis reserves to cast 2 aegis: 1 if our current one is dispelled, and another at the next solstice.
We're thus down to 180 pawns.
Then, the offices.
I don't like the officers having too much vis for their services: This encourage us to hoard it for our own purposes, instead of spending it for the covenant's good. So, in my opinion, each office should have a vis grant, that is to be used by the officer, not for herself, but for any project related to her charge, under the scrutiny of the Treasurer. Anything done with this vis is then covenant property, and can't be taken away by the officer should she depart the covenant.
Now, some offices, like Artifex and Warden, are more vis-hungry, but I don't want to give them more vis. Not only can an ambitious Librarian use more vis than a complacent Artifex, but this would imply, at least in people's perception, that some officed are more important than others.
So, each office should receive the same vis... But have the right to divert it, either to the covenant's coffers, or to another office. Or else, they can just hoard it, of course, but if you're not using it, you should give it away. As a rule of thumb, I think an officer shouldn't be able to hoard more than 10 years worth of vis. If you need more, ask your fellow officers or the council. That should lessen any potential damage from an eventual Vulcanus bis.
I figure 8 pawns per office if a good enough sum, for 64 vis spend. Any unspend vis should go back to the coffers. As we three double in our duties, that's 8 pawns that go back to the treasury.
That leaves us with 116 pawns, to be divided between the magi.
Despite what I said earlier about the officers, I think we should still receive some compensation for lost time and headaches, just not too much. It is our duty, not a place for vis-hungry parasites like Vulcanus.
I don't think we should make a difference between journeymen and masters, though. I'm all for having a long probation period before becoming a Mistress, with the requirement to prove your dedication to Andorra, and this is rewarded by increased decision power, in the council. If all you're after is the vis, though, you won't strive for much, staying a journeywoman, which should help us to see who wants what, and who we can rely on.
Thus, I propose we give each officer 2 pawns, and each deputy one pawn.
With at most 8 officers, and 8 deputies, the maximum cost is 24 pawns, leaving 92 pawns to divide evenly between magi. Any vis left should go back to the coffers.
Last, the individual wages
I had Eva ask around for a count. Barring any error, including the Sa Dragonera magi, we're currently 14*. That's 6 pawns per maga per year which is just... insane, and 8 pawns going back to the coffers. This also mean that we can still induct another magus without having to lower our wages.
So, my breakdown for next year:
- Aegis: 10 pawns
- Treasury: 10 pawns, +8 for the offices, + 8 for the leftover wages, equal 26 pawns
- Offices: 7 offices, for 56 pawns
- Officer wages: 24 pawns, with some spilling over to the coffers depending on how many deputies we have.
- Individual grant: 6 pawns for 14 maga, meaning 84 pawns.
Total: 10 + 26 + 56 + 24 + 84 = 200 pawns.
What do you think of it? It seems to give us all huge quantities of vis, while still leaving aside enough for each officer to work, with any unused vis being moved around to be used at the council's discretion. This is also flexible enough to allow us to accomodate year by year.
- I counted the list here, which, due to Trogdor's work, is probably quite up to date.