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"Reconstruction Decree" Business Licenses Available Today
WROAT -- The start of a new year means a fresh set of licensing fees for new businesses in Breland. The Crown hopes that the new fee structure will restore Breland's economy to its prewar strength.
Starting today, the license fees for new businesses in eastern Breland within 40 miles of the border are 25% to 75% lower than last year, depending on the type of business. Similar "reconstruction licenses" are available to businesses in a number of communities near Cragwar and Sword Keep, as well as along the Brey River. Minister of the Exchequer Hithor ir'Naamaran said the lower license fees would help the beleaguered communities in the northern and western portions of Breland. "Too many of our citizens have to travel to central Breland to sell their wares, buy needed supplies, and engage in the sort of commerce that so many of us take for granted," he said. "By making it easier to start a business in the outlying areas, the Crown is lending a helping hand to those who sacrificed so much while their communities were on the front lines of the Last War."
The royal decree that establishes these "reconstruction licenses" also slashes licensing fees for specific business types -- most notably overland and maritime shipping concerns. But not all of these changes have come easily. An across-the-board 25% cut in shipping business licenses was controversial enough to delay pronouncement of the final decree until three weeks ago because Houses Orien and Lyrandar lobbied the Crown to maintain shipping license fees at their current levels. As extranational entities, the dragonmarked houses don't purchase business licenses for themselves, but when they invest in smaller ventures, they purchase business licenses as a matter of course.
A longtime merchant welcomed the lower license fees but said the Crown might be overly optimistic about its ability to stimulate the shipping sector. "The hardest part about moving goods isn't the Breland business license -- it's the competition," said Jarrah Duvax, co-owner of Blackhorse Caravans. "With a little luck, we've been able to eke out a living. But I sure wouldn't recommend this line of work to anyone else. If you're trying to decide what kind of business to invest in, here's a tip: Don't attempt to compete with a dragonmarked house."
About the Author
David Noonan is a designer/developer for Wizards of the Coast. Before coming to Wizards, he was a daily newspaper reporter in Washington state. Apparently the city hall beat is good practice for an Eberron campaign.
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