Salt and Silk Accord
Purpose
The Salt and Silk Accord was created to formalize the growing exchange of salt-marsh products, textiles, preserved fruits, and metal goods between the Principality of Kopolchia and the Duchy of Buzatia.
Its primary aims were:
- To designate Kursk as the northern distribution hub for Buzatian goods.
- To open steady overland and maritime trade routes between the two states.
- To stabilize tariffs and reduce smuggling in the Nightstair district.
- To ensure political goodwill after a decade of tense border negotiations.
Document Structure
Clauses
I. Trade Stabilization
Sets fixed tariffs for:
- Salt-marsh herbs and sea fennel (exported from Kursk)
- High-quality textiles and jams (exported from Kursk)
- Processed metals, stone, and timber (imported from Buzatia)
II. Infrastructure Guarantees
Buzatia funds improvements to:
- Kursk’s port cranes
- The Six Mires elevated walkways
- Applegate’s irrigation systems
Kopolchia agrees to maintain these constructions for at least 20 years.
III. Security Provisions
- Joint patrols on merchant roads.
- The Shadowsong Order's activities are to remain under observation but not directly interfered with.
- Smuggling penalties increased substantially.
IV. Cultural Exchange
Encourages:
- Annual artisan delegations
- Shared festivals featuring textiles, metalwork, and food
- Student exchange programs in applied crafts
Caveats
Any violation of tariff agreements allows the offended party to impose a three-month embargo on the offending good.
Should Kursk’s port become unusable due to storm damage, Buzatia may temporarily reroute goods through another city but must return operations to Kursk as soon as repairs conclude.
Shadowsong interference in trade convoys automatically triggers renegotiation with Kopolchia's High Council.
References
The Pre-Expansion Trade Ledgers of North Chrysalis (economic precedent)
The Buzatian Mercantile Code (tariff framework)
Kursk Harbor Reconstruction Mandate (infrastructure history)
Publication Status
Public, available in both nations’ archives. Excerpts are commonly reprinted for merchants.
Legal status
Recognized by both the Principality of Kopolchia and the Duchy of Buzatia. Enforced by the regional trade courts in Kursk and Mesch.
Historical Details
Background
Before the Accord, trade between the two powers was profitable but chaotic. Marshlands made travel unpredictable, tariffs fluctuated wildly, and smugglers thrived, especially in Nightstair, where the Shadowsong Order leveraged the instability.
Kursk’s growing prestige and improved port infrastructure set the stage for formalizing an agreement. Buzatia sought reliable northern distribution, while Kopolchia wanted secure pathways for its fruit-based exports and textiles.
Both sides saw the treaty as a way to cement economic peace.
History
After the treaty:
- Kursk became the economic heart of northern trade.
- The elevated walkways of Six Mires were reconstructed using Buzatian engineering.
- Smuggling dropped by nearly half for two decades.
- Two later amendments expanded trade to include artisanal weapons and rare orchard hybrids.
Public Reaction
Citizens of Kursk welcomed the increased prosperity. Honey Song held week-long celebrations. Nightstair residents were more skeptical, correctly predicting heavier patrols. Buzatians viewed it as a strategic win, strengthening influence in the north.
Merchants in both countries praised the stability the Accord brought.
Legacy
- Cemented Kursk as the Gateway of the North
- Influenced later agreements such as the Iron and Grain Compact
- Still cited by diplomats as the model for fair cross-border trade
- Sparked a golden age of crafts, particularly textiles and preserved foods
Term
The Accord has remained in effect for over 150 years, updated twice but never dissolved. Breaking it would destabilize half the northern economy, something neither state dares risk.
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