To First Treasurer Ebyssybl Mollassand

Your Honor,

I would summarize the issue you describe as: adventurers are selling their unneeded magic weapons to untrustworthy people who abuse them. Describing these purchasers as “merchants” is perhaps not entirely accurate, as you say the problem arises when a buyer does not resell the item at a profit. I would humbly suggest that it really makes no difference whether the person terrorizing His Majesty’s subjects found the item, purchased it from an adventurer directly, or purchased it second-or-third-hand. The difference between one of these “villains” and an “adventurer” might be more difficult to draw than one would assume. In other words, I advise Your Honor to focus on what people do, not who they are.

The problem, simply put, is with the unrestricted sale and use of magic items. If the realm can focus on illegal use of magic, punishing and deterring it effectively, that could suffice. His Majesty's government might additionally wish to require purchasers to report all such purchases and sales; in addition to making crimes easier to solve, it would be very useful to know just what people are finding and how that is changing over time. Failing that, the Crown could attempt to set up a monopoly on the purchase and sale of potentially dangerous items, if it is prepared to crack down on the black market that inevitably would spring up. This could guarantee that items too dangerous for use would be identified and locked away safely in the Royal vaults.

In addition to regulating sellers, the Crown could regulate buyers, such as by holding merchants partly responsible for selling the item used in a crime, or requiring the adventurers purchasing their magic items provide proof of their good character and responsible conduct. It might be wise to recruit the next cohort of adventurers from youths from good families who have trained as squires or apprentices, or even to require a commission as agents of the Crown.

—Your faithful servant.

To First Treasurer Ebyssybl Mollassand

Your Honor,

I would summarize the issue you describe as: adventurers are selling their unneeded magic weapons to untrustworthy people who abuse them. Describing these purchasers as “merchants” is perhaps not entirely accurate. As your letter reports, the problem arises precisely when a buyer does not resell the item at a profit. I would humbly suggest that it makes no difference whatsoever whether the person terrorizing His Majesty’s subjects found the item, purchased it from an adventurer directly, or purchased it second-or-third-hand. The difference between one of these “villains” and an “adventurer” might be more difficult to draw than one would assume. In other words, I advise Your Honor to focus on what people do, not who they are.

The problem, simply put, is with the unrestricted sale and use of magic items. If the realm can focus on illegal use of magic, punishing and deterring it effectively, that could suffice. His Majesty's government might additionally wish to require purchasers to report all such purchases and sales; in addition to making crimes easier to solve, it would be very useful to know just what people are finding and how that is changing over time. Failing that, the Crown could attempt to set up a monopoly on the purchase and sale of potentially dangerous items, if it is prepared to crack down on the black market that inevitably would spring up. This could guarantee that items too dangerous for use would be identified and locked away safely in the Royal vaults.

In addition to regulating sellers, the Crown could regulate buyers, such as by holding merchants partly responsible for selling the item used in a crime, or requiring the adventurers purchasing their magic items provide proof of their good character and responsible conduct. It might be wise to recruit the next cohort of adventurers from youths from good families who have trained as squires or apprentices, or even to require a commission as agents of the Crown.

—Your faithful servant.