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WesternPeregrine · (This post was last modified: 06-02-2018, 01:03 PM by WesternPeregrine.)

I have wondered about a commodity produced by the Dragons, who in comparison to other major criminal/unlawful groups, serve only as a sink for stolen loot in Kusari, but have little to nothing to export in return. Apart for some engine components in Hikone (Honshu), and maybe some h-fuel in Sendai (Okinawa), the Dragons have little regarding commercial goods they could exchange for money from smugglers and helpful parties from aboard.

Now, the Dragons don't have access to any valuable spatial resources in great quantity, nor do they have the said resources to be mass producing technological equipment and try to compete in an already saturated market of weapons or machines (Thanks Core and Order).

The Dragons area faction with a lot of history, but more than that, lot's of "tradition". So maybe it's where we should search for a good.

These "Kusari/Kyoto Cultural Treasures" would be cultural artifacts from the Kusari of old, hard to find nowadays and hard to reproduce without the most skilled artisans, most of the knowledge about these treasures is preserved in Kyoto. The rarity of these treasures naturally demands a high price from collectors in Kusari proper but also aboard, and a daring smuggler would be eager to get a hand on many of these and leave Kyoto with them.
Naturally, the Dragons are not willing to relinquish of their patrimony willingly, and would classify any KCT leaving Kyoto as contraband (a few roleplay exceptions by the Dragons could apply, obviously). The Kusari state, in their efforts of preserving the culture and to prevent financing of Dragon campaigns, would also seek to confiscate these treasures and keep them in custody of the "legitimate" rulership of Kusari.

Additionally, in a mirrored case of Light Arms and Black Market Arms (as in, the originals are the forbidden ones), there would also be some sort of Kyoto Cultural Replicas. These replicas, made by the artisans of Kyoto, would be less valuable for the collector, but are allowed by the Dragon Shogunate as sort of touristy merchandise, in an effort of spreading the Dragon cultural influence and gather funds and resources to sustain their fight for the throne of Kusari. Consequently, these would be less limited or even openly sold by Kyoto merchants to outsiders, and would be targeted by Kusari lawful entities as contraband.

Outside of Kusari, I believe they would be seen in the same way as Blood Diamonds, not given much consideration of their legality unless the state authorities would be willing to support Kusari efforts of suppressing their trade.

Feel free to give suggestions, constructive criticism, or alternatives.

Edit: Treasures and Replicas would originate from Kyoto, but perhaps Replicas would have a second more costly sellpoint on Ryukyu in Tohoku, so the Dragons could divert the legitimate merchants there.

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