The Hall of Coin: Vaultkeepers of the Flame
“The realm’s heart beats not only in flame, but in coin.”
Overview
The Hall of Coin is the financial arm of the Ember Court, entrusted with the custody of Ironspire’s wealth, the shaping of its currency system, and the management of taxation, trade, and gambling regulation. It serves as both ministry of treasury and economic authority, its power rivaled only by the Sovereign’s own decree.
From the subterranean vaults of the Hall’s obsidian counting chambers to the glimmering tax bridges of the markets, the Hall of Coin is everywhere coin flows.
Primary Responsibilities
✦ Currency Oversight
The Hall of Coin oversees the minting and regulation of the realm’s monetary system, which includes:
- The Embermark – Standard gold coin of the realm
- The Ashbit – Common silver coin, used for smaller transactions
- The Cinderchip – Brass token, used for gambling, taverns, and district-specific trade
- The Flamebond – High-value promissory note, sealed by fire-mage and used in high-level trade and property transfers
Each is marked with the Seal of the Hall, and counterfeiting is a capital offense.
✦ Taxation & Revenue Collection
The Hall collects taxes through a class of officials known as Cinder Assessors, who work alongside:
- Dockcounters – Oversee goods flow at harbors
- Vaultwrights – Responsible for treasury accounting
- Coinwardens – Guard transit of currency and enforce proper dues
✦ Banking & Loans
The Hall operates and regulates banking houses, offering services such as:
- Cinder Loans – Short-term, high-risk loans often tied to collateral of property or oaths
- Flamevaults – Secure holdings for nobility and Hall officials
- Ashbonds – Investiture contracts in district trade
Private banks exist but are licensed and taxed under the Hall’s purview.
✦ Gambling & Vice Regulation
All legal gambling is sanctioned by the Hall, which manages:
- The Ember Stakes – State-sponsored gambling dens
- Cinderbook Wagers – Registered betting systems for races, duels, and contests
Illegal operations are hunted by Cindertithes—a specialized faction of auditors and spies who blend accountancy with enforcement.
Rituals & Symbolism
- The Weighing Flame: New coin molds are blessed in ritual fire and weighed against the Sovereign’s Embermark to ensure purity.
- The Ember Audit: Conducted once per decade, this secretive inspection sweeps through every treasury and Hall-linked vault.
- The Oath of Scale and Seal: Required vow of all ranking Hall members to uphold integrity and honesty in coin matters—or burn for their breach.
The Hall’s emblem features a flame rising behind a balance scale, etched into every Embermark.
Hall Titles & Roles
- Flamekeeper of Coin – The Hall’s head official; sits in the Circle of Flame
- Vaultwright-General – Oversees central treasury vaults
- Master of Mints – Controls minting and circulation
- Warden of Wagers – Manages gambling oversight and regulation
- Lead Cinder Assessor – Coordinates tax efforts across the realm
- Coin Scribe – Handles ledgers, taxes, and flame-sealed contracts
Influence & Relations
- Hall of Holdings: Works closely to assess taxes on land and property transfers.
- Hall of Law: Collaborates on enforcement of economic crimes.
- Hall of Cinders: Cindertithes often trained in espionage by Cinders.
- The Gilded Die & other gambling halls: Licensed or hunted—depending on compliance.
Lore & Legacy
- The Hall’s earliest vaults were carved beneath the Ashforge, guarded by salamander spirits of molten brass.
- It is said the first Embermark was pressed from a dragon’s fang dipped in gold.
- The Hall secretly holds the Flamebond Ledger, a sealed book of all major oaths ever backed by coin.
See also: Currency of Ironspire, Flamebond Notes, Cindertithes, The Gilded Die, Hall of Holdings, Hall of Law, The Circle of Flame.