712 NA

The Maw was shocked by the new tariff imposed by the Merfolk. Reasonable as the tax was, people will always balk at a tax that was never present before. Many merchants accepted the tax and continued to trade with the Dwarves. A few others, with help from private investors or governments, refused. Plans were enacted to bypass the Blockade. One particular man named Engrenildo had crazy dreams filling his head of the world being round. Few believed his ridiculous story, but enough did that he assembled enough men to crew a small flotilla of ships.

The Metal Dwarves accepted the Blockade. They would survive with the reduced amount of trade. However, they could not accept taxes on supplies and passengers sent to Proaxium. A Dwarven transport ship filled with supplies, books, and scholars for Proaxium, met with a Mersian captain at the Blockade and explained the Dwarven situation. If taxes were lifted solely on ships traveling to Proaxium with supplies for the island, then all was well and good. If they were not, then the Dwarves would appeal to the Human cities for help, the cities which were already irritated by the Blockade and just needed an excuse to end it.