> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cambria-1.gitbook.io/gold-rush-s2/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cambria-1.gitbook.io/gold-rush-s2/season-2-the-paymasters/the-paymasters.md).

# The Paymasters

> *"The sword earns glory. The coin earns control."*\
> — The Iron Oath, Chapter 2

In *Season 2: The Paymasters*, a new class emerges — ruthless financiers known as **Paymasters**, who shape the battlefield not through strength of arms, but through dominance of the economy.

Rather than risking their own blood in the New World, Paymasters buy and deposit **Royal Charters** into the **Syndicate Vault**, gaining passive control over the spoils extracted by active adventurers. While others fight and die for Artifacts, Curios, and Coin, Paymasters let their money do the bleeding.

***

## **The Syndicate Vault** :bank:

#### **Charter Deposits**

* Paymasters can buy any # of [**Royal Charters**](/gold-rush-s2/introduction/how-to-start.md) and deposit them into the **Syndicate Vault**
* Deposited Charters generate **Syndicate Shares** *(1:1 ratio)*, which entitles holders to ETH and in-game resource distributions

#### **Deposit & Withdrawal**

* Charters cannot be withdrawn once deposited into the Syndicate Vault

## **Taxation for Profit** :drop\_of\_blood:

> "Ser Althus keeps the Treasury’s books, Ser Grimwald his Majesty's Charters—but make no mistake, neither serves the Crown alone. Coin flows where whispers guide it, and in the halls of power, the Paymasters' gold speaks louder than any royal decree."

Two primary tax streams fund the Paymasters’ passive earnings:

1. **New Charter Tax (25%) - (***Ser Grimwald)*
   * Every new Charter purchase triggers a **25% tax**.
   * This tax is **instantly distributed** to all Syndicate Share holders.
   * Every 5 minutes, the following information is provided by the Syndicate's recordkeepers
     * Total Charters Deposited (Global)
     * Total Charters Deposited / Total Charters Owned (You)
     * Current Ownership of Syndicate (%)
2. **Solo Cash-In Tax (15%)** - (*Ser Althus)*
   * When **SOLO adventurers** cash in *Corrupted Loot* (Artifacts, Curios, Gems) to the Royal Treasury, a **15% tax** is applied to the Coins and Royal Favor reward.
     * Top 15 Guilds do not pay this tax
     * Other Guilds pay a smaller 5% tax 
     * Founder NFT holders are exempt (up to a max limit / cap) from this tax
   * That tax is **automatically distributed** to Syndicate Share holders.
   * Every 5 minutes, the following information is provided
     * Total Taxes Earned from Charters (ETH)
     * Total Gold Earned from Cash-in (Gold)
     * Total Royal Favor Earned from Cash-in (Royal Favor)

Both of these tax earnings are distributed between Paymasters on a 5-minute update cycle.  On each cycle, new Charter Tax earnings and Cash-in Tax earnings are split between the latest snapshot of Vault depositors (which includes all deposited charters since the start of the season. 

{% hint style="info" %}
The order in which Charters are deposited into the vault does not matter for each 5-minute snapshot.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Charter Tax proceeds are accumulated until the post-Season distribution.   These proceeds are visible on the Royal Treasury tab in the Gold Rush Lobby.
{% endhint %}

## **Uneven Scales** :scales:

> *Wealth does not merely grant a seat at the table—it bends the table itself. Those who hold the lion’s share of Syndicate wealth exert a quiet but insidious force upon its distributions, their coffers tilting the scales in their favor. The Cabal does not divide spoils with blind fairness; it listens to the silent weight of gold, and gold whispers back.*

The greater your claim upon the Vault, the more the Syndicate’s unseen hands adjust in your favor. Your influence is not declared, but felt, as it **shifts the weights** ever so slightly toward your own hoard.  But beware - dominance breeds resentment, and in New Cambria, there is always a bigger coinpurse waiting to tip the scales.

## **Strategy** :map:

* Players can choose to be a **Paymaster** (pure passive investor), or using Charters to **sponsor Guild adventurers** who extract loot directly.   You can also do both.
* **However, Charters cannot be simultaneously used for both** — you must choose between Syndicate Shares or Guild Sponsorship when depositing Charters.  You also can't withdraw Charters used.
* As more players become Paymasters, **yield per share diminishes**, creating early advantage and late-game dilution pressure from Guilds.

## **Economic Warfare** :coin:

High-stakes Paymasters benefit **indirectly from chaos**:

* Disrupting top guilds increases the tax revenue from solo players.
* Killing top earners reduces extraction, increasing the value of every coin taxed.
* Backroom deals, bribes, and bounty funding are **fair play.**

## **Syndicate Hideout** :spider\_web:

In-game hideout and central hub for Syndicate members with 5 or more shares and Founders.  This hub has a number of perks and convenience utility functions.

## Summary

| Role            | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Paymasters**  | Wealthy investors who buy Charters and passively farm ETH via Syndicate Shares                                                                                                                                    |
| **Adventurers** | Active players risking death to extract loot and earn Royal Favor & Coin                                                                                                                                          |
| **Guilds**      | <p>Large groups of sponsored Adventurers led by Guild Leaders who actively sponsor specific players for a cut of their loot.  </p><p></p><p>May include outside Sponsors who fund the Guild for the same cut.</p> |