Post by SouthWestern Traders on Apr 18, 2016 4:42:28 GMT
Anything that applied to the Southern or Western Traders previously can be expected to apply to the Southwestern Traders.
Born from a union of the Southern and Western Traders in the year 571 during the dog days of summer and from the first autumn rains, they had always both been natural allies and competitors.
While the Western Traders have once been a greater realm, their strong claims in Caerleon and Gawant, and their weaker claims in Camelot (and elsewhere), carried with them into the union. Meanwhile, the Southern Traders brought with them their fleet, and stagnant, but stable, holdings from Dumonia to Tir Mor.
Joined together by circumstance and a leader chosen by the guilders, the Southwestern Traders are stronger than either has ever been on their own. At the same time, they now face challenges greater than ever before. Religious strife, growing feuds, and raids - all take their toll on the ability of the guild to meet its obligations.
However, the variety of skills now available to the guild is greater than ever. The famed mapmakers of Caerleon, the royal painters and goldsmiths of Gawant, the unscrupulous smugglers of Dumonia, the noble merchants of Alined, candlemakers of Nemeth, silversmiths of Helna and elven artists of Tir Mor - all them and more now call the guild home.
To its east are the Eastern Traders, a competitive guild with which it currently has an understanding, but not one that any wise merchant would ever expect to last forever. To the north are the Northern Traders, fair and honest in their dealings, but a direct competitor all the same, and one not looked fondly upon by most members of the Southwestern Traders. To the west are the slavers - deemed to be despicable, likely in league with pirates, mad kings and evil necromancers alike.
It holds to various traditions. Every spring, an auction is held to sell furs (and fur clothing) trapped over the winter, gemstones (and associated jewelry) found by chance in the gold and silver mines. Every summer, it collects on its debts, whether paid in full or merely the usury. In autumn it hosts an internal guild council, where the concerns of the local guilders are heard.
Yet it’s the winter celebration that is the most opulent and likely most popular. The Southwestern Traders winter ball. Here, all the greatest men and women of Albion might find themselves among each other, regardless of standing. The land’s highest nobles, silver-tongued bards, strongest warriors, the most pious priest, the oldest druid, the richest guilder; all are welcome bar a standing feud with the guild. Typically it is but a formal event, but it has previously been host to whole courts if the needs of the guild demanded it.
As a guild, it operates weigh houses to ensure accurate pricing of goods. Its members organize local militias (particularly naval) to perform light patrols of trade routes and arrange for convoys. The dues and other income of the guild help expand operations to the benefit of its members. It maintains a strong presence, benefiting the major coastal cities of Southwestern Albion. Its merchant fleet provides both an avenue through which to conduct trade, but also one with which to deter pirates and slavers if need be, whether proactively or by retaliation.
In Helna it operates a silver mine, whereas in Gawant it runs a gold mine. Both materials are sold to guild members and others in good standing only, such that they might have a ready supply with which to work.
Finally, its members are often the main source of labour for the ports and docks of its provinces, and many fishermen, albeit not craftsmen or traders, are also members (sometimes at reduced rates in exchange for services rendered that would otherwise not be expected).
Born from a union of the Southern and Western Traders in the year 571 during the dog days of summer and from the first autumn rains, they had always both been natural allies and competitors.
While the Western Traders have once been a greater realm, their strong claims in Caerleon and Gawant, and their weaker claims in Camelot (and elsewhere), carried with them into the union. Meanwhile, the Southern Traders brought with them their fleet, and stagnant, but stable, holdings from Dumonia to Tir Mor.
Joined together by circumstance and a leader chosen by the guilders, the Southwestern Traders are stronger than either has ever been on their own. At the same time, they now face challenges greater than ever before. Religious strife, growing feuds, and raids - all take their toll on the ability of the guild to meet its obligations.
However, the variety of skills now available to the guild is greater than ever. The famed mapmakers of Caerleon, the royal painters and goldsmiths of Gawant, the unscrupulous smugglers of Dumonia, the noble merchants of Alined, candlemakers of Nemeth, silversmiths of Helna and elven artists of Tir Mor - all them and more now call the guild home.
To its east are the Eastern Traders, a competitive guild with which it currently has an understanding, but not one that any wise merchant would ever expect to last forever. To the north are the Northern Traders, fair and honest in their dealings, but a direct competitor all the same, and one not looked fondly upon by most members of the Southwestern Traders. To the west are the slavers - deemed to be despicable, likely in league with pirates, mad kings and evil necromancers alike.
It holds to various traditions. Every spring, an auction is held to sell furs (and fur clothing) trapped over the winter, gemstones (and associated jewelry) found by chance in the gold and silver mines. Every summer, it collects on its debts, whether paid in full or merely the usury. In autumn it hosts an internal guild council, where the concerns of the local guilders are heard.
Yet it’s the winter celebration that is the most opulent and likely most popular. The Southwestern Traders winter ball. Here, all the greatest men and women of Albion might find themselves among each other, regardless of standing. The land’s highest nobles, silver-tongued bards, strongest warriors, the most pious priest, the oldest druid, the richest guilder; all are welcome bar a standing feud with the guild. Typically it is but a formal event, but it has previously been host to whole courts if the needs of the guild demanded it.
As a guild, it operates weigh houses to ensure accurate pricing of goods. Its members organize local militias (particularly naval) to perform light patrols of trade routes and arrange for convoys. The dues and other income of the guild help expand operations to the benefit of its members. It maintains a strong presence, benefiting the major coastal cities of Southwestern Albion. Its merchant fleet provides both an avenue through which to conduct trade, but also one with which to deter pirates and slavers if need be, whether proactively or by retaliation.
In Helna it operates a silver mine, whereas in Gawant it runs a gold mine. Both materials are sold to guild members and others in good standing only, such that they might have a ready supply with which to work.
Finally, its members are often the main source of labour for the ports and docks of its provinces, and many fishermen, albeit not craftsmen or traders, are also members (sometimes at reduced rates in exchange for services rendered that would otherwise not be expected).