The World Bank
“Trust is more valuable than gold. We hold both.”
— Inscribed in golden lettering above every major vault entrance
The World Bank of Ashara is an independent financial institution responsible for storing and managing currency, debt, magical assets, relics, and high-value items. It exists to stabilize international trade, protect wealth, and enforce financial contracts on a scale beyond national authority.
Founded by an unknown architect and later supported by Ironspire, then Mechanis, then Voltaris, the Bank has become an institution of intimidating neutrality. Though it claims to serve all fairly, most believe it to be quietly aligned with the powerful.
Headquarters & Reach
Originally headquartered in Ironspire, the Bank was forced to relocate during the Great War. Its current seat of power lies in Mechanis, though the organization still dreams of reclaiming its original vaults once the territory is secured from Shinryu control.
- Maintains branches in most capitals and major cities
- Partners with national and city banks in a tiered system:
- City < National < World
- Nations defer to it for large-scale financial coordination and complex asset holding
Structure
The Bank is governed by a council of senior financial officials and a central CEO. Power within the Bank is tied not to politics or geography, but to investment, portfolio influence, and internal standing.
Nations have no formal seats within the institution — attempts to gain influence have failed. One such attempt by Dreadspire resulted in economic collapse after the Bank orchestrated a quiet but effective pullback of capital.
Security and Operations
Security is ensured through:
- Magical safeguards and protective wards
- Carefully structured legal contracts
- A tightly regulated internal system of documentation and secrecy
- A working relationship with multiple nations, who assist with enforcement when needed
The Bank occasionally hires adventurers or private security to recover stolen property or manage high-risk clients. It has no military, but it has law, leverage, and memory.
Assets and Services
The Bank deals in:
- Coin and stored currency
- Debt and institutional loans
- Magic tomes, spellbooks, and enchantments
- Physical relics and ancient artifacts
- Secure long-term wealth storage
It does not issue currency, having studied the Ancient Human failures around inflation and paper economies. It defers this responsibility to national banks.
Relationships and Reputation
- Commoners: Largely unaware or unaffected
- Nobles: View it as prestigious but inaccessible; most work through national banks
- Mage Guild: Maintains an active borrowing relationship
- Merchants Association: Values the Bank for secure asset protection
- Adventurers' Guild: Rare interactions, usually logistical or contractual
Some conspiracy theorists believe the Bank is a shadow empire of wealth — an Illuminati-like structure pulling strings from behind the scenes. This is not true, but the Bank has never bothered to correct it.
Known Enforcement
The Bank uses the law to enforce debts. Seizure of assets, legal arbitration, and international collaboration are all on the table.
Notably, a Shinryu noble was once revealed to be dealing in forbidden elven slavery. When the Merchants Association pulled support and the Bank called in his loan, the noble’s family was reduced to commoner wealth overnight.
Internal Culture and Philosophy
Bank agents are trained in mathematics, ethics, and logistical precision. They do not swear magical oaths, but must sign formal declarations acknowledging their duties and the ethical standard required of them.
A common misconception is that the Bank holds "all the money in the world" — a joke among staff, but also a misunderstanding. The Bank does not hoard — it protects. It exists to preserve trust, not wealth.
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