Seven Suns Trading Coster

The name of this group refers to the widely-separated partners who formed this group, converting their own small merchant companies into regional bases, providing horses, draft oxen, wagons, and hiring local guards. The seven partners are Jhasso of Baldur’s Gate (formerly of Jhasso’s Wagons, a famous fast- haul freight outfit that operated up and down the Sword Coast when wars, pirates, or weather hampered offshore shipping Shield of Everlund; Pomphur of Almraiven; Chond of Calaunt; Alvund of Ormpetarr; Dzunn of Sheirtalar; and Nammna of Milvarune. This Coster usually provides the leanest guards and the worst wagons, and is inclined to be slow and often bandit- struck as a result; but it also undercuts its competitors on most routes. Banner: Seven suns (coins): gold, with black borders/edges (“sunburst rays”), on a white banner that itself has gold borders/trim. Trailglyph: Seven gold suns arranged to form a crude arrow pointing to the right with thick black edges (round/plain, not sunburst). A typical caravan consists of 2d3 wagons and wagoners, 1d4 merchants, and 2d4 caravan guards. Commonly encountered merchants in the Shining Vale include Aelna Faintinghart, Bracknog “the Slippery” of Westgate, and Velvarn Tottingham.

History

The coster was formed by seven partners of widely separated origins: Jhasso of Baldur's Gate, Shield of Everlund, Pomphur of Almraiven, Chond of Calaunt, Alvund of Ormpetarr, Dzunn of Sheirtalar, and Nammna of Milvarune. The "Seven Suns" referred to the seven merchants themselves. Each had their own small companies, such as Jhasso's Wagons, but converted these into regional bases for the coster.24 The Seven Suns were in business by 1358 DR. They were still going through 1367 DR. In Cormyr, at least, it came to be controlled by the Bleth noble family. It was among the most powerful merchant houses in Suzail and Cormyr, and made the Bleths both wealthy and powerful. Thus, in the late 1360s, the head of the Seven Suns attended a celebration held by Lord Partic Thistle at his manor, Thistleflame, in honor of King Azoun IV's birthday, in addition to Lord Gruen Bleth. In the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, the Seven Suns headquarters in Baldur's Gate was infiltrated and taken over by doppelgangers, working on behalf of the rival Iron Throne. One assumed Jhasso's identity and kept him captive in the basement. The doppelgangers then proceeded to make poor business decisions that drove the coster toward bankruptcy. This affected the economy of the whole city and attracted the attention of the Grand Dukes. Scar, the commander of Baldur's Gate's Flaming Fist mercenary guards, asked Gorion's Ward to investigate strange goings-on at the Seven Suns headquarters in Baldur's Gate. Gorion's Ward and their team eliminated the doppelgangers and rescued Jhasso. The Seven Suns were still going in 1374 DR.

Organisation

The leading partners of the Seven Suns were Alvund, Chond, Dzunn, Nammna, Jhasso, Pomphur, and Shield. The Bleth noble family controlled Seven Suns activity in Cormyr, with Lord Albion Bleth managing affairs in Suzail, with the Senior Envoy Absolute Tallisen Mordren managing affairs across Cormyr and the Heartlands.
The coster had regional bases located in cities across Faerûn, such as Baldur's Gate on the Sword Coast, managed by Jhasso, and Suzail in Cormyr, managed by Gruen Bleth. Each of the partners provided wagons, horses, and draft oxen to the coster, and hired local guards.

Structure

Leadership and Governance

1. High Director Absolute – The supreme leader of the Seven Suns, overseeing all operations across Faerûn.
2. Senior Envoy Absolute – Leads the Senior Envoys and coordinates with regional directors.
3. Regional Director – Manages operations in a specific region or city (e.g., "Regional Director of Suzail").
4. Council of Founders – The original founding members who provide oversight or advisory roles.

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Strategic and Diplomatic Roles

1. Senior Envoy – High-ranking officials responsible for major trade deals, alliances, and strategy.
2. Envoy – Handles negotiations and trade agreements with other organizations or settlements.
3. Trade Arbiter – Mediates disputes between merchants, customers, and internal branches.

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Operational Roles

1. Fleetmaster – Oversees the coster’s caravan fleets, including wagons, ships, and beasts of burden.
2. Warehouse Overseer – Manages storage facilities and inventory control.
3. Head of Logistics – Ensures the smooth transport of goods between regions.
4. Head of Security – Responsible for hiring and deploying guards and protecting caravans.

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Financial and Administrative Roles

1. Master of Accounts – Tracks finances, collects tariffs, and ensures profitability.
2. Clerk of Records – Maintains contracts, trade agreements, and correspondence.
3. Merchant Officer – Assigns goods to caravans and calculates pricing strategies.

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Local and Support Roles

1. Caravan Leader – Oversees individual trade caravans on the road.
2. Guard Captain – Leads guards assigned to protect the coster’s assets.
3. Senior Trader – Experienced merchant handling high-value sales and procurement.
4. Trader – Everyday merchants conducting sales and bartering in markets.
5. Beastmaster – Maintains and trains animals used in transport, such as oxen and horses.
6. Porter – Responsible for loading and unloading goods at warehouses and markets.

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Specialized Roles

1. Appraiser – Determines the value of goods for trade.
2. Customs Liaison – Manages interactions with local authorities to navigate tariffs and legalities.
3. Coster Spy – Covert operatives gathering intelligence on rivals and market conditions.
4. Crafting Liaison – Works with local artisans to commission or procure specialized goods.

Culture

The Seven Suns Trading Coster is the embodiment of ruthless ambition and corporate dominance, operating as the undisputed titans of trade in Faerûn. Their culture is steeped in cutthroat pragmatism, where every deal is a battlefield, and success is measured solely by the profit margins and market control achieved. Members are known for their sharp instincts, calculating demeanour, and an unyielding focus on expanding their influence, regardless of the cost. Failure is not tolerated, and betrayal is met with swift and unforgiving retribution. The coster’s reputation as ruthless yet impeccably professional ensures they are both feared and respected by competitors and allies alike.

Despite their hard-edged practices, the Seven Suns understand the importance of appearances. They present themselves as polished and trustworthy, fostering an image of reliability that allows them to secure lucrative contracts and partnerships. However, there are dark whispers of a clandestine wing known as Stykos, ostensibly a subsidiary called Stykos Fabrics and Clothing. Unsubstantiated rumours suggest that Stykos operates as a covert black-ops division, carrying out sabotage, espionage, and even assassinations to protect the coster’s interests and eliminate rivals. Whether true or simply an exaggeration of their feared reputation, the existence of Stykos only adds to the shadowy mystique surrounding the Seven Suns Trading Coster.

Public Agenda

The Seven Suns Trading Coster publicly presents itself as a cornerstone of Faerûn’s commerce, dedicated to fostering economic growth, improving trade networks, and providing reliable goods and services across the region. Their stated mission is to unify diverse markets, bring prosperity to the communities they serve, and champion fair and profitable trade for all parties involved. They promote themselves as innovators in logistics and trade, emphasising their commitment to fostering mutual success with partners while ensuring that even the most remote settlements benefit from their expansive network. By positioning themselves as essential facilitators of progress, they aim to cultivate trust and goodwill among clients, governments, and the public.

Assets

The Seven Suns Trading Coster boasts extensive and varied assets, reflecting their position as a dominant force in Faerûnian trade. Their wealth is primarily measured in vast reserves of silver and gold, accumulated through decades of profitable trade agreements and ruthless competition. In Suzail, the coster maintains a prominent presence with a lavish headquarters that doubles as a trading hub and a symbol of their power within the region. Additionally, they control fortified warehouses in key cities, including a highly secretive underground facility in Minroe, believed to store rare and high-value goods away from prying eyes.

Their physical assets include a fleet of well-maintained caravans, draft animals such as horses and oxen, and an armada of trading vessels capable of traversing both rivers and open seas. The Seven Suns also employ an extensive security force, consisting of well-armed guards and mercenaries trained to protect their assets and caravans from bandits and rival factions. These forces are supplemented by equipment ranging from enchanted weapons to reinforced wagons. There are also rumours of hidden caches of weapons and supplies distributed across Faerûn, enabling the coster to respond swiftly to emergencies or seize opportunities.

Finally, the coster is known to own valuable properties in every major city they operate in, including warehouses, docks, and fortified tradeposts, many of which are strategically located to control regional commerce. Their ability to mobilise resources quickly, combined with their considerable wealth and influence, ensures their continued dominance in the competitive world of trade.

History

The Seven Suns Trading Coster was founded during a turbulent period in Faerûn’s history when trade routes were frequently disrupted by wars, banditry, and political instability. Seven ambitious merchants from different regions—Baldur’s Gate, Everlund, Almraiven, Calaunt, Ormpetarr, Sheirtalar, and Milvarune—banded together, pooling their resources and networks to establish a powerful trading consortium. Each founder managed a regional branch, creating a decentralised but cooperative structure that allowed the coster to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Their unity and collective wealth quickly propelled them to prominence, overshadowing smaller competitors and securing lucrative trade contracts with city-states, guilds, and noble houses.

As the coster grew, it became known not only for its vast reach but also for its ruthless tactics. Several rival trading companies collapsed under mysterious circumstances, fuelling rumours of the Seven Suns’ involvement in sabotage and espionage. By the time the Bleth noble family assumed control of operations in Cormyr, the coster had solidified its position as an economic powerhouse, its influence stretching across Faerûn. Whispered rumours of a shadowy division called Stykos Fabrics and Clothing—allegedly responsible for covert operations—emerged during this period, cementing the Seven Suns’ reputation as both indispensable traders and fearsome opponents.

In recent decades, the Seven Suns has weathered significant challenges, including political upheaval and increased competition from newer trade coalitions. However, their ability to adapt and their near-monopoly on critical trade routes have ensured their survival and continued dominance. Today, the organisation stands as a symbol of Faerûnian commerce, feared and respected for its wealth, reach, and relentless ambition.

Founding Date

1358

Type

Guild, Merchant

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Controlled Territories

• The Crossroads

Notable Members

• Tallisen Mordren