Location & Appearance
The Ptolus Tradehold is located in the city’s Guild Ward, in a central position. It is a relatively new three-story building, with the Conglomerate’s symbol painted onto its double doors.
The building stands taller than most others around it, standing out from the rest thanks to that fact. In terms of looks, it is quite utilitarian – Berina abhors extravagance. There are no gargoyles perched on the roof, no elaborate carvings. The building is pure wood and stone.
The only “extravagance” of the building is its balconies – one on each side, on the second floor. They are not particularly beautiful, still remaining utilitarian – indeed, the only reason they exist is that so guards can be there at all times, to ensure nobody has any ideas about climbing the building and gaining access that way.
The Ground Floor
Upon entering the building, one arrives at a waiting area. There’s a reception desk on the other side, between the stairs leading to the first floor and the door leading further into the ground floor. Comfortable, simple chairs line the walls here, most of them usually full of merchants, city officials and the like. Two guards are always found inside the waiting room as well.
Those who have meetings with Berina or someone else are eventually led to the first floor. The ground floor is where goods are stored. Indeed, through the door next to the reception desk, one enters a huge area comprising the rest of the floor. This warehouse area can also be accessed from the back, from a door big enough to allow access to a cart so the unloading and loading process can be made easier. Like at the reception area, there are guards here at all times too – six of them.
This part of the Tradehold is overseen by the Quartermaster, a human woman named Seira. The only non-dwarf of status in Ptolus’ Tradehold, Seira has an uncanny mind for inventory. She devised a plan to store items that proved so much more efficient than the previous one that all Tradeholds have since adopted it.
At any time, at least ten wagons’ worth of goods are stored here. There is also a smaller storage area underground, furnished with a magical enchantment that keeps the space at freezing temperatures, perfect to store foodstuffs and other items that need to remain cold for as long as possible.
The First Floor
The Ptolus Tradehold’s Ground Floor is devoted to offices. The largest belongs to Berina herself, while the rest are for her subordinates.
Broadly, there are two kinds of offices here. The first kind includes Berina’s office, and is for the public-facing representatives of the Tradehold. These are the people who have meetings with clients and make deals. Berina deals with the most important clients while her three subordinates – Melbur, Freda, and Leroin – deal with the rest.
On top of that, Melbur is also responsible for the Tradehold’s public relations. She organizes various charity events and the like, all in an effort to maintain the Conglomerate’s good image in Ptolus – and to assuage the various government officials and business leaders who are coming to see it as an enemy.
While Berina’s office is the largest, it is also the most simple – there’s one big desk, a vault, and a few chairs. The other three make an effort for their rooms to be a tad cozier than that.
The other kind of offices found in this floor are those of the accountants. Berina employs four of them, responsible for keeping the Tradehold’s books up to date and correct. These four – led by Tred, a male dwarf of about two hundred years – split their duties between themselves. One takes care of taxes, another of imports, another of exports.
Keeping track of all of the Tradehold’s expenses and earnings is quite difficult, especially since Berina insists on being kept up to date on the books as well. She often studies them, intent on making sure everything’s in order.
Second Floor
The Tradehold’s Second Floor is, in essence, Berina’s apartment. The only way up to the second floor is through the stairs at Berina’s first floor office, and nobody is allowed up there unless there’s truly a need.
Immediately upon climbing the stairs to the second floor, one finds themselves in a large living room. This is where Berina entertains her most important guests.
Beyond this living room are Berina’s rooms. There is a smaller office, for when she wants to work in peace. There is her bedroom, and a small kitchen – Berina abhors expenses of any kind, and prefers to cook for herself instead of having food made.
Finally, there are the two most important rooms. One is the vault – a room enchanted with a dozen different spells, extremely secure. While most of the Tradehold’s earnings are either sent to Tarsis City or deposited in a local Ptolus bank, Berina keeps some of the Tradehold’s wealth here, including all important items.
Finally, there is the communications room. Through a powerful spell, the room is linked to a similar one in Tarsis. This main communications room in Tarsis City is where Betur can speak to everyone else in the major tradeholds, either talking to them individually or through a group “call”.
Berina speaks to her father often – not just about work, but about their lives as well. Berina truly loves her father, and is perhaps the most cognizant among her siblings about the fact that he will pass soon – and of what will happen when he does.
As such, Berina has been preparing. The Tradehold’s books are in order, and she’s making a tidy profit – a part of which she keeps. Already, she has begun to scheme against her siblings. She doesn’t want to kill them, of course. Family is important. However, the fact of the matter is that she’s the best among them at running the Conglomerate, and she knows it. All she wants is to ensure that when their father passes she will indeed assume his position.
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