Belem Merchant Guild

Everyone has a price

— Belem Merchant Guild axiom

The Belem Merchant Guild

The Belem Merchant guild is one of if not the most influential organisation in Belem. Some even go as far as to argue that the Guild is more powerful than the crown. It is hard to say for sure how far and how deep its network runs, but it is an accepted notion that their merchants have people on their payroll in almost every organisation and every level of government.
The Guild was originally founded as a system of mutual benefits for all parties involved. Because of this, all Guild members get exclusive discounts on services provided by other members. These services include, but are not limited to: transport, tariff and tax collection, money exchange, housing and networking. Nowadays merchants from the Guild own most of the buildings in Belem at Dura. Because of rent benefits, most shop owners are also part of the guild, having to offer the occasional discount buy profiting on the long term. This has given the Guild a virtual trade monopoly in Belem at Dura.
The Guild has a strict hierarchical structure, but does not have a singular leader. Influential merchants are constantly vying for more power or influence withing the Guild. On the surface, power is measured in wealth. Most high ranking merchants do not shy away from intrigue and subterfuge through various channels, consolidating power in shadows whenever possible. To the outer world however, the Guild aims to present itself as a unity.

An attack on any of its members is seen as an attack on the Guild as a whole.

— Belem Merchant Guild axiom

Structure

Guild membership is acquired by paying a monthly Guild tax. This tax can either be paid as an individual Merchant or as an organisation, in which case one member of the organisation will function as representative.

Affiliates

The lowest ranked Guild members are known as affiliates. This rank includes most of the shopowners inside Belem at Dura, and some of its lower ranked traders. To become an affiliate, a monthly Guild tax of 20 pieces of gold needs to be paid. Affiliates fall under the guilds protection and are required to partake in its benefits system.