Merchant's Conclave
The Humans of the Merchant Conclave tend to see the other races as good business partners, but end it at that. Most humans of the conclave are slow to trust one another, let alone someone of a different race. However, they are usually never one to turn down a good deal or a chance to make some extra coin, as much of their society is based around wealth.
As far as morality goes among humans, it can vary wildly and is largely based around upbringing. While humans have a capacity to be powerful forces of evil, they have the same capacity to be forces of good, or even somewhere in between.
The Merchant’s Conclave is a gathering of five wealthy merchant families that hundred and twenty years ago banded together to lead and fund a rebellion against the Valdoren Empire and win their independence. The war was hard fought, but eventually they managed to push out the Empire forces and clam the northern wilds for their own.
Structure
The Merchant's Conclave is primarily run by a council of five noble families, this council is known as the Jeweled Court. The Jeweled Court is then supported by three guilds under it, with each guild being in charge of one of the three major infrastructures of the conclave. The Infrastructures being, military, and law that is handled by the Guild of Crossed Swords, mass production and construction are handled by the Guild of the Hammer's Core, and lastly the collection of taxes, banking, and trading inside and outside of the conclave that is handled by the Guild of the Golden Boar.
Each of these guilds has a Guild Master that oversees the day to day running of the guild, but they can be overruled at any point the Jeweled Court.
Demography and Population
Most of the population of the Merchant's Conclave is made up of humans. However, while those of any race may live within the boarders of the conclave, most races outside of humans can find it difficult to find acceptance within the cities and towns of the conclave.
Territories
The Merchant's Conclave hold dominion of the Northern Wilds of Imin. The territory originally belonged to the Ravain Kingdom, but was conquered by the Valdorin Empire during the Great Land War. It was than taken by the Merchant's Conclave after their formation and rebellion against the Valdorin Empire.
Military
The Court Wardens are the military of the Merchant’s Conclave,and personal guard of the five ruling families. Their ranks are made up of Diamond Guards that have proven themselves and survived the Court Wardens brutal training regiment. They can also be called upon to aid in any conflict that may be too much to handle for the Diamond Guards alone.
The Court Wardens, as the name implies, are directly overseen and run by the Jeweled Court. While they have standing orders and Captains to direct those orders, and significant change or order must come from the Court themselves.
Technological Level
The Conclave has focused most of the scientific discovery on production of goods, this in turn has made them a production power house.
Foreign Relations
The Merchant's Conclave foreign relations are as varied as the other political powers of Imin.
The Merchant's Conclave's relations with the elven powers of the Emerald Pact and the Ravanin Kingdom to the East tend to be strained as the Great Land War is still fresh in the mind of the elven people. Still, they maintain civil interactions with one another if only for the beneficial trade that can be down between them.
The Conclave's relation to the Kingdom of Dwarcon of the dwarves to the North however greatly differs from that of the elves, as the two powers have brokered many lucrative trade deals between one another.
Finally, much like most other political powers, the Conclave has little respect for and regard for the United Clans of White-Axe to the South.
Agriculture & Industry
The Hammer’s Core is the workforce of the Conclave, they are in charge of maintaining the various infrastructures of the towns and cities that make up the Merchant’s Conclave. As while as the construction of official and guild buildings and structures.
Their responsibilities also include the crafting and refining of various goods, these however, are usually goods that can be easily crafted in large quantities. Examples include Clothes and various linens, simple building materials like lumber and nails, etc.
Trade & Transport
The Guild of the Golden Boar or more commonly known as simply the merchants guild, are the ones in charge of the day to day running of the Conclave's economy and trade. The guild itself breaks down into smaller parts each in charge of a different aspect of the Conclave. The guild acts as the bank, the tax collectors, the permit dealers, etc.
The biggest thing the guild does however is manage the various trade routes of the Conclave. Making sure goods go where needed, when needed, and for the right price. To do this they need many suppliers from simple farmers, to artisan blacksmiths, and even the skilled wood carver.
While most of their suppliers come from The Hammer’s Core Guild, a portion of their suppliers come from those outside the guild. These suppliers are usually contracted to only sell or at least prefer to sell their supplies to the guild. In exchange for their loyalty to the guild not only do they get a consistent buyer, they also get the financial protection of the guild. If their shop or workplace is destroyed or broken into, the guild helps pay towards rebuilding them.
Over all the Guild does what it can to support the economy of the conclave, and keep its business organized and happy.
Education
The conclave does support public learning through schooling and open libraries, most of the common folk only learn the basics of math and reading. While higher education is usually reserved for the wealthy and connected.
Infrastructure
The Conclave makes use of large man run factories that harness coal furnaces to quickly refine metals and other raw materials for further use, and than a massive work force of skilled slaves to craft those refined materials into mass produced goods. This not only makes sure the conclave has a constant supply of goods to sell, but that they can also sell them at a high profit.
"Families United"
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Capital
Alternative Names
The Families, The Conclave
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Merchin
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Major Exports
While the conclave constantly exports various mass produced good, the export they are most known for is their high quality and well trained slaves. While the trade was originally founded by the dwarves, the Merchin have perfected the process and made a very profitable business out of it.
Major Imports
The largest imports coming into the Conclave are the high quality ore and coal that can be supplied by the Dwarcon Kingdom. As well as Ironwood and Darkwood from the Emerald Pact that can only be found within the Evergreen Forest where they make their home.
Legislative Body
The Jeweled Court is made up of five families that each watch over and control a different Industry within the conclave. Every decision of the conclave goes through the court and requires a unanimous vote from the court. This is manily in regards to foreign policy and law making, but can extend further in needed.
The Five families are;
- The Munrows, in charge of transportation and the shipping of goods across borders.
- The Lockhearts, in charge of the scattered mines across the merchants conclave.
- The Brodukes, in charge of agriculture and the various farms of the conclave.
- The Thorbens, in charge of the entertainment; Tavern, brothels, theaters, etc.
- The Whitmores, in charge of the universities and research facilities.
Judicial Body
The Guild of the Crossed Swords handle the enforcement of these laws and the punishment of those who break them. However, if a particular case is of high enough importance the Jeweled Court may see over a trial directly.
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments