Business, industry, trade. Most aspects of these are controlled (or at least managed) in some respects by guilds: formalized organizations which have a rough monopoly on a single piece of the
City-States' economy. In every settlement larger than a few hundred people, the guilds maintain control of most business.
Trade Guilds
Each city will have a number of local guilds, mostly focused upon controlling local business. From the blacksmiths' guild in a small city up to the smelters' guild controlling the metal output of Aratosa, guilds exercise their control to ensure stability and predictability within the City-States (as well as continued profits for themselves). A myriad of trade guilds exist across the region, and while those with the same focus will loosely associate to share some knowledge, they also guard their own territories fiercely.
The power of these guilds within each city varies, most often with the degree to which that guild's focus is important to the city. For instance, the Miners' and Smelters' guilds of
Aratosa control several seats on the city's ruling council, and Altor's shipbuilders' guild controls the entirety of the city's economy. Meanwhile, the diverse economy of Kolar-Malara means that no single guild has a strong hold on the city.
Other Significant Guilds
Ostensibly under the command of the
Mages, the Mercenary Guild serves as the only standing army allowed within the lands controlled or influenced by the various City-States. The Guild was chartered to protect the process of trade (including caravans and barges), keep the trade routes clear and safe (the roads and rivers), and to prevent military conflict between the City-States by removing the need for each of them to keep their own armies. Over time the Guild has evolved and gained additional duties; among these are guarding the
Titan Wall, exploring the outer edges of the City-States' territories, and providing physical protection to mages and high-ranking City-State nobles/officers.
The Sealers' Guild is made up of legal experts whose profession is the creation and validation of contracts. Most Sealers are based in Alanor, though some make regular excursions to other areas within the City-States.
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