Wagner Company

Structure

The organization has been firmly led by Elizabeth Wagner for close to 200 years, after she inherited ownership from her father, just before his passing. The Die Rose der Felsen, or "The Rose of the Rocks", maintains an iron grip and steady eye on the yearly stocks and production. She trusts very few besides those whom she has personally groomed to rise through the ranks to oversee her orchards, vineyards and wine-presses. While a few of the higher positions of the company have been claimed by members of Elizabeth's family in the more recent years, her control currently stands firm. She enjoys personally overseeing the promotion and advancement of individuals that she deems promising, and tends to rely on their loyalty to continue to keep control from her younger siblings.

Assets

The vineyards of the Wagner Family have brought a profit for close to 6 centuries, though it was only in the past four that the business became an established trading company known to higher society. Currently, the Company holds close to 300 fertile acres of Imperial land, and upwards of 1,000 acres in the Southern Peninsula of the New World. The Company also has a small stock of their finer vintages, with some going for close to 100 gp a bottle.

History

Founded by Bren Wagner before being passed to his son, Conrad, the Wagner company was based in a relatively small parcel of rocky land that neighbored a mountain range in the Empire. While wheat and barley grains were not suited by the soil, Bren determined that the acidity and temperate climate of the chaparral-like region was suitable for vineyards. Since his discovery, the family has worked to gather help to till the soil, and expand their potential market.
While they are relatively competitive, the company did not start with the means to purchase slaves to work the fields, instead relying on the slow incorperation of neighboring farms and their farm-hands. The Wagners have since never really taken to utilizing the Imperial slave trade for their business, thinking that it would snub the work that their ancestor toiled for (much to the amusement of their previous competition). After taking control of the company from his father, Conrad married above his station, with his wife, Helena providing the funds for further expansions and purchases. Conrad favored his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, teaching her her way around the business and often taking her on trips to visit the other vineyards and wineries, much to her younger siblings' jealousy. Elizabeth, in turn, handled the Company's financial aspects with ease and a sharp mind. It was then only a slight surprise that when Conrad passed away, Elizabeth was left with near total control over the company, with her two brothers only receiving provincial possessions. This led to bad blood in the family.
The familial tensions have only soured further with time. Elizabeth's refuses to take a husband, preferring instead to have control in her own name. The public claiming of her two bastard children as her heirs over her legitimate brothers has led to near decade of silence between the siblings.

"Our's Will Grow to Last."

Type

Financial, Other

Demonym

Zau'berian