The Expanse Exchange
Structure
From an outside view, the Expanse Exchange appears to be an elaborate pyramid scheme, with almost anything of value being acquired immediately being seized by the higher ups. While this is indeed true, it's only part of the truth.
At the top there's Grand Merchant Braxis, an Grand Elder of the Phasians who uses the Magical Items obtained from trade to reproduce. He is joined by Carsix, another Grand Elder who focuses on relations with those the Exchange commissions to create magical items.
Under them are the Overseers, Phasians who are trusted to ensure each branch of the organization properly pays their appropriate dues. These Phasians are often those who seek to create their own branches of the Exchange, becoming an Elder and helping with reproduction, but required to wait to allow the impure energy to expel from their bodies.
From here, the organization branches out, with Elder Merchants creating their own businesses with the purpose of obtaining Magical Items. Elders can then choose to either absorb the energy into themselves, or hand the items over to the Grand Merchants. Each Elder Merchant often has their own structure to their companies to fit with their demands.
A final, specialized group which could be made of other species is dedicated to research and information gathering. Often referred to as Shadows of the Expanse, this group is dedicated to ensuring the well being of Phasians by ensuring the Exchange is not being exploited in any deals, ensuring the Planer Travel magic is not exploited, and that none of the goods or services granted by the Exchange is used for war.
Culture
Those of the Expanse Exchange are encouraged to always solve their issues diplomatically, especially Phasians. They believe the future depends on them, and believe the only way they can survive is with the cooperation of other races. As such, they strive to please others no matter what, to always secure the deal, and most importantly, not be taken advantage of.
Public Agenda
The Elder Merchants do not hide the reason why they appear to hoard Magical Items, but neither do they freely share the information. If people come forward and ask what their goal is, Merchants are encouraged to share the true reason, mostly out of obtaining sympathy for their plight.
Otherwise, as The Expanse Exchange most often only sells masterwork items, those who do not ask simply see them exchanging the culture of other planes to the Multiverse.
Assets
The Expanse Exchange’s greatest asset is their access to Planer Travel. They have used this Magic to open portals across the Multiverse, allowing easy exchange of goods and services to those they deal with. This also gives them the ability to obtain nearly anything a customer may require with the use of their magic.
This also allowed them to invite outsiders to Vivantis to open their own businesses within their Bazaar. Using a bartering system and their own currency, they have control over the goods and services that come and go from Vivantis.
Finally, the number of alliances the Expanse Exchange has is also a great asset to them. It ensures that if anyone makes an advance against the Merchants, representatives from all other Planes are willing to stand up and defend them.
History
When the Phasian Grand Elders disagreed on the best way to bolster the numbers of their race, Braxis and Carsix joined forces to form the Expanse Exchange. Combining their land together, they began to form a Expanse Bazaar, expending their energy to form permanent and stable portals to their closest allies for trade.
They started small, with them and their followers working on their relationships with their allies, working alongside the Wanderlight Guild to form connections. Their tactics were slow but calculating, falling behind initially in reproduction efforts in favor of gaining favor. They especially worked closely with the Fey who helped the Phasians perfect their Planer Travel.
While details of the exact deal Exchange made with the Fey were lost, eventually they were able to extend their business further than ever before. This furthered their sphere of influence, and began to serve as liaisons in trade, trading goods from one plane to another. At first this was between Feylord and Ladies wanting exotic goods, before extending out to ordinary people.
Today, the have contacts across the multiverse, trading and crafting magical items, or in some cases straight up offering their magical energies to assist in building up the population of Phasians.
Comments