Trade Guild

The Trade Guild is a group of wealthy merchants that control a large portion of the economy in the Zapis Kingdom. Since the Guild is composed of wealthy merchants that wield great influence on society and are stationed above the common citizenry of Zapis, they have in effect become an alternate form of nobility in the kingdom and are often at odds with the Zapis Royal Court.
Purportedly to avoid conflict with the court, the Guild recently moved their headquarters from Geradine to the port city of Isenwold. However, discerning individuals are sure the move was to better enable guildsmen to conduct their business beyond the influence of the royal court.

MEMBERS

First and foremost, all guildsmen are merchants. However not all merchants are guildsmen. In fact, member to the Guild is only offered to the select few who have shown themselves to be capable, successful and shrewd.
Race, gender and background have no sway in the Guild, only gold and the ability to create more of it. New members can either by their way in, or be sponsored by more senior guildsmen.
Members are promoted based on their accomplishments, which in the end always comes down to how successful were they able to general wealth. The form of the wealth can take many shapes, including coin, raw material, skilled labor, new trade channels and much more. However, guildsmen can also be demoted and shunned from the guild entirely if they back failed ventures or otherwise squander or lose wealth.
Members are distinguished by both their overly-fine clothing, and the display of a pair of balanced scales on a chain around their necks. The material the scales are made up of indicate the members standing within the guild, with the newest members having wooden scales and the heads of guild displaying symbols made up of rare and precious gemstones.

ORGANIZATION

The guild is based in Isenwold, and is headed by the Ornate Council. The council is composed of the 7 Councilors who have shown themselves to be most skilled traders, negotiators and speculators in the Kingdom. Because of the strategic advantages gained by being a member of the council it is much easier to keep a council seat then it is to gain one in the first place and turnover for these positions is low.

PURPOSE

Unlike simple merchants and peddlers, members of the Trade Guild are motivated to increase the economic wealth of the entire kingdom. If Zapis prospers, then the guild prospers. The goal is not so much individual wealth, although that is often a sought-after by-product, but rather to increase the economic gains of society at large, thus ushering in greater stability, greater technological advancement, and ...greater wealth.
At least once guild representative can be found in every official settlement in Zapis, regardless of size. In addition to the trading that is done by the members personally, guildsmen also serve an important role as the middlemen between other segments of society. This means they spend as much time shaking hands and throwing parties as they do being traditional merchants. A guildsman who is good at her job makes every effort to know the needs of those in her circle, and get the right people talking to each other in order to facilitate mutually beneficial business arrangements.

Structure

Guild Ranks are symbolized by ornamental scales made out of various materials. The quality of the material goes from wood for new initiates up to rare and precious metals and gemstones for members of the Ornate Council.

Guild rankings:

• Polished and stained wood (of any variety) - Initiate
• Polished stone (of any variety) - Novice
• Iron - Apprentice
• Bronze - Journeyman
• Azurite - Adept
• Silver - Trader
• Jade - Merchant
• Ruby - Master Merchant
• Adamantine w/ Emeralds - Councilman

Type

Guild, Merchant

Location

Isenwold

Related Historical Events

• 689 AW
  Formation of the Trade Guild

Known Councilors:

• Vanessa Del Rossa
• Canto Privex