Highwater Shipping Company
The Highwater Shipping Company is an Arden-based company founded n the year 577 AF. It is responsible for a large part of the global trade between various countries, more specifically The Kingdom of Arden, Therrezia, the Free Cities of Xebellia and the Saurellian Empire. Officially chartered by Arden's King, the company has become a powerful faction within Arden and to the outside world.
The company rose to account for most of Arden's foreign trade, particularly in basic commodities including cotton, silk, dyes, sugar, salt, spices, tea and coffee, alongside other such exotic goods such as coffee and cocoa beans. Due to its large economic and political influence, Highwater Shipping Company also commands military powers around its business and territories, with a large amount of its employees dedicated to this.
With recognition by the Crown, Highwater Shipping has established its own settlements and lands around various coasts around the world. Unbeknownst to many, these settlements are usually in the form of plantations of various resources, with slave labour being used to increase profits for the company.
Despite its vast resources and funding, the company took a large financial hit due to The Orcish War. This has been the primary cause for the increase in Piracy over the past century. With the ending of the war and Piracy now rampant on the sea, Highwater Shipping has increased its influence and military outfitting, seeking to protect its interests abroad and the merchant vessels under its employ.
The company rose to account for most of Arden's foreign trade, particularly in basic commodities including cotton, silk, dyes, sugar, salt, spices, tea and coffee, alongside other such exotic goods such as coffee and cocoa beans. Due to its large economic and political influence, Highwater Shipping Company also commands military powers around its business and territories, with a large amount of its employees dedicated to this.
With recognition by the Crown, Highwater Shipping has established its own settlements and lands around various coasts around the world. Unbeknownst to many, these settlements are usually in the form of plantations of various resources, with slave labour being used to increase profits for the company.
Despite its vast resources and funding, the company took a large financial hit due to The Orcish War. This has been the primary cause for the increase in Piracy over the past century. With the ending of the war and Piracy now rampant on the sea, Highwater Shipping has increased its influence and military outfitting, seeking to protect its interests abroad and the merchant vessels under its employ.
History
Formation and Early Voyages
With the developments of larger ships in the 500s, many explorers set out from Arden across the oceans to discover new worlds. After coming in to contact with many other civilizations, it was not long until trade pacts were formed. Seeking to profit from this, a group of merchants met and stated their intention to create a trade network to bring forth increased wealth to the Kingdom of Arden. A Royal Charter was granted to the group, and voyages to the foreign lands were sent out to establish trades.
These early voyages were highly successful, and on the return of many exotic goods, the Company was formally set up. With diplomatic relations at a high, official rulings for trading were set up, and any traders found without a license issued from Highwater Shipping were liable to forfeiture of their ships and cargo (half of which went to the Crown and the other half to the company), as well as imprisonment or other punishments as seen fit by the Noble Houses and King.
Expansion
The company, with its increased royal patronage, soon expanded its commercial trading operations. It established Trading Posts in lands outside of Arden, including Therrezia, Free Cities of Xebellia and even as distant as the Ogre Empire of Ari'Salar. Many of these grew in to properous port towns, and the benefits of the trading relationships were felt across the oceans.
Within The Kingdom of Arden itself, Lighthaven was established as the main base of operations for Highwater Shipping (although other Ports are also used). Most of the dock space was given over to the company, along with warehouses and a large part of the town to accomodate the increased trade.
The company itself soon found a need for increased security. Many hands were hired to serve this purpose. As the company developed, this force soon became a potent navy for the Kingdom, although strictly under the control of Highwater Shipping itself. Over the years, there has been some debate amongst the King's Court as to the power the company has due to the military presence it commands on the ocean, but this has often been dealt with via new laws and contracts between the crown and the company.
The Orcish War and the Age of Piracy
With the start of The Orcish War in 826 AF, Highwater Shipping was enlisted to turn its trading away from luxury goods and contribute directly to the war effort. Years of providing for the armies of Arden had a signifcant impact on the profits of the company, and due to this, many soldiers and sailors found their pay was decreased, or were even made redundant. A lot of these disgruntled employees had little in the way of life, and feeling abandoned by the company and the crown, resorted to Piracy.
With influence over the seas fading, many of the Highwater trading posts and towns found outside of Arden found themselves cut-off from the laws and influence of Arden. These ports soon became a lawless haven for the newly formed pirate crews, and a golden age of Piracy was bought about.
The End of the War
After the resolution of the war, Highwater Shipping found itself in a prime position to re-establish trade routes and profit on restoring the kingdom. With a petition to King Mattheus II, and a large army now seeking no war to fight, Highwater was given official ruling to halt the pirate menace on the seas. Many of the soldiers that fought in The Orcish War were directly given over to Highwater Shipping, who's new goal is to end the pirate threat and restore the trade and glory of The Kingdom of Arden.
With the developments of larger ships in the 500s, many explorers set out from Arden across the oceans to discover new worlds. After coming in to contact with many other civilizations, it was not long until trade pacts were formed. Seeking to profit from this, a group of merchants met and stated their intention to create a trade network to bring forth increased wealth to the Kingdom of Arden. A Royal Charter was granted to the group, and voyages to the foreign lands were sent out to establish trades.
These early voyages were highly successful, and on the return of many exotic goods, the Company was formally set up. With diplomatic relations at a high, official rulings for trading were set up, and any traders found without a license issued from Highwater Shipping were liable to forfeiture of their ships and cargo (half of which went to the Crown and the other half to the company), as well as imprisonment or other punishments as seen fit by the Noble Houses and King.
Expansion
The company, with its increased royal patronage, soon expanded its commercial trading operations. It established Trading Posts in lands outside of Arden, including Therrezia, Free Cities of Xebellia and even as distant as the Ogre Empire of Ari'Salar. Many of these grew in to properous port towns, and the benefits of the trading relationships were felt across the oceans.
Within The Kingdom of Arden itself, Lighthaven was established as the main base of operations for Highwater Shipping (although other Ports are also used). Most of the dock space was given over to the company, along with warehouses and a large part of the town to accomodate the increased trade.
The company itself soon found a need for increased security. Many hands were hired to serve this purpose. As the company developed, this force soon became a potent navy for the Kingdom, although strictly under the control of Highwater Shipping itself. Over the years, there has been some debate amongst the King's Court as to the power the company has due to the military presence it commands on the ocean, but this has often been dealt with via new laws and contracts between the crown and the company.
The Orcish War and the Age of Piracy
With the start of The Orcish War in 826 AF, Highwater Shipping was enlisted to turn its trading away from luxury goods and contribute directly to the war effort. Years of providing for the armies of Arden had a signifcant impact on the profits of the company, and due to this, many soldiers and sailors found their pay was decreased, or were even made redundant. A lot of these disgruntled employees had little in the way of life, and feeling abandoned by the company and the crown, resorted to Piracy.
With influence over the seas fading, many of the Highwater trading posts and towns found outside of Arden found themselves cut-off from the laws and influence of Arden. These ports soon became a lawless haven for the newly formed pirate crews, and a golden age of Piracy was bought about.
The End of the War
After the resolution of the war, Highwater Shipping found itself in a prime position to re-establish trade routes and profit on restoring the kingdom. With a petition to King Mattheus II, and a large army now seeking no war to fight, Highwater was given official ruling to halt the pirate menace on the seas. Many of the soldiers that fought in The Orcish War were directly given over to Highwater Shipping, who's new goal is to end the pirate threat and restore the trade and glory of The Kingdom of Arden.
Founding Date
577 AF
Type
Corporation, Business
Alternative Names
Highwater Shipping, Highwater Company
Location
Comments