The Free Mercantile Lords of Tzarog
The Free Mercantile Lords of Tzarog are a powerful trade syndicate that governs the massive port city of Tzarog and its surrounding trade hubs. Ruled by a council of wealthy merchant lords, this faction wields economic dominance rather than military conquest, using commerce, diplomacy, and espionage to secure its influence.
Founded in 264 AEL, Tzarog was once under the Vorr'khal Sultanate’s control but severed ties to prevent the Sultanate’s monopolization of trade routes. In 280 AEL, the trade lords joined the Al-Muru Daxin Contingent, ensuring their independence through a powerful coalition.
Their economy thrives on shipbuilding, exotic goods, espionage, and mercenary contracts, with the Tzarog Privateer Fleet and the Sandfang Irregulars defending their trade routes. Though they oppose the Sultanate’s economic dominance, they are not above covert dealings and calculated piracy when it benefits their bottom line.
Tzarog is a melting pot of cultures, with Rahki, Kozukan, and Granheim-born merchants leading the charge in a high-stakes world of wealth and intrigue. The city’s elite believe that "Wealth is Power, and Trade is Sovereignty", making them one of the most influential non-military factions in Granheim.
Legislative Body:
The Council of Coin serves as the primary legislative body, consisting of the wealthiest merchant lords who vote on trade laws, tariffs, and economic policies. Seats on the council are not inherited, but purchased through wealth and influence.
Judicial Body:
The Guild Tribunal oversees commercial disputes, fraud cases, and contract enforcement.
The Silent Auditors are a secretive financial inquisition ensuring no merchant grows too powerful at the expense of others.
Private arbitration courts handle contract violations between merchant factions.
Executive Body:
The First Lord of Coin serves as the chief executive, overseeing all major trade decisions.
Each Lord of Trade governs a specific industry or trade route.
The Tzarog Privateer Fleet Commander and The Sandfang Irregulars’ General handle military and security operations.
Foreign Relations:
Vorr’khal Sultanate – Tense. Constant economic rivalry, occasional diplomacy.
Kaelen Confederacy – Stable. They provide warrior escorts for trade convoys in exchange for arms and supplies.
Principality of Varyon – Balanced. Trade routes benefit both sides, but political tension remains.
Reaper’s Port – Profitable but dangerous. They trade with pirates when necessary, but keep their navy ready for retaliation.
The Dominion of Kafka – Neutral. Limited trade, but cautious due to their military strength.
Structure
The governance of the Free Mercantile Lords of Tzarog operates through a council-based plutocracy, where the wealthiest and most influential merchants hold the most power. Positions are not inherited but earned through business acumen, economic success, and political maneuvering.
Notable Figures:
Lord Salvio Xenthos – First Lord of Coin and the most powerful voice in Tzarog’s council, controlling a vast portion of its maritime trade and espionage network.
Lady Calista Vorrun – A shipbuilding magnate, controlling the largest fleet construction yards in the region. A former privateer, she ensures the city remains defensible.
Master Atavo Dren – A Kozukan trade lord with deep connections to Eastern Granheim and Kozuka. Controls spice, silk, and rare metal imports.
Jared "Iron-Eyes" Malphis – A former mercenary turned head of the Sandfang Irregulars, managing caravan security and land trade routes.
Mistress Alenya Morthas – A mysterious merchant lord heavily invested in intelligence gathering and black-market dealings. Known for her extensive spy network.
Culture
Tzarog thrives on opportunism, wealth accumulation, and free enterprise. A melting pot of Rahki, Kozukan, and Granheim-born merchants, its citizens embrace ambition and personal success. Tzarogians are known for their cunning in negotiation, their flair for grand trade deals, and their adaptability in shifting political landscapes.
Public Agenda
Maintain open and unrestricted trade across Granheim.
Keep the Sultanate’s monopolistic ambitions at bay.
Expand influence through economic dominance rather than warfare.
Privately support piracy when it weakens competitors but crack down on threats to their own fleets.
History
Tzarog was originally a thriving port under Sultanate control, but as the Sultan tightened his grip on trade routes, merchants in the region saw their independence threatened. In 278 AEL, they severed ties, forming an alliance of powerful trade lords who united their economic influence and private military forces to establish a free and sovereign trading empire.
Their access to both sea and land routes, combined with deep connections to Kozuka, Granheim, and even the Dominion of Kafka, cemented their role as a major trade powerhouse within the Contingent.
Territories
Capital:
Tzarog – The beating heart of the Free Mercantile Lords, one of the largest port cities in Granheim.
Major Settlements:
Port Sullen – A river trade hub, serving as the main inland gateway for goods traveling up the river.
Galdred – A foggy, bog-side town specializing in rare swamp-grown alchemical ingredients and smugglers’ hideaways.
Military
Tzarog Privateer Fleet:
A fleet of powerful merchant warships defending trade routes and eliminating hostile competition. Though they masquerade as a protective navy, many of these vessels engage in acts of piracy against rival factions.
The Sandfang Irregulars:
A rugged mercenary army responsible for protecting overland trade caravans. Their members include Rahki desert warriors, Kozukan sellswords, and ex-bandits who have pledged themselves to the Free Lords in exchange for wealth and legitimacy.
Laws
Contracts are sacred. Any merchant found violating a signed contract is blacklisted and exiled.
Trade takes precedence over personal conflicts. Feuding merchant lords must resolve disputes through commerce, not violence.
Piracy is tolerated, but only when it does not threaten Tzarogian interests.
Foreign monopolies are forbidden. The Sultanate and other external powers may not own land or businesses within Tzarog’s territory.
Agriculture & Industry
Shipbuilding – Tzarog produces some of the most advanced and swiftest ships in Granheim, rivaling even the Sultanate’s naval industry.
Textiles & Spices – Silk, exotic dyes, and rare spices flow through Tzarogian markets, thanks to strong Kozukan trade ties.
Espionage & Information Trade – The Merchants’ Dominion is built not just on goods, but on secrets. Many of Tzarog’s elite maintain shadow networks of spies.
Alchemical Goods – The boglands near Galdred produce rare herbs and reagents sought after by apothecaries and arcane practitioners.
"Wealth is Power, and Trade is Sovereignty."
Founding Date
264 AEL, they joined with the other factions in the Contingent to gain sovereignty during the Rebellion in 280 AEL.
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Alternative Names
The Merchants’ Dominion
Demonym
Free Trader
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
