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2007-05-08T03:26:16Z

New page: ==Traders Guild History== by Guildleader Willowbrook The Traders Guild, as it is known...

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==Traders Guild History==
by Guildleader Willowbrook

The Traders Guild, as it is known today, is a
relatively young institution that did not exist 300
years ago.

While records of the distant past are fragmentary at
best, it is believed that before the time of the
Seven Star Empire, trade was a wide-open endeavor.
There was little or no restriction on who could enter
into this game, assuming they had the desire and
brains to succeed. It is likely that during the time
of the clans, trade was a more or less a local
phenomenon, with the rare extended journey that
brought strange goods from far away.

With the rise of the Seven Star Empire, trade began
to expand. The single political entity slowly gave
rise to a unified economy, with consistent laws
regarding property rights and contracts. This
development gave those involved in trade greater
security, allowing them to venture farther from home
in search of profit.

It will come as no surprise that over time some
families became very adept at business. These
families came to dominate trade in their areas, both
geographic and economic. One of the consequences of
this development was an increasing restriction on
people being able to enter into the trading business.
In the vast majority of cases a youngster interested
in trade went to work for one of the great families,
never really having an opportunity to strike out on
their own and establish their own companies.

Initially this control was simply a by-product of the
resources these families managed to accumulate, but
eventually their control became more "official" as
first one, then others, of the great families began
buying influence within the government in an effort
to get laws passed that benefited them. This
undoubtedly happened throughout history, and not just
in the realm of trade, but at the height of the
Empire, these merchant families had unrivalled wealth
which they sought to maintain through any means. One
example that clearly illustrates the power of these
families took place during the 5th century BL. From
the year 478 BL to roughly 389 BL, trade sanctions
were placed on Morganae, supposedly due to her
political machinations. In reality this was done to
punish her for the negative impact on trade these
machinations had rather than any true political
motivation.

This buying of influence by the great families
undoubtedly contributed to the corruption and chaos
that began to build in the Empire early in the 3rd
century BL. As each family tried to maintain their
power and position, the Empire crumbled under the
stress. This is not to say that these families were
solely responsible for the decay that took place,
merely that they were a significant part of the
problem.

With the collapse of the Seven Star Empire and the
beginning of what is known as the Time of Chaos,
trade was severely disrupted. Long distance trade
became virtually impossible. Few of the great
families maintained the level of wealth and power
they had enjoyed in the Empire at its height. The
families that chose the wrong side to support, or
failed to choose a side to begin with, suffered the
most, but all the families lost vast amounts during
this time. The exception to this, to some extent,
took place in Qi where the great trading families of
Reshalia were able to maintain much of their power.

From the Time of Chaos until after the time of the
Dragon Empire, trade was once again mainly restricted
to a local business. The few families who had
managed to retain some vestige of wealth began to
organize small guilds in each region, trying to at
least control of these small areas. Again, the
exception is on Reshalia where the families there
influenced King Ruahhgi of Ratha to form the Merchant
Council, which would effectively rule the island.

The small guilds provided some stability to the local
areas and the towns they were based in became centers
of commerce for the surrounding areas. These guilds
passed local laws restricting outside merchants from
doing business freely in the area. Laws prohibiting
foreign merchants from taking any of their profits
with them from the town were not uncommon. The local
guilds also sought to maintain their own control, so
that anyone from within their area who sought to
enter into trade was required to be a member, and
thus pay dues to the guild.

Over the next 30 years, trade once again began to
flourish. It was a halting and often painful
expansion, as the mass of rules restricted the flow
of goods, but the goods were at least flowing again.

What would have developed out of this new flourishing
of trade is impossible to determine, as it was soon
crushed by the rise of the Dragon Priests and their
empire. During this time, trade was more or less
controlled by the Dragon Priests. The mainland fell
first, but eventually most of Reshalia fell as well,
with the Merchant Council either fleeing to Surlaenis
or appearing to support the new regime.

The local trading guilds either supported the Dragon
Priests, or soon found themselves with new leaders
who did. This would of course lead to some
resentment of traders in some areas for their seeming
collaboration, but there was really little choice
given to them.

For the ordinary people, life must have gone on much
as normal. There were undoubtedly incidents that are
best left unmentioned during the reign of the Dragon
Priests, but life went on. There were pockets of
territory that successfully held out against the
Dragon Priests, but these areas were cut off, making
trade there virtually impossible, in most cases even
on a local scale.

After ruling for about 200 years, the Dragon Priests
were overthrown, and once again trade tried to renew
itself from the ashes. On Reshalia, it is the
remaining merchant families who overthrow the Dragon
Priests, thus re-establishing the control of the
province by way of the Council of Advisors and its
Patriarchs. On the mainland, the local guilds again
tried to establish and maintain some semblance of
control over their areas. For the next 50 years
trade expanded, but with the conflicting laws and
restrictions the process was slow and erratic at
best. Conflicts in various areas contributed to the
slow development of trade, most notably the war
between Therengia and Kwarlog.

Sometime around 65 AV, the leader of the Trade guild
in the Crossing, Syndic Arnile Hanskwin, began to
realize that things had to change. He was a scholar
as well as a successful merchant, and his studies led
him to believe that the confusion and multitude of
local trade restrictions had contributed to the
conquest by the Dragon Priests. He believed that if
there had been a more unified Trade Guild, perhaps
the Five Provinces of Zoluren, Therengia, Ilithi, Qi,
and Forfedhdar would not have been conquered. There
was danger in too much control however, as evidenced
by the fall of the Seven Star Empire and the role in
that which the great trading families had played,
albeit indirectly, in that. It was obvious to him
that what was needed was an overarching Trade Guild
that would allow for the relatively efficient flow of
goods, while allowing open entry into the field by
any who chose to become a member of the guild. Never
again should one small group of people control the
trade of the entire continent.

Over the next 10 years he developed a set of ideas
that he felt would best balance out the needs of the
individual trader, or group of traders, and the good
of the population as a whole. In 75 AV he sent out
invitations to the heads of all the local trade
guilds, inviting them to come to Crossing to discuss
his ideas. It took several years, but eventually all
the local guilds agreed to send a representative to
discuss these ideas and perhaps take action. Even
the merchant families of Reshalia agreed, perhaps
more to keep an eye on what the mainlanders were
doing than any real agreement with Syndic Hanskwin's
ideas.

In 77 AV the meeting began, and from the beginning
the Reshalian representatives were disruptive. One
of the key ideas discussed was that of curbing the
influence of great families or large companies that
might someday begin to rise. Syndic Hanskwin's
belief was that the excessive concentration of wealth
and power in the hands of relatively few families had
contributed to the decline and collapse of the Seven
Star Empire, which in turn led to the death and
destruction that followed for the next 250 years.
Needless to say, the Reshalian delegates did not find
this idea a pleasant one. As the meeting progressed
over the next few months, more and more consensus was
reached on the proposals, which eventual developed
into the structure and function of the Traders Guild
as it is known today.

A system of contracts was established to ensure that
needed goods would be available in all the trading
centers. It was felt that this would serve a two-
fold purpose. First it would help maintain stability
and secondly would allow for an apprenticeship of
sorts for those wishing to get a start in trade.
With the funds generated in guild shipments, a new
trader would be able to branch off into other areas
and seek to make his fortune. This contract system
would also ensure that there would always be new
traders coming up, virtually eliminating the
possibility of a single family coming to dominate
basic trade, with the attendant problems that
situation would create. The basic restrictions on
some trade related activities were developed at this
time so that a certain level of dedication to the
guild had to be demonstrated before the benefits
could be enjoyed.

Late in 77 AV, an agreement was signed establishing
the Traders Guild as a universal entity, overseeing
trade in all areas of the Five Provinces. Even the
Reshalian representatives signed the agreement,
though this might have been due to some misplaced
fear for their own safety.

Soon after the agreement was signed, the new Guild
began its contract shipments, and almost immediately
conditions improved throughout the mainland area.
The one troublesome area was Reshalia, from which
nothing was heard after the departure of their
representatives. Their true feelings on the
agreement became apparent when a force from Ratha
appeared to besiege the Crossing. This was the first
test of the fledgling Guild. If it could not support
the city where it had been founded, then it could not
long survive, and trade would revert to what it had
been under the Seven Star Empire, something
controlled by a small group of people who would in
turn control the government in their favor.

Caught unprepared and low on food supplies, it is
likely that the Crossing would have fallen in the
early weeks of the siege if not for the assistance
received from a somewhat unlikely source. A somewhat
down on his luck Halfling trader by the name of
Daffelberry Tanglefoot happened to be in the city at
the time it was besieged. He also happened to have a
very large supply of grain stored in the city
warehouses. He agreed to supply the city with the
food supplies it needed to make it through the first
weeks of the siege. There is some confusion over the
nature of this agreement and the manner in which the
city adhered to it, but the details are unclear.

Over the next year, the new Guild proved its worth.
Despite the siege, contracted shipments made it
through to the Crossing often with the help of the
less savory elements of the city. The wealthier
members of the new Guild offered its support to the
city in the form of money and or mercenary troops.
Even the less savory elements of the Crossing's
population supported the resistance, aiding the
fledgling Traders Guild in getting goods into the
besieged city. Eventually the siege was broken, and
the Reshalians departed back to their islands, having
formally recognized the new Guild. Guildhalls are
even constructed on Ratha and Surlaenis, though due
to the machinations of the great Reshalian trading
families, they either never opened or were eventually
closed. Open contact with Reshalia dwindled and was
eventually lost.

On the mainland however, trade thrived. The Traders
Guild contract shipment system brings a measure of
stability to the economy of the various provinces.
This is not to say that conflicts did not happen or
that trade was not occasionally disrupted. Riots in
the Crossing in 82 AV, believed by some to have been
instigated by the remnants for the great trading
families both on the mainland and in Reshalia, caused
a brief cessation of trade. The Faldesu Conflict
between Therengia and Zoluren greatly disrupted trade
between these two provinces from 106 to 108 AV. The
Zoluren civil war from 196 to 198 AV virtually
destroyed trade there, but somehow the Guild survived
with both sides recognizing that they needed trade
and the risk of losing their own wasn't worth trying
to stop the other side from getting theirs. The
renewal of this civil war nearly 100 years later
brings similar problems.

More longstanding and far-reaching disruptions
occured as well. Contact was lost with Forfedhdar
with the resulting loss of trade, which has yet to be
re-established. In 250 AV the gondola, which is the
primary route to southern Ilithi, ceased operation
and extensive trade was cut off for 100 years.

As of this writing, in 353 AV, trade in the provinces
of Therengia, Zoluren and Ilithi are firmly
intertwined, providing stability and prosperity to
over 10 million people over a vast stretch of land.
There are troublesome spots to be sure, with Reshalia
and Forfedhdar being for all intents and purposes cut
off from Traders Guild activity and with Therengia
having closed off access to Hvaral and the S'Kra Mur
city of Muspar'i.

On the whole however, the structure of the Traders
Guild as it was established in 78 AV has stood the
test of time. It has succeeded in balancing the
varying needs of the individual trader, the people,
and the various provincial governments, providing for
a level of prosperity unknown since the height of the
Seven Star Empire.
[[Category:Book]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:59, 6 November 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Traders Guild History==		==Traders Guild History==
	by Guildleader Willowbrook		by Guildleader [[Willowbrook]]

	The Traders Guild, as it is known today, is a		The Traders Guild, as it is known today, is a
Line 8:		Line 8:
	While records of the distant past are fragmentary at		While records of the distant past are fragmentary at
	best, it is believed that before the time of the		best, it is believed that before the time of the
	Seven Star Empire, trade was a wide-open endeavor.		[[Seven Star Empire]], trade was a wide-open endeavor.
	There was little or no restriction on who could enter		There was little or no restriction on who could enter
	into this game, assuming they had the desire and		into this game, assuming they had the desire and
Line 46:		Line 46:
	which they sought to maintain through any means. One		which they sought to maintain through any means. One
	example that clearly illustrates the power of these		example that clearly illustrates the power of these
	families took place during the 5th century BL. From		families took place during the 5th century [[BL]]. From
	the year 478 BL to roughly 389 BL, trade sanctions		the year 478 BL to roughly 389 BL, trade sanctions
	were placed on Morganae, supposedly due to her		were placed on [[Morganae]], supposedly due to her
	political machinations. In reality this was done to		political machinations. In reality this was done to
	punish her for the negative impact on trade these		punish her for the negative impact on trade these
Line 74:		Line 74:
	most, but all the families lost vast amounts during		most, but all the families lost vast amounts during
	this time. The exception to this, to some extent,		this time. The exception to this, to some extent,
	took place in Qi where the great trading families of		took place in [[Qi]] where the great trading families of
	Reshalia were able to maintain much of their power.		[[Ratha\|Reshalia]] were able to maintain much of their power.

	From the Time of Chaos until after the time of the		From the Time of Chaos until after the time of the
Line 84:		Line 84:
	least control of these small areas. Again, the		least control of these small areas. Again, the
	exception is on Reshalia where the families there		exception is on Reshalia where the families there
	influenced King Ruahhgi of Ratha to form the Merchant		influenced King [[Ruahhgi]] of Ratha to form the [[Merchant Council]], which would effectively rule the island.
	Council, which would effectively rule the island.

	The small guilds provided some stability to the local		The small guilds provided some stability to the local
Line 106:		Line 105:
	What would have developed out of this new flourishing		What would have developed out of this new flourishing
	of trade is impossible to determine, as it was soon		of trade is impossible to determine, as it was soon
	crushed by the rise of the Dragon Priests and their		crushed by the rise of the [[Dragon Priests]] and their
	empire. During this time, trade was more or less		empire. During this time, trade was more or less
	controlled by the Dragon Priests. The mainland fell		controlled by the Dragon Priests. The mainland fell
	first, but eventually most of Reshalia fell as well,		first, but eventually most of Reshalia fell as well,
	with the Merchant Council either fleeing to Surlaenis		with the Merchant Council either fleeing to [[Aesry\|Surlaenis]]
	or appearing to support the new regime.		or appearing to support the new regime.

Line 142:		Line 141:
	best. Conflicts in various areas contributed to the		best. Conflicts in various areas contributed to the
	slow development of trade, most notably the war		slow development of trade, most notably the war
	between Therengia and Kwarlog.		between [[Therengia]] and [[Kwarlog]].

	Sometime around 65 AV, the leader of the Trade guild		Sometime around 65 AV, the leader of the Trade guild
	in the Crossing, Syndic Arnile Hanskwin, began to		in the Crossing, Syndic [[Arnile]] Hanskwin, began to
	realize that things had to change. He was a scholar		realize that things had to change. He was a scholar
	as well as a successful merchant, and his studies led		as well as a successful merchant, and his studies led
Line 242:		Line 241:
	received from a somewhat unlikely source. A somewhat		received from a somewhat unlikely source. A somewhat
	down on his luck Halfling trader by the name of		down on his luck Halfling trader by the name of
	Daffelberry Tanglefoot happened to be in the city at		[[Daffelberry]] [[Tanglefoot]] happened to be in the city at
	the time it was besieged. He also happened to have a		the time it was besieged. He also happened to have a
	very large supply of grain stored in the city		very large supply of grain stored in the city
Line 277:		Line 276:
	instigated by the remnants for the great trading		instigated by the remnants for the great trading
	families both on the mainland and in Reshalia, caused		families both on the mainland and in Reshalia, caused
	a brief cessation of trade. The Faldesu Conflict		a brief cessation of trade. The [[Faldesu Conflict]]
	between Therengia and Zoluren greatly disrupted trade		between Therengia and Zoluren greatly disrupted trade
	between these two provinces from 106 to 108 AV. The		between these two provinces from 106 to 108 AV. The
Line 302:		Line 301:
	and Forfedhdar being for all intents and purposes cut		and Forfedhdar being for all intents and purposes cut
	off from Traders Guild activity and with Therengia		off from Traders Guild activity and with Therengia
	having closed off access to Hvaral and the S'Kra Mur		having closed off access to [[Hvaral]] and the S'Kra Mur
	city of Muspar'i.		city of Muspar'i.

Line 311:		Line 310:
	and the various provincial governments, providing for		and the various provincial governments, providing for
	a level of prosperity unknown since the height of the		a level of prosperity unknown since the height of the
	Seven Star Empire.		Seven Star Empire.

	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]]