Dune trader
From UTRPG
Dune traders move products from city to city. There are several major human trading houses, as well as smaller ones operated by humans or elves. Each major trading house is associated with a city. They all employ numerous dune traders.
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[edit] Dune Trader Codes
The dune trader codes vary from one house to another, but generally follow this formula:
- Recognition that by joining a merchant house, an agent forsakes citizenship in any city or membership in any tribe.
- An oath of allegiance to the merchant house.
- A promise to perform in the best interests of the merchant house in return for a salary.
- A promise to deal honestly with stranger, friend, and foe alike.
- A promise not to flaunt any wealth gained through employment with the house.
- A promise to uphold the laws of the city in which the agent is stationed, and to do nothing to bring down the wrath of the sorcerer-king or his agents upon the house.
- A promise to cooperate with other merchants to make life very expensive for any person who unjustly imprisons, blackmails, or harasses any merchant.
In theory, dune trader houses follow the codes. In practice, many break at least a few of the laws. (For instance, House Shom flaunts its wealth and most break law #4.) However, all merchant houses will back #7.
[edit] Major Trading Houses
[edit] House Inika of Gulg
- Main article: House Inika
This house is fast and efficient, moving small valuables such as spices and gems. They avoid conflict.
[edit] House M'ke of Raam
- Main article: House M'ke
This house is shrinking and becoming weaker, but rumored to have vast hidden wealth.
[edit] House Shom of Nibenay
- Main article: House Shom
Shom has become incredibly wealthy. Formerly ruthless, it has now become decadent.
[edit] House Stel of Urik
- Main article: House Stel
This house has picked up their home city's martial tendencies. They tend to have many heavily-armed soldiers, and have a reputation for dirty tricks.
[edit] House Tsalaxa of Draj
- Main article: House Tsalaxa
Tsalaxa has a reputation for spying and dirty tricks. They love blackmail. They work with monsters and defilers.
[edit] House Vordun of Tyr
- Main article: House Vordun
This house has become a laughingstock due to extortion by Kalak.
[edit] House Wavir of Balic
- Main article: House Wavir
House Wavir has a ruthless reputation; it will swiftly counterattack any attack on itself.
[edit] Altaruk
A trading fortress on the trading route to Tyr, Altaruk is operated by Houses Wavir, Rees and Tromblador of Balic. It is governed by Arisphistaneles, a Balican noble. Like Balic itself, Altaruk is frequently attacked by giants coming out of the silt, and maintains an armed force of 500 soldiers to keep them away.
[edit] Minor Houses
- House Ardian of Walis, which controls the gold mine there.
- House Azeth of Kurn
- The Dedys Consortium (Houses Terg, Voyan, and Shakktur) of Draj, hated enemies of House Tsalaxa and supported by House Wavir of Balic
- House Fyra of Salt View (an ex-slave village) near Gulg and Nibenay, filled with infighting
- House Ianto of Tyr, facing economic crisis due to that city's iron and slave issues. Now operates Fort Ianto just outside Tyr.
- House Klethira of Urik, facing a run of bad luck
- House Lamnos, a nomadic house, led by an ex-slave
- The Renythi League, consisting of half a dozen bickering houses, spread over the Tyr Region
- House Rhees of Balic, which works its employees very hard.
- House Sysra, formerly of Tyr, now hiding in the Great Alluvial Sand Wastes. Founded by ex-adventurers and victimized by House Vordon.
- House Troika, a new trading house based in Tyr.
- House Tromblador of Balic, which has a sinister reputation.
[edit] Elven Houses
Various elven tribes operate elven markets in each of the seven cities. These are barely-governed black markets where anything, even arcane magic items, can be sold. The templars have a devil of a time controlling these. If a group of elves get into trouble, they'll just slip out of the city, often being replaced by another group of elves within hours. (Sometimes a group that looks exactly the same, except they have different names and clothes!) The products they sell are always of high quality, and the elves are always perfectly honest. They would never bribe templars to look the other way as they openly sell magic goods.
- Clearwater Tribe, specializing in trade, divided into several clans.
- Swiftwing Tribe, specializing in raids, but they have to sell their loot somewhere.
- The Shadows, a mysterious tribe rumored to specialize in underworld trade and even assassinations
