Spicers Guild

In the early days of mercantilism, as capitalism began to grow, a group of merchants received permission from the feudal rulers of their countries - Urayme, Furich Amol, Lann Kurat, Srisia, Tromlui, Galdun, Danuo, Benhoras, Dhun, Vesturia, Baraus, and Talune - to start companies that would buy and sell spices. Each of these companies grew independently as competitors for many years, expanding operations to have extensive holdings around the world. Eventually, their competition led to the start of wars, often in colonized regions where they competed for territory (thus costing their feudal backers too much money), and in the dying days of feudalism, the kings and emperors that still had sway coerced these merchants into forming a "guild" (really an association of merchants) that would set rules and arbitrate disputes. Not quite having the power to defeat the feudal lords at the time, the spicing companies created the guild. Decades passed.

Then, as capitalism took hold and the feudal powers truly did fade away, the Spicers Guild slowly became irrelevant to the spicing companies - they were the power, they didn't could fund their own wars (and profit from them). But rather than disband, one of the more cunning members, a man by the name of Gabriel Nicodemu Soares Vilar, suggested that instead they incorporate into a single company, holding a near-monopoly on the spicing trade around the world, as well as other holdings. Thus, the Spicers Guild as it is known in post-mercantile eras is major corporation with a legacy name. They still use some of the bylaws and traditions of their guild days.

Corporate Structure

The Spicers Guild in feudal eras is run by a council of "most esteemed members" (those who pay the most), and a system of bribes and contracts that determined who was a member, what the rules were, and how much they controlled. Once they became a corporation, member companies formed a board of directors based on percent ownership of the company. This board has changed radically over the years. They still maintain an apprentice - journeyman - master approach to membership that is left over from guild days, though it's based more on buy-in than skill. In short, those who wish to be part of the corporate structure of the company must "apprentice" first with a small buy-in, build wealth, and buy their way up the ladder until they buy a master membership. Once they are at this level, they have voting rights in certain company decisions, but only board members actually run things. The board decides on what the membership gets to decide upon. Master members usually end up in roles that do the day-to-day work of the company, however.

Founders and Institutors

The founders of the Spicers Guild are honored by the current members, no matter who they are, in a ceremony every year invoking their histories. The institutors are the members who decided to turn the Guild into a corporation, and they are honored by the current members if and only if those members are connected to them in some way.

The Founders and Institutors

The 12 Founders were

1. Agofroy Royer, a gens bas merchant, of Passage Vers l'Est, a Galdish company controlling many Taggaran territories
2. Gotto Maffeo Trimboli, a mammonit schiavista, of Foglia Selvatica, a Talunese company controlling many Taggaran territories
3. Murilo Filipi Graciano Vilar, human schiavista, of Empresa de Frutas, a Benhoran company controlling many eastern Palhuric territories
4. Orlando Paloma Abarca Liberio, an empath and a former caballero turned merchant of Primera Casa, a Danuan company controlling many eastern Palhuric territories
5. Pasikrat Valerovich Pelevin, ender nobleman and merchant of Pravednyye Fermy, a Vesturian company who controlled parts of Dabusen
6. Pearn Aleksander Villem Saar, cythreulig merchant of Piprafarmid, a Kurati company owning many spice plantations
7. Ruadhagáin Carran, unseelie toxicologer merchant of Loingseoireachta Domhanda, a Tromluian company who controlled shipping in the northern hemisphere
8. Sabinus Juventus, specularo imperator of Aurea Agri, a Uraymean company that controlled aerial spice shipping
9. Verginius Angelus, a validus conquistador-merchant, of Orientem Importat, an Amolian company that had focused on pepper, cumin, and saffron
10. Wynand Thys Aarens, human schiavsista of Oost Vimalan Zaken, a Barausian company with many Dabusenese holdings
11. Wyot Bonyface Yohe, adder folk plantation and mine owner of the Iron Plantation Company, a Dhunnic company that had both mining and spicer holdings, especially in western Palhur
12. Zababa the Cunning, spiderkin webweaver of Algazumx, a Srisian company that ran over forty different spicing companies

The 7 Institutors were

1. Darras Ubaid Mundir al-Marzouk, sila djinn merchant of Taht al-Sama', a Qahati company with holdings in northern Taggarus
2. Gabriel Nicodemu Soares Vilar, human schiavista, of Empresa de Frutas
3. Lambinet Berryann, mammonite schiavista of the Grainery, a Dhunnic company that took over the Iron Plantation, as well as many other companies
4. Mamercus Quintus, specularo imperator, of Aurea Agri
5. Thys de Klerk, human xestor, of Oost Vimalan Zaken
6. Zabada the Cunning, spiderkin webweaver, of Kugurun, a Srisian company that ran over four-hundred different spicing companies
7. Vaiko Hallar Taagepera, cythreulig schiavista, of Soolakaevandusettevõte, a Kurati company owning many salt mines

Holdings

The Spicers Guild has a near-monopoly on the worldwide trade of spices, but they also have control of many mining, agriculture, shipping, staffing and slaving, oil, chemical, construction, and finance companies. Their biggest three territories are eastern Palhur, western Dabusen, the central Island Bridge, and all of Mahad.

Finances

The total value of the Spicers Guild in the modern era is about 451 billion Srisian kùdu.