The Galeriders

The Galeriders, also known as the Galerider Guild, is a major faction operating within the continent of Ahlus.

## Description

Formed from the fragments of the Galebreakers, a merchant guild that formerly held significant assets and wealth across the continent, the Galeriders were founded after the completion of the repair work on the Great Conduit in 47WD. The cost of the renovations, as well as the construction of new stretches of bridgework to better connect the major settlements of the continent bankrupted the Galebreakers, with all their major holdings, properties and outstanding contracts claimed by a combination of Howell Holdings, Curious Couatls Caravans and several other minor guilds.

Despite it, the divine purpose supposedly delivered unto Albrich Galebreaker by the deity Veth was realised, and with it the Galeriders rose from the ashes to operate travel via their only remaining asset. The Galerider Rail has subsequently renovated travel across the continent, facilitating the prompt transport of people and goods over plains, mountains and forests alike.

## Goals

The Galeriders is operated as a business, and thus seeks profit in exchange for its services. Although lofty aspirations for further expansions of the Great Conduit on which the Rail travels have been planned for several years, shortages of the components for the creation of new phosphoflux plates necessary to suspend the carriages has hampered these intentions. The Galeriders have also started to facilitate transportation of letters and messages, having monopolised the majority of postal services across the continent.

For now, the group seeks to bolster their capital further to facilitate the construction of new Galeriders as to expand its capacity, as to manoeuvre to further compete with other methods of transport, namely the ever present popularity of seagoing vessels.

## Tenets of the Galeriders

* Just as a tree relies on its roots for support, civilisation requires a sturdy foundation built upon ease of transport and communication.
* With enough determination, any obstacle is surpassable in time.
* Convenience and comfort should be an option for all, but likewise demand compensation for their provision.

## Relationships

The Galeriders operate in all major settlements of Ahlus, and are continuously expanding their network to ensure a wider presence in the  smaller settlements scattered between them. The Galerider Rail features ten stops across the continent, aiding all manner of merchants to transport their wares securely with haste beyond that achievable by any other means, save perhaps the arcane. The Galeriders find themselves subject to the local laws of each region they serve, most notably so at Thornwatch, where the Hollow Concord has mandated all inbound carriages are stopped and their contents sufficiently examined and searched.

Instead of maintaining a guildhall in every village, the Galeriders employ locals to collect letters and parcels for depositing at drop-off points frequented by carriages adorned with the pegasus used as their sigil. The remoteness of these sites means they sometimes fall prey to bandits, and the stretches of the Galerider Rail where the Great Conduit weaves through the wilderness are a common haunt for railraiders, highwaymen that specialise in targetting the suites of the Rail.

## Characters

The growing network of the influence of the Galeriders relies on everything from runners and stable grooms to masons and carpenters. Hospitality staff live a mobile life aboard the Galerider carriages itself, whilst administrators operate ticket booths at each of the Rail's stations. Increased frequency of raids have led to a new wave of calls for mercenary work associated with the Guild, bringing another group into the fold.

 2
 3
 4
 5
 6