The Guild of Croesus

The Guild of Croesus is based in the Western Province and their territory is mainly comprised of coasts and farmlands. Although they control several thriving trading ports, the Guild’s stronghold is further inland, on the Island of Ishall in the centre of Lake Lak’aros. Only the locals and very skilled boatmen can navigate these treacherous waters, and so the Guild’s fortress is nigh-on impenetrable. Whilst being the youngest of the four factions, the Guild of Croesus, is chiefly responsible for managing the High Council’s finances, thanks to their monopoly on trade and their influential connections. They also pride themselves on their crafting prowess and boast some of the most influential artisans, entrepreneurs, and traders. Though professional, and well established within Ásaterra, tensions lie just beneath the surface between the Guild and the residents of the West.

## History

The Guild of Croesus started around 40 years ago, back after the Civil War had ended. During the Civil War, the Legion had exiled a large following of their people to the West, which at the time was swampy and near impossible to live in. Eventually a settlement was established and with the help of, what seemed to be a lone native to the swamplands, the West became habitable, with a central city at the lake of Ishall. Once the Civil War ended, and the areas of Ásaterra were split up, the Legion technically owned the North and the West, until the Legion kicked the Guild out from the North, where they then settled in the West.

When they broke off, they started an “Economic Cooperative” with the various major players at hand. They then quickly decided that all their conflicting agendas meant that nothing got done, so they decided to split government and the company, creating Ásaterra’s first Limited Liability Corporation, naming it the Guild of Croesus.

## Rules

There are 9 core rules to the Guild, which goes hand in hand to the land’s laws already.

1. No stealing from another member of the Guild

2. No killing another Guild Member

3. Discount to any member of the Guild

4. Work fairly with the other members of society

5. Be respectful to all religions

6. If you are summoned for Court Duty, it is mandatory that you attend. Obvious impossibilities as exceptions.

7. No revealing Guild Secrets to anyone outside of the Guild

8. Pay your Monthly Guild Allowance

9. Help others in Need

## The Four Foundations of the Guild

### High Priestex of Florintina

The High Priest of Florintina is a prestigious role given to someone worthy of being the champion of Florintina and to talk, and trade, with her directly. The position has been a treasured one that has been active even since the Monarchy still stood. They currently work in hand with the Guild of Croesus, trying to spread the teachings of the Goddess of Merchants.

The current High Priestex of Florintina is an Elven Enby called Mer’ca Tura, a young Elf who has devoted their entire life to Florintina and her ways, which had them become the youngest High Priestex in all of the title’s history, although some believe that they are not ready yet, but the passing of the previous High Priestess required a new one. There is a lot of controversy around them however simply because they are not a chosen Champion by Florintina, while the role stated that it was a requirement.

### The Accountants

The Accountants are a conglomerate of accounting firms from all over Ásaterra that calculate all the taxes of the land. Everyone is taxed, and the taxes are different per person according to many aspects, such as business, jobs, family, income, land and so on. The Accountants have bureaus through all the cities in Ásaterra and have roots into most homes and businesses (some say that they own a key to every house in Ásaterra). While the do calculate the taxes, they do not go out and collect it. They hire the group known as the Coin Collects to go collect the money owed.

The group is run by a man named Peter “Reaper” Law, a man who has had a lot of allegations and controversy around, but always comes out cleaner on the other side. He does not go out in public a lot and rarely makes public events, but he keeps the taxes of every person in Ásaterra in order.

### Trader's Union

The Trader’s Union helps people, groups and businesses of the Guild, along with a large majority of workers in the land of Ásaterra. They provide support, muscle, help, protection – anything you might need. They often provide some start-up capital for your new business and a shop space for you to work in. They help most people get pay in the land and if there are any issues in the work place, such as legal matters, the Trader’s Union can step in and help resolve conflicts.

The Trader’s Union is run by Susanna Magrino III, who was the Councillor of the Guild in the West, and had been for several years. She lost her postion to Dust in the last elections and now serves as Crocus of the Guild. She is eccentric and works hard, with a “every problem has a fix” kind of attitude.

### The Dust Family

The Dust family is not a group or organisation such as the Trader’s Union, or a role like the High Priestess. The Dust family is simply the richest family in all of Ásaterra, and in a lot of other countries too. The family has ties with the Founder and have been associated with the Guild since the beginning. The Family had an eerily good sense of foresight that led to them opening many successful businesses, investing in companies and groups, seizing control over others and either running them twice as well or just liquidising them for money, profit or market gain.

The current head of the family is a man named Mike Dust. He is a boastful and egotistical person that loves adventure and having fun. He goes on long journeys to other lands just on a whim, bringing back treasure and exotic souvenirs.

Mike is the current Councilor of the Guild. His job had been to work for the Guild below the Councillor before as the Crocus, and help steer the Guild into new directions- however he refuses to do any work, with his wife, Da'mo Dice-Dust doing most of the work. It’s often joked that Da’mo is both the pretty face and the brains in their relationship. Since becoming Councillor, Dust has massivly stepped up his game and has been a powerful force in the Councilor seat.

## Shares

    The Guild’s shares are divided up between the members of the Guild. Some people own a lot of shares, like the Four Foundations, while others own a tiny amount just for joining the Guild. Apart from the 58% of shares that are owned by the Foundations, 42% of shares are divided between other people and groups- notably:

- Spyder, the owner of the Webway Pub and Board- they own 5% of the shares.

- The Founders family own 5% of shares.

- The title of Gestalt comes with a 2% share value as part of the deed, but the individual can own more, adding to the 2%. This is expected to be used to aid the Council Delegation.

- The Ninfee Academy has 2% due to their work with helping the West.

- 1% is given to the position below the Gestalt, the Eigen.

- 27% are owned by businesses and people about Ásaterra, with about 7% given out to groups associated with the Guild for a long period of time. The remaining 20% of sharers make up the rest of the members of the guild

- Any person who is part of the guild is given a share in the guild, but these are incredibly small shares.

## Hierarchy of the Guild

### Owner

The Founder, Dantian Sandown. He was similar to what the Queen is to England was: he doesn't actively partake in the Guild, he was too old and out of the loop. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances that followed the Expeditionary Force being outlawed in 1296, the Founder was murdered in his home amongst many riots in the territory. The title of Owner is not passed on to anyone else.

### Councillor

This position is determined by holding a majority of shareholds or shareholder votes within the Guild. Susanna was the Councillor for many years, though Mike Dust won the last vote. He has been working hard as the Councillor. The Councillor manages foreign policy and relations with other factions (also taskforce department, which is why they pick the Gestalt and overlook the decisions of the Eigen).

### Crocus

The Crocus decide the big important things for the Guild when Dust is not around or unable to comment: social stance on events and matters; direction of the Guild, etc. Susanna is the current Crocus, but currently has also is the Councillor of the West.

### High Priest

This position is the Church’s highest position and holds a high place in the Hierarchy of the Guild. Most of the Guild worships Florintina in some way or form. The current High Priestex is Mer’ca Tura, an elven enby who has had the position for a few years now.

### Civil Servants

This position refers to all the guards, judges, police, tax collectors, doctors and people who work a job that helps the community. Anyone who is part of or runs a group/organisation within the guild is a Civil Servant. The Gestalt and Eigen potion also puts them as Civil Servants.

### Members

A member of the Guild, the lowest Rank. All Guild members eventually get issued their Shares within the Guild however.

## Groups Within the Guild

Many groups are affiliated with the Guild. There are 8 notable ones, each holding a 1% share (except the Ninfee who have 2%).

These are Organisations are affiliated and covertly sponsored by the guild

### The Guiding Hand

#### Commander

Al’Ki “Ally” Premence, Low priest of Cosmia. Started it after living for many years on the streets. She had a hard time on the streets, and almost turned to a life of crime because of it, until she got a break when a stranger took her in, who inspired her to help the people of the streets on a grand scale.

#### Duty

look after homeless, weary and lost people on the streets. Helps guide troubled youths to do stuff with their lives and not turn to crime and gangs. They also deal with reintroducing people to society after they might have committed a crime. They help put people in the right direction and sometimes help with temp. homes and jobs - they understand that Lady luck isn’t on everyone’s side all the time.

### A&R (Aid and Relief)

#### Duty

Basic works of an emergency aid team. Often working alongside the city guards and the Ninfee, they are a privately-owned set of paramedics that provide services to the city. Each base of operations has a blood supply for Vampires, a fully operational operating space, check-up spaces and all staff are fully trained, or are in training and are supervised. They often provide first aid training lessons

### Silvereyes

#### Duty

This group can provide information for almost anything, for a fee. They have spies located in most groups and organisations, from the council to even your local choir group. They don’t sell on information they have, unless the right price is paid- so much so, it’s been known that some of their members have been killed because of how tight lipped they are.

### The Tzban Tattler

#### Duty

The Tzban Tattler is the Newspaper of the West and the Guild. They write a lot of pieces about how glorious it is to be in the West, or about how hard working the Guild is!

### The Coin Collects

#### Duty

These people collect the taxes owed to the Guild and are nearly always hired by The Accountants.

### The d’Maele Bank

#### Duty

Serves as the national bank to Ásaterra. There are other independent bank, but this is the main one that is used.

### The Postacht

#### Duty

This group make the money, literally - they Mint the money. They print and coin the money and get it distributed to where it needs to go. They also, more or less, dictate how much a copper, a silver and a gold is worth because they can choose how much new money to put into the circulation each printing.

### Ninfee Academy

#### Duty

These people are the reason why the West isn’t still swamp. Ninfee cured the west. They help the land of the West in many ways, such as providing guards, helping attacked towns or sorting out the land as a whole. To get into the Academy and learn there, you need to be able to manipulate water and earth in some way

### Other

There are many other groups, but these are the ones that are well known. There are some… less pleasant groups that supposedly have nothing to do with the Guild, but you’ll have to find that out yourself.