The Merchant Princes of Antiva

> *"Being a banker gets you far in Antiva - if you are a good one."
> "A word of Honour is worth blood"*

## What are the Merchant Princes?

Officially, the line of kings in Antiva has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years, but the monarchy is very weak and has virtually no army. In reality, Antiva is a plutocracy: the true power conferred strictly by wealth lies in the hands of a dozen merchant princes.

They are not princes in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and vineyards, each with a personal army, and each locked in a constant struggle against all the others. They possess sufficient capital to resolve any external diplomatic quandaries with a well-aimed purse or threat of withdrawn trade. Their power is conferred strictly by wealth.

The line of kings in Antiva has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years--it is simply that nobody pays any attention to them whatsoever.

## The Families

These Merchant Families are less royal and more criminal organisations who use bribery, assassination, blackmail and coercion as well as wealth and charm to control Antiva. Some are bankers, some deal strictly in trade (and tend to "own" the coastal cities of Antiva) and those further inland tend to own vineyards and mines. Where some rule with an iron fist, others rule with the velvet glove (and the help of the Crows and the Armada), but all hand power down through their blood, similar to their monarchy. The role of "family" is important and marriage between two Houses is very delicately handled, illicit affairs and children covered up or used as blackmail or reasons to create further enmity.

These Princes have more power and wealth than the actual royal line and their family are the true nobility of Antiva.

Each "palace" has an army guarding it and the land owned by the families are bought with the wealth they earned as merchants. This is a literal example of buying a title, or in their case - creating titles.

The following list comprises of 3 canon Houses and 9 more that are considered "Canon Roles". To apply please see the drop down menus.

### House Medina of Rialto

* Led by Prince Ignacio Romero Medina
* Type of merchandise traded: textiles, food
* Affiliations: Close affiliations with Felicisima Armada

### House da Parma of Bastion

* Led by Prince Venerio Carmen da Parma
* Type of merchandise traded: jewels, precious metals, weapons
* Affiliations: Close affiliation with the House of Crows

### House Medici of Antiva City

* Led by Prince Filip Medici
* Type of merchandise traded: Bankers
* Affiliations: Both the House of Crows and the Armada

### Open for Application

**Every single Merchant Prince is a restricted role, so you must contact an admin before applying for one of these places.**

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NAME OF HOUSE: Open for application as a restricted role

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## Relationship with the House of Crows

The affiliation between these two groups is a mutually beneficial one, but one that is controlled primarily by the Crows. It involves the Princes and their families paying for acts of espionage, information trade and personal protection as well as the typical assassinations of members of rival families and some targets beyond Antiva.

The relationship between the guild and the Princes can vary from informal agreements through to written documentation, such as contracts and trade deals.

## Relationship with Felicisima Armada

Since both groups are seafaring this allegiance is a more fluid one, often resulting in betrayal and the Merchant Princes hiring the Crows to hunt down the rogue Armada captains and crew. When they work together they are at their most powerful, the two group ruling the Waking Sea and Rialto Bay. Their influence is even extending further south and also to Tevinter, their contracts with Orlais becoming more important.