Goven Merchants' Guild
The Goven Merchants' Guild is a professional organization responsible for the licensing, regulation, and control of production, commerce and trade among the artisans and merchants of New Goven and its surrounding villages.
In the wake of the earthquake that devastated the original Goven, members of the city's merchant elite chose to migrate south and establish a new city at the convergence of the Tala'mir and Verun Rivers. In order to foster economic growth, these merchants proposed forming a professional guild with the city's artisans and earned official recognition from the King Regent, formally establishing the Goven Merchants' Guild.
The current guildmaster of the merchants' guild is Bellas Ma'Culuina, who also serves as the High Councilor of New Goven and holds a seat on the King Regent's council, representing the kingdom's mercantile network. His second-in-command is Lovilas Andan'yarro, head of the Bank of New Goven and the city's Master of Coin.
Structure
Membership in the guild requires ownership of a business within the Onóna Province and an annual fee of 25 culo (gold pieces), which also grants voting power in the guild. Business owners are not required to become full members of the guild, but any Onónan business owner that wants recognition by guild authority must pay a one-time fee of 50 telepta (silver pieces) to register their business, which pays for protection by the New Goven city watch and grants the business recognition by the guild during trade disputes.
The guild is run by a Guildmaster, an elected position voted on by the members of the guild and ratified by the King Regent. Elections take place every one-hundred years, unless the King Regent orders the removal of the current Guildmaster, which triggers an immediate election. Any member with voting power in the guild can run for the position of Guildmaster, but the position requires the consent of the King Regent before the title is officially bestowed.
The head of the Bank of New Goven is ranked just below the Guildmaster in terms of authority and is given the title Master of Coin, responsible for issuing the official currency of the kingdom within the Onóna Province.
New Goven's city council is comprised entirely of members of the Merchants' Guild, with the Guildmaster serving as High Councilor (and de facto mayor) of the city. The eight lower council seats are lifetime elected positions voted on by members of the guild, and councilors can only be removed either by proclamation of the King Regent or by a two-thirds vote of no confidence from members of the guild. In terms of authority, members of New Goven's town council are ranked below the Guildmaster and the Master of Coin.
Ranks below these are established via seniority and wealth. The guild values the experience of its most senior members, while also valuing material investment in the health of the economy. While everyone in the guild receives one vote on any referendums or elections, higher-ranking members find it easier to seek an audience with the Goven City Council, Guildmaster, Master of Coin, and even the King Regent. They tend to be awarded lucrative trade contracts or invited to important negotiations and wield more influence when it comes to guild decision-making.
Public Agenda
The guild establishes the rules and regulations that govern how businesses are run in New Goven and the surrounding province. This includes:
- Establishing and maintaining quality control of commodities produced within their jurisdiction.
- Arranging mentorships between established guild members and apprentices
- Setting achievement markers for advancement in rank.
- Maintaining records of businesses, trade agreements, and production quotas for New Goven.
Type
Guild, Merchant
Leader
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Location
Notable Members
Related Plots
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