Trade and Industry

Currency

Absalom accepts most currencies at face value, though some carry only a fraction of their value due to a smaller size or devalued material, as posted prominently in the markets. Absalom’s minted currency in copper, silver, gold, and platinum is among the most consistently accepted worldwide.
Absalom only occasionally mints its copper pennies, with most copper coinage in circulation originating from other countries. The silver coin, known as a weight, sees the most everyday use with even large purchases often performed using these ubiquitous coins (most stamped with an image of a rampant badger). The typical gold measure bears the eye of Aroden on one side and a prominent Absalomian landmark on the other. Finally, the platinum sphinx or “lion-coin” depicts the Mother-Sphinx and Azlanti Keep, and it rarely sees use except in major exchanges between merchant houses.
Absalom is extremely strict about the weight and content of precious metal in its coins, in contrast to other nations who have been known to adulterate their currency with other metals (either to ensure higher quality minting or to cover shortfalls in the treasury). As a result, Absalomian coins are the favored currency for prominent businesses—and, somewhat ironically, for criminals and warlords far across the Inner Sea Region.
Commemorative Coins: Absalom regularly mints new versions of its coins to commemorate important events, such as depicting local heroes’ achievements on copper pennies. Important anniversaries like centennial celebrations, military victories, and the appointment of a new primarch more often manifest on silver weights and gold measures, whereas tremendous and rare events, like the ascension of a new god, might temporarily replace the platinum sphinx’s traditional design.
Famously Rare Coins: Numismatists relish collecting Absalom’s coinage, especially the scores of discontinued denominations. Famous and valuable examples include the “platinum ascendant,” a platinum coin that tastelessly tried to reassure citizens in the wake of Aroden’s death; the “silver gate,” depicting an aiudara portal commemorating the return of elves to Golarion in 2632 AR; the “blond badger,” a silver coin design accidentally used to stamp about 500 gold coins that made their way into circulation; and the silverhawk measure, the city’s bimillenary coin styled in honor of the Cult of the Hawk, heavily exported to pay off Absalom’s growing debts and ultimately melted down centuries later.

Trademasters

Trade is at the heart of Absalom’s wealth, power, and independence. Through trade, Absalom extends its influence into all corners of Golarion and even into planes beyond. Citizens of other nations might revere noble knights, warrior champions, or grand spellcasters, but citizens of Absalom admire the spirit of trade and entrepreneurship that lies at the heart of their city’s success. In Absalom, people aspire to attain the title of trademaster. Trade is the force that flows everywhere and touches everyone, and it can be mastered by anyone clever enough to do so. Those who can master trade can ultimately master the politics, armies, and navies of the world.
To attain the official title of trademaster within Absalom, one must prove able to run a trade or financial organization with a budget at least as large as that of a full-sized manor and do so legally and profitably for no fewer than five years. Only the Grand Council can grant the rank of trademaster, though they usually do so as a formality to acknowledge a request made by an existing trademaster or one of the district councils. The Council lacks a formal process for proving the claims of an applicant for trademaster. No existing trademaster or council has so far risked losing the ear of the Grand Council by knowingly nominating someone unworthy of the honor, however. The only political entity that can work outside of the Grand Council’s jurisdiction and grant the title is the primarch. Lord Gyr only used this power a handful of times during his reign. The Grand Council typically grants the Writ of Acknowledgment to a handful of prospects every year; some years see only a single new trademaster, while other years feature dozens receiving the title at once. Sometimes a year will go by without a new trademaster entirely, though this occurrence is particularly rare.
Trademasters have no official badge or designation, and the writ itself merely serves as a notification of the addition of the trademaster’s name to the city’s tax tolls. Over the centuries, however, trademasters have taken to wearing a beret or a sleeve-ribbon in the city’s colors. Many trademasters also add a gold and teal merchant’s scale to their coat of arms along with the motto “Ex Prothex,” which is interpreted to mean “first among equals,” to represent Absalom’s prominent role in the world economy (and, perhaps arrogantly, the trademaster’s rank relative to her peers). Absalom’s prime economic philosophy is that trade is a force influencing and influenced by everyone.
Beyond the prestige of the title, trademasters within Absalom enjoy tangible benefits. Trademasters receive a modest reduction in duties, tariffs, and other trade-related taxes. They might also appeal any trade dispute within Absalom directly to the Grand Council. In addition, the title of trademaster communicates to potential clients and business partners that the individual can successfully conduct a profitable business.
Although price fixing isn’t unheard of, it’s also strictly forbidden; the council and other trademasters diligently watch for such schemes. Any trademaster caught breaking these rules is severely fined and immediately stripped of their title. The former trademaster often finds difficulty in acquiring new wealth, as they become a disgraced pariah among the trademasters’ network. In a city known for its relatively laissez-faire attitude toward trade regulation, the strict adherence to these rules is intended to ensure free, open, and profitable trade.

Guilds and Unions

The strength and power of Absalom is its economy, and that economy stands on three pillars: the crafters who manufacture goods, the laborers who provide services, and the merchants who buy and sell goods. Absalom is home to many powerful guilds and unions that ensure quality of work, fair treatment of their members, and protection of their industry from the predatory practices of other organizations. Although guilds and unions primarily consist of common citizens, their collective influence and power can rival that of any prince. For example, wealthy merchants who deal unfairly with members of the Pilot’s Union might find their exports held up in the Flotsam Graveyard. Influential nobles who mistreat members of the Courtesan’s Guild could soon find themselves blacklisted from social events and gatherings. Guilds can prove immensely helpful if bargained with fairly, or they can deliver financial calamity to those who abuse their members.
Bakers’ Union: The union encompasses all crafters of prepared food within the city and guarantees the ingredients of foods, if not the quality. The union is adamant that bread never be taxed and that other foods are only lightly taxed.
Band of the Palm: A loosely organized trade organization catering to chimney sweeps, limners, wheelwrights, coal-carriers, bathhouse attendants, and traveling junk dealers.
Barristers’ Guild: Trade is at the heart of Absalom, and contracts are at the heart of trade. The Barristers’ Guild regulates those who practice law in Absalom. They keep meticulous records in their vaults of all contracts written or reviewed by the guild.
Coalition of Artisans: Absalom’s expert craftworkers align in the Coalition of Artisans, administered by the argumentative Jembar Dustyshankle.
Courtesans’ Guild: Many view the Courtesans’ Guild as just another entertainers’ guild; however, they’re also a significant broker of information and power within Absalom. Who else can intimately whisper into the ears of everyone from the lord of the city to the lowest merchants and, in return, hear their whispered secrets? The Courtesans’ Guild vigorously looks after the health, social rights, and protection of its members.
Dockworkers’ Union: Formed surprisingly recently, this union coalesced out of a general dockworker strike that shut down the city’s harbor. They deal strictly with the loading, unloading, and warehousing of goods in and around the docks and ensure health services for their members due to the dangerous work.
Farmers’ Union: While the city imports much of its food from other nations, many of Absalom’s staples grow on farms just outside the city. This union guarantees Absalom has a stable, locally grown food supply, which contributes to the city’s independence. Its members know the land immediately outside Absalom better than any others.
Lifter’s Mooring: This group of dock workers have banded together to support each other, particularly when it comes to pushing back against powerful employers who take their skills for granted or force workers to toil in unsafe conditions.
Locksmiths’ Guild: Absalom is a city of merchants; merchants need excellent locks to secure their wares. The Locksmiths’ Guild regulates all its members carefully since they literally hold the keys to the city. This guild designs and maintains locks and security of all types, both mundane and magical.
Navigators’ Guild: For a nation that relies on trade and shipping, finding one’s way is vital. This guild trains and certifies competent ocean navigators. Merchants and trademasters rarely invest in a ship or map not certified by the Navigators’ Guild.
Paper Makers’ Guild: Absalom’s demand for the printed word results in one of the Inner Sea region’s strongest reliances on paper supplies, yet the Paper Makers’ Guild has traditionally not sought to abuse its potential position of power to make demands–perhaps because of an astute observation that should they frustrate the city’s printers and bookmakers, they’d only be ostracizing their best customers.
Perfumers’ Conglomerate: Several of Absalom’s perfume-makers and cosmetics-creating alchemists gather under the auspices of the Perfumers’ Conglomerate, managed by the wily Aarnock Xanthiss, an unparalleled genius respected by every member of his guild. Their headquarters is based in the Ivy District, where most members do their best business.
Porters’ Union: Once goods arrive in Absalom, they must be transported throughout the city, which requires an army of laborers and beasts. Without the Porters’ Union, no goods of significant quantity make it past the docks or warehouses. Terror birds and camels are common means for transporting goods outside the city.
Scriveners’ Guild: One of the most powerful commodities in Absalom is knowledge. By law, any new book brought to Absalom must be either copied or taxed by the page. The Scriveners’ Guild scours every shipment and parcel for new material. After copying, originals are returned to their owners.
Street Performers and Actors’ Guild: The wealth and success of Absalom have made entertainment a profitable industry. The Actors’ Guild ensures quality entertainment and protects its members but requires public entertainers to obtain a license. Those who run afoul of the Actors’ Guild soon see their reputations in tatters, as the guild sees offenders lampooned and publicly characterized in the most unfavorable light. Those who desire to improve their reputation or besmirch that of a rival might employ the guild; often, members of the guild work for competing sides of publicity campaigns.
Union of Carpenters, Stonemasons, and Metalworkers: Absalom prides itself on the superiority of its ships, architecture, and weapons. This union’s strict adherence to training and quality makes Absalom the envy of many nations.
Woodcutters’ Guild: Absalom is known worldwide for the quality of its fine woodcrafts. Guildmaster Parsin Guile brings well-honed political acumen to his fellow artisans as a member of Absalom’s Low Council.

Markets

When most foreigners hear of markets in Absalom, they immediately think of the Grand Bazaar or God’s Market, but the city boasts dozens of small markets across its many districts. Every neighborhood has its own small market with local bakers, butchers, fishmongers, vegetable stalls, and dairy farmers. Side streets are home to numerous specialty shops, and many neighborhood squares host local grocers. Some markets are impromptu affairs that appear during festivals and holidays. Others occur one day per week or month. A few have become permanent fixtures.
When in this myriad of markets, visitors must observe a few points of etiquette. Before purchasing in Absalom, it’s important to introduce oneself to the proprietor of any stall or shop. Those who simply approach a vendor and ask a price are considered rude and will likely find higher prices. As much as Absalom is a city of trade, it’s a city of people from distant lands and backgrounds. When dealing with strangers, merchants want to know how they relate to a potential new client.
Visitors to the city should also observe a simple yet easily overlooked rule: with so many competing traditions, when is it appropriate to haggle? If merchandise is clearly priced with a tag or sign, it likely isn’t negotiable. If the seller gives you a verbal price, it is likely negotiable. Many Qadiran sellers have a flair for haggling, though they profess to never haggle over art pieces, as it’s considered disrespectful to the artist.
The Night Markets: The streets of Absalom can be dark and dangerous at night. To combat such dangers, the Grand Council has begun erecting magically lit metal lampposts throughout the city, and many local squares are now illuminated. The city found that, in addition to reducing crime, the lights facilitate commerce in these locations. Now, some markets operate all day and night—Absalom is a city at the center of the world, and since travelers and goods arrive at all times, trade doesn’t have time to sleep. Collectively, these markets are known as the night markets. As a curious side effect, a few of these night markets now host kobold merchants eager to sell their wares to new customers.
The Emporium Impossible: Absalom’s fabled Emporium Impossible is located in a small demiplane controlled by the half-elf sorcerer Namira, who limits knowledge of its shifting doorways and entrances to those with ample wealth and influence. Namira creates the doorways to her demiplane— marked by a small, silver triune moon—in empty shops or warehouses. Shadowy forms slip through Absalom to inform notables of the doors’ locations, which shift on the night of every new moon. Masked creatures, veiled in shadow, patrol the demiplane. There, clients and customers can meet, enjoy imported delicacies, and conduct business.
The demiplane looks different every month but always contains an arena where visiting conjurers compete by pitting summoned monsters against one another while onlookers place wagers. Namira charges a modest fee for every transaction within her demiplane and dutifully collects taxes paid to Absalom’s exchequer. Nearly any item of powerful magic can be sold or purchased here.
Camel Markets: Being consummate traders and merchants, and given their geographic proximity to Absalom, Qadiran merchants have a significant presence within Absalom. These merchants often gain permits to set up temporary markets in neighborhood squares around the city. Many locals call these markets “Camel Markets,” due to the signature animals the Qadiran merchants employ within the city to carry their goods. Although the merchants offer many genuine wares from Qadira and beyond, the Porters’ Union actually owns the camels. The elaborate spectacle of Qadiran tents in a square serves to draw onlookers and potential customers by the droves. As soon as the traveling merchant has sold all their goods, or their permit expires, the temporary market vanishes, and local daily routines again dominate the square.

Black Markets

While Absalom typically has a laissez-faire attitude toward trade and commerce, any goods or services deemed too dangerous or too unethical are banned. Most everyday products are lightly taxed to provide the city with necessary income. Other products that might negatively impact Absalom’s economy and societal well-being are heavily tariffed or outlawed. Despite these prohibitive costs, there are always those who desire to obtain these illicit goods. For the greedy, ambitious, or those with little respect for law and society, these desires provide prime opportunities for profit.
Though most people associate black markets with drugs and banned merchandise, the most profitable operations often involve smuggling in legal items from nations that heavily tax their export. Endangered plants and animals, Osirian cultural artifacts, and specialty food and drink with high tariff rates are among the most common of these commodities; once the goods have reached Absalom, all proof of their illegal origin can be erased, and they can be sold alongside matching, legally available merchandise for a heavy profit.
An example of a potentially dangerous product regulated and heavily tariffed in Absalom is the semiprecious onyx stone. Due to its frequent use in the necromantic arts, Absalom carefully taxes and monitors all significant quantities of the stone. The stone is frequently smuggled to avoid both taxes and uncomfortable scrutiny from city officials.
Another item regularly smuggled through Absalom is the sphinx tear flower. Osirian nomads use the petals of this rare flower as an antitoxin. However, the root of the plant has become popular as both an ingredient in love potions (highly illegal in Absalom) and as an alchemical aphrodisiac popular among wealthy nobles. Sphinx tear root is banned in Absalom in an effort to preserve the plant; however, as the flower vanishes from Osirian oases, the price of the root increases dramatically. This cycle entices further smuggling of the precious root.
Of course, there are always those who conduct illicit trade in counterfeit products. More than one visitor to Absalom has purchased a faerie dragon egg to later find themselves the parent of a kobold hatchling. Perceptive eyes might note charlatans selling counterfeit powdered unicorn horn, angel feathers, dragon teeth, and Tarrasque scales. Since such items are illegal to trade in Absalom, the buyer often has little recourse for being swindled.

The trade of illicit goods is an industry unto itself. The purveyors of these products and services often organize themselves into gangs. These gangs frequently model themselves after legitimate guilds to protect their secrets, their members, and, most importantly, their profits.
The Shadowbox Network: This loose organization of thieves, smugglers, and fences forms a network of illicit trade spanning the entirety of the Inner Sea region. Their power lies primarily in their apparent lack of organization. Whenever the law catches even a few members, the rest fade away like shadows in the light. Within Absalom, the Shadowbox Network prides themselves on their ability to deliver any desired good or service, so long as a client can pay. If one wants drugs, poisons, assassins, forbidden magic, or even extraplanar creatures, the Shadowbox Network can acquire them. Goods are often delivered in discreet, gray, wooden boxes. All anyone has to do to make contact is begin inquiring through known smuggling rings or gangs of thieves. If the Shadowbox Network deems the individual’s business worthy of their time and effort, they’ll proceed to contact the individual.
The Sea Market: Conducting illicit trade within Absalom’s walls can be a risky venture, so ships often anchor just out of sight of Absalom in the so-called Sea Market to exchange contraband. Doing so often involves inbound ships exchanging illegal goods for goods resellable within Absalom. The outbound ships can then carry their illicit merchandise to other, less scrupulous, territories. Absalom’s Navy tries to prevent these exchanges, but they usually occur too swiftly, under the cover of darkness.

Slavery

Acting Primarch Wynsal Starborn granted manumission to Absalom’s slaves during the Fiendflesh Siege in 4717 AR. This event transformed the city’s economy and initiated a new class of well-connected tradesfolk known as the Free Union, whose knowledge of the inner gears of Absalom’s economy and the secrets of its wealthiest and most powerful citizens grants them a degree of power that belies their lack of wealth or overt social status beyond full citizenship.
Even though slavery remained legal in Absalom as recently as 3 years ago, most Absalomians abhored the practice since its reinstatement in 4635 AR as a sop to powerful local Chelaxian nobles aligned with the Diabolical House of Thrune. The Grand Council forbade the city government from participating in or benefitting from slavery (beyond heavy taxation), and most nobles considered treating captives as property morally reprehensible. In practice, most of the enslaved people previously traded in Absalom came to the city from elsewhere, bound for foreign ports or local Chelaxian or Qadiran noble houses. Consequently, thousands of forced laborers resided in the city during Wynsal Starborn’s manumission, many of whom now align themselves with Milly Tundall’s Free Union.
Many former slaves still bear the marks of Absalom’s flesh trade upon the inside of their left forearms. The first mark a slave bears was placed near the wrist with additional brands trailing up the arm as the individual was traded between various slavers. These imprinted symbols, about the size of a gold coin, depict geometric patterns, simple pictographs, or complex glyphs, each associated with a slave trader or noble house of Absalom. While these marks no longer carry any legal weight, many freed slaves have elected to keep them. Some former slaves bond with others who share some of their marks, while others keep the marks to remind themselves to stay on the lookout for opportunities for revenge. A brisk trade nonetheless exists to magically erase the marks from those who don’t want them, and the slave marks of Absalom are expected to completely fade within the next few decades.
Most of Absalom’s slave trade formerly took place within and around a wall-like structure at the center of the Coins District known as Misery Row. Here, gawkers surveyed offerings through barred windows while skilled auctioneers plied the crowd for takers. Today, the Row is an abandoned slum, home to criminals and more unsavory elements. A few of the old slavers linger on as common labor mongers, but their fortunes and influence have waned disastrously.
Not all of Absalom’s slave traders complied with the government’s abolition of the trade, and while it can no longer be said that Absalom has a thriving slave market, it would be a considerable mistake to assume that the vile practice has been stamped out completely. Much of the flesh trade simply moved underground, literally in the case of the tengu crime lord Gewgaw in the undercity settlement of Fall’s End about a mile below the city. The most powerful slaver ring still extant in Absalom is the insidious Salt Cartel, a slave export operation controlled by the powerful Chelaxian House Tevineg. The cruel Lady Seichya, Warden of the Puddles prison known as the Brine, smuggles prisoners out of the city to the flesh markets of Okeno and Katapesh, a practice that has become even more profitable as demand has far outpaced supply since the advent of abolition. When the Cartel runs low on criminals, it often resorts to more creative solutions to fill its never-ending need for more victims, including snatching imagined enemies off the street and channeling them, heavily drugged, into the Cartel’s international operations.