The Merchants' and Traders' Union

The Guildhall of the Merchants' and Traders' Union is probably the most important economic center in the whole of the Flanaess. This union is one of general mercantile activity; members are merchants who do not qualify for membership in another guild (such as that of the Jewelers and Gemcutters, for instance). Since most merchants diversify their trading, the majority of them belong to this powerful interest group. The Guildhall is a massive structure incorporating a hostelry for visiting members, secure warehousing for small, valuable cargoes (the union maintains several warehouses elsewhere in the city for the storage of large consignments), barracks for the union's own contingent of guards, shrines to both Zilchus and Xerbo, numerous offices and private meeting rooms, and large courtyards where the actual business of the union is transacted.

The Guildhall is open day and night, every day of the year, and from dawn to dusk the courtyards are thronged with merchants displaying samples of their wares, investors buying into trading expeditions, representatives from practically every city guild both buying and selling (many guilds invest their funds in speculative ventures), and moneylenders touting for trade. Trading ceases at sunset, and the union uses the lull to catch up with the day's business-recording transactions, posting the day's prices (used to determine the tariff value of goods entering the city the next day), and (preparing for the next day's frenzied activity) checking the quantity and quality of cargoes consigned to the guild warehouses. (Most large cargoes are conveyed into the city by night, when the streets are less congested.)

The Guildhall and the day-to-day business of the Union are administered by Stimtrin Cannasay, the dwarven Assistant Guildmaster, and all applications for membership or admission to the Guildhall are directed lo his attention.

Membership in the Greyhawk Merchants' and Traders' Union is essential for any merchant or trader who has business within the Free City. Not only do accredited guildmembers gain the benefit of tax concessions on cargoes entering the city, but membership also permits them access to the various facilities available within the Guildhall and brings them under the protection of this powerful and influential group.

Affiliate membership, which allows entry to and the use of the Guildhall, is available to merchants and traders who are not full-time residents of the Free City at a cost of 30 gp per year, while full memberslup is available only to Greyhawk citizens for the annual sum of 15 gp.

Four union members presently serve on the Directorship: Guildmaster Ren o' The Star, Laup Cobrun (covertly manipulated by Janziduur of Trithereon), Carmen Halmaster, and Deman Nathane (the latter two serving a dual purpose in that they are firm supporters of Nerof Gasgal and middling members of the Thieves' Guild).