Spice Merchants Guild

The majority of the large-scale spice trade in the Known World is controlled by the Spice Merchants Guild. Even if a large shipment of spice is being transported or sold by a merchant who is not a guildmember, the spice itself was almost certainly sold by a guildmember in the past.
Guild halls and warehouses are scattered throughout the Known World, and probably beyond into distant, unknown lands. Some kingdoms have granted the guild a monopoly on the trade of one or more spices. However, in most kingdoms the guild relies on its volume of trade and breadth of spice varieties to bargain for favorable terms with local merchants. This places non-guild traders at a disadvantage, earning them lower profits unless they agree to deal with the guild.
There have been rumors of the guild sometimes using less savory tactics to deal with competitors, up to and including extortion, beatings, and even murder. However, these rumors are rarely spoken openly, and near the docks of major ports, not even whispered.
The wide reach of the guild makes them an excellent conduit of information about distant lands.  Guild representatives try to avoid meeting with local rulers themselves, and thus avoid the appearance of favoring one ruler over another.  However, they do often meet with powerful courtiers near the throne.  In addition to providing these nobles a view of the realms of their allies and enemies, the guild is also sometimes used as a unofficial channel for passing diplomatic messages.

Spice Merchants Guild Emblem

Type

Guild, Merchant