Ashford Trading Company

Motto: “Success in all ventures and circumstances.”
Headquarters: Freehold, Morencia
Goal: Accumulation of Wealth and influence

Beliefs

1. Business is business, do not make it personal.
2. Seek new opportunities at every turn, there's money to be made everywhere.
3. If paid, ensure the job gets done.

From Local to Global

Amidst the vibrant streets of Freehold sits an organization that guards its treasure as jealously as a dragon defends its hoard. The Ashford Trading Company is an ancient and venerable institution that maintains a presence in every country, from the southern reaches of the Colonies to the frigid northern ports of Kargenras. The company was named after its founder, Manoch Ashford, a clergyman who left the priesthood amid a scandal involving the church’s finances. With few options left, he turned his talents to commerce. After a number of false starts, Augustus found his way into a lucrative profession—the weapons trade. With the help of some investors from the nobility, he founded an arms trading company in Freehold.
With the gold he earned, he purchased land and lent coin to the rich. After systematic predatory lending practices and enforcing them ruthlessly, the Ashford Trading Company is among the wealthiest independent organizations in all of Esseas. They are one of the few non-government entities rich enough to hire the services of the Free Swords Company. However, through the machination of its latest head Kolthys Ashford the line between company and government has blurred as the Ashford Trading Company has become a dominant force on the Freehold High Council.
The company maintains trades routes that run from the Southern Colonies, to the Meridian Concord, The Ondari Dominion, and Cindarian Dukedoms, all the way to Valgarde in Kargenras. Each ship is often guarded by a contingent of professional soldiers, wizards, and priests. Raiders usually think twice before attacking vessels marked with the Ashford flag. The company currently has a hand in every trade, including food production, construction, labor, crafts, and education. It runs one of the finest wizard colleges in Morencia. It has even lured legendary smiths from the Dwarven Kingdoms into its stable of weapon makers. It is also a poorly kept secret that the company is involved in all kinds of illicit activities, and often finds itself in contention with the likes of the Bilgewater Cartel, or the The Shadow Brokers.