The Balance
The Balance is a powerful mercantile guild centered in Baskhaven, though its presence is felt in nearly every corner in the Commonwealth. Originating as a union of merchants, assayers, moneylenders, and financiers, the guild's influence has grown exponentially in recent decades. The Balance oversees a wide variety of activities within the Commonwealth, ranging from maritime shipping and personal loans to financing political and military campaigns.
The Balance is currently presided over by Chairman Mattéo Murciélago, a Gasparragian low-born who rose to nobility through cutthroat entrepreneurship and, unofficially, rampant bribery. Recently, the High King's Privy Council extended membership to Murciélago, to the chagrin of the existing council members, along with the guildmasters of The Purse and Fanfare. Rumor has it that the Crown was perched on the precipice of bankruptcy when Murciélago approached the High King to strike a bargain-- In exchange for a proverbial mountain of secret gold, three guildmasters were added to the Privy Council, bending the ear of the High King to pursue their interests.
Public Agenda
"To facilitate and encourage commerce between the free peoples of the Commonwealth of Dielynor."
Assets
The Balance owns a dizzying array of assets-- even when counting only those which the general public knows about. Mountains of gold, fleets of merchant ships, and a standing army of private mercenary security forces rank among their key assets, though it is nigh impossible to quantify the wealth of the truly rich.
Comments