Evelyn Imports

Historical Overview

Founding

Evelyn Imports was founded late in the history of Somae, first appearing in business records around 510 AM. Their organizational structure has remained ambiguous, with many believing the company to be run by smugglers from Aethport. While that profession has allowed some to rise to considerable repute and wealth on the Sodden Coast, Somae requires more secrecy.

Coffee Routes

Evelyn Imports officially provides "regular service, protection, and a guaranteed product" to Somae's coffeehouses. An industry that has long struggled with a regular supply, coffee beans have almost always made an arduous journey from Far-Serenbar, the easternmost city in the world. That journey wraps around the north of the continent of al-Tahat, passing many states, cities, tribes, and pirates.

"Skilled swordsmen of the Sodden Coast's school, in service to our great city, have made quick work of pirates near Caerseat in defending the coffee lanes." - Collegian Crier

Somae's merchants have always relied on Tahatis to make this journey, but Evelyn Imports is the first Anharan company to take charge of every leg of it - from the original purchase in Serenbar to the delivery to the coffeehouse. Besides greatly ingratiating themselves to Somae's businesses, this has also allowed them to amass a not-inconsiderable force of vessels, men, and intelligence. Their skilled fighters - often sword-singers from the Sodden Coast - are just as valuable as their knowledge of pirate dens in the Mawan.

Wine Routes

While coffee is a key product for Somae, it comes with considerable costs and risks from the long journey. Rumors say Evelyn Imports supplements this by smuggling wine into Somae from the Vinelands. House Semillon has always had a stranglehold on the wine trade, with very restrictive export laws. While smuggling and undercutting the Semillons has been a proud Thewisy tradition, it has taken on a new spirit in the early 500s.
The smuggling expertise of men from Aethport has been rumored to be behind this; though owed largely to circumstantial evidence such as accents overheard on docks, men of unusually tan complexion, and pirates using the Sodden Coast's iconic rapiers. Much of the smuggling occurs via low draft boats in the marshy islands along Lake Salis' western coast, being offloaded in Coethlac.

Type

Corporation, Commerce

Related Traditions

• Coffee Culture of Somae