Darksea Guild
The Darksea Guild is one of the most powerful commerical guilds in the city, with its so called "Lords" of the guild owning nearly three dozen trading vessels.
Overview
- City: Obsidian Bay
- Country: Domain of Obsidian Bay
- Leader: Laslo Manderlin
- Roster: 300
The Darksea Guild is one of the most powerful commerical guilds in the city, with its so called "Lords" of the guild owning nearly three dozen trading vessels.
The Darksea Lords are ruthless and powerful, and while they occasionally might deal with their competitors in a capitalist fashion -- say by undercutting a foe's prices, or by openning up lucrative new trade routes -- they're more likely to resort to underhanded tactics. These tactics, however, are rarely traced back to their Lordships, and as such, they have been successfully able to avoid prison.
The guild’s Lords control a total of 12 long-haul ships and about two dozen short-haul ships. Most of their trading deals are with Kingdom of Keoland, Irongate and small cities on The Pomarj, but some ships go on much longer voyages to Nyrond and Greyhawk. Recently the guild has begun trading the Kingdom of Ahlissa, something that has raised eyebrows among some in the city.
In addition, the guild has been known to make runs to the Amedio Jungle and Hepmonaland, evading Scarlet Brotherhood patrols to sneak home rare spices, herbs and goods.
Some in the city believe that the guild has ties with the Scarlet Brotherhood, a rumor that was bolstered when it was revealed that the Darksea Lord Jax Derner had ties to the traitor Damocles Everton. Derner was later cleared of any direct wrong-doing, but many are still suspicious of them.
As for the rank and file, those who want to sign on a Darksea ship are forced to join the guild. Those who refuse to join are driven away (sometimes violently).
The Lords of Darksea
The guildmaster is Laslo Manderlin. Laslo is a manipulative bastard who truly enjoys the power games in the city. He revels in his wealth, and treats those beneath his social standing with contempt.
He owns the most ships in the guild – four long-haul ships, and seven short-haul ones – and owns three warehouses in the Wharf District. Two of the other Lords of the Darksea Guild -- Jax Derner and Gorbal Molander -- owe total allegiance to him and his dominating personality usually forces the others to follow him.
Because of the wealth it brings to the city, the guild has ties to the Church of Zilchus as well as many of the more powerful traders and land holders in the city. It has close ties to only one adventuring guild, the newly-formed chapter of the Sellsword Guild. It sponsored the guild's creation to serve as guards and enforcers in the city.
Naturally, the Darksea Guild feels threatened by any group or individual seeking to cut into its bottom line, and will take actions against them.
The guild has an icy, relationship with the Navy of Obsidian Bay -- unlike the Longshoremens Guild, few in the Darksea Guild have served in that military branch. In fact, the members of the guild are far more likely to have served on a pirate or other disreputable ship.
A number of individuals – especially those in the more powerful adventuring guilds – dislike the guild and will work with other, independent traders whenever possible.
People
- Gorbal Molander: A lesser lord of the Darksea Guild loyal to Laslo Manderlin.
- Jax Derner: A lesser lord of the Darksea Guild loyal to Laslo Manderlin, who had ties to the Blackrazor Guild Traitor Damaculas Everton.
- Laslo Manderlin: Lord Master of the Darksea Guild, and a owner of a small fleet of private vessels.
Sites
- Darksea Guildhall: An ominious, black-washed, three-story building that's home to one of the most powerful trade guilds in the city.
--NukeHavoc 13:48, 28 July 2007 (PDT)
