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Some say (usually not very loudly) that the Rotan Merchants’ Alliance (RMA) fills a void left by the closing down of the notorious Rotan Thieves’ Guild at the beginning of 2697. Faced with pressure from King Anwell to uphold the prohibition on organised crime, the Rotan City Guard gave the Guild just two days to disband or face arrest. With surprisingly little resistance, the Guild did exactly that. Curiously, the old guildhall is now a popular restaurant – Baby Joe’s Diner – named after one of the Guild’s most infamous leaders, Flurin “Baby Joe” Barbitona. Whether it was a natural development in an increasingly law-abiding and business-centric city or more directly linked to the closing down of the Guild, the Rotan Merchants’ Alliance was founded in 2697:3 by Lady Tekuna Chand, one of the famous Lords of Rotan. Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) few people seem to remember that Lady Chand was also a key player in the old Thieves’ Guild. Lady Tekuna was supported in her efforts to establish the mercantile association by several of her adventuring companions, including Lord Damalanthas Quithas, Lord Artak of Triscoh, Thoylin Hujara and Belimirar Wozacon-Ley, now Chancellor of the University of Craft and Thought. Although the RMA has been driven
by Tekuna’s vision since it’s inception, there is no doubt that it has
also benefited substantially from the administrative and logistical skills
of the wily Annaline Lemantiar. Under Annaline and Tekuna’s guidance, the
RMA has grown from offices in only three cities – Rotan, Pirs and Meldora
– to its present day representation in more than a dozen location.
In reality, the RMA is much more than a social club. It is a complex trading network extending across the Ivrean basin and beyond. The RMA influences almost all of the region’s trade and has a significant political influence. Although the RMA is a non-profit body in theory, there is no doubt that those at the helm of the organisation are both powerful and wealthy. On paper, the RMA is run by a complicated trust. Contributors – people who have provided funds to the RMA to finance various projects – are entitled to a say in the affairs of the RMA in proportion to their contribution. In practice, it is Tekuna and Annaline (with the help of some very capable staff) who manage the daily affairs of the RMA. There is also a nominal fee for general membership of the RMA. Members of the RMA include merchants, tradesman, wagoneers, caravan owners and even some farmers and soldiers. In return for the membership dues, RMA members receive a variety of support services from the RMA. These are detailed in the descriptions of the different divisions. Accurate estimates of the value of the RMA’s assets are impossible to make. However, based solely on the value of contributions to the trust, the ten major players in the RMA are currently: 1. Tekuna Chand (280,000 gp)The famous half-elven bard Damalanthas Quithas was also a major contributor to the RMA at one point but Damus sold his share in the RMA to the Rotan bank in 2705:4, in order to finance the development of New Ivrea. Resources The RMA owns warehouses in the following locations:
In Miris és Lirias-Tora, the RMA is party to the sen-tith, or “pact of equals”. This gives the RMA a right to use trade facilities in the elven city set aside for non-elves. In addition to these warehouses and its Trading Offices in various cities, the RMA owns the following assets:
Activities The RMA is involved in all kinds of trading and mercantile activities, including:
Alliances The Rotan Merchant Alliance has close ties to Agari Trading and Draco Trading. The RMA also helped found the Marine Traders' Consortium, the Rotan Merchant Guard and the Rotan Youth Alliance. Although the organisation doesn't have as close ties with the halflings as it does with some of these organisations, the RMA does maintain links to several halfling organisations, including the Crusaders for the Inked Swords and the Halfling Produce Consortium. The RMA is also watching the Eyes of Joranth carefully. The RMA also has a trade agreement
with Outreach Gem Supply and is
one of several organisations represented on the Standards
Board.
Recent events During the last six months, the RMA has enjoyed a particularly good growth surge. Two new RMA Trading Offices – Outreach and Béray – have been established in the south. In central and eastern Ivrea, the RMA has helped set-up the Rotan Merchant Guard and become a partner in the Marine Traders' Consortium and the Nedgari Gem Emporium. Extensive discussions with Agari Trading, Draco Trading and several other trading blocs has lead to the creation of the Board of Standards. Behind the scenes, some interesting new alliances have been sealed. Business has never been so good! Unfortunately, the coming troll invasion
could undo all of this progress. Tekuna and Annaline have done their best
to insulate the RMA from the effects of war, but only time will tell what
effect the trolls will have on trade throughout the region.
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