League of the Four Winds
Summary
Background, Purpose, and Description
The majority of trade and transportation in Arethil occurs along major land and sea routes between cities and portal stones. However, much of the realm lies far from these routes, and there has always been demand for the transportation of goods, persons, and information to and from the more remote lands of Arethil, as well as across long distances, with improved efficiency. The League was originally created to meet this demand, but over the course of several hundred years its scope has expanded to encompass a wider range of atypical transportation services.
Although best known for its long-distance services, the League has no explicit requirements of its members related to the means, duration, or distance of the transportation service offered. A simple wagoner may traverse the Taagi Baara Steppes over the period of a year carrying goods, messages, and/or passengers and qualify to travel under the League’s banner. However, most of the Leagues’ members bring some unique capability related to travel, typically the ability to travel over distance more efficiently compared to conventional means. Services may range from short-distance couriers within a single domain to the transportation of goods and passengers from one end of Arethil to the other via magical/enchanted means (e.g., an airship freighter).
Political neutrality is a fundamental directive of the League, and strictly enforced. While members are permitted to have political affiliations and take part in political events and conflicts, they are explicitly forbidden from taking politically motivated actions while working under the League’s banner. For hundreds of years the League has established such a strong reputation for neutrality that its members are granted passage across the borders of most nations, especially in times of war when they may act as neutral couriers for purposes of negotiation or treaty.
The primary benefit of League membership is access to clients, who may submit requests for services at any League post. Membership with the League also includes support services such as temporary housing at posts as well as arrangements for docking/stabling of ships and steeds. Posts at cities are about the size of an inn and include rooms and a stable (with large enough pens to accommodate flying beasts), while posts elsewhere (typically located at inns or manors) will provide a room to League members but may not be able to accommodate atypical circumstances (e.g., winged anatomy, large beasts, etc.). Established league members are afforded high status in many domains and given the honorific Panánemos, which allows them to approach and converse with lords and rulers in the course of their work.
The cost of hiring a League member is high compared to the cost of a conventional transportation service, and the League does not guarantee that one of its members will agree to a job once a request is submitted. For certain League members, demand for their services is so high that they are able to choose the jobs they want to take. Such members may select amongst the highest monetary offer, the most interesting destination, the most honorable client, or perhaps the most challenging task, as they prefer. Members may also choose to announce their intended route at a League post and wait for clients to request services along that route.
Post Locations and Organizational Structure
League posts are located across Arethil. All major cities support a post, and additional posts can be found in or near smaller cities and towns throughout the realm. Maps of the more remote post locations are updated annually, and copies are carried by members as they travel. In major cities, posts are typically operated by League members. Remote posts may be operated by lords or innkeepers with adequate facilities, and those individuals may or may not be members of the League.
A committee of League members meets bi-annually at a town or city near one of the portal stones (to allow as many of the group’s scattered members the opportunity to attend as possible). Topics discussed may include new members, rates, establishment of new posts and the loss of old ones, dues, and breaches of policy. Any active member who has been with the League for at least 1 year may attend the meetings. Because many members are often unavailable when the meetings are held due to the nature of their profession, the discussions are summarized in a log book and made available for any member to review and provide input on during the course of the year. Their input may then be considered at the subsequent meeting if they are unable to attend.
References
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Summary
- Name: League of the Four Winds
- Group Type: Guild
- Size: At most, 100 members across Arethil at any given time
- Alignment: Neutral
Background, Purpose, and Description
The majority of trade and transportation in Arethil occurs along major land and sea routes between cities and portal stones. However, much of the realm lies far from these routes, and there has always been demand for the transportation of goods, persons, and information to and from the more remote lands of Arethil, as well as across long distances, with improved efficiency. The League was originally created to meet this demand, but over the course of several hundred years its scope has expanded to encompass a wider range of atypical transportation services.
Although best known for its long-distance services, the League has no explicit requirements of its members related to the means, duration, or distance of the transportation service offered. A simple wagoner may traverse the Taagi Baara Steppes over the period of a year carrying goods, messages, and/or passengers and qualify to travel under the League’s banner. However, most of the Leagues’ members bring some unique capability related to travel, typically the ability to travel over distance more efficiently compared to conventional means. Services may range from short-distance couriers within a single domain to the transportation of goods and passengers from one end of Arethil to the other via magical/enchanted means (e.g., an airship freighter).
Political neutrality is a fundamental directive of the League, and strictly enforced. While members are permitted to have political affiliations and take part in political events and conflicts, they are explicitly forbidden from taking politically motivated actions while working under the League’s banner. For hundreds of years the League has established such a strong reputation for neutrality that its members are granted passage across the borders of most nations, especially in times of war when they may act as neutral couriers for purposes of negotiation or treaty.
The primary benefit of League membership is access to clients, who may submit requests for services at any League post. Membership with the League also includes support services such as temporary housing at posts as well as arrangements for docking/stabling of ships and steeds. Posts at cities are about the size of an inn and include rooms and a stable (with large enough pens to accommodate flying beasts), while posts elsewhere (typically located at inns or manors) will provide a room to League members but may not be able to accommodate atypical circumstances (e.g., winged anatomy, large beasts, etc.). Established league members are afforded high status in many domains and given the honorific Panánemos, which allows them to approach and converse with lords and rulers in the course of their work.
The cost of hiring a League member is high compared to the cost of a conventional transportation service, and the League does not guarantee that one of its members will agree to a job once a request is submitted. For certain League members, demand for their services is so high that they are able to choose the jobs they want to take. Such members may select amongst the highest monetary offer, the most interesting destination, the most honorable client, or perhaps the most challenging task, as they prefer. Members may also choose to announce their intended route at a League post and wait for clients to request services along that route.
Post Locations and Organizational Structure
League posts are located across Arethil. All major cities support a post, and additional posts can be found in or near smaller cities and towns throughout the realm. Maps of the more remote post locations are updated annually, and copies are carried by members as they travel. In major cities, posts are typically operated by League members. Remote posts may be operated by lords or innkeepers with adequate facilities, and those individuals may or may not be members of the League.
A committee of League members meets bi-annually at a town or city near one of the portal stones (to allow as many of the group’s scattered members the opportunity to attend as possible). Topics discussed may include new members, rates, establishment of new posts and the loss of old ones, dues, and breaches of policy. Any active member who has been with the League for at least 1 year may attend the meetings. Because many members are often unavailable when the meetings are held due to the nature of their profession, the discussions are summarized in a log book and made available for any member to review and provide input on during the course of the year. Their input may then be considered at the subsequent meeting if they are unable to attend.
References
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