Merchant's Maze
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'The maze is both a market and a hiding-place. Saval Dorn, Trader
The merchants of the Trade District of Sasserine have no formal organization. But everyone who is anyone in the district knows each other, and power is very much a matter of connections and clients, forming an intricate maze of relationships that mirrors the canals of the districtg and can be just as hard for an outsider to navigate.
Symbol: No formal symbol. Informally, a knotted web of tangled blue yarn is used, often as a decoration on signposts, carts, boats or even clothing.
Background, Goals, and Dreams: Everyone in Merchant's District is out to make a profit.
Enemies and Allies: In many ways, the members of the maze are each other's worst competition. But when the interests of the district or the city of Sasserine's interests are threathened, they are quick to shelve internal differences for the common good. External enemies include pirathes and the machinations of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
Secrets: Every merchant has his trade secrets, but the maze as a whole has few secrets.
Class Notes: The club favors the Expert NPC class and the Bard and Prodigy classes.
Type: Business.
Scale: 7 City and outliers
Capital: 8 (Gp limit 14,400, Assets 100,800 gp)
Affiliation Score Criteria: The Maze values networking skills, a nose for business, and profit.
Advancement
| Criterion | Affiliation Score Modifier | |
| Effective character level. | +1/2 levels | |
| Acquired | 4 | |
| 5 ranks in Bluff | +1 | |
| 10 ranks in Bluff | +1 | |
| 5 ranks in Profession (Sailor) | +1 | |
| 5 ranks in Appraise | +1 | |
| 5 ranks in Gather Information | +1 | |
| Work | 4 | |
| Making a living through trade | +1 | |
| 14,400 gp or more invested in a business | +1 | |
| Adventure | 2 | |
| Establish contacts in another town or city | +1 | |
| Successful trade expedition | +2 | |
| Twart priates or bandits | +1 | |
| Penalties | 2 | |
| Fail to live up to contract | -2 | |
| Caught selling shoddy goods | -1 | |
| Caught using violence in competition | -4 | |
Titles, Benefits, and Duties: Advancement in The Club brings increased trust and merchantile contacts.
Benefits
| Affiliation Score | Title: Benefits and Duties |
| 3 or lower | Visitor: Can do business in Merchant District. |
| 4-10 | Hawker: Trusted member of the community. 3/4 price on commodities and when bying 10 or more of the same non-magical, non-masterwork item. |
| 11-20 | Tradesman: Established dealer. Can take out credit of 100 gp per point of affiliation score at an interest of 100 gp per full month; loan defaults when limit is exceeded. |
| 21-29 | Merchant: 3/4 price on all items bought in lots of 10 or more. Can invest money at an interest rate of 10% per month. |
| 30 or higher | Financier: Can take out credit of 1,000 gp per point of affiliation score at an interest of 500 gp per full month; loan defaults when limit is exceeded. |
Executive Powers: Mint, Research, Trade.