Galvin Cross

Galvin Cross - Torican Guildmaster of the SPM

No one knows exactly where Galvin Cross hails from other than somewhere in Eramere, or at least, none that know are talking. With the complexion of a Halmorian, the lithe features of a Lakoi, and the blue eyes so readily associated with the Valkshir, it seems almost as if Galvin Cross was born of some great racial melting pot. What is known, is that Galvin Cross is not a man to be trifled with. Those that did manage to get on Cross’ bad side rarely found themselves in a position to ever tell about it. Anything from social and financial ruin, to quiet deaths, public “accidents”, to simply disappearing has been known to befall Galvin’s opponents.

Despite having an incredibly shrewd mind for business, Galvin made his bones as an accomplished Pilot. Few, if any, of his peers could manipulate the delicate balance between chart courses and reading the sea when plotting and executing a voyage beyond the sight of land. However, despite his skills, the lack of a booming trade fleet left Galvin ensured that Galvin would never see more than a “Pilot’s share” of trade revenue. This was by no means a small fee, but Galvin was not a man to settle for such a modest living, even if it was not all that modest. When Torica exploded as an epicenter of trade, the SPM made sure to be there. This was the answer to Galvin’s problem. When they showed their faces, Galvin made sure to introduce himself. Galvin then went on, over the next 4 years to make a name for himself by regularly bringing ships in ahead of schedule. On one voyage however, the Captain took ill and died. It was left to Galvin to bring the ship and its cargo to port. Galvin acquitted himself nicely, and as a “reward” for his service was first, paid the Captain’s cut in addition to the Pilot’s and was then promoted from Pilot to Merchant Captain. It was then that Galvin started making the voyage back and forth between Halmoria and Torica with regularity, and learned the tenuous nature of the grip the SPM held on their political and financial interests. Then the Emperor threatened this grip when he got the notion that the SPM was not absolutely necessary in order to reap the rewards of Torica and the riches of Eramere, and sent a fleet to invade the foreign lands. It took Galvin and a handful of other exceptionally gifted Pilots and Captains pulling out all the stops, calling in every favour, and liquidating every last asset, but they managed to make arrangements to ensure the invasion force failed. None of them could have foreseen the epic way in which failure would manifest itself though.

When the “battle” was over and peace had been established, Galvin was selected by the SPM to return to Torica permanently. His insight to the people, combined with his knowledge of recent events in the Empire left him uniquely suited to protect SPM interests abroad and to help the SPM ensure that the Emperor did not once again get the notion that the SPM were not absolutely essential to all cross water traffic and trade.

Galvin takes his charge very seriously. The arrival of Lord Gravius, while at first something of a spectacle, later became a true cause of concern for Galvin. Despite the odds being so heavily stacked against him (especially given the lack of logistical support from the SPM), the Imperitor turned his Legionnaires into one of the very finest fighting units to be seen anywhere. Should Halmoria ever again have designs on establishing a martial claim on Torica or Eramere, Galvin feared that the Imperitor and his men might just succeed, and thus make the Emperor’s concept of the SPM as “superfluous” a reality. In order to prevent this eventuality, Galvin works doubly hard to create an unrivaled profit margin, keeping the focus on the money coming in, and not on the political realities of the SPM’s tenuous grasp on their position.

Galvin’s efforts are not made any easier by the local “unaffiliated traders”, primarily Quillian Barthe. Despite Galvin’s familiarity with and contacts within the Torican community and across Eramere, Barthe always seems to have a knack for obtaining the most sought after commodities. Without paying tithes to the Empire, Barthe is able to regularly undercut Galvin’s prices. Though Galvin is usually able to still keep the SPM one step ahead of both the Empire and the local merchants, there have been a handful of instances where Barthe’s sudden ability to make good on deals the SPM could not undermined Galvin’s influence (and by extension the influence of the SPM). So “timely” were two of these instances that Galvin openly accused Barthe of potentially being a foreign spy. This misstep brought the ire of Lord Gravius’ son Caius Gravius Jr., a young man who could not so easily be “disappeared”. The not-entirely-serious accusation was withdrawn. Afterward, Galvin began to experience a run of good fortune and his profits, already flowing at a record pace, took another drastic jump. Much to Galvin’s pleasure, the situation seemed to send Barthe away in poverty. Alas, only months later, Barthe was once again a thorn in Galvin’s side.

Juggling all these functions takes all of Galvin’s efforts. It was Galvin who helped bring about the demise of the ineffectual Pliny Cato, second Governor of the new territories. That man had no head for business and threatened to cause a Torican uprising. He was only too happy to whisper the right words into the ear of the Emperor’s advisors, resulting in the man’s disgraced recall.

One of Galvin’s biggest concerns now is finding a capable man to recommend as his replacement as the Torican Guildmaster for the SPM. The most competent young man he has come across is none other than Lord Gravius’ son, the lad that once threatened to run him through. That, however, poses complications of its own.