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=Silver Pieces Mercantile; Atalan Companies=

==The Companies==

The Atalan Companies is the largest organization of traders, merchants, hired blades, and entrepreneurs to be found in [[Atalan the City|Atalan]], holding influence over a great number of merchants and craftsmen in the city. Grocers, artisans, craftsmen, smiths, and traders find advantage to be had by joining with the Companies, from talented, willing apprentices, to loans and benefits that can only be gained by joining in membership with the Companies. To the average citizen of Atalan, the presence of a Companies' marker is a normal sight and one that is reassuring- the Companies are the lifeline between Atalan and [[The Halmorian Empire|Halmoria]], the means by which trade goods flow back and forth, as well as an organization that ensures opportunities for advancement and prosperity.

The Companies holds an interest in the governance of Atalan through it's member of the Council, Representative [[Nicholas Manston]], a [[Halmorians|Halmorian]] who came over with some of the first Silver Pieces Mercantile interests and has helped develop both the Atalan Companies' and the approaches used to help secure the city and it's economic prosperity, working to align a multitude of diverse interests into a functioning system.

Aspiring merchants and craftsmen, mercenaries, and anyone looking to use what training and knowledge they already possess, or to gain new knowledge with which to try to advance, find that the Companies is willing to embrace them into the mechanisms of economy in Atalan, and more than one new arrival and struggling laborer have found their wealth and success with the Companies. Though there's no promise of such, the lure is enough to tempt retired veterans, established smiths and more to Atalan and the benefits the Companies offer, willing to take a chance on those who take a chance on them.

==History==

Pre-discovery of [[Eramere]], the Silver Pieces Mercantile was one of the smaller trading costers and mercantile operations in service. Looking to find a way to compete despite the disadvantage of their smaller and more humble, recent origins, the company lent it's aid in the fateful expedition which eventually discovered the city of Atalan and returned with news of it's existence. Their involvement with the journey that discovered Atalan, and some shrewd maneuvering and fortunate turns of events ensured the Silver Pieces Mercantile a competitive chance against the larger and more wealthy companies of the time. Proving the worth of their word, the skill and sureness of the men in it's employ and the will to make the most of the opportunity before them, the company strove, and rose above their wealthier, yet in comparison, clumsier competitors, and outshone the established hegemony of economic power, founding their expansion, the [Atalan Companies. Lucrative first stakes and claims, and acquisitions during the initial settlement period and exploration, along with a record which spoke for itself, success after success in the arduous sea voyages to deliver goods, settlers, soldiers, and everything required for Halmoria to expand it's hold on the far-flung city, served to build both Atalan's, and the company's strength.

This concentrated effort ensured the first and most important of the organization's concessions- the exclusive right to sail to and back, and management of the port where ships would land, ensuring that no other coster or company tried to do business with Atalan's burgeoning population, a right reserved for the Silver Pieces Mercantile company, earned through sheer effort and savvy, capable business. 

The company has since then made itself an important factor in the city, though their hold within the city's various enterprises has not yet reached a monopoly status- a fact they seek to rectify through many enticing offers. Rather than seek to purchase up fledgling and striving entrepreneurs and artisans, the Companies, as it is called informally, seeks to increase the flow of Halmoria's great skill and talents into Atalan, offering incentive programs, and aggressive opportunities for advancement, though would-be traders and artisans are well warned in advance that the more one seeks from the Companies, the more one owes to them.

==Concessions==

The single greatest key to the growth, advancement, and ultimate success of the Silver Pieces Mercantile company, and then the Atalan Companies, was a number of concessions granted by Halmoria for the company's steady, consistent, and noteworthy performance during the settling of the city. The first of these concessions was control of already standing structures that were ideal for the creation of essential tools and objects- furniture, nails, and all sorts of sundries that were of the utmost importance in those first, hard years. This single concession allowed them to charge a nominal fee for use of the facilities, but far more importantly, it brought those with skills and talents into their notice. Shrewd dealing lead to the recruitment of some of the most talented early settlers into the burgeoning company. The second concession that was granted, was management of the port, an important step. As the company expanded, and more vessels flew it's colors, and delivered it's wares and passengers and charges, the company was able to ensure the smooth management and operation of the port. As prosperity brought success, success brought further prosperity, in the form of the concession of exclusive sailing rights, and therefore, a firm hand on the pulse of trade, between Halmoria and Atalan, and finally, the ever important duty and responsibility for delivery of the taxes of the burgeoning Atalan back to Halmoria, as well as anything and anyone needing passage to or from.