So, this is an idea for the existence of join-stock companies in the style of the East India Company and its various competitors which existed from the 16th through 19th century here on delightful old Earth. This is also an excuse for military conflicts between the kingdoms that can be brushed off as conflicts between private entities as well as strike and union busting, and Pinkerton-like actions. And so, without further ado . . .
In the 2640s, owing to improvements in maritime navigation, the development of novel investment strategies, and a general desire for commercial riches, the Mugrobi launched the first of the modern joint-stock companies: The Turga and Oceanic Canal Company. This was a venture funded by numerous investors to construct a vast series of canals between Thul Ka and the Austan Ocean to provide direct oceanic access. It was a rousing success and many of the investors grew astonishingly wealthy.
In the intervening years, such joint-stock companies have sprung up in Anaxas, Bastia, and Mugroba. An early concern by the Hessians failed catastrophically and led to a considerable economic crisis in the 2660s, the scars of which still run deep. Anaxi concerns, along with those of Mugroba have proved to be the most successful and conflict and contention between the companies is common, both as a matter of business and of national prestige.
In the current period Mugrobi and Anaxi companies have invested considerably in exploitation of trade in the Tincta Basta, in Shotha, and in the strange countries that lie beyond.
In the intervening years, such joint-stock companies have sprung up in Anaxas, Bastia, and Mugroba. An early concern by the Hessians failed catastrophically and led to a considerable economic crisis in the 2660s, the scars of which still run deep. Anaxi concerns, along with those of Mugroba have proved to be the most successful and conflict and contention between the companies is common, both as a matter of business and of national prestige.
In the current period Mugrobi and Anaxi companies have invested considerably in exploitation of trade in the Tincta Basta, in Shotha, and in the strange countries that lie beyond.
The Honorable Shothan and South Seas Trading Company
Commonly referred to as the Shothan Company, or even just The Company, this Anaxi concern is primarily interested in spice plantations and resource exploitation in Shothan and the various poorly studied and understood countries that lie to the south and east.
Using the money of Anaxi investors, a degree of financial support from the government, and a more financial trickery than might be wise, the Shothan Company has had considerable success in establishing coffee, rubber, and spice plantations in the Nearer Shotha. These plantations have helped undercut the cost of imported goods from Mugrba, and the Company maintains something of a monopoly on controlling access to these goods from either their proprietary plantations or in the Mugrobi trade.
In direct conflict with the Mugrobi, the Company has established a number of trading posts and enclaves in the far south of Mugroba where the influence and reach of the government in Thul Ka is more or less non-existent. A country controlled largely by piratical local potentates and more-or-less defacto city-states makes this region of Mugroba ripe for exploitation.
The Company maintains its own navy and army, both to deal with unrest in their possessions as well as to fend off pirates and encroachments from their hated rivals, the Mugrobi-based Confraternity of the Shining Prospect.
Skirmishes between the Company and the Confraternity are fairly common, despite the relatively cordial relations of their respective nations of origin. So long as the conflicts remain within the confines of these companies, the governments are happy to look the other way and let their heavily armed and functionally sovereign merchant concerns fight for control of lucrative trade.
Using the money of Anaxi investors, a degree of financial support from the government, and a more financial trickery than might be wise, the Shothan Company has had considerable success in establishing coffee, rubber, and spice plantations in the Nearer Shotha. These plantations have helped undercut the cost of imported goods from Mugrba, and the Company maintains something of a monopoly on controlling access to these goods from either their proprietary plantations or in the Mugrobi trade.
In direct conflict with the Mugrobi, the Company has established a number of trading posts and enclaves in the far south of Mugroba where the influence and reach of the government in Thul Ka is more or less non-existent. A country controlled largely by piratical local potentates and more-or-less defacto city-states makes this region of Mugroba ripe for exploitation.
The Company maintains its own navy and army, both to deal with unrest in their possessions as well as to fend off pirates and encroachments from their hated rivals, the Mugrobi-based Confraternity of the Shining Prospect.
Skirmishes between the Company and the Confraternity are fairly common, despite the relatively cordial relations of their respective nations of origin. So long as the conflicts remain within the confines of these companies, the governments are happy to look the other way and let their heavily armed and functionally sovereign merchant concerns fight for control of lucrative trade.
The Confraternity of the Shining Prospect
The Confraternity was founded in the 2650s and represents the largest non-governmental extension of Mugrobi power abroad in centuries. Though the Confraternity operates from a luxurious compound within Thul Ka, it has tendrils that spread into even the most remote of places of the known world.
Originally, the Confraternity was created to provide a means of controlling the otherwise ungovernable southern reaches of Mugroba. However, it almost immediately expanded to attempting to control the opium and spice trades. To this day it has considerable influence in these markets.
The Confraternity’s influence in southern Mugroba has waned in recent years as the Anaxi-backed Shothan and South Seas Trading Company has established itself as a powerful player in those remote regions. Still, the Confraternity holds the edge for now, especially with the backing of the mercenary companies. Still, skirmishes and conflicts with the Company are not uncommon and a many a Mugrobi soldier has fought and died for the Confraternity.
In Shotha and the strange counties beyond, the Confraternity has established trading posts, small settlements, and fortified enclaves. Mugrobi looking for profit and adventure, or just to establish a new life in a new land, often take stipends from the company to settle in its far-flung outposts. Indeed, the Mugrobi government often gives minor criminals a choice of facing the full force of the judicial system, or joining the Confraternity and settling in remote parts of the country or across the sea.
Originally, the Confraternity was created to provide a means of controlling the otherwise ungovernable southern reaches of Mugroba. However, it almost immediately expanded to attempting to control the opium and spice trades. To this day it has considerable influence in these markets.
The Confraternity’s influence in southern Mugroba has waned in recent years as the Anaxi-backed Shothan and South Seas Trading Company has established itself as a powerful player in those remote regions. Still, the Confraternity holds the edge for now, especially with the backing of the mercenary companies. Still, skirmishes and conflicts with the Company are not uncommon and a many a Mugrobi soldier has fought and died for the Confraternity.
In Shotha and the strange counties beyond, the Confraternity has established trading posts, small settlements, and fortified enclaves. Mugrobi looking for profit and adventure, or just to establish a new life in a new land, often take stipends from the company to settle in its far-flung outposts. Indeed, the Mugrobi government often gives minor criminals a choice of facing the full force of the judicial system, or joining the Confraternity and settling in remote parts of the country or across the sea.
The Universal Rail and Locomotive Company
A largely Anaxo-Bastian concern, the Railway Company is a monumental endeavour which aims first to demonstrate the efficacy of rail travel, and then expand it across Anaxas and Bastian, and perhaps beyond.
The first miles of track have already been laid and it is hoped that the Railway Company will soon turn a massive profit. Still, investors grow concerned with the slow pace of construction, unrest among the work gangs, and uncertain and even underhanded land purchase agreements.
Although it has no aggressive foreign rivals in the manner of the Shothan Company and the Confraternity, the Railway company has considerable issues with its labor force. Unionization efforts among the navvies and miners often need to be suppressed, sometimes violently, and the Railway Company maintains its own internal police force and investigative division, both are often staffed by Seventen who have been forced to retire or who have been relieved of duty. As such, the Railway Company has attained a reputation for brutality, a degree of paranoia, and a relentless pursuit of profit.
The first miles of track have already been laid and it is hoped that the Railway Company will soon turn a massive profit. Still, investors grow concerned with the slow pace of construction, unrest among the work gangs, and uncertain and even underhanded land purchase agreements.
Although it has no aggressive foreign rivals in the manner of the Shothan Company and the Confraternity, the Railway company has considerable issues with its labor force. Unionization efforts among the navvies and miners often need to be suppressed, sometimes violently, and the Railway Company maintains its own internal police force and investigative division, both are often staffed by Seventen who have been forced to retire or who have been relieved of duty. As such, the Railway Company has attained a reputation for brutality, a degree of paranoia, and a relentless pursuit of profit.
The Vesta-Naulenon Consortium
Begun by a small cabal of Bastian investors, the Vesta-Naulenon Consortium has tried to replicate the magnificent commercial success of their Anaxi and Mugrobi rivals in the far west of the known world. Their success has been somewhat limited as the jungles and forests of Naulenon have proved to be unusually intractable. Still, they have managed to help bring order or far south-west Bastia, albeit with a somewhat iron hand.
A more tangible success of the Consortium has been as a far-flung banking system, using the money of investors to secure loans, favorable financial positions, and futures contracts. Indeed, at this point in its history, it may be more accurate to understand the Consortium as a complex financial services entity with only nominal interests in overseas trade.
A more tangible success of the Consortium has been as a far-flung banking system, using the money of investors to secure loans, favorable financial positions, and futures contracts. Indeed, at this point in its history, it may be more accurate to understand the Consortium as a complex financial services entity with only nominal interests in overseas trade.
