Post by Wargamer on Oct 22, 2005 7:23:34 GMT -5
Aureushiem never truly slept. Cities of this kind never do. There's always someone with a commodity, and someone with demand. Gold flows back and forth so fast and so often that, in Aureushiem, it isn't even gold any more.
It was Hawk's idea. People would pay him to store their money in his Banks, and trade by the use of Credit Chits. The Chits themselves were worthless; small strips of paper with some fancy inking, a silver piece per. Yet with these chits, men could spend hundreds, even thousands of Gold Coin. They wrote the amount, the name of the reciever, and signed the chit. When the chit was brought into the bank, the money was removed from the account, and given to the receiver. A small handling charge along the way ensured that the Bank made money on every transaction.
It had been a stroke of genius. Aureushiem banking revolutionised the world. No longer were Banks simply a place were your money was guarded. Hawk threw in enough tricks and treats to ensure that his banks were the ones to use. Men feared having to carry thousands of gold coin around, but a chit-book could fit in a pocket, cost just a few gold pieces to replace, and was useless to those who stole it.
Hawk had just awoken, his mind racing. He gathered his advisors, planners, accountants and friends. Many complained at being roused from their beds at one hour past midnight, but they soon forgot their complaints when they heard of Hawk's idea. They talked and planned, schemed and argued. The servants were soon roused, and breakfast was prepared. Water, wine, beer and exotic drinks were made available as the men continued their work. By dawn, the castle was awake and active, men walking out into the city, or riding out into the plains, all unified by the vision of gold.
Hawk's plan was as simple as it was brilliant. The problem with all business was that it required the moving of materials. This was especially difficult if the materials had to be taken great distances, or over dangerous routes. Thus, Hawk had explained, it would be much easier, safer, and more profitable if you could arrange to sell your items without ever moving them.
Merchants would sign up to a trading ring. Couriers would be sent, or hired from Aureushiem, to bring a description of the item the Merchant was selling, along with sketches of the items, samples, certifications from important or influencial people, and anything else the seller felt would persuade others to buy. The item would then be added to a Trading List, which would be periodically dispatched to all members. The Merchant then read through the list, and wrote a bid against any items he wished to buy. The Courier would return with the modified list, and hand it over to the Bid Manager. After a set period, say a fortnight, the Merchant who bid the highest would win the item. The Courier would return, instructing him to send his money to the seller, who in turn was instructed to distribute his wares to the buyer. A suggestion was added so that the bid listed was a maximum bid; so if one Merchant bid twenty gold, and a second bid one-hundred, the second merchant would need only pay twenty-five or thirty gold. For those who still feared their delivery would not make it safely, they could hire an escort from Hawk. Chits were also accepted, meaning the seller would have to spend his money in Aureushiem, or at least come to the city to get it...
Naturally, Hawk would be charging throughout the service. That's where the true beauty came in; even if a Merchant hired his own Courier, his own guards, and his own transport, he'd still have to pay Hawk for the lists, and for the right to use the trading circle. It was a flawless plan.
It took off spectacularly. By the end of the week, a list of over two hundred items had been compiled. What amazed Hawk was that many of the sellers were within Aureushiem, choosing to use the system so that they were free to persue other business, or their own interests. By the next week, a Local and World trade-ring was set up, meaning that people who wished to sell within the city could do so faster. Many peopel bid far higher than they would ever spend in open market, in order to ensure they won. A few days later, an "Inspected Item" system was dreamed up, where the products were dispatched to Hawk's castle (or, where the seller was some distance away, and approved representitive of the Aureushiem Trading Ring was sent. At a cost, naturally) so they could be verified as authentic and in good condition. When trades did not go well, the business was handed over to one of the local Mercenary regiments, who ensured business proceeded in an orderly manner, usually whilst waving sharp objects at people.
Hawk dreamed of money, and Aureushiem was a city where dreams came true...
It was Hawk's idea. People would pay him to store their money in his Banks, and trade by the use of Credit Chits. The Chits themselves were worthless; small strips of paper with some fancy inking, a silver piece per. Yet with these chits, men could spend hundreds, even thousands of Gold Coin. They wrote the amount, the name of the reciever, and signed the chit. When the chit was brought into the bank, the money was removed from the account, and given to the receiver. A small handling charge along the way ensured that the Bank made money on every transaction.
It had been a stroke of genius. Aureushiem banking revolutionised the world. No longer were Banks simply a place were your money was guarded. Hawk threw in enough tricks and treats to ensure that his banks were the ones to use. Men feared having to carry thousands of gold coin around, but a chit-book could fit in a pocket, cost just a few gold pieces to replace, and was useless to those who stole it.
Hawk had just awoken, his mind racing. He gathered his advisors, planners, accountants and friends. Many complained at being roused from their beds at one hour past midnight, but they soon forgot their complaints when they heard of Hawk's idea. They talked and planned, schemed and argued. The servants were soon roused, and breakfast was prepared. Water, wine, beer and exotic drinks were made available as the men continued their work. By dawn, the castle was awake and active, men walking out into the city, or riding out into the plains, all unified by the vision of gold.
Hawk's plan was as simple as it was brilliant. The problem with all business was that it required the moving of materials. This was especially difficult if the materials had to be taken great distances, or over dangerous routes. Thus, Hawk had explained, it would be much easier, safer, and more profitable if you could arrange to sell your items without ever moving them.
Merchants would sign up to a trading ring. Couriers would be sent, or hired from Aureushiem, to bring a description of the item the Merchant was selling, along with sketches of the items, samples, certifications from important or influencial people, and anything else the seller felt would persuade others to buy. The item would then be added to a Trading List, which would be periodically dispatched to all members. The Merchant then read through the list, and wrote a bid against any items he wished to buy. The Courier would return with the modified list, and hand it over to the Bid Manager. After a set period, say a fortnight, the Merchant who bid the highest would win the item. The Courier would return, instructing him to send his money to the seller, who in turn was instructed to distribute his wares to the buyer. A suggestion was added so that the bid listed was a maximum bid; so if one Merchant bid twenty gold, and a second bid one-hundred, the second merchant would need only pay twenty-five or thirty gold. For those who still feared their delivery would not make it safely, they could hire an escort from Hawk. Chits were also accepted, meaning the seller would have to spend his money in Aureushiem, or at least come to the city to get it...
Naturally, Hawk would be charging throughout the service. That's where the true beauty came in; even if a Merchant hired his own Courier, his own guards, and his own transport, he'd still have to pay Hawk for the lists, and for the right to use the trading circle. It was a flawless plan.
It took off spectacularly. By the end of the week, a list of over two hundred items had been compiled. What amazed Hawk was that many of the sellers were within Aureushiem, choosing to use the system so that they were free to persue other business, or their own interests. By the next week, a Local and World trade-ring was set up, meaning that people who wished to sell within the city could do so faster. Many peopel bid far higher than they would ever spend in open market, in order to ensure they won. A few days later, an "Inspected Item" system was dreamed up, where the products were dispatched to Hawk's castle (or, where the seller was some distance away, and approved representitive of the Aureushiem Trading Ring was sent. At a cost, naturally) so they could be verified as authentic and in good condition. When trades did not go well, the business was handed over to one of the local Mercenary regiments, who ensured business proceeded in an orderly manner, usually whilst waving sharp objects at people.
Hawk dreamed of money, and Aureushiem was a city where dreams came true...