Gobaith Chamber of Commerce

Great News!

The Knighthood of Gobaith has been found! This is a chivalrous and righteous Order of duty-sworn Knights, Squires and Pages. They are located in the borough of 'Crossroads' east of Trollsbane.

I have negotiated an agreement with the Leader Sir Ayun, and made them a "Business Partner" in exchange for their "Armed Help" and Protection during our journeys. Like Mercenaries, they will be paid for their services, but unlike Mercenaries, they are 'honor bound' to protect the weak and innocent.

They are looking into their supplies, and I expect many Orders for our Smiths and Miners as they re-equip themselves and collect materials to expand their castle. I look forward to doing much business with them!

There has also been some confusion about 'membership'. You all are experienced Craftsmen, and are not 'bound' to the Orders we have. Feel free to obtain your own customers and sources. The benefit of the Guild, is that we all work together to handle the 'really' big or difficult Orders for people at 'agreed to' prices. I help you, you help me. I rely upon your help to fill some of these Orders, and feel free to post some you need help with as well. We can help each other.

This Month of Chos, I would like to have a meeting this weekend. This meeting will be open to the public. ((Saturday @ 1500 GMT)) There will be no meeting during Mas, but the Auction will continue.
I will have to schedule it two hours sooner than normal due to other business that day. ((I have to pickup friends from the Airport)). I will announce the results of this month's Auction there and talk about how things are going and how we can serve the people of Gobaith better.

I hope to see many of you there, and thanks!
~Bernie Bottoms, Chairman

I hired a nice dwarf named Stein Bergman. He is a newcomer to Gobaith and an eager miner and future smith. He was being shown around by Zitori. Great work Zitori! Welcome Stein!

~Bernie

Wow! Today was a wonderful day for hiring workers!

Thanks to Pug, I've hired an excellent fellow named Hans von Kalmer to mine for us. Also, thanks to Jonah, I've recruited an archer named Joris to Butcher pigs and mummies for us.

All these workers are highly appreciated. They will hopefully free me to do some more important work for the Chamber besides mining! So many Arrows...so little time. Hehe.

I'll see you all tomorrow at the meeting. Thanks!
~Bernie Bottoms

The meeting didn't go as well as planned, many of you weren't able to make it. We did recieve some new Orders for Tailoring and smithing, as well as the 'Standing Orders' so I updated the Orders list. I have also added some 'sketches' of our wares in the Price Guides section.

I did happen to announce the winners in the Auction, and the highest Bid went to Vungar, then me, then Zitori. Vungar chose "Fishing" earlier, I chose "Mining" and Zitori got the lucrative "Smithing" Share. It is hard to decide on one craft to manage. As Chairman, I will manage the others until sold.

What this means is that now these three will post "prices" the Guild will sell/buy items at, in their craft. They also will organize workers and ask for help from members to complete Orders, and deliver them to the customers for the pay, which they keep any profits. As Zitori discovered, they also recieve all the "Guild's" assets in that craft as well. So she now has Armors, Weapons, Shields and Helms to sell. There will also be Orders coming soon from the Knighthood as they decide what they need.

The 'owners' may also buy, sell or trade their Shares to other members like 'stock' in a company.

There are still 12 Shares to bid on, so the next Auction begins now until next dwarven weekend.

There will be no meeting in Mas (I'll be hiding, hehe) so we'll meet again in Elos. Be careful during Mas and hope to see you all soon!

Best wishes,
~Bernie

Well, this has been quite the day for Orders! I have updated the Orders lists, and was counting them. There are some Orders that haven't been filled in two weeks. This will not do! I'm sorry, but I think we have reached our limit.

To start off the new year right, lets limit Orders to 12 in a given week. I think we can do that. I'd like to ask everyone not to take anymore Orders for two weeks while we finish some of the current ones. Workers are still being asked to help out, and we still need more workers.

Members, please concentrate on the Orders already listed. I have thread if anyone wants to make arrows for us and Ores for the Stars. I will be in Trollsbane this week mining like crazy. Just find me in themine or at the arena.

Thank you all for your hard work!
~Bernie

PS - I'd also like to welcome Belessar as a new member. He is a smith and carpenter who has been making some tools fr me, but I'm sure he has other talents as well. Welcome!

I finally was able to talk to Vungar, and he changed his mind about his choice of share. Well, he won the bid after all, so he chose "Lumberjacking" instead of "Fishing". So ask him for yu're lumberjacking needs. I think he'll be great!

@Vungar - See me as soon as you can to get the logs, branches and boughs to sell.

also want to announce that I have been hard at work clearing small Orders, so we just have the big ones to fill.

@Jym, Zitori, Zach and Belessar - Can you guys finish some arrows and stars? I have thread to make about 750, and I will mine tomorrow for more ores.

@Samuel - Are those pies done buddy? We need to get those to Zach ASAP. Tell me if you need me to make some too?

@Radu, Stein and Eli - How are yu guys doing? Let me know.

Well, thanks everyone.
~Bernie

Heyho! It's Spring finally!

I was mining some more and thinking about a conversation I had with Vungar. He mentioned it would be nice if shareholers could get 'dividends' from the profits by the Guild as a whole.

Well, I think it's a good idea. Starting in Elos, Shares will be 'worth' an amount (30 silvers for minor crafts, 40 for Major ones) and then a dividend will be paid quarterly. The shareholder can either take the coin, or add it to the value of their 'share'. The Dividend will be calculated based on increases in the treasury. I started with 10% as an 'estimate'.

These values are not what the first 15 bid on the shares, but what they are worth when people buy and sell them.

I posted them under 'Assets' on the finance page.

If anyone else has any good ideas, feel free to speak up!

Thanks!
~Bernie Bottoms

We have a new member. Sir Jonathon Cain of the Knights of Gobaith has joined us as a proficient fisherman, and apprentice Miner and Farmer. He is ready and willing to get to work with us, and I think he will be a welcome asset for us.

Welcome!
~Bernie

Vungar attacked me for no reason! At all!

All I wanted was an escort for exciting adventures!

That's not nice.

- Blake

Dear Blake,

I'm sorry you were attacked. I know Vungar and he has a good heart. Orcs are always sensitive to insult and injury anyway, so you have to treat them with the respect they deserve.

The Chamber of Commerce is not responsible for the individual actions of it's members or business partners. We cannot enforce or Police our members actions, nor should we. If you were attacked without reason as you claim, the better place to post the complaint would be with the local town guards.

~Bernie Bottoms

Hello again!

I'll be mining in Trollsbane again tomorrow finishing up a Gold Order and then to Varshikar for two days. While I've been mining, I've been thinking about how to recruit and retain workers. They are paid a salary, and expected to work, but they often get sidetracked or busy with other things. We've lost more workers than kept.

In order to prevent this, I have often tried to work closely with them, directing and befriending them. Zitori and Jonah are former workers, now members who are shining examples of great workers. Unfortunately, I cannot be with all our workers closely as I'd like now, and we are losing them. For example, I haven't seen Samson Jones, Radu or Stein Bergman lately.

I'd like to ask all the members a favor. Please take a 'worker' under your wing. They are often new and need 'connection' and direction from the Guild. I have assigned workers based on similarities to each of you to help and direct. Be their 'Mentors' and guides to Gobaith.

@ Celdea - look for Samson Jones (Carpenter, old language), is he still active? if so, see if we can get him to make 100 plates for us. Tell him he has 'pay' coming from us, but he needs to work and visit us.
@ Zitori - You can take Hans von Kalmer (Miner, wannabe smith) Teach him smithing - have him make 250 pins, then throwing stars. Keep him mining for coal though, he is very good at that and I need the help.
@ Jym Goldman - I'd like you to take Eli Huff (Miner, Wannabe smith) Teach him smithing - like Zitori, have him make 250 pins, then throwing stars. Keep him mining for iron though, he is very good at that and I need the help.
@ Vungar - Take Joris Cleaver (Trader, Digger and Butcher). Keep him collecting thread and cloth from mummies, you do that well. Have him also dig 500 clay and sand. Cut trees and make 'ash' with him. You two have some things in common.
@ Jonathon - I know you're new to the Guild, but I'd like you to befriend Lucy Bann (Butcher). She is turning out to be a good warrior and could use your training and guidance. Have her continue to collect furs and thread. Keep her training up and have fun.
@ Jonah - I know you're busy with all your duties, but could you try to find Radu (Butcher)? He was last seen killing pigs, but I don't know if he's still around. Befriend him andcontinue to have him collect leather and thread. Direct him to the mummies when he's ready.
@ Pug, Samuel, Zach, Belessar and Merrilyn - I'm sorry we don't have enough workers yet to go around, but keep an eye out for newcomers and direct them to us. I haven't met a newcomer yet who didn't need a job.

There have also beeen questions about 'pay'. I have always paid new workers half the first week, and the rest on the weekend ((Saturdays)). However, it has been difficult to meet up with workers to pay them. Starting now, I shall be available on the weekends at the Guildhall ((Saturdays 1500-1700 GMT)) for meetings and pay. I will also give each of the members coins to pay their 'assigned' worker each week. This should help get 'pay' to the workers as well as keep them interested. Please see me to get 'pay' for your assigned workers each week. Several of them do great work, but I can't always meet with them.

I also want to call a meeting this dwarven weekend ((Saturday @ 1500 GMT)) to discuss the Guild, announce auction winners and get your ideas. We will meet in the Guildhall as usual. Don't forget to get your 'bids' in before the week's end!

Thanks for all your work, and efforts!
~Bernie Bottoms

The dwarves have set fires inside the union building! help!

I have toured the damage, and aside from some burn marks on the floor, the Guildhall is intact. Zitori did a great job containing the fire and has done the Guild proud.

The Dwarves attacked property of Trollsbane, and it shall be reported to them. These Dwarves are criminals, homeless, guildless. I pity them, but beware them for they know not what they do.

~Bernie Bottoms

I met Rurgon, the Orc again today, and we discussed some things. He seems to have corrected his ways, and is turning into a good Orc. He has expressed excitement about working with Jym and Zitori, and I decided to lift the ban on him. He's ok to trade with again, so long as he doesn't harm our members. He's really alright.

Also, if you know someone who wants to work, just hire them, and get them started. Tell them about the pay as posted, and we'll pay them on the weekend. Don't be afraid to recruit newcomers. They need all the help and direction we can give them.

~Bernie

Well, we are doing very well clearing out the old orders. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Acouple of you have found your 'mentored' worker and I really think that by 'trying' to meet them shows that we care about them.

I had a meeting with his Holiness Ferin Dwarvenblood yesterday, and he assured me that Silverbrand wasn't behind the attacks. In fact, he is willing to help stop them. The problem seems to be that the 'old' owners Malze and Ingrimmisch (RIP) were upset that Trollsbane took their shop. This angered many dwarves in the old language community, andthe attacks started. I offered compensation, and Ferin will try to find out what they want. The attacks should stop.

I know it's early, but our meeting for tomorrow is at 13 Elos, year 31 at 0300 ((1700 GMT Saturday)). I will have pay for the workers and announce the winners of the bids. I really ned to see as many of you as possible.

Many Thanks,
~Bernie

Does the Chamber of Commerce buy goods?

- The note is left unsigned

Dear unsigned,

The Chamber of Commerce is a "Trading" and "Crafting" Guild, so yes, we do buy goods. However, we cannot buy "everything" that's offered for various reasons. Please refer to our price guides for purchases, or talk to a trader or one of our shareholders, who will be able to assist you.

~Bernie Bottoms

PS - The Meeting for the Chamber of Commerce begins in less than an hour.

We had our meeting today, and it was a success.

First, I'd like to welcome Georgie Samflower as a new member. He is a proficient cook, and will be 'baking' for us.

Second, due to the absence of our Vice-Chair since Adros (4 months ago), we decided to hold an election for a new vice-chair to fill the remainder of the term. With nominations of Zitori, Celdea and Joris, Celdea won the 'close' election. She now has a key to the Guild Hall as well.

Third, the auction for the week closed with Me (Bernie) taking "Farming" and Pug Fosse taking "Goldsmithing". Congratulations!

Fourth, we discussed the rise of the Goddess cult, and decided to treat them as we would any other customer. If they have the coin, they can Order our goods as well.

I will also look into opening an office in Greenbriar for future 'expansion' and other needs.

I came upon a member today, who was very sad, angry and upset. Apparently, some of the members are angering some others. This has to stop. We are all part of the same guild, and I love you all. I hereby declare that a member cannot be 'voted' out. They can only leave the guild if they request it, or they have been inactive for a year ((IG year)). This way, some members cannot make the decision to get rid of other members. Me and the Vice-Chair recruit members, and only they can choose to leave, alright?

Now, I have updated this week's Orders. Great Job on clearing some of those old Orders! We still have a few left, and I have coded them as "High Priority", which means that they will be filled first before all others. It may cost us money, but letting customers wait week after week will cost more. Please help fill these Orders in any way you can.

I will be cooking and Baking in Trollsbane the next two days if anyone needs me.

I recruited all of you into the Guild, because you ALL are special. Let's try to get along better, shall we?

Many Thanks,
~Bernie Bottoms

i have to many things going on at the moment so i have decide to leave the commerce i may decide to be back i may not sorry for leaving but.. there are just to many thing i have to do...


~zach dawson~

I'm sorry to hear that Zach. We never did get to know each other, but I'm sure we will have a chance when you return. Thank you for the work you've done. Good luck with all your efforts. You will be missed.

Happy returns,
~Bernie Bottoms

Great News!

I'd like to welcome Tak'zel as a member. He is skilled in potion-making and will be accepting Orders of no more than 40 a week for potions. We also offer the 'Druid's Drink' for only 50 coppers. Welcome Tak!

~Bernie Bottoms

Alchemists be damned.

~ Thrym

Selling the "Druid Drink" for money instead of giving it to your students is a break of the druid law and codex.

Do not anger the druids if you don't wish to wake up in an other body then the one in which you went to bed.


~A child of the woods

p.s. This is meant as a warning since Bernie probably doesn't know about this druid codex and the results which a break of them may have.
This is not a threat. Tak'Zel is simply advising Bernie poorly in this matters, cause he should know it better

The druids are greedy and selfish, the druid potion shouldn't be kept a secret as it is. Just because anyone can smith, it doesn't mean everyone will, so if everyone knows druidism who is to say everyone will do it?

Also, if you wish to threaten people in this lovely Guild, leave a name you coward!
~Zitori

If said people take up this offer on the potion, their not worth the ability's it will grant. Also... Druids being selfish? Your not very smart art thou little Zitty?

~~Ser~~

Thank you for your concerns, people of Trollsbane.

We shall not sell the 'Druid's Drink'. We'll treat it like poisons and explosives, off limits. Some things just aren't for sale. Instead, we'll ask customers to contact our 'potion-maker' directly, which is what he wanted in the first place. It is not Tak'zel's fault, but mine.

I'm just a businessman, and I did not personally understand the druid's codex or the value they place upon this most basic of potions. For that, I am sorry. We will respect the Druid Community in this and pull the 'Druid's Drink' from our wares.

~Bernie Bottoms

PS - Members - I have added this to our "Rules and Regulations" Amendment IIA. Please read and direct any questions to me. Thank you.

A little halfer go to the board and pin a notice
You selling the Druid Potion ?
Can you sell a magic teacher too?
Its the self. You can't sell this Potion, its a live way, not everyone be able to become a Druid.

~Wolf

The halfer goes, they looks angry

Great Day!

Amongst the many deliveries, two new members were added to our Guild. First, Joris Cleaver is added for wonderful work trying to trade instruments and wares. He is not a master yet, but learning quickly.

Second, we recruited Sirith Rymn of the Swamps, who is a proficient Blacksmith and amateur Alchemist. Welcome!

~Bernie Bottoms

Sirith is a follower of the cult, beware

*unsigned*

*Bregor notices the latest parchment, and pins a note beneath it*

It is true Page Sirith Rymn drank her blood, but that was before he knew of the true nature of the demigoddess, before knowing anything at all, having only recently found his way to Gobaith after a life in the swamps. He has sworn off Netheria, and the Knighthood has held a mass to cleanse him of the guilt. Furthermore, he swore to fight her until his or her end, he can be trusted again, the messenger of Zhambra whitnessed.

~ Sir Bregor Ayun