STATUS:
i hear dies irae bells ringing in my ossicles every time i claw from the dirt and peer wistfully through the rpg tomb doors thinking, "one last job..." another bony finger of the monkey's paw curls up
2 yrs ago
Current
i hear dies irae bells ringing in my ossicles every time i claw from the dirt and peer wistfully through the rpg tomb doors thinking, "one last job..." another bony finger of the monkey's paw curls up
5 yrs ago
i can't believe it's already christmas today
2
likes
5 yrs ago
*skeletal hand emerges from an unmarked grave* the drive thru forgot my side order
2
likes
6 yrs ago
Imagine having an opinion on rpg dot com
6 yrs ago
Let’s play a game where you try to sext me and I call the police
1
like
Bio
Maybe the real plot was the friends we made along the way. [Last Updated: February 1, 2025]
I'm too old for this shit and I have learned not to share too much of my personal life on the internet. I earned a 4-year English degree, work as an English and writing tutor at a local college, a communications copywriter for a non-profit, and I'm a development editor at an academic publishing company. That means I word good.
I like literature and poetry. I first started writing as a hobby with online roleplay at the start of 2010, and I've slowly drifted away from it in recent years. I enjoy most genres, but if I had to pick a couple of favorites, they would be sci-fi and high fantasy—heavy emphasis on the high fantasy. Some of my favorite moments have come from Elder Scrolls roleplays, since it appeals to the D&D nerd in me.
I have a tendency to get carried away with making my character sheets. I've always been a fan of characters overcoming their weaknesses and obstacles and I try to make that show in many of my characters. Therefore, many of the narratives I explore come from a place of vulnerability, but I try to balance the heavy themes with light whimsy. Sometimes though that door swings the other way and I lean into the whimsy while sneaking in moments of vulnerability.
I also try to research whatever it is I'm writing about so that I'm not just spitting into the wind. Unless that's what my character is doing, in which case I try to make sure that's made clear in my writing. Sometimes that gets in the way, like in the case of blacksmith character I wanted to make but felt compelled to study up on blacksmithing first (don't fall into that trap, no one really gives a shit).
It’s kind of hard to define my style, as I’m influenced by all sorts of literary movements and schools of criticism; dark romanticism, modernism, post-modernism, Marxism, feminism, post-structuralism—I have a lot of isms in my pocket. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of my favorite dark romantic authors, Dickinson is one of my favorite naturalist poets, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost—they’ve all in some ways informed my writing, as well as many others. I even tend to look to some of my fellow guild mates for inspiration or analyze what I like about their writing and see what I can do to improve my own through their example.
If I were you, this is what I would do. Since we already have sea merchant states, I would go a different direction. Maybe a "He who control's the spice control's the universe" situation where you have a nation or city state sitting on a rare, and very popular, resource. It has to be something that can make a city rich, while being impossible to find anywhere else. Luckily, this is fantasy, so you have options. Perhaps it is a naturally occurring drug that sprouts from the earth, like liquid LSD or some shit, that is incredibly valuable amongst the spiritual. Maybe it is something more mineral, like a type of glass that bubbles up from the ground and, when tempered a certain way, becomes as hard as steel. Maybe it is a full blow apocalypse-making crater so rich with meteorite stone that your city grew rich on it. Either way, the point is that you have a small state with a lot of money. This means merchants could become richer then land lords. They don't own companies or buy patches of land. Banking becomes a big business for them, since land-bound caravans would want binders for insurance and the ability to transfer money back and forth, since there would always be a risk of being robbed along the road. Other men pull their money by milking all the people in town with money in their pocket. And others might use illegal means, like selling goods at a discount price and then paying highwaymen to steal the goods back for them.
Banking families would rule the state, since they have the most money and the most invested in foreign affairs. These banking families have cohorts in every trade port they can get their hands on, and they have the ability to manipulate politics based on their interests by controlling what foreigners get loans. They might even give gifts to particularly useful allies.
Ah, thank you so much for your help, you're great! I was thinking about that piece of land just off the mainland, east to the sand bridge, and maybe the archipelago that surrounds it. Getting those useful resources from the mountain next to them.
I have work orientation today and a bundle of things to do after, but I'll definitely work on a sheet for you guys.
EDIT: Unless someone would prefer to have that to use with a spiritual, shamanistic country, what with the perfect pillars and all.
Well, "Small private business" is more of a modern thing. The modern small business comes from industrialism making things cheap. At this time period, things we would call "Businesses" were mostly owned by wealthy people, and everything else was skilled labor. This is why merchants tended to be the focus of bankers in those days. Off the top of my head, the closest thing to a small business I can think of would be an Inn or a Brothel.
What you are describing is basically normal business practices between individuals, but you are inserting trademark law in there somehow. "Buying out" a Merchant would be buying his stuff and selling it yourself, which would make you just another merchant. You could definitely buy up inns and brothels and ships, that's what a wealthy merchant would do. Ships are the dangerous investment that pays off the most, while inns, stables, and brothels are the rare example of a business that doesn't require specialized labor, though they won't exactly make you super-wealthy. Other things, like blacksmiths or cobblers, wouldn't sell out because their labor set is so specialized they don't have any reason to sell out. They aren't in competition with so many other blacksmiths that they can't make do on their own.
By small businesses, I was thinking that perhaps a farmer with acres full of vegetables goes into the market to sell. I was thinking that perhaps by investing in this farmer, the investor can put that farmer in a more lucrative position and gives his farm more attention and is able to sell off more of his product. The investor makes money off of shares, and the farmer makes money because he is selling more of his cabbages than he ever did before. Though I could be far off, since I am not super familiar with medieval trade practices.
Also assuming that someone is in possession of a mineral rich location full of metal veins, my hypothetical merchant can either wrest control of it by buying it out. Or that the person who has it on their property doesn't have the money or means to mine the valuable metal, so the merchant can invest in that and supply miners and equipment. Your examples of taverns, brothels, and ships are also good!
Nothing smells as good as the exploitation of your people.
It can definitely happen in a medieval context. Most medieval style states were governed through power by land ownership, but there were some places where local land lords could not compete with the merchants in terms of practicable power. Renaissance Italy is the most famous example of this, though Germany had examples of this phenomena as well. This was especially common in Europe because of the importance of eastern trade to the European market. Theoretically, most Merchant states begin with the nobles being supplanted by the Merchants. It might not be some shady illuminati type thing, but shady illuminati type things are for people who don't understand human behavior and need to simplify it my creating singular hive minds.
If you are going to recreate a medieval version of this, you have to boil these things down to their essentials. Medieval people do not have savings accounts unless you count the coins they sew into their mattresses. High level economics centers around your ability to give out loans and your relationship with long distance trade. Insurance is the guy selling binders on the dock. Instead of a stock market, you have merchants banding together to invest in a voyage in exchange for an equal split of the profit. Banks are guys in the market writing checks that look more like IOU's than anything else, which are being purchased (with interest) by travelers afraid of being robbed and can be exchanged for money at any banker in league with the check-writer (and he has friends in ever important port, so you don't have to worry about that. If he writes too many false checks he know's he'll be stabbed by some sailor anyway, or hanged by the captain of the guard if there are actually laws in place about this sort of thing).
If you want to do a shady company style plot, I would go with the bankers. Look at the Templars, and the rise of the Medici's, to see how this is done in an old school context. Remember that this is a world devoid of Adam Smith's. There are no Free Trade Agreements, and we don't have the communication systems that make large corporations doable. It's unlikely anybody in this culture understands simple economic concepts like "inflation", considering how Rome fought their inflation by hanging coin clippers and minting more coinage because they thought the material in the previous ones must have been inferior to have depreciated in value. I am pretty sure one of the biggest parts of the Medici's rise to power is that they were an early adopter of double entry bookkeeping (to simple modern folk, medieval Quicken.) In this culture, "interest rates" aren't controlled, but are something you haggle with the town Jew over if you need a loan for a set of armor to go-a-crusading with (you'll pay him back with a loaf of sugar from the holy land when you get back because that shit is in vogue now).
I use Europe as the model because I don't really know how this worked beyond Europe and the Middle East. I would assume India worked the same way (minus a town Jew), but I don't recall ever hearing of any banking systems that were not European. I'm just spitting this shit off the top of my head though. You might need to google for the details here.
EDIT: Black markets weren't much of a thing because there wasn't enough regulation to make them practical. Simply put, you need shit that is both illegal and affordable for there to be a noticeable black market for it.
This is very cool and helpful information, so thanks for that. The banking seems like a good practice, especially if that banker has a far and wide influence, and would be good for a merchant after they got their career off the ground. But assuming the merchant is already wealthy: wouldn't it also be viable to go around and place investments in small private businesses? To get those businesses what they need and off the ground in exchange for a share of their profits. Going around and doing that for multiple merchants eventually leads to you earning income from all over the place. You hire a guy with a wagon to pick up the cash and some mercenaries to escort him, they come back, pay them, and now you have a pile of currency in your basement. Eventually, especially for viable business ideas, you can buy them out.
A corporation might not work well, because like you said, there's a lack of effective communication. But you can still own plenty of different shops and whatnot, also act as an investor, and monopolize an area of trade in particular regions.
Ah, right. I somehow forgot big business wasn't a thing. Or something. I probably also forgot somewhere along the line in my train of thought that this was medieval. I ran away with the idea.
And hey, I never said I'd be dominating countries from the inside. The shtick was to make everyone owe me money. So I guess a country big on trade and economics would be the next best thing?
Whale, I was making characters for one roleplay, though I was only joining it because I was planning a thing with my friend, you know? But she has not had time to work on it lately, so I'm wondering if that's gonna happen. There one on another forum, and another friend is doing an Edge of the Empire TT.
But this looks cool. I feel like this every time I go to a buffet.
Anyway, let's assume this happens: would it be possible to run a "corporate country" so to speak? Not a literal country for all intents and purposes, but multiple companies and businesses where the owners and CEOs are essentially faces, and are actually under the control of one secret and powerful entrepreneur. Even has black market ties and the like, and while not a country, essentially has the same power as one. Or would this not be something I'd have right off that bat and that you would rather have me build this super-corporation from the ground up? Starting as, say, a hirable spy network?
[h3]Maybe the real plot was the friends we made along the way. [sub][code][Last Updated: February 1, 2025][/code][/sub][/h3]
I'm too old for this shit and I have learned not to share too much of my personal life on the internet. I earned a 4-year English degree, work as an English and writing tutor at a local college, a communications copywriter for a non-profit, and I'm a development editor at an academic publishing company. That means I word good.
I like literature and poetry. I first started writing as a hobby with online roleplay at the start of 2010, and I've slowly drifted away from it in recent years. I enjoy most genres, but if I had to pick a couple of favorites, they would be sci-fi and high fantasy—heavy emphasis on the high fantasy. Some of my favorite moments have come from Elder Scrolls roleplays, since it appeals to the D&D nerd in me.
I have a tendency to get carried away with making my character sheets. I've always been a fan of characters overcoming their weaknesses and obstacles and I try to make that show in many of my characters. Therefore, many of the narratives I explore come from a place of vulnerability, but I try to balance the heavy themes with light whimsy. Sometimes though that door swings the other way and I lean into the whimsy while sneaking in moments of vulnerability.
I also try to research whatever it is I'm writing about so that I'm not just spitting into the wind. Unless that's what my character is doing, in which case I try to make sure that's made clear in my writing. Sometimes that gets in the way, like in the case of blacksmith character I wanted to make but felt compelled to study up on blacksmithing first (don't fall into that trap, no one really gives a shit).
It’s kind of hard to define my style, as I’m influenced by all sorts of literary movements and schools of criticism; dark romanticism, modernism, post-modernism, Marxism, feminism, post-structuralism—I have a lot of isms in my pocket. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of my favorite dark romantic authors, Dickinson is one of my favorite naturalist poets, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost—they’ve all in some ways informed my writing, as well as many others. I even tend to look to some of my fellow guild mates for inspiration or analyze what I like about their writing and see what I can do to improve my own through their example.
[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/dWO4S4r.png[/img][hr][/center]
[h3]Prime Rib Boneheads[/h3][@Dragonbud]
[@Luminous Beings]
[@Maxx]
[@Shin Ghost Note]
[@JunkMail][right][h3]A Bundle of Numbskulls[/h3][@Stormflyx]
[@Hank]
[@Leidenschaft]
[@Peik]
[@DearTrickster]
[@Amaranth]
[@LadyTabris]
[@Gcold]
[@MacabreFox]
[@Mortarion]
[@POOHEAD189]
[@Greenie]
[@Frizan][/right][h3]Calcium Supplements[/h3][@megatrash]
[@ML]
Rest in peace, [@Polymorpheus]
[@SepticGentleman]
[@Byrd Man]
[@Skai]
[@Heat]
[@Chuuya]
[@Enarr]
[@Tiger]
[hr][h3]These Tickle My Funny Bone[/h3][sub]You can find me in:[/sub]
Currently in no roleplays.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-h3">Maybe the real plot was the friends we made along the way. <sub><code>[Last Updated: February 1, 2025]</code></sub></div><br><br>I'm too old for this shit and I have learned not to share too much of my personal life on the internet. I earned a 4-year English degree, work as an English and writing tutor at a local college, a communications copywriter for a non-profit, and I'm a development editor at an academic publishing company. That means I word good.<br><br>I like literature and poetry. I first started writing as a hobby with online roleplay at the start of 2010, and I've slowly drifted away from it in recent years. I enjoy most genres, but if I had to pick a couple of favorites, they would be sci-fi and high fantasy—heavy emphasis on the high fantasy. Some of my favorite moments have come from Elder Scrolls roleplays, since it appeals to the D&D nerd in me.<br><br>I have a tendency to get carried away with making my character sheets. I've always been a fan of characters overcoming their weaknesses and obstacles and I try to make that show in many of my characters. Therefore, many of the narratives I explore come from a place of vulnerability, but I try to balance the heavy themes with light whimsy. Sometimes though that door swings the other way and I lean into the whimsy while sneaking in moments of vulnerability.<br><br>I also try to research whatever it is I'm writing about so that I'm not just spitting into the wind. Unless that's what my character is doing, in which case I try to make sure that's made clear in my writing. Sometimes that gets in the way, like in the case of blacksmith character I wanted to make but felt compelled to study up on blacksmithing first (don't fall into that trap, no one really gives a shit).<br><br>It’s kind of hard to define my style, as I’m influenced by all sorts of literary movements and schools of criticism; dark romanticism, modernism, post-modernism, Marxism, feminism, post-structuralism—I have a lot of isms in my pocket. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of my favorite dark romantic authors, Dickinson is one of my favorite naturalist poets, Judith Ortiz Cofer, Langston Hughes, and Robert Frost—they’ve all in some ways informed my writing, as well as many others. I even tend to look to some of my fellow guild mates for inspiration or analyze what I like about their writing and see what I can do to improve my own through their example.<br><br><hr class="bb-hr"><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/dWO4S4r.png" /><hr class="bb-hr"></div><br><div class="bb-h3">Prime Rib Boneheads</div><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/dragonbud">@Dragonbud</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/luminous-beings">@Luminous Beings</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/maxx">@Maxx</a><br>[@Shin Ghost Note]<br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/junkmail">@JunkMail</a><div class="bb-right"><div class="bb-h3">A Bundle of Numbskulls</div>[@Stormflyx]<br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/hank">@Hank</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/leidenschaft">@Leidenschaft</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/peik">@Peik</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/deartrickster">@DearTrickster</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/amaranth">@Amaranth</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/ladytabris">@LadyTabris</a><br>[@Gcold]<br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/macabrefox">@MacabreFox</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/mortarion">@Mortarion</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/poohead189">@POOHEAD189</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/greenie">@Greenie</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/frizan">@Frizan</a></div><div class="bb-h3">Calcium Supplements</div><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/megatrash">@megatrash</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/ml">@ML</a><br>Rest in peace, <a class="bb-mention" href="/users/polymorpheus">@Polymorpheus</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/septicgentleman">@SepticGentleman</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/byrd-man">@Byrd Man</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/skai">@Skai</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/heat">@Heat</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/chuuya">@Chuuya</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/enarr">@Enarr</a><br><a class="bb-mention" href="/users/tiger">@Tiger</a><br><br><hr class="bb-hr"><div class="bb-h3">These Tickle My Funny Bone</div><sub>You can find me in:</sub><br><br>Currently in no roleplays.</div>
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Evil Ghost Note,
mickilennial
