The Company of Merchant Adventurers
Type: Vendor (exotic goods)
Description
A large, wide green tent with an awning covering a table covered with items of hermetic interest. A grog busily polishes the glassware to show off the quality, there are small clay jars containing spices, herbs and exotic pigments from across mythic europe. If you ask for something, they may be able to source a small quantity from the stock in the back of their tent. They specifically ask if there is anything you want that others haven’t been able to provide.
Background
The covenant of Multae Apothecae say they make their living from trade, and keep several storehouses over magical lacunae in cities. They also have a trading ship. If asked, the grogs or companions will happily say where they are usually based but the magi are very evasive about where they are based. They will ask detailed questions about how the peripheral code in this Tribunal deals with covenants that want to set up a chapter house.
As to how legitimate the goods are, see the story seeds at the end.
Personalities
Alberto, the glass polisher – a short man of Venetian origin with a neat black mustache, he attends to the glassware constantly and eagerly asks if there is a particular alembic or piece of tubing that a magus requires.
Cornelia ex Merinita – a middle-aged brunette, she tries to sell the virtues for hermetic enchantment of every item she has.
Teilhard the tailor – a tall, handsome man from Saxony, he has many varieties of cloth and he offers to measure magi for new outfits. If he spies any injured grogs, he will offer to help – he has Crafter’s healing (City & Guild p71) and will attempt healing for a token payment.
Products
Glassware, alchemical reagents, herbs – all suitable for lab use and the more expensive ones can count as the bonuses for Superior Equipment and Precious Ingredients (Covenants p116)
Cloth suitable for clothes of the latest fashions
Parchment, ink, and bookbinder’s glue – comes from a variety of sources so will require careful matching to produce a consistent book.
Herbs and spices – clearly from a range of countries, showing off the reach of their contacts.
Story Seeds
1 The covenant is well-known at the fair, and they are trying to expand their network. They want your covenant to use them for more of their goods, and will try and persuade you it’s easier to use them than to try and source items yourself
2 The magi are preparing a major expedition to somewhere exotic, like into mythic Arabia or sailing to Iceland. The magi are evasive as to where they are based as they don’t want to tip off anyone how many magi will be absent next year. If any magi are particularly linguistically skilled, well-travelled or Gently Gifted they may be invited to join in on the expedition
3 “Multae Apothecae” is an alias registered in the Roman Tribunal via a chapter house in Venice. Actually, the magi of the covenant are from the Normandy Tribunal, and have stolen goods meant for a rival covenant. They are trying to sell their takings far from Normandy. Alternatively they may be covering for a pirate covenant, like Waddenzee.