Path of the Merchant

The Roads

A Path on the Road of Kings

Sobriquet: Merchants

While the princes wared for control of the domains of Europe, a small faction slowly increased in strength. A few Cainites recognized the potential inherent in merchants and skilled craftsmen, and have considered the possibility of buying thrones rather than winning them by force. Traditional Scions scoffed at these money-grubbers, believing that power lay in controlling networks of vassals and armies bound by ancient loyalty. These hoary tyrants found themselves marganilized by a younger breed who had harnessed the flexibility and speed that money can bring.

The Merchants hold fast to the Scion ideals of ladder-climbing, self-mastery, and deal-making, but for them wealth is the key to power, self-mastery and hard work are the keys to success in business, and oaths and promises are the cornerstone of a merchant's good name. For many, the path is a means to an end; earn enough wealth to purchase a domain and a title. A rare few see greater potential in the path. Why control a domain openly when you can own it in all but name?

Practices: Most business must be done by day, so Merchants are forced to work through intermediaries for the most part, making deals over dinner or, increasingly in the modenr nights, over vast distances through time to where their business partners walk by day. They exert their influence over mortal businessmen, helping ensure that their businesses prosper in exchange for a heafty piece of the profits. Powerful Merchants often have numerous business interests, which may or may not even be aware of each other.

The Merchants also do business with their fellow Cainites. A loan made to a prince in desperate need of funds to cintinue fighting against a rival can give a Merchant the prince's ear and some favors to be discussed at a later time. Many Cainites have considerable wealth, and hunger for goods the merchants can provide from far-off lands.

Cainites who come to the path once did so by apprenticing to an elder Merchant to learn the tools of the trade, all the while fattening the coffers of their mentor in the process. Today, Merchants are trained in mortal schools, and need training only in how to harness their knowledge to fight the beast. Some few who did not learn such skills in life have found their way to the Via Mercator. Being barred from mortal educational institutions and entry-level positions, they must learn their skills the old fassioned way, at the feet of a master Merchant.

Mercantile Virtues: Conviction and Self-Control.

Additional Ethics of Business

• Wealth is the key to power and control.
• Power can be just as effective behind the scenes, perhaps even more so.
• Your reputation is all that you really own, and is worth more than the rest put together.

Aura: The Merchant's Path affects rolls he makes to influence others in business arrangements, or attmepts to convince them that his word may be trusted.

Hierarchy of Sins against Business

10	Neglecting your work.	Working hard is the key to success.
9	Treating a customer with disrespect.	You must earn the customer’s respect and cooperation.
8	Treating an inferior as an equal.	Everyone should know their place, including you.
7	Breaking your word to a customer.	Trust is earned by being trustworthy.
6	Behaving shamefully before your peers.	Honor and reputation are everything.
5	Showing weakness in front of inferiors.	A leader must be seen as strong.
4	Failing to answer a challenge to your good name.	Your good name is all that you truly own.
3	Treating a superior with disrespect.	Superiors must be given the respect they are due.
2	Breaking your word to your superiors or clients.	Your word is your bond. If your word is worthless, then so are you.
1	Breaking a sworn oath or deal.	Such agreements hold the world together.