The Silver Pines Trading Company was founded in 1591 by Serabi Crest. At first, it sold mainly tools in Abernathy and Killock. Then, in 1683, the company absorbed the Cunningham Fur Traders through a highly profitable marriage and spent the next few decades slowly increasing its available wares and its clientele.
In the mid 1700s, Quistis Crest became the owner of the company. It was under her guidance that Silver Pines approached both the National Bank of Elan and parliament looking to become Elan’s first chartered company. This opportunity was more than ideal for Silver Pines, who would enjoy the expansion of their operations and powers. However, it would also be overseen to a substantial degree by the government. Regardless, the thirst Crest had to corner the trading market was unquenchable. In 1752 the Silver Pines Trading Company’s partnership with the bank and efforts with parliament finally paid off. The ink was barely dry on the charter before Quisitis began to ruthlessly put it to use.
Many companies were dissatisfied with the Silver Pines’ charter. But they lacked both the funds and political sway to counter it. One by one, most were absorbed into the company in the coming years. Silver Pines Trading Company grew and grew, becoming one of the only ways to get things that people need and want, from food to fine silk and everything in between. Few remained and some still rise and fall to this day, but Silver Pines’ control over the market is inescapable.
Silver Pines is backed by a substantial group of shareholders who all have close ties to the National Bank of Elan. These shareholders help ensure that no other trading company can truly challenge the power of Silver Pines. However, shareholders do wield a great deal of power on the company’s operations. This has led to various differences over the years in how Silver Pines conducts its business from province to province. Profits are chased relentlessly.
No longer run by a single family, Silver Pines is subject to the guidance and control of its board of directors. However, the power is truly with the shareholders. Some Elanites in the business realm swear that the directors (and the high commissioners below them) are no more than suits making certain that the profits are never at risk. Below the board are the high commissioners, a single commissioner is assigned to each province, and they report directly to the board and the shareholders.
The true workers of Silver Pines are the administrators. The administrators are in charge of all Silver Pines outposts, storefronts, and warehouses inside a city. They oversee the pursers, who themselves (with their assistants) oversee the partners and freelancers. These are the true teams that make sure the buying, bartering, and selling of goods run smoothly. Assistant purser is considered a coveted position with the company as it is one of the few ways someone has a chance at proving themselves worthy of becoming a purser. Partners are full employees of the company that work under a specific Purser and are protected under the Silver Pines articles of association, thus ensuring their place and pay within the company. Freelancers aren’t as lucky and are mainly used to keep goods flowing and payouts low. Their lives are mostly spent hopping from job to job, filling quotas like the partners but for much more freedom and much lower pay.
Once the word spread of crossing the Girdle Mountains, Silver Pines and their ever profit-driven shareholders were some of the first to push for expeditions. They believed that Thorpe Territory would yield all kinds of new products and unexhausted resources. Novelty and growth drove them to partner more seriously with Dauntless (who had been shipping their goods since its own corporate boom). The wilds and their boons were too precious to share. With a quick revision to their charter and the partnered funding of the Hargrove expedition, the Thorpe Territory was all but in their grasp. After all, no other trading company was large or well-funded enough to blaze the trail. It was inevitable that it would be Silver Pines.
C. Rider - Board member
F. Fitzgerald - Board member
M. Tuss - Board member
Q. Leads - Board Member
G. Patters - Board member
B. Rodgers (Deceased) Board member
C. Goldfel - High Commissioner of Killock
D. Hinkens - High Commissioner of Abernathy
N. Coalman - High Commissioner of Gauld
M. Minzy - High Commissioner of Wyllis
B. Lest - High commissioner of Peverin
W. Mathis - High commissioner of Huxley
As the fixer, the mixer, the overseer and the agent of the Silver Pines Trading Company, the Purser is the most important person to anyone working for the company. They deal in news, products, trade, and, most of all, money. They keep a close eye on their traders as a manager, and always looks out for the interests of Silver Pines. Impressing them (usually in quality or quantity of goods) is the surest road to success. When they share information, it is best to listen and act accordingly. No one wants to disappoint such a powerful and influential company. At times, they will send in their Assistant Purser to take over their work. Together they make one damn fine team, always with an eye for skill and profit.