Shom is the largest of Nibenay's merchant houses. This family's legacy goes back over 1,000 years and is closely intertwined with the mercantile history of the region. The house has, however, shown no signs of growth for centuries. Its enterprises have been in slow decline. Only the sheer size of the house and its tremendous wealth allows it to continue to dominate trade in Nibenay. There are plenty of opportunities for smaller, more aggressive houses to successfully establish themselves in the city. Shom is generally too large and slow to respond to competitors. While Shom will eventually react to a competitor entering one of its traditional areas of business, it can be relied upon to ignore new markets and ventures. House Shom is known for the reclusive, decadent lifestyles of its masters. The Shom family is said to have an insatiable appetite for luxury and sensual experimentation. Few people have actually seen a member of the Shom family, for they emerge from their palaces in heavily curtained howdahs carried by slaves. House Shom is seen as the epitome of the spiritual vacuity and moral erosion that is inherent among mercantile enthusiasts. As if to vindicate the critics, a huge fountain built in the front of one Shom estate endlessly pours water into the sand in a display of excess. (Actually, the fountain recycles its water.) There has been a recent move for reform within the house, driven by young Jebea Shom. He is currently inspecting Shom's remote outposts to formulate ideas and gather supporters in an effort to reverse the fortunes of the house.