The story of the Verdant Wind Company begins with a man, adds another
and then becomes hard to track as its heads seem to grow as those of a
mythical Hydra.
When Sharlyan colony was still neighboring the southern reaches of Ishgard,
not only had the warring nation the detached scholars to trade and
study from, but their long standing allies in neutrality — an island
nation of Thavnair.
Exotic silks, foreign spices and miraculous medicines found their ways
under the Fury's gaze and into the hands of those whose coin purses
could allow goods that traversed both water, land and air to simply
reach the stoic nation. Such a far flung trading endeavor is a pureview
of those lucky enough to have the mettle for it, be it given or forged
in sweat and blood.
For the long years that stretch between the
departure of Sharlyans and the first forays of the Garlean Empire to
establish foothold in Coerthas, this Hannish merchant that stood liason
to the House Lords and the Holy See was a hyuran man from the Sahjattra
Concern of Radz-At-Han. A man pleasant to the nobility for his
understanding of their status and needs.
Alack and alas, the
tides change and so do fortunes. The palatable man departed in light of
rising tensions across the Gyr Abanian border. Though Thavnair is not an
enemy of Garlemald, war does not become the safe transfer of precious
cargo across the realm.
In his place, filling the void shortly prior to a new rousing of Ishgard's ancient enemy, Nidhogg, comes one C'laude Rahna,
who comes bearing the foreign ruler's seal and a message that he is to
be the envoy to the city-state. So that the trade may ever flow. Ishgard
soon found their new guest to be less palatable than the one prior,
possessed of a furred tail and long ear. Qualities for some enticing and
exotic, bordering on heresy or simply foreign — yet undeniable was the
miqo'te's ability to procure the goods nobility sought. Oft before the
wish for it could even be breathed, due to the man's immediate penchant
to mingle, listen well and talk even better. His standing suffered only
for his acts to thwart purchases that his predecessor was more than
willing to allow — as in Ishgard he remained not as a man of commerce
but a diplomat that facilitated the presence of many others.
But
this is a whisper only heard after far too many goblets of wine taken
upon one's chest in high places and mostly amongst the reckless youth
that doesn't know to keep their ambitious and denied forays quiet.
The
short span of time that the 7th Umbral Era reigned the calendar saw the
decline of trade with ailing Ishgard — the frigid skies and frozen land
and shore thwarting many a route that once was more accessible. This
period saw C'laude succeeding in negotiating a work of caravan to Mor
Dhona as a change from the direct deliveries to the reigning capital.
With
the stirring of the Horde and dwindling of resources of Ishgard and her
people, the interest in trade of exotics with it lessened still. Yet,
even as the small embassy of Thavnair saw its end in Ishgard, it seemed
that C'laude Riegan chose to stay. Not just as a solitary diplomat and murchant, but as a proprietor
of his own trading company. With sizable investments, it has seen quick growth and spread across the continent of Aldenard with
frightening speed — boasting a deal of collaboration with the Skysteel
Manufactory in provisions and its first freight airships no later than half a dozen moons after being established.
After
House Gaspard has been reinstated, its office suspiciously swiftly
opens on an old property now allegedly leased to the company.
Verdant
Wind Mercantile Company seems to trade in almost every good that needs
to be fetched and has, in recent times, began its own
mining and botanical acquisitions, procurement of provisions and establishment of artisanal circles and even manufacturing processes.
Conspicuously, despite the
rumors of many employees of note being known beyond the borders of
Ishgard, C'laude and his masked secretary (who isn't keen on sharing his
name) remain the most known merchants of this company in Ishgard, aggregating infamy that shields their colleagues from Ishgard's ruthless rumor-mill.