Sikan Company (pronounced SEE-ken)

Description: A burgeoning multinational trade organization that is partly responsible for the recent bursts of prosperity throughout the empires of Fou Lu. Their dealings are mostly in spice, oil, and produce trades, focusing on products unique to certain areas. However, the Sikan Company is rumored to be involved in illegal trafficking, most commonly believed to be poaching or opium. Some go as far to believe they might be responsible for human trafficking as well. They hold control over shipbuilding industries and construction companies so that they may inexpensively add ships to their fleet and new trading outposts to their spheres of influence. Its symbol flown on its flags is a white clipper ship overlapping a yellow orb on a blue background.

Location: Originating in Keldremad, the Sikan Company’s present headquarters are located within the walls of Tyranoth (explained below).

History: The Sikan Company started off as a small shipping venue in Keldremad that opened its doors for business in 260 A.R. The company was largely unprofitable, lapsing year after year into more and more debt. The elven founder, Arturis Sikan, was close to closing down the business until, in 268 A.R., he was contracted by the Keldremad government to ship supplies to the city of Tyranoth, which had just been devastated by a peasant rebellion. Though Arturis’s fleet was small—he had less than 15 ships under his belt—his captains were nonetheless more experienced than most others and their vessels were faster. The Sikan Company could run three shipments for every two by the other shipping venues.

The profits the Sikan Company turned as a result of its involvement with the rebuilding of Tyranoth dug the organization out of debt and into favor with the Keldremad government. As its shipping fleet grew and its investors became less dubious of its capabilities, the Sikan Company became a very powerful force in Keldremad. Eventually, it found itself tied to aiding in the Dwarven Empire’s reconstruction effort. The Sikan Company established more and more trading posts across Fou Lu, gaining sizeable power in the greater scheme of the world.

Then, Arturis unexpectedly died in 283 A.R., murdered by thieves who had broken into his house. With no clear decree on who was to succeed him, the Sikan Company fell into a dark period. Its Court of Directors, the executives under Arturis who controlled the workings of the company, fought amongst each other to succeed Arturis. Several Directors broke off and formed their own companies. The Sikan Company lost its holdings around the world, plundered into debt, and lost nearly all of its shareholders. The company fell into disrepute and disbanded in 286 A.R. None of the splinter companies fared very well, either, and by 290 A.R., they were all gone.

Twenty years later, in 310 A.R., the Twelve Years’ War started on Ercus between Tyranoth and Drethor. Arturis’s son, Rinneth, who had been a captain in the Sikan Company’s trading fleet, saw an opportunity for business and re-chartered the Sikan Company in 311 A.R., this time basing it in Tyranoth. Garnering much competition with the other, well-established trading companies, Rinneth knew he had to do everything in his power to get ahead. As such, he attained the support of his father’s former Directors, some of which joined the newly-formed Company. With the money from the faithful shareholders, he established a strong fleet with only the most competent captains and crews—most of which were veterans from his father’s days as head of the Company. As well as this, Rinneth had contacts from around the world as a result of his own days as a captain. He was able to convince them to support his company by offering very favorable trading conditions.

The new Sikan Company first focused on war profiteering, providing Tyranoth with the materials it needed for building weapons, supplying its troops, and even foreign produce. The Company was off to a rough start, though—there were still other, larger companies in its way. Rinneth resorted to sabotaging several of his competitors’ shipment (he bought off several crewmen on the ships carrying the goods and had them spoil their contents). His dirty work paid off and by 321 A.R. the Sikan Company became Tyranoth’s main provider.

The war ended in 322 A.R., which meant that the Company had to focus its attention elsewhere. Fortunately, Rinneth had favorable ties within the developing world powers. The Company traded building materials and produce to nations in need of reconstruction, provided raw materials for technological advancement, and soon enough, became a dominant force in the trading of common goods such as tea and coffee beans. Of course, this is not without saying that all of the Company’s dealings are totally legal. Rinneth started a tradition of corporate espionage and sabotage which still continues to this day.

By 400 A.R., the Sikan Company was the most powerful trading organization in Tyranoth, and perhaps the entire world. By 600 A.R., most of its trading outposts had flourished into full-fledged cities or city-states. And, though based in Tyranoth, the Company is not completely beholden to the Empire’s laws. Some people rumor that Rinneth himself might even be controlling Emperor Rale II.

The Sikan Company is also largely responsible for the present animosity between the Tyranoth and Neoglith Empires. In order to protect its interests in Tyranoth, the Company influenced the Tyranian government to increase the duties on imports from and exports to Neoglith, which has been answered in turn by a reciprocal action in Neoglith. Since the two nations have strong holds on the seas north of Ercus, the Sikan Company has also employed pirates to specifically target Neoglithian ships.

Leadership: The Sikan Company is headed by the elven Rinneth Sikan, the son of its original founder. Beneath him is a Court of Directors comprised of 5 humans, 2 elves, 2 dwarves, and 3 goblins. The Directors oversee the day-to-day business of the Company. Additionally, there are 10 Field Directors, who take care of trading in the Company’s overseas outposts.

Structure: The Sikan Company has holdings on all ends of Fou Lu, though its power in some regions is considerably less than in others. Rinneth is the Head Officer of the Company, and below him are the Court of Directors and Field Directors. Then, there are the Captain-General, who is in charge of selecting and training captains and crewmen, and the Pilot-General, who is responsible for the selection of helmsmen. Below them are the many different executives and other employees who take care of their own specific niches in the organization.

Presently, the Sikan Company boasts a very large water-bound fleet of ships that are at the top of their class. Its airship fleet is somewhat impressive as well and is still growing, though other trade organizations around Fou Lu have significantly more airships than the Sikan Company.

Each ship, whether water-bound or airborne, comes with its own retinue of crewmen assigned by the company and three mates selected specifically by the captain. Every crewman is trained with basic combat techniques to defend themselves against pirates.