Turia

Turia's Caste of Merchants - TURMC

All registered merchants who reside in Turia are asked to place TURMC in their scrolls.

Merchant Law:

The City of Turia follows Merchant Law.

 
Registration/Professional Courtesy:

All Merchants must be registered within the City.   Registration with the Gor-wide caste  is not mandatory. Referrals will be made only to registered Merchants. A list of Merchants, their wares and selling area will be published in a City-wide directory. 

To register with the City:

Merchants who have never been registered by another City or the Main Caste, must submit an application with the En Chair and successfully complete an apprenticeship with a Caste Chair or their designee.

Merchants who have previously been registered elsewhere will interview with the City Caste Chairs before being allowed to conduct business within the City of Turia.


Taxes Payment:

An 8% of net receipts will be granted to the City of Turia and should be paid yearly. Any Merchant or person selling of goods within the City that is not registered will pay 12% of net receipts to the City of Turia.
All exports are taxed at 10% of the selling price;  the seller is responsible for paying it.  Anything being imported into the city of Turia is taxed at 5% of the value of the product.  The merchant bringing in the item is responsible for paying the tax.

Shop Owners:

Only sworn citizens of the City of Turia may purchase their shop or business.  All others may lease said business or property as option that comes with privilege of citizenship.  Any changes made in the structure of the building must be made by an approved builder of Turia, and the Ubar.

Base Prices:

Official base prices for all commodities represented would be set using the prices paid in the books whenever possible. When that is not possible, the price will be determined by comparison to known prices and the values in relation to the current exchange rate of coin in Ar, Ko-Ro-Ba, Brundisium and Tharna determined by the City Banker or Coin Merchant.  Official base prices will be fixed, however, widespread SL's (wars between cities) may affect the base price used in some areas. These prices will be sent to all registered members as they are compiled.

Trade Agreements:

All trade agreements must first be approved by the City En' Merchant prior to final approval of the Ubar of Turia. A trade agreement with another City in no way indicates an alliance. It is strictly an agreement to trade. If at any time the parties to the agreement are at war, the agreement becomes null and void and all trading ceases. 

A list of those Cities that the City has a trade alliance with or agreements between individual merchants will be kept on file in both the Caste Office and the Central Cylinder.

Weights/Measures/Shaved Coins:

There is a Merchant's Foot and Stone in the Chamber Council in the Central Cylinder and are available for Merchants to verify their own personal measuring devices. The use of shaved or underweight coins is illegal in Turia. Anyone found guilty of such will be arrested and held until time as they are taken before the City Magistrates where their fate will be determined according to city guidelines.

Collarings:

Free Women who are collared lose all caste rights (slaves have no caste) and their position within the caste is forfeited. Slaves who have been freed are welcome to join so long as their papers of manumission are in order.

Governing Body:

A governing Board of the Merchant Caste of Turia ( En'Merchant, Se' Merchant and Tre'Merchant ) are voted in by the members of the caste of the City and will be established with 2-3 seats serving 6 months.  All activities are up to the final approval of the governing body of Turia. 

Duties of Caste Chairs:

En Merchant develops and negotiates trade alliances; oversee the daily operation of the Caste; liaison between the City Caste and the Ubar of Turia.
Se' Merchant:  Issues permits to open all businesses within the City; assists in finding shops available and maintaining a directory of City businesses; assists city Merchants and others needing assistance with tax issues.  Fills in for the First Chair when he or she is unavailable. 

Tre Merchant:  Registers and maintains a list of Merchants within the City; assists in finding mentors for those applying to the Main and/or City Caste.  Fills in as needed by the En or Se Merchant.

Conduct:


(1) Merchants doing business in Turia will follow Merchant Law and the guidelines of the Merchants Caste of Turia. Failure to adhere will result in banning of the Merchant from doing business within Turia.

(2) The Ubar has the final say on the business dealings the Caste has with other cities. If you are doing business with a known enemy of Turia, you will be arrested and your property confiscated.  Penalties upon being found guilty may include but is not limited to:  loss of license to trade within the City, imprisonment, enslavement or even death and is at the discretion of the Ubar. 

REMEMBER

We are trying to make sure that merchants are fairly represented in Gor. Please respond to mailings and be active in the caste. An active caste is a strong caste!

Out of Character information..

Bargaining:
 "I am a merchant, said Mintar, and it is in my code to see that I am paid." ( Tarnsman of Gor pg. 121 )

At the discretion of the merchant involved, a customer may attempt to bargain for the items he wishes to purchase. The customer would roll 1d5:

1 = 10% below base
2 = 5% below base
3 = base
4 = 5% above base
5 = 10% above base

Monetary Quick Guide

The Double Weighted Gold Tarn Disk of Ar is a double weight gold coin of Turia. This coin is accepted in most cities. The weight of this coin is 1/90.7 of a stone, on earth that would be 20 grams. The coin would be valued at nearly $2,000 as the earthen equivalent.
 
The Gold Tarn Disk of Ar and Ko-Ro-Ba is a gold coin of Turia. This coin is accepted in most cities of Gor. The weight of this coin is 1/181.4 of a stone, on earth that is 10 grams.  A Gold Tarn disk to most people of Gor would be a fortune. This would be valued at $1,000 for reference.
 
The Silver Tarsk Disk of Tharna is a silver coin of Turia. This coin is accepted in most cities of Gor.  The weight of this silver coin is 1/90.7 of a stone, on earth it weighs 20 grams. These coins are far more common on Gor, and many of the lower castes would not carry these coins but the upper class will carry it regularly. The value for earthen reference is $100.

The Copper Tarsk is a copper coin of Turia. This coin is based on the copper tarsk that can be found in most cities of Gor, thus would be accepted in most other cities. The weight is 1/90.7 stone, or on earth 20 grams. This is another very common coin of Gor and for reference is valued at $1.
 
The Copper Tarsk Bit is a copper coin of Turia. This coin is based on the copper tarsk bit that is found in most cites of Gor. The weight of this coin is 1/907 of a stone or on earth 2 grams. This is the most common coin of Gor for the lower castes.  Reference Value 12.5 cents.
 
Business can also be conducted by notes, letters of credit, drafts and checks.  Paper currency does not exist on Gor.

Note:  Please note the above portion here is directly adapted from guidelines originating from work the mun of the former Merchant, Trevan MacBeith so tirelessly did.  I have adapted this portion only with his express permission and thank his mun personally. 
Mun of Valeriana Tur, former En'Merchant of Turia. RMCG #719,TURMC #4350

OOC information Links: