Per Magical Industrial Revolution. Once a year, roll a 1d6 against the current status of the innovation. Roll higher than the innovation and the innovation progresses to the next stage. While not necessary to introduce to your players immediately, by the time the innovation hits stage 4, the effects it’s having on the city should be noticeable to the players. The Tempo represents the pace of life and innovation and is equal to the lowest state of all current innovations -1 ( Tempo is at least 1). A campaign should generally have no more than 8 of these.
Volmaakt Oost-Bhenjiku Bedrijf
He was a scallywag, a chancer, a ruthless fighter and a dangerous driver of bargains over the speed limit. Since it was a bit of a mouthful, he was referred to as a successful businessman, since that more or less amounted to the same thing.
– Terry Pratchett, Snuff
There have always been those whose power derives from their ability to accumulate and hoard vast wealth. The way most have done this is through acquiring, legally or otherwise some form of Monopoly. A monopoly can be in a variety of forms, but one who has one has the ability to acquire one will soon acquire riches. One who has acquired such wealth by such means will take any action necessary to defend it.
Frits de Hoot was the leader of a small fleet of privateers. in the closing months of the War against the Lion Crown, he managed to capture an intact merchant vessel loaded with spices. While the Spices sold well back in Zuidersdam, the sudden abundance of them drove the prices down. While the spices were valuable, Frits had found something worth more than the shipload of spices. He managed to stop the captured merchant captain from burning his rutter, containing the navigational secrets to finding and acquiring spices directly from the Spice Islands of Bhenjiku. And so, just after the signing of the Peace of Lions, He took his privateers turned spice merchants, formed an official company to raise money for the voyage, and then sailed for Bhenjiku, returning two years later with holds full of spice.
1. Initial innovation
While praying in his cabin on the return trip from Bhenjiku, Frits de Hoot, pious man that he is, manages to communicate with the soul of his company. Upon his arrival in Zuidersdam, he successfully takes up a legal suit that demands the company not be dissolved, as dissolving the company would starve and destroy the spirit. He reorganizes the company under the name Volmaakt Oost-Bhenjiku Bedrijf (Holy East Bhenjiku Company).
This new organization, in which shareholders are given dividends based on their ownership in the company, rather than based on their funding for any particular voyage. These shareholders form a council who would decide how the company was run. Frits de Hoot applies for and recieves a government charter that empowers the company to build forts, maintain armies, and conclude treaties, in keeping with Mr. De Hoots privateer background and for the expansion of the Republics foreign trade.
The company makes a profitable and steady trade with the Spice islands. Shares cost 1 G. Shares return a 5% dividend every year to shareholders for the value of the held stock. One share is valued at 1G. The price of fine Spices drop by 10% and their availability increases from Royal to Noble.
2. Public Introduction
The Spirit of the company demands that not only it’s market share be increased but also it’s beneficiaries. The VOBB opens the purchase of stock to the public. The influx of cash allows the venture to acquire most of it’s competitors and build a swanky new head office/temple “The VOBB Hus”. The companies charter is modified to grant it a “legal” monopoly over Bhenjiku trade. The VOBB begins to regularly minor privateering activity against it’s foreign competitors. It acquires a single trade port in Bhenjiku, and begins funding exploratory expeditions to discover new lands and new goods to trade.
Shares return a 10% dividend after a year. Share value increases from 1G to 10G per Share. The price of fine Spices drop to a net 20% and their availability increases from Noble to Wealthy.
3. Widespread Adoption
Using the same legal and theological arguments, several other Zuiderdam companies apply for and receive legal protection from “market and legal execution”, Issuing their own shares and paying their own dividends.
The VOBB establishes trading posts across the Bhenjiku Spice Islands and in other lands, designating factor-governors to manage the foreign posts. Its expeditions established near exclusive trade with the Northern Wheat producing countries, as well as with the isolationist country of [Name Redacted]. The VOBB Hus is lavishly ornamented and has a church to the spirit of the company built across the street.
The success of the VOBB does not go unnoticed and several other countries establish companies with similar structure and powers, albeit without the recognition of the divine personhood of the company. Of note is Endon’s “East-Icku Company”(EIC) who has similar economic success.
VOBB Shares return a 20% dividend after a year. VOBB Share value increases from 10G to 100G per Share. The price of fine Spices drop to a net 30% and their availability increases from Wealthy to Well-Off.
From this point on, most companies issue stock and pay dividends. Most stocks are valued at 1G*Tempo and dividends are 5% value * Tempo.
True believers in the spirit of the company begin to hold regular meetings in the cathedral and actively promote it in the local newspapers of their own accord.
4. Scope Alteration
The Spirit of the company is legally declared to be a person with all the rights and legal protections thereof. The spirit of the company “acquires” a position on the city council, citing a vague passage from the Theurgia. It’s Lawyer-Priests make it nearly impossible for anyone to win a civil suit against the company. Other companies seek to follow suit but are “legislated out” by said Lawyer priests.
The Church across from the VOBB Hus is upgraded to a Cathedral and churches to the spirit of the company spread across the city. Believers in the company begin to evangelize on street corners and missionaries are sent to the rapidly expanding colonies which now trade in everything from ceramics to people, exerting more control over their trading “partners” then the partners own governments.
VOBB Shares return a 50% dividend after a year. VOBB Share value increases from 100G to 1000G per Share. The price of fine Spices drop to a net 50% and their availability increases from Well-Off to Common.
The company worshipers outnumber the Klyonics.
5. Height of Ambition
Construction begins on an appropriately lavish corporeal form for the Spirit of the Company. Laws are passed granting the company immunity from prosecution on grounds of religious freedom and autonomy. The State declares the VOBB “Too big to fail”.
VOBB Shares return a 100% dividend after a year. VOBB Share value increases from 1000G to 10000G per Share. The price of fine Spices drop to a net 90% and their availability increases from Common to Anyone.
The company worshipers outnumber the Radahnant churches.
6. Terminal Events
The Company is incarnated and takes direct control of the VOBB’s assets. It declares itself above the laws of men as harm to it would also harm everyone, and not just one person. It is king and god in all but name. It very rapidly “acquires” the whole of the republic through various hostile “Hostile Takeovers”. It declares an official state of war on any country that threatens to limit it’s trade and on anyone who it wishes to acquire more trade from.
Anyone with less than a 5% stake in the company has their shares invalidated. Those with more than a 5% stake are granted the status of High Priests and are welcomed as part of the new ruling Theocratic-Plutocracy. Anyone who doesn’t worship the Spirit of the Company is declared a FUD spreader and persecuted.
Averting the Apocalypse
Recognize the dangers of Regulatory Capture, Corporate Personhood, Monopolies, corporate consolidation, and Market Speculation. Find ways to limit the companies power by crashing the market, out-competing the company, acquire enough political allies to remove the companies charter. Acquire enough stock to be a leader in the new world order.
Gaius Invictus 