To Become a Hansemann

  In the past, Durham has mentioned to the Scribes potential interest in joining the Hanse as a Hansemann. The Scribes thus present now a rubric under which one might become a member of that august body of traders and seamen, whether Durham takes them up, or they pique the interest of other barbarian-adventurers active in Cothon-Gadeed.

As a brief reminder, the Hanse is a confederation of merchants' guilds, especially northern guilds, who have banded together for mutual protection and better control of prices. They are said to have a "miraculous" ear to the waves about prices and demands in various markets, such that they are able to quickly marshal their resources to make a profit by selling exactly what people need exactly where they need it. In this way, they have come into economic competition with the Ten Cities' League, as well as other such leagues. They have guild-warehouses, called kantors, in many cities all around the coasts of Dirac's Sea, within the precincts of which their members are afforded certain rights and privileges as negotiated by the Hanse with the host city.

First, there are a number of requirements in order to qualify for entrance into the Hanse:

• You must have a sponsor from within the Hanse
• You must declare if you are a citizen of a Hanse city (there are many up north), or if you are a citizen of another city (e.g. Gadeed)
• If you are not a citizen of a Hanse city, you must renounce any citizenship you may hold in any other city, and swear that you will never become a citizen of such cities (again, e.g. Gadeed)
• (specific to Cothon--similar strictures apply in other cities)--you must renounce membership in any Tavern except the Kantor Kabljauhof, and must join the Kantor if not already a member (pay 100 dinars per level if that is the case)
• Declare your profession, wealth, and usefulness to the Hanse; this is mostly to ascertain where one might fit within the organization of the Hanse

Hansemänner have certain obligations and responsibilities, through the performance of which they earn the perks of being a man of the Hanse.

Perks

• Can call on the Company for material assistance; this includes the possibility of taking out a loan of up to 5000 dinars (to be repaid at an interest rate of 3%) for non-officers
• You can call on the Company for transportation or shipping to anywhere within the sphere of the Hanse, within reason
• Special trading options become available to those who are members of the Hanse
• Hansemänner enjoy legal protections in every city where the Hanse has a negotiated presence, which protects them from predation by local courts. Other than in the case of especially heinous crimes, Hansemänner are subject only to the courts of the Hanse

Responsibilities

• Hansemänner must attend Company meetings and give some service to the Hanse. This will be represented by a character spending six downtimes out of every lunar year attending to Hanse duties (these need not be consecutive)
• Likewise, Hansemänner are subject to conscription by the Company during times of extraordinary duress, .e.g. a Hansemann might be called on to serve on a galley during times of pirate raids, or pay wages for someone to stand in their stead.
• Hansemänner are also called to any Diet held by their Kantor; though these council meetings are infrequent, they decided Hanse business, and so are considered especially important. Exceptions for various circumstances are respected.
• Officers and those of higher standing within the Company are expected to perform above and beyond these mere requirements, according to the nature of their office/standing.