Westmoreland Trade Company

The Westmoreland Trade Company is a chartered company based out of the city of Westmoreland in the Barony. It is thought to be the single largest and wealthiest non-imperial entity in the world.

History
No one knows when the small family business that preceeded the Westmoreland Trade Company truly began, but when the Alfaxmos Imperium and the Celestine Empire began to encroach on the Barony's waters, Barons and private investors alike flocked to the modestly successful local business.

With the influx of cash, the modern Westmoreland Trade Company was born. They used the money to secure trade routes and bring businesses into their fold, eventually having outposts in nearly every city in every nation of the Core Empires.

Rail Monopoly
Only a few decades ago, Westmoreland engineers developed a novel idea; a steam engine that travels over land via rail. Now, all the Core Empires covet the railroads that crisscross their territories. Because they acted as quickly and as secretly as possible, the Westmoreland Trade Company owns and operates every railway in the world, from which they generate unfathomable amounts of money.

Organization
The Westmoreland Trade Company accepts funding from investors, who in turn expect to profit from their initial investment. The identity of its biggest investors is a closely guarded secret.

National branches are run from offices in major metropolises, with small local offices performing more detailed, specialized tasks such as running mail at post offices or stocking warehouses. The only aspect of the Company not overseen by national branch managers is the railroad, which has its own division.

Westmoreland prefers to hire locally, but also tends to keep a low profile. The Company is so ubiquitous that people don't even notice how many of their daily routines revolve around Westmoreland schedules and products.

The current CEO is Baron Charles, who oversees all operations and negotiations.

Activities and Rumors

 * Westmoreland has lost a great deal of Relics to Mr. X, but no bounties have been posted or offered. Some say the Company is just a front for the Ravenguard, others say that Westmoreland is taking appropriate measures behind closed doors.
 * The Westmoreland Trade Company is offering enormous rewards for adventurers brave enough to embark on expeditions into the colonial wilderness. There is a rumor that the Company has many leads on long lost Relics.
 * There are rumors that Westmoreland deliberately keeps a low profile for nefarious reasons. Indeed, ask around and many people couldn't tell you a single thing about the Company.
 * Scholars tend to be a little uneasy when the Westmoreland Trade Company is brought up- nothing like it has ever been seen before, and its only real rival is the disreputable Redfield Incorporated. The Company has a navy and an army of mercenaries that rivals the Core Empires. There are worries that the Company is the true face behind the Black Hand.