Arena

10th of the Sun's Smile, 1678 "Inter te nosque" Trading Company More colloquially called "Interte Trading Company", the name means between you and us, and it signifies the privacy, easy communication, and care which the Company directs towards its clients. Originally established by the House of Churchill in 1604 at Axios with the intent of obtaining a cheaper method of transportation for raw and manufactured goods, the ‘Interte Company’ was a project that never took-off. Despite seeing some success with dwarven contractors for leather, the market soon slowed as the cataclysm that was to make Axios uninhabitable drew ever closer, its presence made evident through disasters gradually increasing in intensity. After years in Atlas, and having developed a particular affinity for the production and handling of goods, the Churchills decided to bring back their old project. This was encouraged by the current Patriarch of the House, Leslie, who having been one of the two siblings that founded the original Company in the old continent, implanted the proposition in the minds of his two nephews under his tutelage, Andrew and Falete Churchill. With renovated vigor, the two youngest members of the House and Leslie set off to work. Having begun the preparations for the foundation of the Company - its headquarters were promptly based on the family holdings of Tarraco, a fledgling hamlet on the outskirts of Senntisten, the capital of Renatus-Marna. With the headquarter's construction in progress, the Churchills arranged a meeting with their advisors to draw up the foundation of the Company. Thus, in a very productive session that went late into the night, one that was accompanied by tea and wine, the official and final charter of Interte was born. What does the Company do? The Trading Company is a provider of resources. It was rebranded as less of a transport Company and more of a production one, however it retains its culture of shipping goods to its clients at their request. It supplies its clients with a variety of goods, whether said client is an individual, business, or State. To this end, the Company is opening shops and stalls around the continent for the purchase of goods in low quantities. Given that one desires a larger quantity of resources, however, clients must contact the Company headquarters directly so that the goods desired may be purchased ‘in bulk’. All goods delivered to shops and stalls as well as to clients are done so with the use of trading caravans. Goods and Products Interte has a wide variety of goods in stock for their clients. Yet, it must be noted that some goods will only be available through direct contact with the Company headquarters at Tarraco. As per the date of its founding, the Company is experienced and will provide the following goods: Agricultural and Herbalist Goods and Products Most stalls and shops will have wheat (as wheat or hay-bales), carrots, potatoes and beetroots available, together with their cooked/elaborated variants, amongst which are bread, baked potatoes, soups and pastry goods. For the seeds, or any other alchemical herb, clients must contact the headquarters directly. Animal Husbandry Stalls and shops may provide meats, eggs and milk. Herds or individual animals can also be requested, however, the request would have to be made directly to Tarraco. Smithing Goods and Products Stalls and shops will sell short and longswords, for any specific sword design, a client must contact Tarraco directly. Armour will not be provided at shops, for sets of armour individuals must contact the headquarters directly. Mineral Goods and Products Stalls and shops will have iron and coal available. For any large quantities, Tarraco must be contacted. How the goods are produced Interte takes pride in the artisanship which is invested in the individual products which it sells. Much of the production of the goods that take a significant amount of skill, such as pastries and smithing, takes place in small businesses based in the territories of Tarraco. The Company leases the production of the good to these skilled producers, earning them a handsome pay, and the buyer an item of higher quality. Manufacturing can also fall onto the hands of Interte itself, however, this is particularly for goods which do not require a significant amount of craftsmanship, and can be undertaken by the versatile workers of the Company. A business currently associated with Interte is: Dirgesinger’s Smithing This letter was written by the current shop owner, Vraen Dirgesinger: "Here in Dirgesinger's Smithing, we have mastered the arts of the creation and repair of different kinds of armours and weapons. My abilities in this craft go back to my early infancy, when I went on to become the helper of the local smith in my old home; his name was Esteban. Through Interte Trading Company, we are able to get the best business without having to move too much as they become the middleman in many of our interactions, that is, unless a customer shows up to my smith directly, where I tend him myself! I hope I can be of service to you, and that my product is satisfactory!" - Vraen Dirgesinger Getting involved with the Company One can choose to collaborate with Interte in two different ways: as labourers, or as affiliated businesses. Those willing to join Interte as labourersare provided housing and a salary for their services to the Company. Upon joining they may choose whether to work for the “Armorum” or the “Ciborum”, indicating their area of specialty (more information is given once an individual joins). One can also choose to work as a Guard for the continual caravans resupplying the stocks of stalls and shops or the larger orders demanded by clients. Payments to labourers and guards come on a proportional basis, this means that one will be rewarded accordingly for the amount of resources they bring in, or the amount of caravans they escort until their final destination. Those willing to affiliate their current business to Interte must contact a member of the Churchill family (listed below), however, if one hasn't yet opened their business, and wishes to create it, and then affiliate themselves, they can contact the Company directly to receive a plot of land in the Barony of Tarraco, which is ideally placed on the road between the cities of Senntisten (the new and old Capital of Renatus-Marna) and the town of Belvitz. To make an order, or to affiliate oneself with the Company contact: Andrew Churchill (TheArena), Falete Churchill (erniberni) & Leslie Churchill (llucaxu)

Its a fantastic post, outlining the consequences that powergaming has not only on the community, but also to the underlying story-line which continues propelling the server. I did, however, want to comment on an aspect which I feel this post doesn't highlight as much as it ought to, and that is that we are all the protagonists of our own story, and so can be carried away by situations that occur in-game - hence causing us to powergame. To my experience, this is the most common cause of powergaming. Whether in LOTC, or out of character, we all want to strive for the betterment of ourselves, it is only natural for a rational being to do so. In our day-to-day lives, we face obstacles in our leap for success that may very well stop our endeavour in its tracks, perhaps temporarily, or perhaps entirely, forcing us to reconsider our very definition of success and what we strive for. In this world where, as Treshure points out, we can create ourselves and try to fulfil our fantasies, many get carried away with the strength of the character they create. Rather than be stumped by day-to-day barriers, players can make themselves super-human to overcome said barriers directly - to avoid the process of reconsideration of success and our goals which we so often undertake in our lives. And this kind of powergaming is often times subconscious or accidental. After all, who isn't guilty of using unorthodox means to stay alive in situations of trouble? Desperate situations call for desperate attempts at resolution - its only human. The solution that I see to powergaming is self-consciousness. If one realises that something is out of their grasp, and that no matter how terrible a situation they may only act within the realm of their abilities and reality, then can they truly put powergaming to rest. As with everything, though, its a process which everyone must undertake as an individual for it can only be corrected and called-out by GM's for so long. This is because blatant powergaming is the only kind that can truly be stopped by moderators, because its so obvious that it can hardly be hidden, however, its the small day-to-day leaping of obstacles kind of powergaming that is more common. After all, doing something once will make one more liable of doing it again, even unconsciously. Like a snowball, this casual powergaming can lead to more severe cases. Ultimately, powergaming will always be present in any roleplaying community, my suggestion is to just stay wary and do your best to ensure that the person powergaming isn't you, and it often takes effort for it is hidden in our daily affairs. Another point I took away from Treshure's post is that one has to be happy they are flawed. Being flawed is what makes us all human, and what makes seemingly impossible achievements so admirable - that one out of the bunch was able to go out there and do something great, or something terribly evil with the tools that are available to us all. Enjoy your rping everyone, and as Treshure so well put in his conclusion, try to have fun and push the community's storyline. =)