Longard

The Longard Family

A wealthy middle class family in the Free Cities of Dallaall. They run the Longard Trading Company, responsible for politically-neutral trade routes of only legal goods. Headed by Wilaam Jehms Longard, the company runs about four caravans at any one time of a handful of wagons. They go to all corners of the continent and return with textiles, oils, gems, jewels, herbs, spices, and various buyers also fulfill more unique requests.

Wilaam Jehms Longard

A graying man, solid in stature, married to Maribael Anna. He is the head of the family, and spends most of the time training his firstborn, Cratoss, tending to the company's affairs, or with his wife. He has three sons from Maribael, Cratoss Jehms, Norvaan Pross, and Michaal Jonn. In his earlier years he was a known philanthropist, having taken a number of street urchins, given them a weapon, and used them as cheap guards. Many of those young urchins grew to become experienced guards, and a few actually joined as caravan runners.

Maribael Anna Longard

Maribael Anna is a beautiful, brown-haired, middle aged lady. She acts well the part of the demure wife to Wilaam's often lavish-but-demanding life. She raised Cratoss, Norvaan, and Michaal with a firm but loving hand. She is the one who originally suggested that Norvaan be provided a military education, as well as the first to witness Michaal's ability. Though she is not usually seen in the business proceedings surrounding trade and the company, she has often been privy to Wilaam's complaints, thoughts, and musings on the current affairs. She is well versed in politics and business from her proximity.

Cratoss Jehms Longard

Cratoss Jehms, firstborn son, is Wilaam Jehms' pride and joy. He has a sharp mind, and a smooth tongue, which has been cultivated by both his father and mother. He is usually at his father's side, discussing the caravans, writing letters, or developing contracts. He carries the family seal, and acts as protege and aide-de-camp to Wilaam. Anything that reaches Wilaam has been through Cratoss' hands, except when he has been assigned delivery of a contract.

Michaal Jonn Longard

The youngest, and most magically adept, of the Longard family, has recently been seen in and around the Dallaall Free Cities Academy of Arts and Arcane Magicks. His magical ability became apparent one night after Maribael could not light a fire. He enjoys retelling the story to those curious, as much of the magic he utilizes seems to have verbal components in a language not even he understands. The archmages at the school have been very satisfied with his skills, and see him as a good student.

He has been seen socializing with a young Necrosaran priestess and a middle aged dwarf iron-smith. Some of their antics have been popularized by an opening line of a joke.. "a hedge wizard, a priestess, and a blacksmith walk into a tavern.." followed by a punchline of clearly improbable situations.

Ruufus

Ruufus is the only non-human member of the Longard family, but often regarded as such. He's a small goat acquired by Michaal Jonn from a trip he took to the state of Cordoba, in the Canton Kingdom. Ruufus stays around the stables, often seen wandering about with the horses, Ji'el, and Frerda.

Caravans

The Longard Trading company owns twenty wagons in four caravans, each with a unique name and guarded by a number of individuals culled from many walks of life. Mercenaries and Wizards are often found among the guards, due to the unique structure of pay within the company. Experienced guards may choose an allotment of the goods to attempt selling on their own or for personal use, or a share of the total profit gained by the traders. This appeals to many mercenaries, who seem to fight with greater zeal, and travel much longer hours. Some of the more experienced guards have retired due to putting in a number of years worth of work. Many mages choose to work for and guard the unique buyer caravan, headed by Cratoss, due to its travel to far-flung areas, exposure to different cultures and relics.

The Four Caravans of the Longards

 Wilaam Jehms and the Longard Trading Company own 20 wagons as part of their business operations, and two for pleasure and estate purposes. The nomenclature 'Glorr' is a notation of the age and profitability of a caravan. The Kattan and Carvorel Setter both have passed the age the Exet and the Garrata acquired the name, but only the Kattan has a real chance at reaching the profit threshold Wilaam used to justify giving the title to the first two. 

Glorr Exet - Cratoss Jehms usually leads the Glorr Exet, the name of the family's oldest caravan group. Wilaam has constantly repaired and upgraded his first wagon, eventually becoming the main wagon of this caravan. Cratoss himself rides in this wagon, augmented by a suspension system of Michaal's design. The bed of the wagon is supported by flexible ironyew wood, often used in bows, so that delicate art, vases, or other fragile goods are not disturbed by rough roads. Cratoss drives this wagon, and has often praised Michaal's ingenuity after a long trip.

Guards that prove themselves capable in combat are sometimes offered a seat as a second coachman, allowing them a smooth period of rest from horseback or on foot. Cratoss calls this "an extension of my father's hospitality" as a reward for excellent service.

Glorr Garrata - Spice buying caravan. Wilaam focused almost obsessively on breaking into the spice markets and taking large shipments across the most treacherous terrain. He often favored going along on this caravan when he was younger, due to its travel to far off, strange reaches. This caravan can often take treks lasting 8 months, and has been to the far reaches of East Gallantria.

Maribael Anna never enjoyed Wilaam's absence, but he often returned with lavish gifts, and letters to her written in his own hand. He never sent them by messenger, but gave them to her once a week, to detail what happened and his musings, thoughts, and love for her.

Kattan - Textiles and clothing. While not always a profitable caravan, the Kattan is kept running due to the eclectic and fast changing tastes of not only the common folk seeking cheap fabric, but the well-to-do of the Free Cities, looking for ornate robes, boots, and accessories.

The most recent development has become dwarven boots, sturdy and resilient, which has been very popular with both nobles, who use them for horse riding, and tradesmen, who find the high quality boots worth the money they pay for them.

Carvorel Setter - This caravan often travels between the city and the Carvorel Military Academy, trading goods between small towns on the routes. The guards for this caravan are often young recruits to the Academy, usually on their way to begin their training. As the route is generally safe, Wilaam has no qualms about having untrained soldiers, or sponsoring a young man with a sword and a backpack - "The worst they can do is tip over a barrel of wheat!" So much so, he sent his own son, Norvaan, on a route when Wilaam managed to secure his entrance into the Academy.