Editing Acrozatarim/Icons (section)

==The Merchant Prince==

''The power no longer behind the throne''.

'''Usual Location''':  The Merchant Prince is most commonly found at the residence of House Pendarme in Corinte.

'''Common Knowledge''': The Merchant Prince is not the new ruler of the city-state of Corinte now that the monarch has been deposed; he's not even technically the head of House Pendarme, as that role is taken by his nephew.  But everyone knows that he is the most influential man in the city, and indeed in all the city-states of the White Bay - a canny politician with an incredible head for trade and treachery.  Some even say that he is a sorcerer, and he is certainly feared as much as he is respected - but the other merchant Houses are willing to bow their heads to his authority in this time of tumult and change.

'''Characters and the Merchant Prince''': There's not a doubt that the Merchant Prince is spinning innumerable schemes, and many find themselves caught up in events that are his work without ever realising the true architect of their situation.  When matters demand a more direct form of intervention, the Merchant Prince makes use of many agents and mercenaries.  Something that seems rather out of character for a man of his position is that he sometimes seeks out fledgeling mages for an audience, an experience that often seems to set them on a course towards dramatic events.

'''Allies''':  Now that the king of Corinte is out of the way, the Merchant Prince is entertaining negotiations with the Lord-Commander, the Vault-Keeper and the Frost Envoy, although he surely can't keep friendly relations with them all at the same time.  In the past, he has sometimes been willing to deal with agents of the Truth-Seeker.

'''Enemies''':  The Hierophant and Silver Warder are both threatened by the emergence of this new power in the White Bay.  The Solitary Flame is not an outright enemy, but each Icon's web of influence spreads far and sometimes clashes or becomes entangled with the other

'''The True Danger''':  Changing the status quo in the White Bay could mean the whole area becomes mired in unrest and turmoil, but the real problem is that the wider powers of the Drakkath just don't know what the Merchant Prince's agenda is yet.