The Hive of Merchants
Deal's On
With every end comes a new deal,
Just make sure the next deal's yours to make,
To Be Revealed
"Sorry No Spoilers Allowed"
INTRODUCTION
Published by Merchant Hive Queen Sozlesme
Live by the trade, die by the trade. My hive has always believed in the process of transferal of goods. One creatures trash is another's treasure right. My hive began from small beginning's. A small changeling discovered that through giving we receive. He began to deliver one creatures gifts to another. The catch, the creatures were at war with each other. But he went on believing in the trade. When the war ceased he was expelled from his land and left to die. But he never gave up. He kept the trade going. Sharing gifts of joy and secrets of the trade to other creatures. Soon his trade crew, many joined him. Soon it became unrivaled. Today we call it business. Today it is my hive. Today my hive means business.
Hive Data
Hive of Merchants
Located in the Saddle Arabia
Ruled by Queen Sozlesme
Primary Emotions:
Greed, Curiosity, Anticipation, Discipline, Restraint and Confidence.
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Occupations:
Merchants, Traders, Mailman, Retailers and Contract managers.
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Closest Human Nationality:
Turkey
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Unique Abilities:
Contract Linkage. While not an ability used that often it does shine out every now and then. It simply helps parties signing contracts remember the deals they made and tries to push them in the right direction to stay true to their word. Some use their services to make sure companies are following their word. Other Changeling’s have discovered that their ability can be helpful for even little problems. For example helping others keep to their new year's resolutions or training schedules. The light push this spell does has proven extremely effective and other hives like the Health and Motivation have looked into it.
For more on the limitations of this ability see the report itself.
The next ability is X-Ray vision. Hold on, not like super duper X-Ray vision. It is only short range (like 5 metres) and cannot look at another's bones or anything like that. Although such a skill would be helpful for a certain Minotaur Heath Hive. The X-Ray vision is more useful in deducing what the contents of a package are.
While not historically related to the Griffon Kingdom they are known to have an above average wing strength. This stems from their many years of transporting goods.
They are also fluent in multiple languages and can easily pick up on new ones. This trait is shared by the Ideals Hive who just so happen to live in the same nation.
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Naming System:
Next up is their naming system. At birth a Changeling is given a single name. However once they reach adulthood they are free / encouraged to add an extension onto that name. These extensions come in the form of street types. Such as Alley, Ave, Lane, Way.. etc. The choice of extension usually tells a bit about the Changeling. Some extensions show character, others show status and some relate to occupation. Here is a list of such extensions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_suffix
Names can include Grace Viaduct (probably a high position black market female), Ashley Grove (Chances are a merchant who deals with Zebrican affairs) and Winston Field (most likely relating to a male with a more laid back personality). Names can start with the extension like Arcade Light (who would most likely work with the Chance Hive quite often or just likes games, probably a bright and cheerful personality as well).
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Hive Structure:
The Hive itself is not located in a particularly interesting location. Rather the Merchant Hive use a similar method as the Artist Hive, They hide the entrance in plain sight as a seemingly boring building.
The Building however is located on one of the main merchant trading streets. This is beneficial, not only because it is close to work for many of the hives Changeling's but also because in all of the hustle and bustle of the main street no pony ever:
a) notices the small unappealing building and,
b) notices the Changeling's (in disguise) enter and exit it.
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Past the receptionist is an elevator. However the elevator is a trick. While the elevator works well in delivering non-Changeling's to different floors for the purpose of contract work it does not take anybody to the hive itself. To get to the hive you have to open the hatch either below or above the elevator and step out of it. The entrance is somewhere below or above the elevator, the exact placement in terms of height changes every week. From there the Changeling's use their X-Ray vision to detect where the entrance is by seeing the gap past the wall. Once they see where the gap is they fly up or down and push in the correct brick which opens up the passageway into the hive.
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They also have a larger back entrance that can be used to deliver larger packages. This entrance can only be opened from the inside and is located outside of the city hidden away behind some dunes. Incoming Changeling's can enter by using the hive-mind to ask for passage. Guards make sure the premises is clear before opening the back entrance which opens up like a large circular floor. There are times when queues occur as they wait for the rare passer by to pass. They generally just play cards or something as they wait. A habit inspired by the Chance Hive.
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Queen Status:
Name - Sozlesme
Name Meaning - Contract in Turkish.
Approximate Age - 500
Summary - First and foremost she is a business consultant in her horse form. She travels around (mainly in the Saddle Arabian region) and provides top of the line business advice. Mainly she helps businesses know where they should invest their money to earn the greatest profit. Her connections also make her powerful in the business world. Many small entrepreneurs seek her out to help kickstart their business. If she sees promise in the business then she helps them out for a percentage of the profits and / or other possible personal benefits, from forcing them to use her transport services to forcing them to let her hire workers that she deems worthy (her Changeling's).
On the outside she is friendly enough. However her go to state is of a wealthy business horse. So she takes her position of Royalty quite seriously and almost demands such respect whether or not she is in horse or Changeling form.
However on the inside she is a calculating, almost ruthless strategist. If a deal does not benefit her or her hive then chances are that she will not be involved. This can lead to conflict.
Sozlesme is also a brilliant public speaker and strategist, although not as brilliant as the revolutionary Gwyneth who inspired Equestrians during the Luna Civil War.
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Lineage Summary:
No Daughter.
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Rise to Leadership:
Essentially a princess earns her rights of passage by starting up their own business from scratch.
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Public Relations:
Hives have vastly split views upon the hive. Many benefit from the hives effective trading solutions and business partnerships. Others deem it's under hoof tactics and black market aspects to be unacceptable.
Historical Facts:
Sozlesme was not born a queen. Beforehoof she was a very successful business pony managing contracts for multiple businesses. Basaris ended up passing the crown when she deemed herself unworthy to rule over the hive. Their was a time after this that Sozlesme went a little overboard with her power and let the black market part of her hive grow. She has since realised the error of her ways and has begun to eliminate the darker side of her hive. She was never villainous but simply infatuated with power.
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Extra Points of Interest:
To be Revealed.
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