Merchant Priests

Summary

The Merchant Priests are a religious order that combines commerce with spiritual practice, identifying as adherents to the Church of the Coin. Members of this order wear distinctive vestments made entirely of pine cones, which serve as identification among fellow adherents. In Session 8 of the campaign, Brusque serves as the party's primary introduction to this tradition, explaining that the pine cone suits are "the vestment of me and of my ilk" and that "we are adherents to the. Of commerce. We wear these vestments to identify one another."

The order appears to be relatively common or well-known in the wider world beyond New Smoke, as suggested by the Meat Party Vendor's surprise that the party members had never encountered merchant priests before. When Vasso questions whether merchant priests are "a real thing," the vendor responds "No, it's a real. Where are you kids from?" and observes "Never met a merchant priest before." The vendor also notes that "all those merchant priests seem to be pretty decent," indicating a positive reputation for fair dealing and good character within the community.

A notable physical characteristic observed among merchant priests is their impressive calves. Brusque credits his strong calves to the pine cone vestments, which prevent sitting and result in "strong calves from standing all day." The party observed that this trait appears consistent across various merchants in New Smoke, including the Dust Hat Merchant, the Blob Remote Merchant, and the Teenage Salvager, though the universal nature of this trait among all merchants in the settlement may be coincidental rather than specific to the merchant priest order.

Details

The defining feature of the merchant priest tradition is the pine cone vestment. While initially uncomfortable, Brusque explains that "over time, the inside of the pine cones wears away and it becomes quite Snug." The suits are designed to prevent sitting, which Brusque credits with giving him "strong calves from standing all day." This suggests the order embraces physical endurance and constant readiness as part of their commercial practice.

Merchant priests take their tradition seriously and view their expertise in commerce as a sacred calling. When questioned about his marketing knowledge, Brusque responds with clear offense: "Allow me a moment to reflect upon what just happened. The ragged teen, who appears to have grown up beneath some sort of pier, just asked me, a lifelong adherent to the Church of the Coin, whether or not I know how to market." This reaction demonstrates that merchant priests consider their commercial skills to be both professional expertise and religious devotion.

The order's reputation for decency suggests they may operate under certain ethical guidelines or standards of conduct in their business dealings. Their visible identification through distinctive vestments creates accountability and allows for recognition between members, potentially fostering a network of trusted commerce practitioners across different regions.

History

Session 8

The concept of merchant priests is introduced to the party when Brusque explains his pine cone vestments during their time at the New Smoke Market. The party's unfamiliarity with the tradition surprises both Brusque and the Meat Party Vendor, revealing that while merchant priests are apparently well-known in the broader world, they are new to the party members. Vasso's initial skepticism about whether merchant priests are real prompts educational exchanges about the order's practices, vestments, and reputation. The vendor's comment about merchant priests being "pretty decent" establishes their standing in the New Smoke community and suggests they are respected figures in the local economy.

During their interactions with various merchants in New Smoke, the party observed that many vendors possessed notably impressive calves, a trait they discussed in relation to merchant priests and the general lifestyle of those living at the edge of the wasteland.