Planescape The Planar Trade Consortium as a campaign villain

[Kobold Avenger]

So I'm thinking of a theoretical campaign where the Planar Trade Consortium is one of the major conflicts, taking up 1 out of 3 if using the Rule-Of-Three theme. The other 2 might be Sigilian gangsters and the Far Realm's influence. But the conflict with the Planar Trade Consortium would be one that could take the party across many of the planes, in addition to them disrupting their activities in Sigil.

The Planar Trade Consortium has been referred to in adventures outside of Planescape, including D20 Modern Urban Arcana back in 3e. We know one of it's major high-ups is the Oni (called an Ogre Mage back in 2e) known as Esteban. He would definitely be involved in that conflict, possibly even appearing as some friendly? NPC named Steve (though that might be too obvious to anyone that knows Esteban is just the Spanish version of Steven) who will inevitably betray the players.

The PTC for this campaign would be something a lot like the Dutch East India Company in that they've taken to exploiting various worlds across the planes. On some worlds they might be involved in forcefully intervening in them, especially on ones that have technology inferior to that of the early 1800s or that lack magic. On other worlds they have a more subtle influence, aligning themselves with some illicit trade. Going back to the reference from D20 Modern, they do have influence on worlds more advanced than the 1800s, but multi-planar reality filters do affect what they can take back from those worlds, often transforming things that are too high tech into an equivalent of something from the 1800s or earlier.

The PTC is also involved with many small multi-world empires for those that have spelljammers, but aren't too involved with the larger empires like the Imperial Elven Alliance, Illithids or Kreen Imperium.

Much of the action against the PTC should take place in Sigil, but sometimes they may need to be fought on other worlds, such as the ones they're exploiting.

Beyond those ideas, what's their possible endgame beyond acquiring more wealth and power? And how could they cross into the other campaign conflicts (beyond the obvious organized crime angle that will likely come up).

 

[Parmandur]

Beyond those ideas, what's their possible endgame beyond acquiring more wealth and power?

I mean, those are pretty worthy goals in themselves. But I would say: acquiring ALL the wealth and power. Challenging the established order of the cosmos through financial trickery and leverage.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I mean, those are pretty worthy goals in themselves. But I would say: acquiring ALL the wealth and power. Challenging the established order of the cosmos through financial trickery and leverage.

When you think about it, wealth is an abstraction. I guess in some ways they could try to "buy" the multiverse or reshape the planes with their wealth. It might be Esteban or a completely original character that's the Centre-Of-All when their plans come in place.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

In my mind the Merkhants who lost their position as an Ascendant Faction (using the 5e term) was primarily because of the PTC's ascension decades ago.

The PTC does have colonial ambitions on many worlds, the gate-town Rigus being one of the many places as a staging ground where they will recruit an army to invade a world on the Material Plane if they can march an army through a portal. While fighting one of these armies might come later in the campaign when the PCs are high enough levels, many of the times it's going to have to be sabotage or stealing entire arsenals of muskets and cannons from the PTC to stop such things from happening.

There would certainly be a good hook and personal stakes there if one of those worlds was one of the places a PC came from.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Yeah, colonialism and early capitalism are good PTC themes. Exploitation of labor, especially - straight up using people as tools and disregarding their humanity, employing powerful armies on their behalf, treating everyone in their web of influence as an obstacle to enriching Esteban and his shareholders.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I guess one theme I haven't thought of yet with the PTC is Gentrification, but Gentrification in Sigil can probably only go so far. I think the way the City is you couldn't fully gentrify The Hive or Undersigil based on how other forces and influences are there. The Lady of Pain herself might feel that cosmic balance is best if The Hive remains mostly impoverished and would have a bunch of Dabus do some surprise renovations to ensure it is that way. Still that doesn't mean they can't slowly gentrify or take over the other wards. And if anything The Hive Ward might grow, as in one of those cases where the city expands, because of what their doing in other wards.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

There has probably been more harm done by executives trying to meet a short-term profit goal (to increase their bonus) as there has been by companies trying to do the BIG. EVIL. PLAN. There is something amusing about somebody accidentally screwing up the multiverse because they thought no one would notice their petty scheme.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

There has probably been more harm done by executives trying to meet a short-term profit goal (to increase their bonus) as there has been by companies trying to do the BIG. EVIL. PLAN. There is something amusing about somebody accidentally screwing up the multiverse because they thought no one would notice their petty scheme.

Thinking back on the Dutch East India Company which is part of my inspiration on this, they were heavily involved with the spice trade and so was the British Empire. There's the irony about Britain going to war over spices, but many British stereotyped as not using spices. So something like spices or some type trend with a lack of foresight would be some short-term goal for a multi-planar organization.

 

[haakon1]

What are they trading?

It has be something missing but wanted somewhere, and available cheaper somewhere.

I said that obvious point because I have seen D&D settings where X place is exporting silver, Y place is exporting gold, and Z place silver again. Which is like saying, “China sends money, US sends money, Japan sends money” - no reason for anyone to leave home.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

What are they trading?

It has be something missing but wanted somewhere, and available cheaper somewhere.

I said that obvious point because I have seen D&D settings where X place is exporting silver, Y place is exporting gold, and Z place silver again. Which is like saying, “China sends money, US sends money, Japan sends money” - no reason for anyone to leave home.

Initially they built their wealth importing anything, they started in Sigil and Sigil doesn't produce much in the way of raw materials as everything needs to be imported from other planes. But after that they've built enough wealth they don't need to be generic importer. Though Sigil relies on imported resources, it has an industrial district the Lower Ward where it makes a lot of things out of all those raw materials. They certainly produce enough knives, forks, swords, clothes and whatever else for everyone in Sigil, those things will probably need to be exported elsewhere. Which is another place where the PTC will be very much involved.

The PTC has grown beyond relying on simple imports of common materials, as they've reached the point where they can start being involved in obtaining rarer materials like adamantine and mithril or more esoteric things like particular magical essences, spirit matter and the Larvae trade (unassigned evil souls of the dead) of the Lower Planes. Any of these could see them getting involved in some very nasty things, if they determine there's wealth to be made.