The Vintners’ Guild, known formally as the Crimson Barrel, is one of the most powerful and influential factions in Nova. It controls every aspect of banana wine production, from the planting of the first vine to the sale of rare and prestigious bottles to the kingdom's most powerful families. The guild’s control over the luxury alcohol trade has made it an indispensable player in Nova's economy, and its influence spreads far beyond the city walls, with its product being highly sought after across Novain and the distant regions of Banana.
The guild is a pragmatic, highly-organized faction, built on a strict hierarchy and a code of ruthless efficiency. While the Morvains are often seen as the royal rulers of Nova, the Crimson Barrel operates as a parallel power in its own right. It thrives on the balance of luxury and exclusivity, ensuring that the finest wine is never within reach of the common people, while maintaining a stronghold on both trade routes and political power.
The guild was founded centuries ago when a group of ambitious traders discovered the climate of southern Banana was perfect for cultivating the banana grape—a rare fruit whose fermented juice produced a sweet and potent wine. The first few vintners were simply skilled farmers and tinkerers, but as the demand for banana wine grew, so did their ambition. Over time, the guild grew into a commercial empire, with massive vineyards and estates across the kingdom, particularly in the fertile hills near Nova.
The guild’s name, The Crimson Barrel, comes from its symbol—a red barrel marked with a golden vine, representing the exclusive and rich nature of its product. Wine barrels became synonymous with both wealth and influence in Nova, and this iconic imagery has been the hallmark of the guild for centuries.
At its heart, the Crimson Barrel values ambition, craftsmanship, and discretion. Unlike many guilds or noble houses that pursue power through raw force or tradition, the Vintners’ Guild believes in subtle control—its members prefer to work in the shadows, making their influence felt through trade agreements, marriage alliances, and social maneuvering rather than outright confrontation. The wine is the perfect metaphor for their approach to life: patient, crafted, and refined, yet capable of being decisive and euphoric when needed.
The guild’s culture is built on exclusivity. Only those with enough wealth or noble connections can ever hope to become full members of the guild. Those who join do so not just for the money, but for the status and respect that comes with association. It's understood that the more prestigious the wine, the more powerful the person enjoying it.
The guild’s primary operations lie in the vineyards and the production of banana wine. These vineyards are not simply farms; they are fortresses of productivity. The best soil is cultivated meticulously, and only the most skilled workers are allowed to tend to the vines. Each season, the harvest is carefully monitored, and every bottle of wine is aged with the highest level of attention to detail.
These vineyards are heavily protected. Guild members often employ security forces to ensure that rival factions or thieves do not disrupt the production process. This protection extends to the smuggling operations that some guild members secretly engage in, moving wine to foreign markets or to the lower city for black-market sales.
At the heart of the guild’s operations are the cellars, massive underground chambers within Nova, where the best wine is stored, aged, and tested for quality. These cellars are far more than storage—they are prestige chambers, where only the most exclusive bottles of wine are aged for years, sometimes decades, to develop their rare qualities.
On a more commercial level, the guild controls a large portion of the wine market in Nova. The middle city is full of marketplaces and wine shops that sell the guild’s products. These places are considered elite, catering to the upper classes and wealthy merchants who can afford to indulge in the guild's finest offerings. The guild uses a tiered pricing system, with each vintage and bottle type carrying its own price point—the rarer the wine, the more it costs.
At the top of the guild sits the Guildmaster, a figurehead of control, strategic thinking, and diplomatic prowess. The leadership structure is formal and hierarchical. Beneath the Guildmaster are various High Councilors, each overseeing a key section of the guild’s operations. These may include the Vineyard Masters, the Cellar Keepers, the Trade Overseers, and other specialized roles.
The guild operates under a system of patronage, where younger members often rise through the ranks by proving their worth to the High Councilors or the Guildmaster. There is little room for inefficiency in the Vintners’ Guild, and anyone who falters is quickly removed or reassigned.
While the guild’s public face is one of unity and sophistication, internally there are rivalries and power struggles. The most prominent of these is the ongoing competition between two factions within the guild:
The Purists – This group is made up of traditionalists who believe in the craftsmanship and heritage of banana wine. They argue that the wine should be authentically produced, adhering strictly to old methods and practices. They often clash with more progressive elements within the guild who believe that innovation and profit should take precedence.
The Innovators – This faction believes in adapting the production of banana wine to fit modern tastes. They advocate for experimenting with new ingredients, faster aging techniques, and exporting wine to a wider range of regions. Some even argue for branching out into other alcoholic products to diversify the guild’s influence.
Both factions are led by high-ranking councilors, and while they often clash, they must still cooperate in order to keep the guild’s business running smoothly. The Guildmaster often acts as a neutral party, mediating between the two sides, but their patience wears thin as internal disputes threaten profits.
The guild’s relationship with outsiders is one of calculated diplomacy. The Vintners’ Guild has strong ties with foreign merchants, especially those from the east and the north, but they guard their trade secrets fiercely. Foreign buyers who wish to acquire their products must often go through exclusive channels, and only the wealthiest are allowed to purchase the most prestigious bottles.
The guild is wary of outsiders who try to muscle in on their trade. Foreigners attempting to operate in Nova without the guild’s blessing face economic sabotage or subtle manipulation. The guild has been known to use its influence to sway trade tariffs in their favor, bribing officials to block rival wine producers or even sending saboteurs to destroy illegal wine batches.
At the same time, the guild actively seeks to expand its international market. They’ve recently negotiated deals with other kingdoms, setting up trade routes to bring their wines into regions where the demand for luxury goods is high.
Monopoly on Banana Wine: The guild seeks to maintain an absolute monopoly over banana wine, ensuring that no other region or foreign producer can undercut their price or quality. They aim to exclusively control the most coveted vintages in all of Banana and the surrounding kingdoms.
Social Influence: The Vintners’ Guild is increasingly focusing on gaining influence within the royal courts and noble circles. The guild has long used marriage alliances, festivals, and exclusive tasting events to garner favor with Nova’s elite. They aim to cement themselves as the dominant social faction.
Expansion of Production: Although the Purists and Innovators are at odds, the guild intends to expand its vineyard holdings, both within Banana and beyond, and innovate new wine varieties that appeal to a wider audience.