Bonjour!

My name is Jean Dupont, recently appointed Gallic Regional Coordinator for the Octavarium Mercantile Guild. Guildmaster Bloggs has asked me to introduce ourselves and establish formal contact with the new Gallic government. Since the end of the war, and the loosening of border controls in Gallia, Guild-affiliated merchant captains have been eagerly anticipating the opportunities that Gallia represents in the form of new merchandise and markets. I should begin by explaining who we are and what we do.

The Octavarium Mercantile Guild is a professional association providing for the needs of Natio Octavarium's independent traders. In exchange for modest dues and upholding Guild standards of ship maintenance and crew treatment, we provide access to lucrative trade contracts, discounted docking and repair fees, and access to qualified, guild-certified officers and crew. Guild merchants, though functionally independent, are the equal to any corporate trade ship, and can move merchandise almost anywhere in Gallia and most of Sirius.

Being from Gallia originally, I know, better than anyone, how hard change can be. For centuries, Gallia has been isolated, and your introduction onto the wider stage heralded a decade of violence and war. Given that experience, we understand that trust comes hard, but we feel that, given the opportunity, we can prove to you that Sirius offers more to your people than death and pain. We only ask for the opportunity.

Bonjour!

I'm afraid I'm not qualified to answer questions about Natio Octavarium's diplomacy as diplomatic matters are outside the Mercantile Guild's remit. If you need more than I can provide, I would be happy to loop in someone from the Government. I can, however, answer the other half of your request.

While it is true that markets in Liberty and Bretonia are now open to you, I'm sure you're well aware that not everyone in either nation is comfortable at dealing with a nation they were so recently at war with. By contrast, Natio Octavarium's trade ships are, with the exception of Rheinland and Corsair space, welcomed in ports across Sirius. To that end, we can act as middlemen, allowing your goods to reach customers that they otherwise wouldn't. We may not be able to match some of the larger house corporations for shipping volume, but we more than make up for it in our ability to reach a wide variety of lucrative markets.

I trust this answers your questions?