The Qian Conglomerate

The Qian Conglomerate is unique among the guilds of Ba Sing Sa. In that it is not a guild about bending, community, learning or perfecting an art. It is a guild that cares solely about one thing making money. That is the entire point of the Conglomerate to increase the financial standing of it's members. They are functionally the guild of merchants and businessmen and though that might not sound to impressive when compared to the other guilds their power and influence in the city are great. They employ the services of some of the other guilds, the Mechanist Combine creates their products, the Trader's Union transport them, the Earth Regency procure them and the Sons of Agni make sure that no one gets in their way. They have connections in the Dai Li and most public officials are in their pocket. Some of the more noble guilds like the Fire Regency and the Urban Air Temple have been trying to weaken the Conglomerate's hold on the city but they have so far been unsuccessful.

=Membership and Daily Life= This guild will except anybody into its ranks. It matters not to them which nation you hail from or if you are a bender or not as long as you pledge to serve them and can make lots of money you have a place here. Their is equal need for intelligent merchants, crafty spies and brutish enforcers. This is the guild with a job for everyone except the pious or the charitable. Do what your told, think on your feet and don't ask to many questions and you'll do just fine. Their are three different branches someone wishing to join may be assigned to based on their skill set, the Information Division, the Mercantile Division and the Enforcer Division. The Information Division are in charge of keeping the executives informed on what goes on both inside and outside the guild. They are charged with watching their fellow members and performing espionage on rival guilds and businesses. The Mercantile Division run the day to day operations of the guild and are in charge of handling the money made through transactions. They perform other subtler services such as extortion, racketeering and money laundering for the guild and their associates in the triads and the Trader's Union. The Enforcer Division is the most straight forward, they are fighters for hire who make sure all transactions run smoothly and that anybody who fails to pay their debts or endangers the safety or profit of the guild pay for it in broken bones and bruises. They are the leg breakers and often accompany members of the other divisions on missions in case anyone needs to be intimidated or coerced into doing something. While the guild is very large and has lots of members most of the wealth goes into the pockets of the executives who run the Conglomerate and not the members who actually make it. It is the dream of almost everyone in the guild to secure a place at the top for themselves and reap the rewards.

=Guild Hall: Cabbage Corp= A while ago before the guild became the Qian Conglomerate it was the international super company known as Cabbage Corp. It was run by its amiable president Won Gan-Lan and his vice president Tanxin. Cabbage Corp was powerful but could never defeat its main competitor Future Industries. This was partly due to Gan-Lan's charitable nature as he would donate large sums of money to the poor and personally funded the construction of Air Temple Tower. Tanxin hated this side of Gan-Lan but their was nothing he could do about it and so just tried to keep the company running despite Gan-Lan's frivolous spending. One day however as Gan-Lan and his wife were riding back from a service at the Urban Air Temple. Assassin's from the Son's of Agni attacked their Cabbage Car. Their vehicle was struck by a bolt of lightning and exploded killing them both. No one knows who put the hit out on Gan-Lan some think it was the head of Future Industries who was desperate to save his dyeing company others believe that Tanxin had him killed to take control of the corporation. Some just think that the Son's of Agni killed him on a whim to inspire terror and respect. After his death Tanxin took control of Cabbage Corp despite Won's son Wang still being alive but too young to run a company. Tanxin joined the corporation with other prominent companies and businesses to form the Qian Conglomerate.

=Guild Master: President, Tanxin= Formerly the vice president of Cabbage Corp after Won Gan-Lan was killed by assassins he was able to take control of the company due to Won's son Wang Gan-Lan being too young to run it. However Tanxin raised Wang like his own son and spoiled him rotten to the point where Wang has zero desire to follow in his real father's foot steps and run Cabbage Corp. So now Tanxin has complete control over Cabbagae Corp and used this power to merge it with several other corporate power houses to form the Qian Conglomerate. Tanxin cares little for things that can't make him money, increase his power or garner respect. He is very generous and amiable towards his allies and subordinates if they please him. However he is quick to turn on those who fail or betray him and does not hesitate to remove obstacles. More then money and loyalty what Tanxin desires from his employees and customers is respect. He cannot stand those that would dare disrespect him by double crossing him or going against a deal. He will often forgive people who fail him if they still show him respect and try to win his favor back. Tanxin is not a bender and most assume that he is hiding quite a lot of fat under his large extravagant robes. It is highly likely that he is the weakest of the ten guild masters as he always relies on his enforcers and employees to fight his battle's for him. However when angry he has been known to smash furniture and stone walls to pieces with his bare hands. So their might be more to him then meets the eye.

=Vice President: Wang Gan-Lan= The orphaned son of Won Gan-Lan, he was raised by Tanxin after his father's death. Knowing that he might grow up into another annoying philanthropist like his father Tanxin made sure to spoil Wang rotten. Tanxin gave young Wang everything his wanted and then some, instilling the belief that excess is a good thing and that only material wealth will make you happy. Young and impressionable Wang adopted this philosophy and today is a selfish and materialistic play boy who only cares about having a good time. Though he could potentially take control of the Qian Conglomerate anytime he wants he doesn't and probably never will as long as Tanxin keeps funding his never ending party. Tanxin sees him as a bit of a nuisance as he will often just stroll into his office and demand more money or will embarrass him during a meeting. So its strange that he hasn't had Wang killed or sent to another part of the city. Some believe that Wang is the last shred of Tanxin's morality and that he actually sees him as a son. It is more likely that killing Wang is more trouble then its worth. Wang is not a bender and comes from a long and distinguished line of non benders and cabbage merchants. He is of course named after one of the greatest non benders of all time Wang Fire. His combat skills are non existent and he's a coward.

=Guild Champion: Gou, the Head Enforcer= The leader of the Conglomerate's enforcer division he is Tanxin's personal body guard. Despite being in charge of all the enforcer's Gou's only job is to protect Tanxin and he is rarely given any other work. Before joining the Qian Conglomerate Gou was a commander in the United Forces. He was renowned for never surrendering and always holding the line. When Enoh started winning the war the United Republic gave up and began retreating to Ba Sing Se. Disgusted he refused to allow his battalion to retreat and for this he was court martialled and dishonorably discharged. Distraught at how the United Forces betrayed him despite years of loyal service Gou moved to Ba Sing Se and fell into an alcoholic depression. One day as he was headed to a bar in the law less zone he encountered Tanxin being attacked by a Son of Ozai. The assassin had already killed Tanxin's three body guards and was about to finish him off. Tanxin called out to Gou and ordered him to defend him from the assassin. Gou's training kicked in and he easily killed the assassin with his earth bending. Tanxin was so impressed by the display that he offered Gou a job as his personal body guard. Gou realizing that this was a chance to have a purpose again accepted and began working for Tanxin. He quickly rose through the ranks of the enforcer division by applying his military training and fervor to his job. However as more assassination attempts were made on Tanxin's life he started doing less missions and spent more time guarding his employer. Gou is a master earth and metal bender and unlike most benders does not focus solely on one or the other and can adapt his fighting style to any situation. He wields an enormous platinum long axe that has been specially tempered by the Mechanist Combine to retain the same strength and sharpness of steel perhaps even more so. The weapon is impossible to metal bending due to its purity. Though Gou had a rod of iron installed in the center so that he can summon the ax to him with his bending. The rod is very small and well hidden inside the axe's shaft and is hard to detect. Gou has also completely mastered Seismic Sense the earth bending ability to use vibrations in the ground to see beyond your eyes. His Seismic sense is constantly active even when he sleeps making Gou almost impossible to sneak up on. While he may look like a hulking brute under all that muscle is a sharp mind honed from years as a military commander. Because of him the Sons of Agni and Ozai decided it would be more beneficial to work with Tanxin then send dozens of men and women to their deaths trying to get past his protector.