Free Traders Association
People like to think that someone cares about them. Even those like free traders, who pride themselves on being beholden to no one.The whole point of free traders as a concept was for them to fly no flag and serve no master. Turned out such an approach is not as pleasant as it sounds, and many of its early pioneers paid dearly for that lesson. In a somewhat ironic turn of events, an increasing number of free traders have chosen to become more active in their little informal community. And where there is a community, there are people who aim to become its leaders for one reason or another. For the most part, being a member of Free Traders Association has very few obligations and promises many advantages. On paper, anyways. In practice the Association itself has quickly became a corrupt one where most of members' contributions are spent on the organisers' many events and meetings, while it is nigh impossible to receive any substantial aid. If anything, the interaction between ordinary members of the Association is where you can see actual help being given, often at considerable expense to themselves.
Structure
There are probably tens of thousands of free traders active at any given point in the world. Not that it is possible to actually count them, since anyone can claim the status of free trader by trading under no nation's flag. Out of all these people, only about eight thousand are active Association members who pay a small yearly fee. Out of these, there are approximately twenty to thirty regional organisers who are supposed to coordinate them and provide assistance and contacts.
Culture
In a yet another ironic turnabout, the modern Free Traders Association actually has its own symbol and flag. Not every Association member flies its flag though, as it is often seen as contrary to the initial idea. Still, the flag became fairly well known - and most brigands or soldiers, hard to tell the difference at times of war, are ever so slighlty more cautious of attacking a caravan bearing the Association's symbols.
There is actually an increasing tension and division within the Association on the very topic of its importance. Many members are so called "Traditionalists", intent on the Association staying a very loosely defined community of free traders and often opposed to use of its flag. A somewhat small yet louder number of members are actively agitating for strengthening of its internal structure, introducing bigger fees and more administrative positions to turn the Association into something more closely resembling traditional merchant guilds.
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