Merrick Stillwater

Merrick Stillwater was a founding member and the long standing leader of the Steady Trade Company. Met his end after a raid perpatrated by the Geise Crime Family claimed his life. His death would ultimately end the Steady Trade Company and cement the hold of the Geise Crime Family had on Still Harbor.

Early Life
Merrick Stillwater grew up on the docks of Still Harbor as a laborer from a very young age. His father, Tyrus Stillwater, was the Dockmaster and would oversee the various shipments that would enter and leave the port. Merrick was also an active member of the Lower District Blockade, a gang of youths that would often act as a security force for local merchants against other less organized criminals and the Still Harbor Police Force. He would be the driving force that would cause the Lower District Blockade to become the precursor to the Steady Trade Company.

Formation of the Steady Trade Company
"'Still Harbor, Steady Trade.'                   - Merrick Stillwater"After his father had passed away due to the fire that destroyed the Port Authority Headquarters, Still Harbor was slow to get the docks into order. Worker strikes, whispers of sabotage, and escalating violence created a very tense situation in the Still Harbor port as well as the Lower District where many of the dock workers lived. Merrick then met with another gang local to Lower District, the Fleeceback Troublemakers, and offered to merge the two outfits to create the Steady Trade Company, with the expressed intent of becoming the authority of the bedlam stricken port.

This new organization would be instrumental with quelling the violence that had engulfed the Lower District, using Merrick, Tyrus' son, as it's spokesperson to assure the workers and families that they would be taken care of. Still Harbor officially recognized the Steady Trade Company as a legitimate organization soon after the riots and protests had ended, offering Merrick the position of Dockmaster. He accepted, only to resign from the position after the Steady Trade Company cemented it's place as ruling power of the Still Harbor ports.

Illegitimate Business
While the Steady Trade Company would be the public facing venture that provided peace and stability for seafaring trade in Still Harbor, it would also serve as a very profitable business for Merrick. Having complete control over the docks, there would be many incoming and outgoing shipments of 'black wares' or 'dark trade' that would pass through completely off the books. This would provide a consistent flow of funds through the Steady Trade Company that Merrick would use for many of his more interesting ventures, such as a spy net that covered the entirety of the Riverlands and much of Kaedras as well. The influx of wealth would also allow Merrick a lobbying position within the Grandwater League to ensure that his business ran without interruption.