Karlan Trade
Karlan Trade Co., Ltd. (K.T.),[2] alternatively Karlan Commercial, is a faction in Arknights. It is Kjerag's national trading company that is named after Mount Karlan, the sacred mountain of Kjerag.[3][4]
Background[edit]
| An excerpt of a Advisory Committee's speech from the New Year's meeting in 1099, taken from Karlan Trade's External Promotion Document.[5] |
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"Over the last nine years, thanks to the unremmiting efforts and hard work of all of our collegues, all of Karlan Trade's businesses have achieved agreat progress and development. At the same time, the trust and support from all our customers have laid a foundation for our future growth. However, we also need to point out that a broader strategic layout implies that heavier responsabilities will soon fall to my shoulders and yours." |
Karlan Trade traces its roots to the Victorian-style business established by the previous patriarch of the Silverashes, Olafur Silverash, following his return to Kjerag in 1065, which at the time were met with mixed reception from the conservative nobles. His eldest son, Enciodes, would inherit the family's fortune after his death in a train accident in 1082, and moved to Victoria for his studies. During that period, he stayed at the Duke of Caster's residence, where he was taken care of by her relatives.[4]
In 1090, after staying aboard in Victoria for more than twenty years, Enciodes formally established Karlan Trade. With the aid of Ratatos, the matriarch of the Browntails, Enciodes was able to persuade the Great Elder into opening up the country through his company, in adition of further funding from House Caster.[6][4] As part of his plan to reform and modernize the country, KT acts as the only bridge between Kjerag and the outside world, mainly participating in economic activities and technological trade. KT was also used as a bargaining chip to help restore the Silverashes’ name in the Tri-Clan Council by allowing the conservative Paleroches and Browntails to engage in their activities.
Organization[edit]
KT's business scope covers most activities typical of a trading company, ranging from logistics and import export of daily necesities to arms dealing to land sales, while at the same time involving themselves in Kjerag's education, technological development and construction. Most of the management staff is compossed by nobles from various Kjeragian families —With most of them from the Silverash Clan— in adition of a small number of specially-hired technical experts. This business management model is commonly seen in many Victorian businesses, on which they use taglines about land pioneering to atracti upper-level rulers and gain the necessary support during the early years after their establishment.[4]
The business structure is compossed in general terms by the Board of Directors, the Production and Labor Departments, and the Advisory Commitee, of which the first three are reminiscent of the namesake departments of a typical Victorian business. The chairman has the highest power above all ranks, while the Chief executive officer (CEO) is the de facto leader of all of KT's departments. the Production Department is tasked with handling the overall management of KT's farms and factories, and the Labor Department on the other hand is a general term for the departments responsible for specific administration, security, scientific research, amongst others. The Advisory Committee acts as an independent branch compossed by experts working directly under the Board of Directors; Their main purpose is to coordinate and advise the Labor and Production Departments accordingly to Kjerag's overall interests. The Committeee's members are mainly representatives of the Vine Bear Court, and require the uttermost loyalty to Karlan Trade and Kjerag as a whole.[5]
The Snowcap Incident in 1097 brought a series of drastic changes in KT's organization; Not only the Silverashes began to absorb a large number of members of the Paleroches and Browntails onto the company, but also allowed foreign corporate employees and technicians to hold positions above the middle level. Furthermore, Enciodes and his sister, Enya the Karlan Saintess, about the future development plans for Kjerag. In less than a decade, KT has expanded its operations beyond Kjerag thanks to Enciodes' ambitions.[7]
As part of the post-Snowcap incident reforms, KT possesses a vertical management operation system compossed by the Policy-makers, managers, and employees.[7]
- The Policy-makers, as the name suggests, have the right to make decisions and vote regarding KT's affairs. As such, they hold the highest corporate level. Most of KT's Policy-makers and managers are Kjeragian nobles and intellectuals
- The managers are the heads of various departments responsible for the actual work. They divide the decision-makers' orders into various tasks and issue them to the employees under their respective management. After summarizing all of the problems encountered by the employees, the managers will determine whether to report them to the decision-makers based on the severity.
- The employees fulfill their work based on the managers' instuctions. The majority of them are regular Kjeragian citizens
| "The Atmosphere of Karlan Trade": A testimony of E. E. Erikson's visit to KT's headquarters and branch office.[5] |
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"I have visited Karlan Trade's HQ in Kjerag, as well as its local branch office when i moved to Laterano. Although they're far apart, i can feel a very similar atmosphere in both places. The unique excitement and vitality of the "youngsters" fill the space belonging to Karlan Trade. When i say "Youngsters" here, i don't mean it in the literal sense, but the energetic spirit. Compared to the lifeless, pressure-filled traditional aristocratic that i've seen in Victoria, Karlan Trade shows a temperament that i'm not familiar with through its employees. I stayed there for a long time watching the bussy, but smilling employees quickly pass by, hoping that this atmosphere could last longer." |
Despite the economic and technological benefits of foreign trade, not everyone is happy with KT's presence, especially the Paleroches. KT was accused of breaching the territories of the ruling families through its expanding factories under the supervision of its second-in-command, Gnosis Edelweiss. To make the matter worse, KT had been conducting mining activities and railroad construction beneath the foot of the sacred Mount Karlan, angering the conservative faction. Gnosis then had a clash with the investigation team sent by the conservatives. Even though Enciodes responded by firing him, the conservatives insisted that Enciodes hand over the administrative rights to his factories and mines. In response, Enciodes decided to turn the rights over to the Karlan Saintess, whom he believes to be the only rightful one to own such power according to the Kjeragian sacred script.[8] Despite the fact that the current Saintess was his estranged sister, Enya Silverash, this arrangement eventually ended the conflict.
Even though KT has a healthy relationship with Rhodes Island, RI remains cautious in handling them due to the former's political background. Despite several disagreements such as the one during the Snowcap Incident, the two continued their cooperation for the time being.
Members[edit]
| Character | Information | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Real name Enciodes Silverash, the patriarch of the Silverash clan and Karlan Trade's CEO. The older brother of Ensia and Enya. | Alive | |
| Last living member of the Edelweiss clan and K.T.'s CTO despite being officially fired. | Alive | |
| Enciodes' secretary and a K.T. managerial staff. The uncle of Enciodes, Enya, and Ensia. | Alive | |
| Better known as the Black Knight, former three-time champion of the Kazimierz Major. Employed by K.T. as Enciodes' bodyguard. | Alive | |
| Real name Weiss, employed as a bodyguard and Messenger for K.T. Looks after Ensia during her treatment in Rhodes Island. | Alive | |
| Employed as a bodyguard for K.T. Looks after Ensia during her treatment in R.I. | Alive | |
| Subordinate of Sciurus Browntail and a corporate spy for K.T. | Alive | |
| Real name Lara, received sponsorship from K.T. for her studies in Columbia. Currently treated for Oripathy in Rhodes Island under an arrangement with K.T., where she also become a field operator under Sharp's command. | Alive | |
| Real name Ensia Silverash, the younger sister of Enciodes. Currently treated for Oripathy in R.I. | Alive | |
| The guise of Kjeragandr the Feranmut, servant of Enya in her capacity as the Karlan Saintess. Follows Enya when she sneaks into R.I. | Alive | |
| Real name Enya Silverash, the incumbent Karlan Saintess, the younger sister of Enciodes, and the older sister of Ensia. Sneaks into R.I. together with Kjera under the pretense of a vacation. | Alive | |
| Carle Caster | Son of Walden Caster, employed by K.T. to protect him from his father. | Alive |
Interactions[edit]
Talents and skills[edit]
| Operator | Subject | Interaction |
|---|---|---|
 | Two Paths, One Goal |
Applies Status Resistance to K.T. Operators (including Gnosis himself) after Gnosis is deployed for at least 10 seconds. |
Base skills[edit]
| Operator | Base skill | Interaction |
|---|---|---|
|  Hidden Mastermind |
While Gnosis is in the Control Center, all Operators there restores 0.05 morale/hour for every K.T. Operator in the Control Center (including Gnosis himself). |
 Precise Calculations |
While Gnosis is in the Control Center:
|
Gallery[edit]
Facilities[edit]
The lobby of K.T's headquarters
Personnel[edit]
A male Feline K.T. employee
A female Feline K.T employee
Artworks[edit]
Official artwork by 竜崎いち for the celebration of Arknights CN's 2nd anniversary. From left to right: Courier, Pramanix, Cliffheart, Matterhorn, SilverAsh, Monch, Gnosis, and Degenbrecher.
An older poster focusing on Pramanix and the rest of K.T. members
SilverAsh, Gnosis, and Degenbrecher in PV 3
Media[edit]
References[edit]
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