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-The Union's origin can be traced back to hundreds of small independent guilds made by merchants and artisans - for the most part in order to better protect them from being pushed out of the market by the Fulcrum.
-These eventually sought out to ally and cooperate, eventually turning into the nation-spanning Union that exists today.
-Originally had a Chamber of Representatives - with each guild having one representative - with the Chamber voting on resolutions in a democratic manner.
-Each guild picked their representative, with it being possible for multiple guilds to pick the same representative. Caused a consolidation of power over the years, with the Union now having 3 leaders who've served for generations. They've changed the structure and how the Union operates in the meantime. Technically still possible for a “guild” to pick a different representative than the 3, but it's not practiced anymore, and is difficult to do due to how the Union operates today.
-Basically a faction led by a Chamber of Representatives turned into a massive company owned by 3 different families, who are joint owners but also sort of joint rivals.
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The Wayfarer's Union
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The Wayfarer's Unions traces its origins to hundreds of local merchant and artisan guilds.
-These were formed to protect the smaller merchants and artisans in it and allow them to compete with larger companies and organizations. These guilds provided a level of organization and support that helped members set fair prices for their goods, better negotiate with suppliers and customers, and establish standards for quality and craftmanship. Through the guild's shared resources, guild members could also pool their resources to invest in new projects and ventures, and to provide mutual support in times of need. This helped them create a more level playing field for smaller businesses, and helped prevent its members from being pushed out of the market by larger competitors.
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Faction symbol/insignia: Two hands shaking in front of a trade vessel, that looks typical of those used to transport goods by sea. The ship is depicted as if seen from the front, and has a single large sail visible.