Among the more refined buildings within the keep stands a stone structure marked by polished brass doors and a sign depicting a silver coin wrapped in flowing silk. This is Sweet Silk Holding, the financial heart of the keep where merchants safeguard their fortunes and adventurers convert the spoils of their journeys into something more manageable.
The interior is quiet, orderly, and surprisingly comfortable. Thick rugs soften footsteps across the polished floor, and reinforced counters separate clients from rows of locked chests and ledgers. Lantern light glints off brass locks and neatly arranged counting trays.
Though the establishment has the appearance of a merchant house, its walls are reinforced with heavy stone and iron bands, and the doors are far sturdier than they first appear.
Within these walls, wealth is measured, recorded, and—most importantly—protected.
Quink, Keeper of the Vault
The bank is operated by Quink, an older halfling woman with sharp eyes and silver-threaded hair that she keeps tied in a tight bun. She dresses plainly but elegantly, often wearing layered shawls and a small set of brass spectacles perched low on her nose.
Quink speaks with quiet precision and wastes very few words. Every transaction is carefully recorded in her immaculate ledgers, which she guards with almost religious dedication.
Despite her small stature, merchants throughout the region trust her judgment. Quink has an uncanny ability to detect dishonest dealings, and it is widely believed that no thief has ever successfully cheated Sweet Silk Holding.
Those who conduct business honestly with her quickly discover that she is fair, discreet, and remarkably efficient.
Banking Services
Sweet Silk Holding offers a number of financial services to travelers, merchants, and adventurers who wish to protect or manage their wealth.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Currency exchange | 5% of exchanged value |
| Secure coin storage (per month) | 1 gp per 100 gp stored |
| Secure item storage | 2 gp per item per month |
| Letter of credit | 5 gp |
| Large transaction documentation | 2 gp |
Quink strongly encourages adventurers carrying large sums of coin to store their wealth here rather than travel with it.
Letters of Credit
Sweet Silk Holding can issue letters of credit, allowing merchants or adventurers to travel without carrying large amounts of coin.
These documents can be redeemed at affiliated trading houses or banks in other settlements.
Many caravans and guild members prefer this method, as it greatly reduces the risk of theft along dangerous roads.
Vault Storage
The lower levels of the building contain reinforced vault chambers where coins, gems, and valuable objects may be stored.
Each vault is protected by:
- ironbound doors
- multiple locking mechanisms
- private key access
- detailed ledger tracking
Quink personally oversees access to the vaults and rarely allows anyone inside without careful verification.