Comandivius

Comăndivius Incorporated

Company type	Public (partially state-owned enterprise)
Industry	International trade
Predecessor	Comăndivium Guild
Founded	c. 1534
Areas served	Sarpedon Vallos Audonia Crona
Key people	Daricardo Arlacio Sarbabi (Chief Executive & Chairman)
Products	Spices, silk, porcelain, metals, livestock, grain, rice,, sugarcane, wine, coffee, slaves
Services	Security management, risk management, crisis management
Revenue	$589 billion
Owners	Aerarium Investment Corporation (51%) Public (39%) Royal Treasury of Zaclaria (5%) Private investors (5%)

Comăndivius Incorporated is a Caphirian multinational commodity trading and mining company specializing in the export, import, and distribution of rare commodities and slaves. Its portfolio includes precious metals like rhodium, exotic textiles such as sea silk, rare animal products including ambergris, crops like Kaleic coffee, tobacco, and pigments such as Sanguis Draconis (dragon's blood resin). Established in 1534, Comăndivius was one of Caphiria's first chartered companies and the first authorized to hold a Societas Mancipiorum license in 1692, allowing it to participate in the commericial slave trade.

Today, Comăndivius controls approximately 90% of slave trading activities both domestically and internationally, overseeing a complex caste system and the annual Iter Servitutis pilgrimage. Operations of the company gradually expanded over the centuries to encompass quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, and establish colonies. Comăndivius leverages its control over rare resources and the slave trade for diplomatic advantage, often acting as an extension of Caphirian foreign policy. In the contemporary era, Comăndivius has operated as a private military company on behalf of Caphiria, using infrastructure from the Imperial Legion. The company also operates its own internal security forces that guards its production and mining facilities. In 1858, Imperator Arturpiulerix III seized control of Comăndivius after uncovering the company was supporting the rebel factions in the Odurian War. Following a brief but intense proxy war in March 1859, Comăndivius was defeated and restructured as a state-owned enterprise. In 1946, the government of Caphiria listed a portion of the company onto public trading via an initial public offering (IPO), with 5% of shares being locked for loyal patricians and military leaders.

The Aerarium Investment Corporation (AIC), Caphiria's sovereign wealth fund, maintains a 51% controlling stake in Comăndivius.The current Chairman and Chief Executive is Arlacio Sarbabi, appointed in 2014. Comăndivius is one of the world's largest integrated producers and marketers of commodities. It operates hundreds of production facilities all around the world and supplies metals, minerals, crude oil, oil products, coal, natural gas and agricultural products to international customers in the automotive, power generation, steel production and food processing industries. In the fiscal year 2035, Comăndivius reported revenues of $589 billion, making it one of one of the largest and most profitable corporations in Caphiria.

Slave trading operations

The cornerstone of Comandivius' slave trade operations is its exclusive Societas Mancipiorum license, first granted in 1692 by Imperator Nerva IV. This historic charter, displayed prominently in gold-embossed vellum at the company's headquarters in Venceia, granted Comandivius the unprecedented right to "acquire, transport, evaluate, and distribute human capital in service to the glory and prosperity of the Imperium." While several other corporations have since obtained limited Societas Mancipiorum licenses, Comandivius maintains a de facto monopoly through its unparalleled infrastructure and political connections. The company's dominance was formalized in the Imperial Commerce Act of 1802, which established the regulatory framework that still governs slave trading today. Under this legislation, Comandivius was appointed the official administrator of the Forum Commercia Servi (FCS) – the central clearinghouse for all slave transactions within Caphiria and its territories. This administrative authority grants Comandivius effective control over market prices, contract terms, and trade volumes while generating approximately $37.8 billion in annual commissions and fees.

As administrator of the FCS, Comandivius oversees all aspects of the commercial slave market, from individual sales to massive corporate acquisitions. In addition to FCS, the company maintains two distinct trading platforms: Aula Domesticum and Provincial Distribution Centers. Located in Venceia's historic commerce district, the Aula Domesticum is the primary market for high-value household slaves destined for patrician and wealthy equite households. The facility conducts both private sales and prestigious public auctions, with the most valuable contracts often commanding prices exceeding $200,000. The Aula's monthly Licitatio Excellentia (Excellence Auction) has become a significant social event for Caphiria's elite, where the acquisition of particularly accomplished or attractive household slaves serves as a visible demonstration of status and wealth. Comandivius invests heavily in the theatrical aspects of these auctions, employing professional presenters and elaborate staging to maximize sale values.

Iter Servitutis pilgrimage

One of the most distinctive cultural innovations developed by Comandivius is the Iter Servitutis (Journey of Servitude) — an annual procession that combines religious symbolism, corporate pageantry, and practical logistics in a spectacle that reinforces the legitimacy of the slave system. The Iter begins at coastal processing facilities, where new slaves who have completed their training are organized into ceremonial cohorts based on their classification. Each cohort is assigned distinctive garments, identifying markers, and a standard-bearer from among their own number (typically selected for exceptional physical appearance or submission).

These cohorts then begin a carefully choreographed procession along the ancient Via Aventii—a specially maintained road that stretches from the southern coast to Venceia. The journey takes approximately 22 days, with stops at designated waypoints where elaborate ceremonies are conducted. An important ceremony includes the Ablutio Pristinae, a ceremonial washing that symbolically cleanses the slaves of their previous identities. The procession culminates in the Grand Forum of Venceia, where the largest slave auction of the year is conducted. This event, known as the Magna Auctio — draws buyers from across the Imperium and even foreign dignitaries with special purchasing privileges.

Corporate affairs

Ownership

The Aerarium Investment Corporation (AIC), Caphiria's sovereign wealth fund, maintains a controlling 51% stake in Comăndivius. This majority ownership ensures that the company's operations align with national interests while still allowing for commercial flexibility. The AIC's stake is managed through the Directorate of Strategic Holdings, which oversees all government investments in critical industries. The AIC's investment in Comăndivius is classified as a "Permanent Strategic Holding" under Imperial Financial Law, meaning it cannot be reduced below controlling interest without a special act of the Senate. This classification was established in the Strategic Assets Preservation Act of 1953, which formalized the government's intention to maintain control over companies deemed vital to national security.

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the ownership structure is the 5% stake held by the Royal Treasury of Zaclaria, which dates back to the Resolution of Karasport in 1901, which XXXXXX. The Zaclarian stake is managed by the Royal Investment Office, which appoints a royal representative to the Board. Currently, this position is held by Her Excellency Mariam al-Sadi, Duchess of Karasport and XXX.

A final 5% of Comăndivius is held by a select group of private investors, primarily patrician families with historical connections to the company. This ownership category was created during the 1946 IPO as a means of rewarding loyalty and maintaining traditional influence within the corporate structure. These private investment shares have several restrictions: shares can only be sold to other approved patrician families or back to the company itself, transfers require approval from both the Board of Directors and the AIC, and holders must maintain Caphirian citizenship and residence. Notable private shareholders include . ..

Executive management

Comăndivius is led by a tripartite executive arrangement known as the Commercial Triumvirate. This three-person executive council shares ultimate authority over the company's operations and consists of:

• Chairman and Chief Executive - This position represents shareholder interests and manages public relations. The position requires patrician status and traditionally comes from one of the company's founding families.
• State Representative - Appointed directly by the Imperator, this position ensures alignment with national interests and maintains the government's controlling stake. The current State Representative, Titus Castrillón Aelius, comes from the military intelligence community and has direct access to the Caetus Legati.
• Operational Director - Selected by a joint committee of government officials and major shareholders, this position oversees day-to-day operations. The current director, Marina Livia Valerio, is the first woman to hold this position in the company's history.

Each member of the triumvirate has specific veto powers in their domains, with unanimous agreement required for decisions that fundamentally alter the company's structure or mission. This arrangement, instituted after the 1946 IPO, represents a compromise between state control and corporate efficiency.

Regulatory Council

Between the triumvirate and the operating divisions exists the Regulatory Council, a 21-member body that establishes company policies and resolves conflicts between divisions. The Council includes:

• 5 representatives from each division
• 7 appointed members representing major shareholders
• 5 government representatives from relevant ministries
• 3 members from the company's historical founding families
• The Principle Censor (Censor Principalis), who serves as an independent compliance officer

The Council meets monthly in the historic Chamber of Commerce in Venceia, where deliberations follow a formalized procedure dating back to the company's guild origins. Notably, the Council maintains the company's "Book of Precedents" (Liber Praecedentium), a continuously updated record of all major decisions that serves as the foundation for corporate governance.