Vey
| Vey | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Titles | Lord Merchant[2] | ||||
| Groups | Taishin | ||||
| Ethnicity | Kerztian | ||||
| Nationality | Lossandin | ||||
| Homeworld | Taldain | ||||
| Universe | Cosmere | ||||
Vey is the Lord Merchant of the Guild. He is in charge of the banking industry of Lossand. He resides at the Golden Market of the Guild. He has a vote on the council of Taishin.
Appearance and Personality
He has tan Kerztian skin and long brown hair.[3] He wears the colors of the Guild, purple and white.
History
In the first vote of the Taishin Vey voted for the dissolution of the Diem.[4] His Profession, the Guild, was the only Profession which was continuing to pay tribute to the Diem.
Kenton visited Vey with Ais and Aarik to try and change his mind. After waiting for two hours in Vey's waiting room Kenton, bored, decided to play with his sand while waiting. Immediately Vey, infuriated, came out of his office and yelled at Kenton for practicing his "unholy art" in his office. Vey then invited Kenton in to speak with him in order that he should stop using his sand in his office. Kenton bluntly asked Vey to vote for the Diem. Vey replied that sand mastery is unholy and it would be unethical for him to allow it to exist. He then went on to taunt Ais for guarding Kenton, calling her a traitor to her people. Kenton interrupted his rant with his sand. He and Vey had a shouting match and Kenton left the office without any success.[2]
Later, Kenton tried again with a different tactic. He went back to Vey's office and told Grelin that he wants to make amends with Vey after their last meeting. After another long wait Kenton got up and loudly implied that he knew the reason why Vey kept paying the tribute to the Duem. Vey called Kenton's bluff and Kenton was forced to admit that he doesn't know the secret. He then made an attempt at blackmail which failed.
Four days before the final vote, Vey left town to stay out of Kenton's reach. Kenton tried forcing Gennel to tell him where Vey went, but Gennel wouldn't tell him. Khriss asked Nilto to find out where he went, and they find that he went to Lraezare. Before leaving Kezare Vey instructed his nephew, Dockmaster NaiMeer, to stop Kenton from following him. Delius arrived at the docks while Kenton and NaiMeer were arguing and used his rank as Lord Admiral to commandeer a ship to Lraezare. He then invited Kenton to join him.
They find out that Vey is staying in the house of Lokkall, head of the Shipowners' Circle. When they got to the house Lokkall claimed not to know where Vey is. Kenton, frustrated, yelled out that if Vey doesn't speak with him he will turn over the Diem's ledger, with the 700,000 lak, over to the Lady Judge. Vey appeared from a room upstairs and told Kenton that they can speak privately. Kenton went up to join him, taking Ais with him as a witness. Kenton guesses, correctly, that Vey owes the 700,000 lak to the Diem, not the reverse. Vey groans and tells Kenton the story of Hennin.
Hennin became Lord Merchant when two of his relatives died leaving him two separate fortunes. The Lord Mastrell of his time started a personal account with Hennin, and told Hennin to put the Diem's tribute money into the account. Hennin lost his fortune causing his rule to end. When the new Lord Merchant took over he discovered that a vast sum was now owed to the Diem, the original tributes and a large amount of interest, and since a new Lord Merchant inherits all of the incumbent's debts as well as his fortune, the debt has increased to the point where it is impossible to pay back. The Lord Mastrell was willing to keep the debt secret so long as the Lord Merchant kept paying the tribute. The Lady Judge's predecessor knew about the debt and ruled that the Lord Merchant must pay the debt in full when the Lord Mastrell asks for it.[1]
Instead of demanding that Vey pay the debt, Kenton forgave the debt, earning Vey's respect and causing him to vote for the Diem.[1] Vey gives the Diem a 200,000 lak loan to pay off its debts with the Draft so it could fulfill Heelis' second condition. It is implied that Gennel voted for the Diem due to Vey's influence on him.[5]
Relationships
- Delius: Due to their history, Delius hates Vey with a passion and considers him to be the representation of all that is evil in the world.[6]
- Kenton: While initially Vey was openly hostile to Kenton,[2] after Kenton forgave his 700,000 lak debt, they seem to become friends.[1]
- Gennel: Gennel is terrified of Vey, and does whatever Vey tells him to do.[1] It is not known why this is the case.
Quotes
“His name was Hennin. An idiot of a Lord Merchant who acquired the position unearned after two relatives died and left him separate fortunes. ”
—Vey[1]
“Thus each Quarter the Lord Merchant sends two thousand lak of his personal fortune to the Diem which the Lord Mastrell returns with instructions that it be deposited in the private account, adding to the blasted debt. ”
—Vey[1]