Why retainers?

[Zetsumei_Tsunarashi]

I was wondering if localization team could shed some light on why these NPCs were given such an odd name.

This seems like a case of Japanese not knowing what word to use so we ended up with this odd translation.

Retainer to me sounds like something that an orthodontist puts in the roof of your mouth.

I'm thinking that perhaps they should be called something else to better reflect what they actually do. If I was a new player and someone was talking about retainers, I can't honestly say that I would know that they were referring to something you use to store and sell items.

Some possible better words I can think of to describe them would be:
1. Servant
2. Caretaker
3. Treasurer
4. Merchant
5. Personal Vendor

[HiirNoivl]

6. Closet
7. Garage
8. P.O.D

[Sephrick]

SE likes to use older terms. Retainer is from the middle ages meaning a person in service of a lord.

Today it's used mostly in law. Businesses or wealthy individuals will put a lawyer or firm "on retainer" which means they pay them for 24/7 attention and exclusivity.

[Catapult]

Such a definition begs the question - how can a mere adventurer afford such a service?

[Raldo]

I always assumed all or part of the market ward selling tax went to the retainer to pay for services.

One of my retainers says "I never miss a chance to line these pockets."

[MicahZerrshia]

Retainer (medieval), a person, especially a soldier, in the service of a lord in the late Middle Ages

[MicahZerrshia]

Such a definition begs the question - how can a mere adventurer afford such a service?

well really what regular adventurer back in the day had millions of gold pieces stashed away :P

[Teakwood]

And for the more modern usage, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retainer_agreement

It's not actually that strange a term, and fits with XIV's localisation flavour.