The Golden Leaves
The most hated and important guild in all of Albion and Carrick; the Golden Leaves have a reputation for being stringent and unforgiving in their practices. The guild exists first and foremost as a 'safety net' for its members, in so far that if a shop owner falls onto hard times he/she can loan gold from the guild at a discount. The guild also lends money to non-members at exorbitant prices however, and the debt is collected with an iron fist. To add insult to injury, the grand masters have commercial treaties with the kingdoms of Sancre, Alba and Rivain as well as the city of Enetia which stipulate that only their members may trade and sell goods and services. In other words, a blacksmith in Milesia must be a member of the Golden Leaves, no matter his other affiliations, in order to conduct his business there. Curiously, their home city of Arrah has no such treaty.
The Golden Leaves have their advantages too however, as they allow commerce to flourish in areas that would be considered too risky or not profitable enough by individuals. Beograd is one such city which benefits from the guild's presence, though the kingdom of Livonia has no treaties of exclusivity with the guild as a whole.
Structure
The Golden Leaf assigns seniority through its leaf brooches, worn under the left shoulder, usually over a mantle made of superior cloth. These brooches are handmade by each member but are kept to a rigid standard (see top right).
Golden Leaf w/ pearl: Grand master, of which there are 12
Golden Leaf: Master, usually a shop owner, expected to pay both journeymen and his annual membership fee
Silver Leaf: Journeyman, entitled to a salary from a master
Bronze Leaf: Apprentice, not entitled to a salary but usually given food and lodging
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