Freelancers Guild

Founded in Ravernorne, the Freelancers Guild has existed since before the time of the Midaevian Empire. Initially created by the King of Ravernorne as a means of governing the disparate groups of bounty hunters, mercenaries, monster slayers and private detectives who roamed the realm causing chaos and disruption, within a few decades of its creation it had become a powerful faction in its own right. Membership in the Freelancers Guild guarantees its members access to magic items and powerful weaponry, as well as first pick of the most lucrative contracts available. The Guild has a reputation as being ruthlessly effective, using a “ranking” system to determine who is offered what contract based on their performance and skill. New entrants must work for years to prove themselves and given the high mortality rate of the jobs the Guild offers, it is all but guaranteed that only the strongest or most cunning freelancers will survive long enough to reach the top ranks, solidifying their track record.
The types of jobs available to the Guild are as varied as the specialisations that exist within the organisation. Everything from caravan protection to dragon slaying is available. Following their Conquests, the Midaevian Empire was keen to enforce their rules upon the Northern Kingdoms, particularly in terms of corralling magic users, pursuing rebels and culling dangerous beasts. As a consequence, the Empire soon become the Guild's best client, providing them with the great number of lucrative contracts. Due to the nature of this work, the Guild has the distinction of being the only organisation in Erra outside of the Hierarchy where the use of magic is permitted. Even then, they face tight restrictions; the Guild’s magic-users must register with the Ministry of Enlightenment in Verus, they are confined to one territory when not working, and any job requiring their services must first receive approval from the local consulate. In spite of that, the Guild’s magic-users are among their most well-paid members, put up in large houses owned by the Guild, with servants to attend them. However, they can never be elected as Chaptermasters. When magic-users are caught by the Imperial Praefects , the Guild has the option of evaluating them. If they deem them a suitable candidate, and provided their magic is not inherent, the Guild can “buy” them from the Praefects, which is often the only way for a magic-user to avoid imprisonment or execution, so most will jump at the opportunity.

Leadership and Membership
The Guild is overseen by the Guildmaster, who serves in the position until he is either killed or retires. Given the power and privilege that comes with the title, the election of a new Guildmaster is often fraught with corruption. Anyone of the Master rank or higher is permitted to through their hat into the ring. The heads of the individual Chapterhouses, themselves elected by their Chapter members, are responsible for electing the new Guildmaster. Elections quickly descend into a game of who can bribe, threaten, charm, or blackmail the most votes fast enough to earn the top spot.

Admittance into the Guild is exceedingly difficult. New recruits must first be “Regarded”, a process by which someone of the Journeyman rank or higher will go with them on a job to observe their performance and ability. If they are judged capable, they will be given a task to accomplish as their “Trial”, and if successful, will be given the rank of Initiate and branded with the Guild seal, which is the method of identifying Guild members and non-Guild members. The Guild has Chapters in almost all the major cities in the Northern Kingdoms, Midaevia, and even the Colonies. Any territory they operate in is considered their prerogative. If non-Guild members try to take jobs or undercut them in anyway, they can often expect a visit from a pair of the Guild’s enforcers, who will physically persuade them to leave the area.

Grandmaster: Captain-General Thondorla Copperpotter
Headquarters: Crossguard Hall, City of Tethoris
Strength: 18'000

Type

Guild, Professional