Bounty Hunter's Guild
he Bounty Hunters' Guild (BHG), also known as the Bondsman's Guild or simply the Bounty Guild, was an institution that regulated the complicated profession that was the bounty-hunting trade throughout the galaxy. Ensuring the legality of hunting for its members, it worked alongside galactic governments and curated bounties for its members. From the Republic Era to the New Republic Era, the Guild operated with members of various species and droid models, both with loyal and independent programming, and had a Code that hunters were mandated to stand by. During the Galactic Civil War and into the time of the New Republic, the Bounty Hunters' Guild had close ties to the Galactic Empire.
Legality
"By the authority of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, you are now my acquisition." ―BosskDuring the time of the Galactic Empire, proper certification was required in the bounty hunting profession to ensure the legality of the processes involved, specifically the handling of wanted quarry and the delivery of a posted bounty by the issuing authority. Working alongside galactic governments, the Bounty Hunter's Guild, abbreviated to "BHG," expedited much of the bureaucratic hassle required to obtain the necessary legal permits for Guild members, allowing them to hunt across the galaxy with an official license. In the Imperial Era, the Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations had an entire branch dedicated to working with the guild, and wealthy Moffs were willing to pay hunters to handle their issues.
Acquisitions
"I am Lieutenant Masil Veit, communications officer on the Star Destroyer Executor, and am contacting you based on the recommendation of your guild. My commander will pay a significant bounty for the capture of a Corellian freighter called the Millennium Falcon." ―A message addressed by an Imperial officer to the guild hunter BosskThe Guild regulated bounties that included criminals, thieves, murderers, and even bounty hunters. Zingo Gabnit, whom the Guild offered 100,000 credits for, was a bounty hunter who was listed by the Empire as a rebel collaborator, and, most importantly to the Guild, violated the Bounty Hunter Code. The Galactic Empire was a major client of the Guild. For high-level bounties, the Empire contacted guild hunters individually, with their bounty hunter selection based upon Guild recommendation. Bossk was offered a high-level bounty personally posted by Darth Vader, and while he could not locate the designated rendezvous coordinates with Vader's flagship due to technical difficulties, Bossk did not request the guild to help him pinpoint the Imperial address that sent him Vader's offer for fear of relaying his interest to the guild, which risked competition with other guild hunters if they were to be alerted to the bounty.
Structure
The Bounty Hunters' Guild's membership was composed of bounty hunters of various species as well as independent droid models. In addition to recruiting hunters, Guild employed the services of bail bondsmen, individuals who brokered bounties with hunters. Serving as the intermediary between the hunters and the client, a bondsman offered jobs and paid out upon a successful hunt.
Bounty hunting droids made ideal business partners for their internal toolsets, which could apply healing bacta sprays to organics or lift heavy objects. Bounty droids were also physically tougher than most organics, and approached their trade with machinelike efficiency, providing a potentially lifesaving alternative to living hunters when tracking down high-risk suspects. However, like many other droids, bounty hunting droids struggled with ambiguity and had a slavish regard for the rules, making them potentially ill-suited for the more complicated intricacies of the profession. Additionally, their programming forbid them from being captured, and bounty droids would engage their self-destruct protocols when if they thought apprehension was imminent. Droids from the IG family either served as private security or freelance members of the Guild. IG-11 was a fully-fledged member of the Guild, and although the hunter followed a strict programming as a bounty droid, IG-88, one of a set of five identical assassin droids manufactured by Holowan Laboratories who slaughtered their constructors and escaped their laboratories into the wider galaxy, had independent programming, and was feared in his bounty hunting career.
Leadership within the guild was subject to elections. In the lead-up to guild elections, high-level communications containing holographic advertisements were sent out by various candidates to other guild members. Guild hunter Bossk ignored such communications as they swamped his inbox, and removed them as they appeared.
Culture
"Don't do anything stupid. I was set up by an Imperial officer, but I'm aiming to straighten everything out. I expect you to honor the Bounty Hunter Code and—" ―Bossk, who just had a bounty placed on him, attempts to negotiate with two fellow Guild huntersMembers of the guild were mandated to uphold the Bounty Hunter Code, which forbade members to slay another guild hunter, or steal another hunter's bounty. The Code also forbade hunters from asking about their bounties once delivered, requiring that events that transpired between the time of accepting and delivering the bounty be immediately forgotten. Additionally, when the guild assigned one of its members to pursue the subject of a government bounty, only that particular hunter was authorized to go after that particular acquisition. Although such restrictions were guild policy, Beilert Valance was a guild member who was known for flouting the Code. While the Guild's bureaucracy held members in check over policies, the Unbroken Clan criminal syndicate's General Vukorah had the ability to circumvent the bureaucracy by means of credits.
Assets
The Bounty Hunters' Guild maintained hubs on worlds such as Carajam and Nevarro that functioned as a cantina. Installed with a droid detector at its entrance, the cantina was populated with a multitude of species, including Cerean, Ithorian, Kel Dor, Morseerian, Neimoidian, Rodian, Togruta, and Trandoshan patrons. A Rutian Twi'lek served as an agent of the Guild, liaising with hunters on Guild bounties at the cantina's central bar. The Empire preferred to pay hunters by transfer register instead of hard currency, and after a successful hunt, Guild members could be payed directly to their account by the Guild agent, although the Twi'lek offered to deduct from Boba Fett's payout for a special deal on the Jorgan Spa, which she thought the hunter deserved. Bounties at Guild hubs were identified through holograms beside the bar. Larger bounties were advertised on poster; such was the case for the quarry Zingo Gabnit, on whom the Rutian agent provided additional information to Fett.
History
The Clone Wars
Bossk, a Trandoshan known for hunting Wookiees, was a member of the Bounty Hunters' Guild during the Clone Wars. Such information was known to the Jedi Master Quinlan Vos, who specialized in undercover operations.Imperial Era
"Our agent in the Bounty Hunters Guild reports that sentiment is trending negative toward the Rebellion as the Empire increases its use of guild services. In other words, Cradossk is making a killing." ―Cassian Andor's report to Davits Draven, The Rebel FilesIn the Imperial Era, the Bounty Hunters' Guild was allowed to issue Imperial Peace-Keeping Certificates to their bounty hunters, allowing them access to the Imperial Enforcement Datacore. Guild member Bossk took on bounties in Imperial territory, with one hunt involving a partnership with a street orphan named Ezra Bridger that resulted in the Imperial HoloNet News reporting of the Guild member's "courageous" actions, publicising Bossk as a hero of justice.
Type
Guild, Fighter / Mercenary
Alternative Names
BHG
Predecessor Organization
Related Items
Notable Members
Comments