The Guild

There are many guilds within Albion, each town or region having their own smaller and larger guilds for carpenters, brewers, roofers, cobblers, and so on. But there is only one organisation known as "The Guild".

Of course, officially the Guild is known as the Enetian Trading Company. Oh it's all very proper, with the Archon even owning a large share all to himself. But the Guild is so much more, its roots dig so much deeper than any flowery description. Prison labor, hired swords for every affair, Glimmer trading; the Guild are all soldiers of fortune. And fortune, well I'll tell ya, fortune is found in the misery of others.

The Guild was founded some time after Enetia was rebuilt from the ashes of the Cataclysm. Once more trade began to flourish, as did rumours from Skargos : The Guild has its foundation built deep into the Glimmer trade. Due to the inquisition by the Church of Illumination however, most officials have washed their hands clean of dealing with the Guild, and instead shadow operations continue running in the background by less savoury characters. It is an open secrets that outlaws and vagabonds are regularly sent across the Alvus Sea aboard Enetian prisoner ships. There, they must pay off their debt working in the crystal mines. Most are never seen again.

In the name of Profit

Officially, the Enetian Trading Company is involved in the trade of various goods from Zinnabar and other realms within Albion. This is certainly true, as Enetia holds a monopoly on trade within the Golden Bay. It does not, however, explain the myriad of ships heading East towards Skargos. But while the Guild has built its fundament on Glimmer, it has its fingers in many other trades.
If politics or war are not involved, and the gold is right, then members of the Guild can be found nearby. The Guild has made a point of never getting involved in internal strife that is rampant across Albion. While it would certainly mean a large sum of money if the Guild were to hire out its warriors, it would also quickly draw the ire of whoever they would be paid to oppose.

But even these "rules" are easily bent if the Guild can get away with it. If the neutral name of the Guild is not sullied, its members will shy away from very little. Guild members have been found as caravan guards, sellswords, and even dungeon delvers all across Albion and beyond. Within Enetia itself, the Guild's power is mythical: Many upright citizens pay protection money, without ever having been asked. This "tax", while lucrative, is also reinvested back into the city itself through the provision of fire fighting services and even a Guild militia that patrols neighbourhoods. It is one of many ways the Guild has sought to legitimise itself, at least on its home turf.

A Web of Whispers

The Guild has a presence in many major towns, either officially as the Enetian Trading Company or in a more discreet fashion. Not every realm welcomes the Guild with open arms and this is where shadow operations and dark deals flourish. No matter what though, reaching the Guild is possible in one way or another in every major city across Albion and Zinnabar.

Guild members are difficult to identify, though a sure-fire way is through the Enetian Trading Company signet rings.

Type
Shadow Organisation
Location
Enetia
Known For
Swords-For-Hire
Caravan Guards
Glimmer Trading
Prison Labour
Kidnapping
Protection Rackets