Free Guilds

Free Guilds
Organization Profile
TypeTrade union
Parent OrganizationThe Clans

The Free Guilds are those scientists, technicians, merchants, and laborers whose allegiance is to Clan society as a whole and not to any Clan in particular. They have "leased" their services and transport assets to different Clans for various undertakings.

Overview[edit]

The Free Guilds were often contracted for the worst jobs in Clan Space such as sewerage maintenance and hazardous environment labor. Although regarded as beneath those belonging to a Clan, Free Guilders themselves carried out their duties conscientiously and policed their own ranks of malcontents and non-performers.[1]

History[edit]

A Prize for the ilClan[edit]

During the Grand Kurultai's discussions for the invasion of the Inner Sphere, Elias Crichell of the Jade Falcon Clan suggested that whichever Clan conquered Terra would also take control of the Free Guilds. This would provide the victorious "ilClan" with unprecedented resources and manpower. His proposal was accepted enthusiastically by every Clan involved.[2] [3]

Operation REVIVAL[edit]

The Jade Falcons had long regarded the Free Guilds with scorn, an attitude that came back to haunt them in the preparations for Operation REVIVAL. When Khan Elias Crichell authorized the Falcons' bankers to hire a token number of transport ships to augment his Clan's supply vessels, the Free Guilds charged the Jade Falcons an exceptionally high fee for each ship. By contrast, the other invading Clans were offered a reasonable rate.[4]

As the Clans conquered worlds of the Inner Sphere, Free Guilders supported civilian caste members in overseeing a given planet's transition from Spheroid rule to Clan government. Many of the native populations who refused to give allegiance to their new overlords and accept a caste assignment were allocated to a Free Guild instead.[1] One notorious example of this were the members of Malthus Gambling Unlimited and its associated criminal network. Enraged at the dishonorable connection between this family and the Malthus Bloodhouse, the Falcons paid off some of their large debt to the Free Guilds by gifting them with Malthus Syndicate members as slave labor.[5]

Jihad Era[edit]

The Wars of Reaving hit the Free Guilds hard, with hundreds of dead in the Clan fighting; The Society attacks also disrupted trade. Besides, at least one Free Guild, the Red Willows, was discovered to be a front for Dark Caste members.[6]

IlClan Era[edit]

After the Battle of Terra, Clan Wolf became the ilClan. In theory, that put all the Free Guilds under their control, but, at least initially, the new ilKhan, Alaric Ward, didn't show any interest in doing so. The Yellow Suns Free Guild assisted in the defense of the Wolf Empire against Wolf's Dragoons' attacks, but apparently only because it benefited them.[7]

Known Free Guilds[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tamar Rising, p. 19
  2. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 21: Elias Crichell's interpretation of the Kerensky archives
  3. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 18
  4. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 21: Clan Jade Falcon's existing poor relationship with the Free Guilds
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 The Malthus Confederation (fiction), Shrapnel 8 Kindle Edition
  6. ↑ Icons of War, pp. 56–57
  7. ↑ Redemption Rites, p. 235
  8. ↑ Icons of War, ch. 2
  9. ↑ Icons of War, ch. 10
  10. ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 21
  11. ↑ Tamar Rising, p. 59
  12. ↑ Icons of War, ch. 5
  13. ↑ Redemption Rites, p. 219

Bibliography[edit]

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