On the Formation of Guilds in Westeros

(16th day of the Smiling Moon, 4367 A.M)

By Maester Barnaby

Chapter 8-The Sterngelds

As has been mentioned in previous chapters, Guilds as an institution are only unique to Westeros on a surface level. As a hallmark of civilization, that is to say; organized trading, in which people give up the inferiority of the barter-system for the practicality of gold, silvers, and various other metal coinages to better facilitate a more equitable transfer of labor. It stands to reason thus, that this higher form of organization would require at various levels of statecraft, a higher form of regulation. We need not however go again into detail on the complex economic conditions that lead to institutions like Westron Smith Guilds and how alike or unalike they are to Pentos Spice Rackets. Instead we will touch upon one of Westeros' most unique institutions, the Sterngelds. One of Westeros' infamous three Blood Guilds.

Coming from the Old-Andal word "Ster" or "Star," and the Old-Tongue word "Geld," which meaning is closer to "Gather" but also became the word "Guild" we use today. This term is in reference to their bastardized use of Sternenkreis [1]. That same Divine script of the Kings and Queens of Westeros which calls forth and commands the Erd [2]. Which itself speaks to the royal, if distant, origins of its members. Though every farmhand whose wife has Sungold hair is of a mind to claim some distant royal blood, so it is perhaps not for either I or this work to judge those who's proof is in their practice.

The exact origins of the Sterngelds are not precisely known. We know only that the Gol'Dan Sterngeld in Elheim [3] claims to be the oldest of its kin, and its brother guilds do little to dispute this claim to seniority despite their infamous rivalries, of which there are too many both steeped in legend and pettiness to recall in this chapter, and which could fill some 4 score other tomes written by journeyman historians. For themselves, the Sterngelds do claim that the legendary Wilfreid "Wildfoot" whom some in the North know also a Wilfreid "the Walker," second son of King Alfons and his sister Queen Winfri , whom was said to have inherited very much in the way of his Grandsires power, was tasked with overseeing the construction of a road that would link the disparate parts of his Fathers realm more tightly together.

Infamously of sloth disposition and more concerned with wine and tomfoolery, Wilfreid was not suited to the hard work of organizing men to cut and set stone, so instead walked from town to forest, and castle to city commanding the earth, soil, and trees to craft itself unto the form of a road in his wake, the beginnings of the Royal Road. His elder brother King Edric, who was at the time heir to his father and whom the Giants called "Un Dar Skag," and men called "Stonefree," commanded all those baseborn but of royal seed to gather around his brother and render onto him the service of their sword and Erd for his protection. For not all Children of the Forest agreed with the oaths made to Aelric by the Greenseerers at High heart, the Giants would not bend for another century, and many a petty vandal lord did still claim kingship and did still refuse to see the divine blood of Aelric as their true overlords.

Mayhaps there is some truth to this. While the first mentions of Sterngelds only appear in Old-Andal scrip such as the Yulisaga which setting takes place in and around 700 A.M and which was first set to paper some 200 years later. Oral tales have supposed members of the Gol'Dan or Witstars placed with much earlier Kings and Queens. And thus, it is possible that these earlier warriors, for that is what the Sterngeld is; a Warrior Guild, did come together over a great period of time to form the brotherhoods we see today.

A foreigner might then be curious about why the Sterngeld are not a part of the Imperial Army, or at the very least do not appear to be at a glance? All Westeron men and women know however that they, like the other blood guilds, are chief among the soldiery. In war. Though to explain that, we might first tepidly touch on what the Blood Guilds are.

The Blood Guilds I have discovered are a hard entitiy to explain to foreigners whose small cities and kingdoms oft do not have strict equivalences in the heathen heartlands they inhabit, save perhaps the secret of silk making in Yi Ti, which we know is ordered to be kept secret under penalty of death by the Azure Emperors.

In as few a sentence and as basic a form that could be written, the Blood Guilds are made up of the Sterngelds, Powder Monks, and Iron-Arm Crafters the latter two of which will be explored in greater detail in their own chapters, and are so called for the Blood Oaths each Guild has with the Seven-Star Throne, which takes the form of the Blood Star [4] which need not be explained here. In times of war, such that they are, that Westeros does need rouse itself to prosecute force to defend itself as was the case in the Apex Wars [5] with Valyria (1675-1786 A.M) or set its overmighty vassals to peace, notably with the Endric-Anselm Schism (3746-3749 A.M), the Sterngeld are obliged to augment the Royal levies without payment, and at the pleasure of the Golden Lineage [6].

Some examples of work the Sterngeld engage in or are paid to do include clearing the forestry of Direwolves or Great Snowbears when unmindful lords or the unknowable seasons do permit their numbers to swell in Winter. Meisters, with some oversight from the Crown, are allowed use of Sterngeld for expeditions of study, and some cities like Oldtown hire its members to escort foreigners that wish to purchase expensive custom Iron-Limbs from Resnpool. In truth, they may engage in all kinds of work for the right price, and if the right conditions are met. Prices for these jobs are infamous as their work has never been accused of being cheap, or of the highest quality, which has attributed itself to a thuggish light some merchants find them in.

Membership in a Sterngeld has changed throughout the centuries with the core of its members being men who could make some use of the Erd. As the centuries have passed various Sterngeld did come to accept Skinchangers and allowed those members of the Elder Races that were of an adventurous enough spirit to join their ranks. Rarely, even men or women of no extraordinary ability save the skill granted to them by the creator, such a tracking, or bowmanship are allowed to join as full members. But not every strong arm or sword is accepted, and criteria for what skills pass as acceptable or expedient is often at the whim of the Lord Guildmaster. Infamously, the Hardhands in Whiteharbor are the only Sterngeld that Giants will join. The reason for this being cited as an ancient oath, though the Hardhands are the youngest of their bretheren.

As it is Lords and the baseborn get of lords that are most likely to manifest any use of the Erd, the Sterngeld has at times been derided as "The Lordling Guild," for a significant amount of its members are often the third son or daughter of a Count or some Earl who thought themselves to noble to be vassals or waged-knights to their kin. Still, more than one Lord was once a spare with no prospects, and likely did find some fellowship in the Guildhouses of their Sterngeld, and perhaps through some luck was either adopted as heir or found their prospects rise on the death of a sibling. This connection has blessed some Guilds with varying amounts of patronage, and it has been seen by some lords who have worked in them as preferable to send their heirs to their former fraternities to learn the ways of the world, or gain some measure of reach to their connections. That is, If they proved themselves of sufficient talent.

The exact number and ranks of the Sterngeld vary widely throughout history, largely in part to how difficult it is to separate exaggeration in legend from less aggrandizing fact. It may be believable that Queen Elrecca IV known as "The Titancaller" did end the Apex War by cowing the Valyrians with great stone Giants, but the last of those still guards Bravos. An eternal testament to her grief and kindness, even to godless heathens. On the other hand, is it believable that her heir at the time; Prince Endrance, and 3000 Gol'Dan members did battle against 10-score dragons at the Siege of Elheim, saving it from destruction? Or is this just a fable meant to aggrandize the martial prowess of the Gol'dan, perpetrated by their leaders to set themselves in legend.

The earliest records of Sterngeld membership, or those they deign to show, reveal membership in the Sterngelds have, at most, several hundred members at a given time, and several dozen at their meekest. But then, not every Guild or record survived the Warsung [6], so who is to say how large what is once was, or that a legend is not a fact. Songs are their own kind of record after all.

I recall now as I finish this chapter, that I did pass by a boy some weeks ago that said when he came of age, he intended to join the Adventurer's Guild. Curious as I was, I did ask and was informed he meant the local Whitstars of Oldtown. Since then I have wondered if the name shall pass to more people, but my sensibilities say otherwise, and I have a keen sense about these things.

So, I can't say I'm to happy with this chapter. It really serves as a way for me to try my hand at naming things, but I feel I may have come off as a bit pedantic. I took inspiration from Germanic languages but wonder if it doesn't come off as to try hard. I'm also trying to change things while keeping them familiar.

This was initially meant to be the informational piece I was going to post, but I had a better idea for it, and couldn't bring myself to throw this away 600 words in. So, I decided to shorten it and but put it out there as a way of keeping people interested.

I must have looked it over 3-4 times but have a semi-dyslexic way of letting things slip, so if anyone sees a repeated word or two, don't hesitate to point them out.

[1] Sternenkreis; German for Starwords, or some such. I don't want to say "alchemic symbols," for something that has more divine, and less scientific connotations.

[2] Erd: I initially was going to go with Erdkraft, literally Earthcraft in German. I didn't want to say "the power" since I feel that would be to like Robert Jordan's WOT. I think it was in Brotherhood that it was stated Alchemy was powered by the forces of tectonic plates, or something like that. So, it felt appropriate.

[3] Elheim: I know Hohenheim means "House of Light" so I thought this could be a rough way of saying house of El as in Elric. "El" coincidentally means "light" or "God" in Hebrew if I'm not mistaken. Capital of Westeros which is set at OBTL Kings landing.

[4] Bloodstar: An alchemic circle that could limit or make someone obey a certain set of commandments. Haven't quite worked out what they would look like. Star-shaped I'm sure.

[5] Apex Wars: Like in the OTL Hundred years war, this lasted a little over a century, and is a collection of wars and skirmishes. It should be seen in the same light as the Punic Wars, but without a decisive winner. I'm not at all happy with the name I came up with. Apex seems such a…new…word.

[6] A romantic term for the Apex Wars. I wasn't originally going to make conflict between Valyria and Westeros a thing. But given their brutal slavery, and expansionist policies, I often had a harder time thinking of a way to avoid conflict. At least this way I can set up various reasons why either side would not be keen on war for the sake of war. As well as a whole host of reasons why each's' culture would have formed the way they do.

The new informational piece will take the form of a letter, from one merchant to another about the do's and don'ts of traveling to Westeros, their strange magicians, and other things. Or what he's heard anyway.

And as always. Feedback is always nice. It's why I do this after all.