Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers and Woolmen

The Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers and Woolmen was a guild of Waterdeep representing the city's furriers and wool workers.

Organization
The official livery of the Solemn Order was gray, fur-trimmed woolen cloaks in the winter, and gray, fur-fringed woolen skullcaps in the summer.

Applying for membership required a deposit of 25 gp, refunded if the application were refused. Members were also charged 2 gp in monthly dues.

The Master of the Order was elected by its members, usually for life. A Master resigning was virtually unheard of, with most holding on to their titles even as they lay bedridden or dying.

Activities
The Solemn Order was a storied fixture in the fur trade of Waterdeep, over which they exerted near-total control. Independent businesses were summarily outbid or outright sabotaged.

Although the guild proudly asserted none of its furriers dealt in fake, second-hand, or stolen wares (and were thus "recognized"), this was occasionally not heeded by certain members.

Base of Operations
The guild was based out of the Guildhall of the Order in the Castle Ward,  located on Waterdeep Way between the intersections of the High Road and the Street of Bells.

Relationships
As a highly conservative organization, the Solemn Order distrusted enterprising, young merchants as well as adventurers. They considered these people reckless and dangerous.

The Order was closely associated with the noble House Talmost, local industry leaders in fur-trading and trapping.

History
In the, Thoss Balein was elected Master of the Order when his predecessor died. Thoss implemented a series of highly conservative policies intended to strengthen the Order, including refusing to accept new members and encouraging rich members to buy less wealthy merchants out of the guild. Over the course of Thoss Balein's tenure, guild membership shrunk by 25% while revenues rose by 40%.

Members
The guild was generally composed of members of old Waterdhavian families.


 * 14 century DR
 * Thoss Balein, Master of the Order.
 * Shalrin Meraedos, Gentleman Keeper of the Order, served as the guild's public contact.