Guild

A guild was an organization composed of like-minded individuals to further and protect their interests. Guilds appeared in many different forms but typically offered benefits such as comradery and even financial support to members. Large, powerful guild could even control an aspect of a city such as trade in certain goods.

Guild membership
Guild membership was generally open to those who possessed some skill in guild's primary activity. In many cases interested persons needed only to approach the guild and apply for membership. Occasionally, additional entry requirements such as belonging to a certain race were imposed. Some guilds, such as thieves guilds, were secret societies so even learning of the existence of these guilds could be difficult. Guilds normally required an entry fee as well as periodic fees to remain in good standing. Benefits of membership in a guild could include access to the guildhall, discounts on trade materials and possibly financial support in the form of loans.

Adventurers guilds
In some cities, those who hunted monsters and delved in dungeons banded together to form adventurers guilds. These guilds functioned as employment agencies for members and offered additional services such search parties for missing adventuring groups.

Notable adventurer guilds:
 * Order of Delvers

Arcane guilds
Guilds made up primarily of arcane spellcasters were known as arcane guilds. Membership was generally limited to mages, sorcerers and other users of arcane magic such as bards.

Notable arcane guilds:
 * Arcane Brotherhood
 * Brotherhood of the Cloak
 * High House of Magic
 * House of Wonder

Criminal guilds
These guilds were made up of those operating outside the law. They tended to be highly secretive and could be difficult to join. They offered benefits such as training, employment and help selling stolen goods.

Notable criminal guilds:
 * Night Masks
 * Shadow Thieves
 * Shadowmasters of Telflamm

Laborers guilds
These guilds were associations of low-skilled manual laborers. Not surprisingly, laborers guilds were unpopular with merchants and others who depended on low paid workers.

The Cellarers' & Plumbers' Guild of Waterdeep was an example of a laborer build in the Realms.

Mercantile guilds
The most common form of guilds, mercantile guilds were associations of merchants engaged in trading a particular good. Large mercantile guilds could be extremely powerful and could control trade in their area of specialization. Some mercantile guilds required practitioners of a trade to join before setting up shop. Mercantile guilds offered benefits such as protection from criminals and excessive governmental taxation and might even loan money to members.

Notable mercantile guilds:
 * Merchant's League
 * Silent Sail

Performers guilds
Performers guilds were made up of bards, actors and others who performed for a living. These guilds promoted entertainment events and would match members with complementary talents to form troupes.

Scholastic guilds
Guilds whose members were primarily engaged in scholarly pursuits were known as scholastic guilds. Membership was usually composed of sages and mages. Many guilds had libraries and extremely large guilds founded colleges. Some arcane guilds could be considered scholastic guilds and vice versa.