Within the Kingdom, there has been a growing number of persons, that distinguish themselves as ‘freelance’ merchants. These members of the community have no loyalty to the Koguryon Merchant Guild, or even to anyone else. These ‘freelance’ merchants can be characterized as being either ruthless or caring, exploitive or fair, corrupt or legit. This is all dependant on whether the ‘freelance’ merchant believes that he is providing a service to the community, or that the community is a means to fill the pockets of his or her pants, at any cost, even if it were to harm the community. Although in some cases, there are ‘freelance’ merchants that are striving towards gaining membership into the Merchant Guild, there are others that see entry into the distinguished guild as a means to exploit the community under the pretext that he or she is a member of the Merchant Guild, and is in place to serve the community.
Although a member of the Merchant Guild and a ‘freelance’ merchant may appear to be very similar there are central differences. These being their motives behind the sale of their goods, and they interests in the community. Any member of the Merchant Guild is sworn to uphold the rules and values set by the Guild, this would include the serving of the community, the gaining and upholding of trust with community members, and the engagement of sale by its members. ‘Freelance’ merchants do not serve the community in complete honest faith [in many cases], and can be considered sly in their transactions. The aspect of accountability is in place within the Merchant Guild, the same is not instituted by ‘freelance’ merchants, they are not accountable, they answer to no-one.
Durant, a long standing member of the Merchant Guild best explained ‘freelance’ merchants in their general form, he described them as,
Most are daredevils; young kids looking to make a few coins here and there. They have the passion in their veins to seek treasure wherever it was found, and felt they didn’t need the Guild’s official support to hunt it. They want these treasures for themselves, and if they were to search for the Guild, they would have to donate them to the Guild. So, they would often times ask a fee from a Collector or a Scholar who would be interested in a treausure, but was either too afraid or lazy to actually go out and get the treasure themselves.
To those who wish to move out from ‘freelance’ work, and become a member of the Merchant Guide, let it be known that member of the Guild gains full support in your expeditions. We lend our finances, man power, and knowledge of the lands and books to any who seek to hunt treasure as a member. However, know that most times you will be on specific assignments from the Guild, and you will most often times not be keeping what you’re looking for. Let it be known that the Guild finances those who are members only. We do not support Freelancers in any way. We understand their ideals.. but we do not support them. If you are a member of this Guild, you will be supported.. but you will be seeking treasure to better the Guild and it’s growing collection, not to line your own pockets…
– Ilios