Being Bahama

That Guild Thing

Not long after Bermuda left I was invited to join a guild.  I’d only chatted with the guild leader for a few minutes so I had very little information to base my decision on.

Up to this point, I’d simply declined any and all guild invites.  I didn’t really have desire or need to join one.  But with my main hide supplier, pest remover and companion gone, I decided it was a good time for me to step out of my comfort zone.

I joined and he led me to Dantooine where the guild headquarters was to be located.  That’s when the first of several alarms went off inside my head.  I ignored it. 

I understand many folks wouldn’t have blinked an eye at travelling to such a remote location, but this was a real stretch for me.  Not only did I avoid space travel whenever possible, but Dantooine was a wild planet, full of creatures a tailor should not have been within a hundred meters of. 

Upon arriving at the the space port on Dantooine, the guild leader made a comment about how he loved the beautiful pink flowers that covered the landscape as far as the eye could see.  I remember thinking how they constantly reminded me that everything on the planet was out of control - lacking boundaries, domestication and civility.

But I pressed on, determined that I should build a life where I was not dependant on Bermuda and convinced this was the way to go.  Upon reaching the village he’d created in the middle of no where, he explained what exactly I’d signed up for.  Given that the guild consisted of 3 members including he and I, there was much to be done. 

The most obvious task was recruiting more members. Given instructions to go recruit people to a guild I’d just joined was akin to being asked to go build a space ship.  I hadn’t the first clue about where to begin and I lacked all the right tools for job.  I’m not the type to push my wares, clothing or guilds, on others.  Nor am I skilled at starting up random conversations with strangers.  But at that point my resolve was still strong so I made the long trek back to civilization to figure it out. 

Whenever I need to do some serious thinking, I grab my fishing pole and head for water.  That’s exactly what I did.  I set up to fish in the river close to the Theed Spaceport.   It was a fairly populated area.  If I was lucky someone else might strike up a conversation with me and save me from that awkward initial contact. 

My fishing was interrupted by the sound of blaster fire and grunts of pain as two men tried to hunt the mostly harmless nuna nearby.  Ah-ha!  My medical skills!  That’s how I could meet people.   After all, I had enjoyed my time in the medical center chatting with the patients.  “Where does it hurt?” makes for a good, safe ice breaker… so long as you’re not in a cantina when you utter it.

I followed the gents around with my medical kit, healing and chatting as we went.  They seemed like pretty decent folks and so I asked if they wanted to join the guild.  Presto!  Two new recruits.  I’d single-handedly almost doubled the size of the guild.  Go me!

My excitement was quickly deflated when I spoke to the guild leader about it.  He was less than impressed with my measly 2 recruits.  He wanted more.  Way more. 

And so it went with everything I did or gave to the guild.  It was never enough and there was never so much as a thank you. Within a very short time I found myself weary of unreasonable responsibilities and expectations.  How did I get here?  Is THIS what guilds are about?

I suppose the icing on the cake was my very first trip to a cloning center courtesy of a gang of native peoples as I tried to travel to that village in the middle of no where.  It just wasn’t worth the risk.

I quit the guild and swore that I’d never join another.  Certainly it would be much better to develop friendships where there were no strings attached.