Proper paperwork [D3LE, Dare's Office] (Expecting)

[Dare Shah]

"The exact number fluctuates every day of course. But if you've already got an almost organized system, with only a couple big buyers effectively sharing your loot between them, it's a pretty good start. Just need to make it an actual organized system, with contracts and all.

The idea is that, you don't want to be selling, let's say, linen clothes on one side of the market, and have your fellow guild member Bob also selling the same thing on the other side of the market, and there's effectively only one shop that buys everything linen to resell them in their own specialized shop, and they have to go to both sides of the market, and then there are two distinct haggling sessions happening, and everything takes forever. You want for you, or Bob, or any other guild member, to just drop by the linen shop with your prize and get paid at guild agreed prices.

The goal of a guild is not only to scale up. It's also to streamline the day-to-day work by grouping and sharing your resources, in that case your buyers."

[Ikkit the Bastard]

He sighed.

"I follow, and all o'that's nice, but the legal permissions are what I'm haziest on. We get a go-ahead, I can shop it around t'my peers- 'cause without their buy-in, all of this is kinda 'sides th'point, yeah?"

The goblin ran a hand over his face.

"Doesn't help I'm not the most persuasive berk 'round."

[Dare Shah]

"You have to think of most of this paperwork as cement. They'll make your organization far more robust, but they'll also make changing its design afterward far more difficult.

Hence why I'm pushing for you to have the plans of what you wish to become laid out, preferably with a model at a reduced scale to make sure everything works out nicely.

In other words, the status of guild, with all its advantages but also constraints, is more of a logical next step once you've already started organizing for real with a bunch of colleagues."

[Ikkit the Bastard]

"Be easier t'persuade 'em if I had proof it could be done. Legalwise, I mean..."

[Dare Shah]

"Yes, the snake is eating its own tail there. The job requires experience in the job.

I can think of several workarounds.

The first would be collegia opificum. Basically, you find a temple to become the patron of your budding guild. Temples are legally allowed to run a ton of small services for their flock, and some are quite liberal with the definitions of small and flock.

On paper, and on paperwork, you would just be a secular employee of the temple. In practice, if you play your cards right, you and your fellows will be free to organize yourself as you wish, and the temple will effectively rent you an office and provide the social benefits associated with a guild.

Not ideal in the long run, but the main advantage is that you only have to persuade a single high priest or priestess to start up the engine."

[Ikkit the Bastard]

"Eh. Think I'd have better luck with multiple fellow salvagers'n some Power-botherer. 'Sides. Gotta do trade with the Athar, same's anyone..."

His green fingertips started to drum on her desktop.

"'Course, could get a smaller group t'work with a temple, built it up, then reach outh t'demonstrate the value'a gangin' up..."

[Dare Shah]

"It doesn't have to be a temple stricto sensu. You can piggyback any organization that's already well implemented and resourceful.

An alternative is, well, even more politics. Convince some persons with high discretionary power that your guild existing would contribute to the prosperity of the city, and most legal and practical obstacles should magically disappear."

[Ikkit the Bastard]

"Hm. Not one to hobnob with the high-ups, but I reckon I could shop it to a couple of 'em. Gettin' some... nicer togs made's part'o the plan."

He frowned.

"Don't s'pose I could talk you into maybe whippin' up some letters t'hand off? I c'n write, but not nicely, an' I don't know th'right turns'o phrase."

[Dare Shah]

"No problem. Letters of introduction are indeed a proper and apt move.

Now, which arguments in favor of an official guild would you like for them to stress out? The strong city angle, by emphasizing how more recycling means less dependence on imports for some goods? The monetary angle, with a detailed projection of planned benefits and how they might shower on people involved with this project? The elegant angle, by promising a cleaner city in the end? Something else?

And of course, you additionally need to sell yourself, id est explain why you, of all scavengers, are the right choice to drive this project."

Dare grabbed a blank sheet of paper and prepared an empty bucket list.

"There. I'm listening."

[Ikkit the Bastard]

Ikkit sat back.

Fekt croaked.

"Right. 'Pending on which high-up it is... some of 'em like imports, it's how they get their jink. Speakin' o'jink, it's fairly simple that the more of it circulates, the more of it sticks t'th' fingers, which some'a them'd no doubt like. But I reckon the clean-up angle for the strongest general-purpose. Cleaner city means more space can be used for other stuff. Not just elegant, practical. Can even free up housin' if we clean out some spaces, an' we c'n stay on top of it. And bein' used t'working with... salvage, we'd not be too peery 'bout goin' into the Hive, or the Lower Ward's shadier circles. We'd go where others wouldn't 'cause we'd profit offa it."

He paused. His left ear flicked.

"Now, why me, an' not some tiefling cutter they all wanna take t'bed, some polished fop as hires it out, or some fiend with a perfect plan, just sign here? Few things. One, I know the work. Willin' t'get my hands dirty every day, an' I'm proud o'what I do. I ain't gonna move on from it second I get a leg up. It's the goal."

He steepled his fingers in front of him.

"Two, I'm comin' up with the idea. Not sayin' I'm the absolute best t'run it once it's goin', but takin' the initiative puts me ahead o'most, and I ain't doin' it out'o personal ambition, but professional pride."

The goblin tilted his head back to inspect the ceiling.

"Three, and most important... I ain't in a Faction. Not even an Indep. Makes me neutral in Faction disputes. Means I won't stop service to the Bleakers just 'cause they're having a tiff with the Hardheads. Won't dump trash on the Guvners 'cause some Doomguard thinks it'd be a laugh. Don't pick sides. Just want the work orderly."