Robilliverse

The Miners Guild

The Miners Guild is a philanthropic networking organisation that is, on the balance, good. It is viewed by the Rock Breakers Union as an employment monopoly that illegally colludes to keep wages down. Laissez-Faire analysed the employment in the belt and found the mine owners to be on the whole, subject to the laws of supply and demand, and wage collusion is a myth. Laissez-Faire also concluded that the Miners Guild pressured their members to raise employment standards despite the Rock Breakers Union cynical view that the occasional philanthropy is just a good way for bad people ot feel good about themselves.

The Miners Guild, also derogatively known as ‘The Wobbly Elbow Brigade’ due to their secret identifying signal, is a networking organisation that is not to be confused with the Rock Breakers Union, especially as many of its members are mine owners. Not everyone may join the Miners Guild, as if they did then the whole network would be rendered pointless. It is in effect a power swap organisation where, if honour is maintained (which it is), then everyone within the guild is better off. It was founded in 2092 by a philanthropic group who noticed the poor in the Belt were suffering needlessly. The group saw the government fail and as they were friends who had helped each other in insurance, medical support and mine ore income, they came together to form the guild. They also annually host a ‘winter feast’ for free, for the poor, typically on the 25th of December. As networks over about 15 start to become ineffective, the guild is split into ‘hubs’, where members should seek help from their own hub first. The guilds headquarters are in Aetherial and are very shiny.

One of the founders had a sense of humour (and was possibly a cross-dresser) and introduced the ‘prank’ that all new joiners must be subject to. Simply, for a whole 24 hours, the new member must wear the underwear of the opposite gender. The official intention is to instil humility but it’s believed that it was created purely as one of the founders found it funny. It is also believed to be maintained as it encourages the members to be secretive about the organisation, or at least the prank. The men don’t have to wear a bra if they can’t fill a cup, although a training bra must be worn on the slightest sight of a moob. The vast majority of the female employees apparently quite enjoy wearing pants for a day but choose to keep the secret out of respect for the men. No photos are taken of this by the rule of the guild. New joiners join entirely out of self-interest but like the philanthropy as it makes them feel good about themselves.

As with any secretive organisation that offers power, it is exposed to corruption. Occasional hubs have been found to be being run by Fune Kaisha and ultimately have been shut down.

    Unknowingly to the Miners Guild, it was jointly investigated by Intelligence, Laissez-Faire and HAFA, and found to be:
  • Economically neutral. No different from any other organisation or business.
  • Fundamentally true to its founding ideals
  • Easily corruptible on a small scale but secure from corruption over all
  • On balance the Miners Guild is a force for good