14. THE GUILD OF BUTCHERS
Master: Kellatarn Nander (4th level fighter, Master
Butcher)
Headquarters: The Butchers’ Guildhall, #235, The Way of
the Dragon, Dock Ward
Livery: crimson cloaks with purple lining
Entrance: 25 gp
Dues: 3 gp/month
Conduct: “Hooks” (Morathin) Belmonder (0 level fighter,
Second Knife), Belmonder’s Meats, #188, The High Road,
The Trades Ward

This guild represents Waterdeep’s butchers; those who
slaughter, and cut up for sale, all manner of livestock, from
ankheg to yeti (cattle and hogs are more common,
although it should be noted that people in the North,
including Waterdeep, have a taste for horseflesh). Guild
law ensures that meat is properly bled, hung, and smoked
or seasoned in certain ways, so that it is as clean, and in as
good condition as possible, and without exception the
butchers who are in business in Waterdeep are Guild
members. The Lords forbid formal price-fixing by the
guild, but all meat is fairly expensive and similarly priced,
being slightly cheaper in the docks area and slightly more
expensive in the wealthy neighborhoods. Apprentice
butchers pay no Guild dues, but are direct employees of a
(member) butcher. Most apprentices, seeing how profitable
the business is, can’t wait to leave their poorly-paid
positions, pay the stiff entrance fee, and pass a rigorous
examination of their skills by the Master Butcher. This
Guild also buys the occasional cargo of exotic meat (or
slaughterable beasts) from ships, at bargain prices, reselling
such goods among the Guild members at substantial
savings to the individual butchers, who may pass the savings
on to their customers if they wish, but are not bound
to do so. Most butchers wisely offer real bargains on such
occasions, earning the goodwill of their clientele, and
encouraging them to sample and acquire new (and usually
expensive) tastes in meat.