Someone, probably convention center staff, had arranged the meeting room with two long tables pushed together at the front and six chairs lined up behind them. The rest of the room was set with rows of four chairs on each side of a central aisle. Ten rows in all, plenty for everyone, with an extra stack against the back wall in case we needed more.

  Bhaarrt said he was too big for the chairs, so he sat against the wall to my right. Even sitting down, his head was nearly level with the folks sitting in the chairs.

  When it looked like most who were going to attend had arrived, I rapped my knuckles against the table. The sound echoed across the big carpeted room, sharp enough to quiet the people present. “I want to thank all of you for two things. First, for being Irregulars. Second, for coming tonight on short notice. "Thank you.” I told them.

  “This is the first time most of the guild has been together since just after the Battle of Eddington. I’d like it to happen more often. We can always do a virtual meeting on Guild Chat if we have to. We need to work out a formal way to make that happen.”

  “It’s been a week since all this started. We’ve had to move faster than anyone expected. Mostly, we’ve made it up as we went because something had to be done right then and there. I’m sure that’ll keep happening,” I told them.

  “The guild started as a spur-of-the-moment thing, a way to coordinate more people than a five-man or woman party.” I looked at Bhaarrt, then at Gar-Kosh and his wife. “That includes Ogres, Orcs, Elves, Valkyrie…any race people have become since the beginning of the Game.”

  “Right now, we’re at maximum membership for our Guild level…thirty-five people. We’re a few points shy of hitting Level 3. Once we do, we can add another twenty-five members and unlock more options. We can also merge guilds if it comes to that.” I gave them a moment to let that settle.

  “There’s more we need to do. First, the Guild Bank. Anyone can deposit game items or coins right now. But because I didn’t think it through, I’m the only one who can withdraw. That needs to change tonight. I don’t want to run everything. Guild rules allow for officers to take care of guild business.”

  I continued, “It works like WoW guild ranks. Officers can do everything at their level and below. We need to decide what those ranks are and what they can do. We also need people to handle training, scheduling, coordinating who’s available when, and deciding who can admit new members. Right now, anyone can invite.

  When it comes to removing members…currently, only I can do that involuntarily to someone. We should decide if that stays the same. Anyone can leave whenever they want.”

  A few people started whispering in the rows, heads bent together. I smiled inwardly. Good. I want them thinking for themselves, not waiting on me to rule by fiat.

  “There are two final things I want you to decide. I won’t make these calls for you. First…what do you want our guild to be? How do you want people to see and think about us? Second…what do we do as a guild? Which activities, Game or otherwise, do we take on together? What’s our purpose? That might even be a third thing.” I grinned. A few people chuckled back.

  “The one fixed duty I should handle as Guild Master is chairing meetings.” I pulled my notepad and pencil from my pouch. “Anything else you want to bring up tonight? I want us finished before the gentleman over here,” I gestured toward Stewart, “who none of you recognize, gives us a presentation.”

  “The first topic of business…who do you want as head of this guild, and how long before we vote on a new one? The floor’s open for nominations, including self-nominations.” That set the room buzzing.

  They decided faster than I expected. First, they voted on whether to use a secret ballot or a show of hands. I reminded them AnthroPaul was observing on behalf of the Game Response Agency. Since votes and comments on Guild Chat were visible anyway, they chose a show of hands. A few people volunteered to speak for those following along online.

  It wasn’t unanimous, but most voted for me. I knew many just didn’t want the job. “Hell, I don’t want the job either…but I’ll do it for now.” Then we turned to officer roles.

  I suggested Scheduling and Training. The guild added Banker and Recruiter. Banker meant someone besides me could manage the bank. Recruiter gave potential members a clear point of contact, plus standards if we wanted any.

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  Sir Andrew got Training, as I hoped. Agra Wolf’s Daughter took Scheduling, claiming past experience. Blackheart, a Thief-Rogue and city detective, volunteered as Banker…she said she’d worked in accounting before becoming a cop, and her father was a CPA.

  Gaylord Nimblefingers got stuck with Recruiter, partly because people thought a Bard would be good at advertising, and partly because he stood out. He admitted later that he had a friend who designed band websites and would ask her to set one up for us.

  Once they were chosen, I had the new officers come sit up front with me and updated their statuses on the Guild Interface.

  “Now…how often should we meet? Not more than once a day.” That vote was quick...once a week for a month, then revisit.

  I checked the Guild Bank rules. “Looks like any member can see what’s in the bank. If you want something, talk to the Banker or an officer. Make sure your own gear is covered first, then new members second. If you want to gift something beyond daily spawn drops, clear it with the Banker or one of us. Family or friends you run with? Fine. The more we bring in, the more we can give out.”

  “Next, what do we want to do as a guild…and what reputation do we want? We already have the highest-level players in the area. That can change. Do we push leveling hard? Do we focus on teaching newcomers how to fight and survive? Or both? Do we set fixed parties, or keep everything open?”

  Faces around the room grew thoughtful. Good. They’re taking it seriously.

  “We have one semi-fixed party… Blaze, Bhaarrt and Ingrid, Shadow, and me. We’ve worked together since day one. Clearing the dungeon on our first run wasn’t expected, but we managed it. We’ll likely be called on again. If possible, we’ll swap in others so you can get dungeon runs in too. Maybe not full clears at first, but you’ll get there.”

  “We can do the same at lower levels with spawns. I know some of you already are. The question is, do we formalize it? Handle it as it comes? Or leave it open?”

  That sparked more discussion. People asked questions, made suggestions, and asked higher-level members for advice. I redirected those to Sir Andrew in his new training role.

  In the end, we agreed to focus on training guild members first, helping outsiders second. That tied into the question of identity. Gar-Kosh stood and said, “We’re the best guild in Eddington. We should be the ones others want to be. Helping and protecting the community…and keeping each other alive.” That earned applause. No one disagreed.

  The last big issue I raised was merging. “This came up after the President’s visit. My neighborhood guild, 19th & Fox, and I discussed it afterward. They’ve claimed the spawn site across from my house. They’re full as a Level 1 Guild, with twenty-five members. Their top players are Level 4. They’re as close to Level 2 as we are to Level 3. If we merged at Level 3, we’d max out capacity with solid, capable members. Their best are as good for their level as ours are for ours. I’d like your opinion.”

  We debated a while. Some knew some of their members, and several knew Patrick Flanagan through his county work. In the end, they gave me the go-ahead to pursue it.

  We wrapped up a few details, then I introduced Dennis Stewart. I framed it by reminding everyone of our rising fame, how some of us were becoming recognizable, and how fame didn’t put food on the table. “If things break down, we’ll need other ways to get what we need. We might be able to live in the TAVERN ROOMS, eat there too…but for how long? And what happens if others impersonate us? The legal fallout could be serious. Mr. Stewart is an Intellectual Property specialist. He’s here to explain what can happen in best and worst-case scenarios.”

  Stewart stood beside the table. “Hello. My name is Dennis Stewart. I’m a partner with Sebastian, Albertson, Stewart, and Redenbacher. Our office is in the capital, but we have clients statewide. Intellectual Property law covers trademarks, service marks, copyright…all those little marks after words. That’s the first point I want to cover.”

  He paused, scanned the room, then continued. “Second, how artists safeguard their image and brand, preventing others from profiting without sharing with the IP owner. It also protects you if someone impersonates you.”

  “Some of you won’t need this. But those who’ve already achieved national fame may. It prevents people from pretending to be you on an endorsement without paying you. Right now, all transactions are in US dollars. But sooner or later, they’ll happen in Game currency…Shields, Moons, Crowns. We don’t see the Game ending anytime soon.”

  He explained government regulations, costs, and lawyer fees for suing or defending in civil court. His firm believed early adoption could shape laws for Game players specifically, letting us focus on survival while the legal side was covered. All the boring stuff.

  He compared it to how mutual aid associations grew into insurance companies. Finally, he stressed…this wasn’t required for guild membership. Each person would own their own rights.

  Then came questions. Plenty of them. He answered most, took notes on the rest. By the time we wrapped, it was a quarter to midnight. Stewart told me earlier he had a motel booked and planned to head back in the morning.

  “Thank you, everyone. I have business cards if you want to reach me or my office,” he said, pulling a stack from his pocket. “I never expected an introduction to the Game like I had downstairs…or the variety of people I met tonight. Some at the office won’t believe me.”

  As people filtered out, he turned to me. “I’d still like help creating my Game character. Maybe tomorrow morning?”

  “We said we’d be done by midnight and it’s almost that time. If you want, we can talk now. We’re usually up by seven to watch the spawn across the street. Or I can give you some quick pointers downstairs.” We chose downstairs. It was faster.

  AnthroPaul thanked us too. He’d stayed for the whole thing, told us he’d like to join the Irregulars when we had space, and that he wanted to learn to use his ice powers better. I told him we’d help anyway and to see me tomorrow.

  It was nearly 12:30 when I wrapped up with Stewart. Blaze and I headed home. Bhaarrt and Ingrid took Shadow.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDP8xOlQwaE

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