Law Enforcement Bounty Hunters' Guild

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Bounty Hunters Guild


To many, the Bounty Hunters Guild is some sort of motely collection of scum, villains and other vermin. To many, we are kidnappers, thieves, murderers, and assassins. But what is a bounty hunter, truly?

A bounty hunter is someone tasked with the most difficult job in the galaxy. We hunt down the most dangerous thieves, kidnappers, murderers, and assassins in the galaxy. And we succeed where others have failed and will face challenges few dare to imagine. The work is thankless; but ours is a necessary job. While governments squabble in inaction, we do what needs to be done.

But what exactly "needs to be done?" And how does it all work?

Let me explain it this way. A crime is committed. Someone—the Republic, regional or local governments, large corporations, or an individual with substantial interest—issues a notification to the Bounty Hunters' Guild. Usually, this notification indicates the target, the stipulation (dead or alive), and an award. The entity that issues the notification is known as the originator. The target, usually a criminal, is known as the acquisition. The reward, naturally, then, is known as the bounty.

From there, a Guild contractor will notify a hunter (who is traditionally a member of the Guild themselves) to pursue the contract. Hunters may also choose to use the Bounty Board to select a bounty for themselves from a variety of sources. Upon completion, the bounty is typically paid in credits (though other forms of rewards exist). Sounds easy, right? Wrong. But, nevertheless, it's the job.

So what sets the guild apart from the average vigilante? Let's address some of the misconceptions about hunters to answer that question:

  • Do bounty hunters kill for money? Yes, but not indiscriminately, and not merely for personal gain.
  • Are bounty hunters murderers? No. Murderers kill unlawfully.
  • Are bounty hunters assassins? No. Assassins target specific individuals for political or religious reasons and do not always get compensated for the killings.
  • Do bounty hunters kill innocent people? Never intentionally, and not without consequences.
  • Are bounty hunters lawbreakers? No. We abide by the laws of whichever government employs us. In a sense, we are law-enforcement officers and there are consequences when we break the law.
  • Are bounty hunters mercenaries? Absolutely not. Bounty hunters have little regard for anyone whose allegiance is for sale.
  • Are all bounty hunters members of the Guild? No. Some choose to work for independent employers.


The Creed

  • People Don't Have Bounties, Only Acquisitions Have Bounties
  • Capture By Design, Kill By Necessity.
  • No Hunter Shall Slay Another Hunter.
  • In the Hunt, One Captures or Kills, Never Both.


Governance

The Guild, its rules, and its membership is governed by Guild Council. The Council sets the policy for the Guild and mediates disputes between members. It is also the final authority on punishment, when members violate its policies. Finally, the Council will convene to vote on membership—whether to confirm or deny a hunter's membership into the Guild. The Council is led by a Guild Master, elected for life from among its members.

In total, the Council was composed of five members, with the Guild Master (the sixth), acting as a tie-breaker whenever necessary.

Types of Bounties

The following are the types of bounties the Guild frequently deals in:

Government bounties: Bounties handed down by galactic, regional, or local governments. These usually involve hunting down criminals that governmental law enforcement cannot dedicate resources towards capturing and/or executing.

Private bounties: These bounties are posted by private (usually wealthy) civilians. Difficulty ranges and hunters must be cautious not to get caught up in the personal vendettas of of the originators. Only take these bounties if a serious crime is provable on the account of the acquisition.

Underworld bounties: These bounties usually originate with the less reputable members of society. Rarely will a contractor contact a hunter about such bounties, but they can be frequently found on the Bounty Board.

Bounties also fall into a number of categories:

"Most Wanted" — These are usually government bounties on the worst criminals within their jurisdiction. Traditionally, those who make this ranking are guilty of conspiracy, sedition, treason, or mass murder. Hunters should always be prepared, for these targets are usually armed and extremely dangerous. "Most Wanted" bounties are a sub-classification of "Galactic" bounties.

"Galactic" — These type of bounties are frequently posted by governments. Those that make this ranking are frequently accused of aggression against government officials, bribery, or widespread piracy. These missions can be extremely dangerous.

"Regional" — Those branded with this ranking tend to be accused of murder of important persons, forgery, operating illegal vehicles, and organized crimes. Hunters can expect danger-level to be moderate.

"Sector" — These types of bounties are posted against those who have participated in crimes on multiple worlds. Often those with this type of bounty are ring-leaders of gangs infesting multiple planets in a sector or small time crime lords with repeated history of crimes. The danger-level of these bounties is moderate.

"System" — Also known as local bounties, these are typically a type of government bounty. Those branded with this ranking are frequently guilty of aiding and abetting criminal activity, murder, kidnapping, violation of customs laws, possession of illegal weapons, and smuggling. These jobs are by far the least dangerous.

Types of Rewards

While bounties are usually rewarded in credit sums, there are a number of other ways that a hunter can be paid, depending on who is placing the bounty:



  • Rights of Salvage: The hunter is permitted to keep whatever possessions the acquisition had on their person. Typically their weapons, armor, technology, etc. Regardless of the type of payment, hunters are typically allowed the Right of Salvage for any target they capture.
  • Land Grants, Mining Permits, Water Rights: Most might think this an odd form of payment, but for those bounty hunters living on the frontier worlds of the galaxy, these rewards can be the key to their very survival, and are often difficult or tedious to secure through other means.
  • Precious Goods: Rare artifacts and expensive materials and/or technology usually fall into this category. Next to credits, this is the most commonplace reward given to hunters who complete their assignments.

In addition: Completed bounties by Guild affiliates are deeds weighted more heavily for reputation than non-affiliates.

Galactic Relations

The BHG has a galaxy spanning influence and maintains a presence on worlds from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim and members can be found on any given world. The BHG is a neutral organization, it simply follows the laws of the local and higher government it is operating on a given moment. It has good relations and cooperates with all factions including the Galactic Senate governments, the Sith and the Five Syndicates. On the Outer Rim frontier, the ISC and Five Syndicates are frequent employers of the Guild and often send bounties through them.

There is a rivalry between the Sector Rangers and the Bounty Hunters' Guild, although it is a friendly rivalry more than anything, being fellow law enforcement organizations but with differing philosophies and methods, essentially them being police versus bounty hunters. They are ultimately amicable to each other and corporate with each other. Sometimes even the Sector Rangers will reach out to the Guild, or vice versa.


Assets

The Guild does not possess too much in the way of assets. Any ships, weaponry, or supplies affiliated with the Guild typically belong to the bounty hunters that make up its membership and are, therefore, not Guild property. Although the Guild does have lots of halls and offices that span the across galaxy, a testament to it's influence. Guild membership is also high and the organization has a large flow of credits. In truth it's not it's material assets that make it such a powerful organization, is it's sphere of influence and membership of loyal and well-trained hunters that make it formidable.

The Guild's main base of base of operations on is on Trandosha. This guild hall is where the Guild Council assembles and where all governing of the organization happens, effectively functioning as it's headquarters. Additionally, other notable guild halls known to exist are on worlds such as Florrum, Nevarro, Tatooine, and Carajam though they are mostly a cantina and a gathering place for bounty hunters looking to exchange stories, take on new bounties, or search for assistance in their hunts, although with that being said many other cantinas around the galaxy have bounty boards posted in their establishments.

Ranks & Membership

The Guild has a large membership base, but has simple ranking structure which is as follows (from bottom to top):


  • Initiate (Rank 0 | Optional Starting Rank): Those who have completed their first bounty for the Guild - typically something as low level as a bail jumper - and have secured their place fall into this category. Typically an unknown entity within the Guild, every member once started at this rank.
  • Tracker (Rank 1 | Starting Rank): Hunters at this level have proven that they know how to track a target. They haven't made a name for them selves yet but they are on their way as they complete successful hunts They have tracked targets for the Guild successfully on multiple occasions.
  • Hunter (Rank 2): “Old reliable” would be a phrase used to describe Hunters. They are well known throughout the Guild and have a reputation of success on their hunts.
  • Master Hunter (Rank 3): The ultimate bounty hunters, the Master Hunter almost always gets his man. These individuals are known by everyone in the Guild and are able to quickly track and capture even the most difficult of acquisitions.


Most of this write up has come from @Malon last TL which in turn came from the Bounty Hunter Code

 
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