Mud Slickers

"Back in the day, a merchant could pit brother against brother for a copper coin. But out here on the water, we learned a simple truth: a single line snaps, but a woven net holds. You want the catch? You pay the Weight. No haggling, no favors, no exceptions."
— Mason "Mud-Eye" Trent, Guildmaster

Overview

To the casual observer, the Mud-Slickers are just the smelly, mud-caked laborers hauling nets out of the weeping creek. Instead, they are the single most powerful economic force in Thistlewick.
They are a collective of fishermen, eel-trappers, and smokehouse workers who have monopolized the town's food supply. They operate on a strict profit-sharing model designed to protect the locals from being exploited by traveling merchants, and to ensure no single fisherman undercuts his neighbor.

The History: The "Penny Wars"

Twenty years ago, Thistlewick was poor. Traveling merchants would pit fishermen against each other, buying the day’s catch from whoever offered the lowest price. Families went hungry while merchants left with wagons full of cheap smoked trout.

Then came the Union Pact. The fishermen agreed that no fish leaves the water unless it goes through The Weigh-Station first. Now, merchants don't negotiate with individuals; they negotiate with the Slickers, and the Slickers set the price high.

How it Works (The "Catch Pool")

The Drop: At sundown, every fisherman dumps their catch onto the scales at the Weigh-Station.
The Tally: The catch is weighed and recorded. The fish are then mixed together for processing (smoking, salting, packing).
The Payout: When the fish sells, the money is divided based on the weight contributed, not the specific fish.

- The "Town Cut": Before the payout, 10% is taken off the top to buy communal supplies (salt, hooks, net repair) and to feed the widows/orphans of the town.

Cultural Traits:

The Look: Members are easily identified by their "Slickers" -- high, oil-treated leather waders that come up to the chest, perpetually coated in river mud and fish scales.
The Smell: You can smell a member coming from two streets away. It is a pungent mix of woodsmoke, brine, and raw fish.
The Silence: While the Porch Watch talks constantly, the Mud-Slickers are quiet. They work hard, communicate with hand signals on the water, and do business with a nod.

Rules for Outsiders

If you want to buy food, rent a boat, or hire a guide for the river, they deal with the Slickers.

The "Outsider Tax": The price for a local to buy a fish is 1 copper. The price for a stranger is 5 coppers. This isn't negotiable.
No Scabs: If a player tries to fish in the river to feed themselves, the Slickers will politely (or violently) cut their lines. "You're stealing from the guild, friend."