Carter of Ester

To be a Carter of Ester, all one needs to do is pay for a license with the carters, or be accepted into one of the lead carting groups. No specific education or qualification is necessary, although it is preferred that you prove capable with animals, navigation, and self repair as these are key skills to the job.

The Carters of Ester are a fairly flat guild structure, although there are some exceptions.    Due to the nature of the work, and the benefit of connections, one can apprentice to an experienced carter to gain the skills and knowledge of the career. Then, when they have proven themselves, an apprentice may be nominated by their master, or any other experienced carter, for appointment into a carting group. If accepted by a group, they purchases the apprentice's journeyman status from the master and the apprentice is made a member of said group.   Within the groups themselves, there are a number of (usually) elected positions that are voted on by all group members. These positions often hold additional duties, such as managing the groups gold, representing the groups interests at Carter meetings etc. They may come with privilages, or not, may come with additional reimbursement, or not and may have a limit of time or terms, or not; it is all dependent upon the carter group and its initial structure when established.   Finally, above the groups, are a series of "lead carting groups". These represent the most influential groups in the guild and also make up the ruling elite for the town of Ester proper. Broadly speaking, the leadership of a lead carting group, particularly their 'president' which must be reelected upon elevation of the group, are the final word in the region; their word is law. There are always five groups in these positions and are chosen, commonly, by the citizens of Ester.

Carters are paid by their group and the payment schemes do vary but the most common are:  

1. Carters pay their group a fixed sum every month. Carters are on the hook for all costs.
2. Carters provide receipts and a smaller fixed percentage of customer payments (proven by receipts) to the group. Carters are on the hook for all costs.
3. Carters provide receipts and a larger fixed percentage of profits from customer payments (proven by receipts). Carters are on the hook for all upkeep costs BUT are able to take these out before profit calculation. This can result in the group paying you to cover an overdraw, which is then paid back later.
4. Carters give all customer payments with receipt to the group. The group then pays them a fixed sum per day and cover all cart upkeep.

Other than these, and other rarer, methods of group payment, the individual carter is allowed to keep their profits. Further, the groups, rather than the individual carters, are taxed (with this usually already aligned in the payment plan). This means that a Carter and their household can be more secure in the money they take home.

Given that almost all models of reimbursement within the Carters of Ester result in diminishing profits, one would not be wrong to wonder why anyone would join the collective. Ultimately though, the Carters of Ester have built positive relationships with most merchants and businesses, and are well known for investing in roads and security to their clients. For the individual carter, this means safer, faster travel with less wear. The Carter groups are also often approached with jobs, which they then pass on to their members, increasing work. It is rare that an independent carter would be able to compete with the ease of work that is provided by the resources and connections of the Carters of Ester.