Guild Union

The Guild Union (ユニオン誓約) is a congregational association settled in Dahngrest that thoroughly operates as the leading source of power for guilds in Tales of Vesperia. The Union's headquarters are located in the northern area of Dahngrest, and their authority is dictated through the guild-based influence of the city, as well as through the representation of the Five Master Guilds (五大ギルド), the five most powerful guilds in the Union. Approximately ninety-percent of all guilds are part of the Union.

Purpose and Conduct
The Union serves as the primary source of employment for guild members associated with it; however, non-Union guild members are able to seek employment with the Union as well, albeit through the Union gaining thirty-percent of whatever profit earned. Fighting and other forms of conflict between guilds, as well as any form of intervention in another guild's business, are strictly forbidden by the Union. Union guilds must be registered with the Union itself for business-related purposes. A non-Union guild is typically formed through informal means of mutual understanding among its founding members, while a single founding member serves as the guild's leader. Guilds possess their own list of laws for their members to uphold, established during the guild's creation; failure to uphold these laws may result in direct action in the form of punishment or banishment from the guild. Those who consider themselves guild members have sworn away their rights as imperial citizens, granting them freedom from the Empire's control. Freelance in their visions, these members seek to dictate private laws and philosophies for the sake of establishing order.

Five Master Guilds
Governed directly by Altosk and ultimately Don Whitehorse, the Five Master Guilds are the most prominent and well-known guilds of the Union:


 * Altosk (アルトスク), also referred to as Heaven's Arrow (天を射る矢), is the most powerful guild in the Union. Led by the Don, Altosk serves as primary governing force and maintains order among the other guilds in the Union. The guild frequently represents the Union, such as when the world leaders are gathered to determine a solution to the Adephagos dilemma, and maintain the right to declare war on behalf of the Union. Despite the authorial peace mantra the guilds possess, many guild members show dissent toward the Empire and its ideals. When the Don reads the false letter from Prince Ioder and realizes the letter is inaccurate, he declares war on the Empire merely to appease the guild members. Altosk is highly regarded in respect to the guilds as an entirety. The guild's emblem consists of a bow and arrow, correlating with its alternate namesake.
 * Don Whitehorse – Leader
 * Raven
 * Harry


 * Fortune's Market (幸福の市場), alternatively known in Japan as Guilde de Marshe (ギルド・ド・マルシェ), is a merchant guild that focuses on the sales of goods and limited services. With shops located across Terca Lumireis, it possesses the most power in terms of supplies, and its headquarters are stationed in Capua Torim. Mary Kaufman, referred to officially as "Madam President" and often by her surname, is the guild's leader, who mandates all services associated with the guild. It is through her influence that the city of Aurnion is constructed on Hypionia, and she is present in the meeting of the world's leaders during the Adephagos dilemma. Gull's Song is a minor maritime guild associated with Fortune's Market for the sake of transporting goods; Tokunaga, who serves as the Fiertia's captain, is one of its members. The emblem of Gull's Song depicts a ship, referencing the delivery services they provide for Fortune's Market. Members of Fortune's Market are granted travel permits that allow them access to and through restricted areas. The guild's emblem consists of an altar supporting a series of uniform orbs, representing goods and the overall symbolism of trade and balance.
 * Mary Kaufman – Leader
 * Tokunaga – Gull's Song


 * Ruins' Gate (遺構の門「ルーインズゲート」) is an archeological guild that specializes in excavating blastia from various ruins. The guild is highly trusted, despite underhanded dealings throughout the course of the story. "Regaey", the guild's leader, is later revealed to be Yeager, leader of the Leviathan's Claw guild. Members of this guild can typically conduct excavations near historical sites, notably the Shaikos Ruins and Baction, and bring their discoveries to Aspio for its scientific citizens to analyze. The guild's emblem consists of an image of a gate encircling an assortment of excavating materials, such as a shovel and pickaxe.
 * Regaey - Leader
 * Archie
 * Markham
 * Joshua


 * Soul Smiths is a blacksmithing guild that is rarely seen despite its success in the marketing of weapons. The guild's headquarters are forged deep within a mountain, and its members rarely react with others despite its prominence as one of the Five Master Guilds of the Union. According to Nobis Celestial, its leader, the guild has recently fallen on difficult times and requires "Everlight Ore" in order to revive. It is one of the few guilds that still utilize the secretive process of guild codes. Yu Seron is the only other stated member of the guild. The guild's emblem consists of a large hammer, a symbol of the guild's work criteria.
 * Nobis Celestial – Leader
 * Yu Seron


 * Blood Alliance (紅の絆傭兵団「ブラッドアライアンス」) is one of the larger guilds in the Union that consists primarily of an assortment of mercenaries and assassins. Due to their shady actions and secrecy, the guild is highly criticized by others yet frequently hired; Kaufman once employed its guild members to assists in protecting her cargo ships as they traveled across sea. Barbos, the guild's leader, works in junction with Ragou, the magistrate of Capua Nor, and steals blastia cores. Once Barbos is killed at Ghasfarost, the guild steadily declines. The guild's emblem consists of two opposing axes flipped and facing one another, an ode to the guild's fierce demeanor.
 * Barbos – Leader

Other Guilds

 * Leviathan's Claw (海凶の爪「リヴァイアサンのツメ」) is a shady weapons and hoplon blastia-selling guild that has its headquarters in the Manor of the Wicked near Dahngrest. Lower members of the guild who carry out minor missions, often of sabotage, are referred to as "red eyes".
 * Yeager – Leader
 * Gauche
 * Droite
 * Zagi
 * Mercedes Dunkel


 * Hunting Blades (魔狩りの剣「マガリのツルギ」) is a guild of hunters who seek to eradicate all monsters, including the Entelexeia, claiming that monsters are the root of all evil in the world. Its guild members are frequently hired to kill a particular monster or exterminate an entire nest, which they oblige without remorse. Several of the guild's members, notably its leader and top officers, all possess particular justifications for their hatred of monsters.
 * Clint – Leader
 * Tison
 * Nan
 * Dyne


 * Clouds of Dawn is a guild that sought to take control of the Union after the Don's death. Its members argued with Altosk's members over the Union's position after the Zaude crisis.


 * Indigo Beasts is a blacklisted guild that scammed Kaufman when they were hired to protect her cargo ships while they traveled across the sea.


 * Dark Wings (漆黒の翼) is a small but well-known thieves' guild.


 * Bunny Guild is a guild dedicated to protecting rabbits.


 * Siren's Fang (海精の牙「セイレーンのキバ」) is a pirate guild led by Aifread. The guild disbanded after the "The Black Hope" incident. This guild is exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version of the game.
 * Patty Fleur - Leader
 * Seifer

Palestralle
Despite not being apart of the Union, Palestralle (戦士の殿堂「パレストラーレ」), a guild that governs both the city of Nordopolica and its coliseum, respectfully cooperates with the Union, particularly Altosk and the Don. Once Belius dies and Natz takes her place officially, he is called to represent Palestralle in the meeting of the world's leaders during the Adephagos dilemma.
 * Belius - Leader / Duce
 * Natz - Second-in-command / Duke

Brave Vesperia

 * See main article: Brave Vesperia