The Breaking of the Guilds is a pivotal event in the history of Wraith: The Oblivion and Stygia. Prior to the Breaking, the thirteen Great Guilds were a formidable force in Stygian society. The Compact of the Guilds, signed in 1354, had given them enough unifed force to rival even the Deathlords in power. Many Guilds, especially the Artificers, saw themselves as quite capable of leading wraithly society, even over Charon. Between their power and the constant undermining of the Heretics and Renegades, the Guilds decided to make a bid for power.