The Edfréas or Edhfreirs (Rhov.: "Safemasters", older"Aithafravias") were Associations or Guilds among the Northmen.In Lake-Town the Edhfreirs were loose voluntary associations of merchants and craftsmen, often influencing the prices of various commodities, but their guidelines were hardly strict regulations. Often, there were several edhfreirs that served the same segment of society; the associations existed primarily to give folk plying similar crafts some bargaining leverage, access to apprenticeships, and a chance to socialize with like-minded people. Membership was not obligatory, and some Lake-folk refrained from joining any edfreahir in order to keep trade secrets and avoid paying dues. Other wealthier townsfolk became members of several edfreahir, but this was less common and not g