The early history of the Spacing Guild begins with Ixian (Koman) refugees from the Butlenan Jihad, led by Aurchus Venport and Norma Cevna, who landed on Tupile, established the Society of Mystic Manners, and laid the groundwork for what would later become the Guild The development of the Guild itself began shortly after the disappearance of Venport and the death of Cevna The Society they had founded had allowed gifted Tupilians to join their ranks, and one such was Frelo Mason, who, more than any other, was responsible for the Spacing Guild's mature form and activities Mason (105 B G - 29 B G ), described by contemporaries as swarthy, handsome and cunning, lacked the characteristic Tupihan desire for a settled life He and some of his companions possessed a keener awareness of what the universe had to offer and harbored interstellar ambitions equal to those of the Ixian exiles When Aurehus Venport was lost in space in 79 B G Mason assumed command of the dispirited Society, transforming it into a predominantly Tupihan organization serving Tupihan needs as he defined them The remaining Ixians were neither cast out more to suffer a diminution in importance they continued to fill valuable roles m the Society, enjoying the authontv