There are three ways to join the merchant's guild
- clear Maria's name <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />
- kill Maria to cover up Malcolm's book cooking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/down.gif" alt="" />
- pay
I thought someone had a problem awhile ago that after agreeing to kill Maria, she would not talk, and therefore would not give the quest to restore her reputation.