Guildmaster

Guildmasters act as the political head of their guilds. They are elected by the masters of their guild, and serve both as chair of guild meetings and in an advisory role to the city's rulers. Given the nature of these roles, many guildmasters are far from the most skilled in their craft, as most masters cast their ballot based on a candidate's clear headedness and political acumen rather than practical skills.
In Caelester, the guildmasters held a great deal of influence over the city's decisions, with particular influence in areas related to their trade. However, seven years ago, after the Ascension Riots, most of the guilds have been officially outlawed, as the city's new steward saw their political power as a threat to his new regime. Today, the guildmasters have formed a clandestine organization that seeks to undermine the Steward's tyrannical rule, operating out of Fortuna Virtuosa with the assistance of the new "Guild of Collectors," which is in reality a brotherhood of thieves and extortionists.

Qualifications

The exact qualifications to be elected guildmaster vary by guild, but all are selected from among the more experienced Masters of a guild, often those who have held that title for at least 10 years. Most guilds also require a nomination from several other masters, in order to limit the number of names on the ballot. Beyond that, one must simply secure enough votes from the other masters to beat the competition.

Duties

The primary duty of a guildmaster is to represent the guild to the leadership and ensure guild interests are given proper consideration in the halls of power. Additionally, the guildmaster coordinates efforts to maintain guild ethics and standards, leading efforts to investigate and punish members who misrepresent their capabilities as well as ensuring that people moving between cities prove their ability to meet guild standards before they can join the guild. This helps maintain the quality of product for the customer, as well as ensuring that masters of the craft can charge fair prices without being undercut by duplicitous competitors.

Type

Professional