Guilds & Factions of the West

"A listing of several of the more well known factions found amongst the major cities and settlements of the west..."

What follows is a list, complete with brief descriptions, of the various guilds, organizations and factions often found amongst the more prominent cities and settlements across both Hariel Majour and Hariel Minuta. When possible, examples will be given from the available guilds within Angleport, as the "Jewel of the West" features more guilds, per capita, than any other city in the known world.

COMMON GUILDS AND THEIR EXEMPLARS

Alchemists & Apothecaries... In Angleport, the guild is run out of the spacious laboratory at "Benson & Sons Family Curatives and General Betterments." The collected members are bonded under the guild banner, "Alchemists, Apothecaries & Herbalists of the Jewel."

Arcanists, Spell Weavers & Illusionists... Several guilds featuring a roster of various arcane casters exist in Angleport, including the mysterious Knitting Circle, the Image Weavers' Council, the Enchanters' League and the Seekers of the Great Beyond (necromancy guild).

Archaeologists... A small guild comprised of adventurers and historians bent on decoding the great many secrets of Lumeria (amongst others). This guild does not seem to be represented outside of Angleport and Varuumae Corona, where it is known as the "Shadwell Society of Spelunkers and Specimen Hunters."

Armorers, Locksmiths & Finesmiths... In Angleport, those who practice the fine art of detail metalwork (often dovetailing or overlapping with blacksmiths) are typically members of the "General Manipulators Guild Section 409" or perhaps the "High Shapers Confederation of Professional Specialists."

Assassins and Mercy Killers... It goes without saying that the most well known and nefarious of this sort of "underground" guild is the "Thornblack Assassins' Guild" of both Angleport (where it is an open secret) and Varuumae Corona (where it operates quite legally).

Assessors & Money Inspectors... Tax collectors and public accountants are rather ubiquitous in Angleport, due to both the crown's presence and the proliferation of banking institutions within. Those who practice this most dubious of professions nearly all are members of the "Northern Hariel Brotherhood of Tax Assessors & Money Handlers." Even bankers, who do not have a specific guild of their own, are often found amongst its membership.

Barber Surgeons... The rarified, and traditionally male profession of the gentleman barber, along with all its accompanying (if rather backwards) rituals, is represented in Angleport by the "First League of Collected and Anointed Barber Surgeons of Angleport."

Beggars... Angleport is one of at least several cosmopolitan cities to feature a form of unionized begging. Some loose guilds include "The Empty Hand," and "The Blessed Meek." Others appeal to the potential benefits of charitable donations, with such ostentatious names as the "Wretched Recipients of Hallowed Gifts from Divine Givers."

Blacksmith & Metal Forgers... The intricacies and subdivisions amongst metalworkers is expressed in the numerous guilds established to protect its various and prolific artisans. Outside of the many branches of the "General Manipulators" guilds, smiths also have the option of throwing in with "Forge Workers United, Angleport."

Brawlers and Professional Gladiators... Though significantly less common in the north, nonetheless these fighters find representation from within Angleport's "Brotherhood of the Fighting Man & Professional Pugilist."

Brewers, Distillers & Vinters... The bountiful membership of the "Grand Masters of the Hop & Vine" manage and protect those in the fermented beverages industry within Angleport and much of the west.

Butchers... A surprisingly large and robust union, at least in Angleport, where the ominous sounding "Brotherhood of the Cleaver" reigns supreme.

Calligraphers, Sages, Scribes, & Scriveners... Such artisans find likeminded brothers and sisters within the "Inkwell Society of Calligraphers, Scribes & Scriveners, Angleport," or the "Brotherhood of Sagely Book-benders & Advisors."

Carpenters, Roofers, & Plasterers... Those dealing with the finer points of construction are often found amongst the rolls of the "Angleport Master Builders & Woodworkers Guild" or the "Edifice Dressers and Finishers Consortium."

Cartographers, Surveyors, & Chart-Makers... The "Most Humble Union of World Demystifiers" or the "League of City Planners" handle the great majority of those in these rarified professions.

Clothiers and Linen Workers... There are a number of guilds representing clothiers of all customers, income brackets and specializations. Examples include the "Associated Quick Cloaks," "The Quiet League of Delicate Unmentionables," and "The Sisterhood of the Needle Most Precise."

Cobblers & Shoemakers... Few would suspect the dangerous and cutthroat nature inherent to this highly competitive field. As such, there are a number of available guilds jockeying for new and exclusive members. Included are the "Foot Masters," the "Faction of the Well Covered Foot," and the "Journeyman's Pride of the Cobbled Way."

Cooks & Bakers... Another profession with many specializations, those in the culinary arts find many choices when it comes to potential brotherhoods. Several include the "Organized Masters of the Culinary Form," the "Independent Bakers League of Angleport," and "Collected Confectionary Artists of Angleport."

Criers... Town criers even feature their own union of sorts, with the "Assembled Voices of Angleport," in addition to the "Affiliation of Employable Throats."

Gentlemen Philosophers... The "International Brotherhood of Gentlemen Philosophers and Free Thinkers" is a wide ranging "guild" comprised of the intellectual elite from the majority of the world's most cosmopolitan settlements. However, it's more of a "thought experiment" than an actual guild with any form of coherent charter. It does collect yearly dues though. Seems freedom isn't exactly free.

Glassblowers & Glaziers... Represented in Angleport by the "Artists' Consortium of Cup Makers, Glassblowers and Pottery Glaziers."

Inquirers & Investigators, Private & Otherwise... Those members of this odd profession are not typically represented in guild form, but those who are tend to be affiliates of "The Brotherhood of Truth Seekers," "Private Inquirers Incorporated," or the "United Investigators of Criminal Cases Both Cold & Underserved."

Jewelers & Gemcutters... The "Organized Loop Holders, Local 151," the "Artisans of the Precious Stone," and the "Crafters of All That Glitters" are amongst the many factions associated with this lucrative field.

Lamplighters... "The Honored Light" is currently in the middle of a pretty rough turf war with the "Urchins of the Hooded Lamp" over supremacy of the streets.

Lawyers... "The Honorable League of Justice & Defense," though sounding like a union of super heroes, is merely Angleport's answer to an attorney's guild.

Leatherworkers, Skinners, & Tanners... The "Affiliated Tanners & Leatherworkers of the West" is possibly the most common guild covering all aspects of this field.

Masons & Stonecutters... The majority here are represented by "The Ancient Masonic Brotherhood of Stone."

Merchants... The "Free Traders of the Inner Sea" are possibly the most prominent of several guilds dedicated to the sale of wares along the west coast of both Hariel Majour and Hariel Minuta. Others include "The Sea Merchants Company" and, though not technically a guild, "The Club Masters of Angleport."

Miners of Silver & Gold... As Angleport is adjacent to several prominent silver mines, along with a few minor gold mines, the city features an organized labor force dedicated to the extraction of such precious materials. "Delvers' Union of the Silver Reaches" and "The Gold Masters of Hariel Majour" are two of the more prominent guilds, each generally holding near complete sway over their own particular domains. On a somewhat related note, there exists an entire Angleport street, called the "Widows' Way," dedicated to housing the surviving families of deceased miners. It's indeed a profession with a rather high mortality rate.

Musicians & Song Crafters... The "United Lyricists & Melodic Performers Guild" handles a good many of those within these fields. At least those few who decide to unionize.

Naturalists, Farmers, Drovers and Equine Trainers... This broad swath of career paths is covered by a variety of guilds, from the "Order of the Equestrian Arts" to the "Sowers of the Bountiful Field."

Painters, Limners, & Sign-Makers... The "Pigment Purveyors' and Artisanal Exploiters' Guild," the "League of Bonded Sign Makers & Large Writ Indicators" comprise a good portion of the guilds associated herein.

Perfumers & Scent Smiths... "The Order of Odors" is perhaps the best known guild catering to this field in Angleport, though others include the "Crafters of the Rarified Yet Harmonious Scent" and the "Organization of Perfumers & Maskers of the Wholly Unpleasant".

Plumbers & Sewer Divers... As Angleport is outfitted with a rather modern system of aqueducts and sewers, it also features many of those who are tasked with their maintenance. They are known as the "Benefactors of the Hidden Necessity," or more plainly "The Plumb Worker & Sewer Divers' Union."

Poetry & Prose Authors... A relatively new branch of unionized "labor," many authors in Angleport are represented by the "Writers Guild, West Coast," "The Living Poet's Society" and (given the recent rise of necromancy in the west) the oddly burgeoning "Undead Poet's Society."

Potters & Tile-Makers... "The Mystic Order of Potters & Ceramic Artists" is one of the oldest and most unassumingly mysterious organizations in all of Angleport. Some suspect it to be a front for far more nefarious activities.

Seers, Astrologers, Soothsayers & Tellers of Fortune... Angleport is represented here by the "Union of the As Yet Unseen," and the somewhat dubious "Third Eye of Angleport." Other guilds include "The Far Seers," and the "Sisters Who Indeed Told You So."

Shipwrights & Sailmakers... This category covers a broad swath of maritime professions, including longshoremen ("The Affiliated Longshoremen of the Inner Sea"), shipwrights ("The Builders' League of Quality Nautical Vehicles") and sailmakers ("The Tack & Sheet Guild").

Thespians & Playwrights... The "Assorted Artists Alliance," the "Word Smiths of the West," and the "Faction of Stage Performers and Associated Artists" are amongst the many groups involved with this field.

Thieves and Roustabouts... Thieves' Guilds are typically an unspoken and underground "brotherhood" of those inclined to the less savory arts of non-lethal crime. Little more than a mafia of sorts, most of these organized criminal families are known by the name of their godfathers or "Capos," or they're not known at all. The ones that typically get ink have some bizarre angle to them, such as the "Thieves Guild of Zanzakkar," which is primarily composed of non-human pick pockets and burglars. "The Assorted Collective of Professional Fondle Purses" is somewhat well known, if only for their provocative name. There are at least five distinct groups attempting to establish themselves under the moniker "The Syndicate," though none have really made it stick.

Tinkers, Pewterers, & Casters... As many amongst these professionals are gnomes, their associations tend to have rather extravagant names such as "The Deft Fingers League of Delicate Inanimate Surgeons" or "The Collected Inventors of a New and Better Tomorrow." You know, pretty regular stuff.

Toymakers & Curiosity Crafters... Often, these artisans overlap with the aforementioned tinkers, however they do have a few guilds of their own. Examples of which include the "Wondrous Toymakers for Jubilant Children," and the "Society of Curio Crafters & Artisans of Miniature Replica."

Transportation, Inner City Carriage and Buggy... Even in this place and age, the Teamsters reign supreme. The union is sometimes referred to as the "Stewards of the Street," and also covers carters outside the purview of the "Naturalists" (see above). Pedicabs and Sedans are covered by the "Guild of Chairs Held High."

Wagon-makers & Wheelwrights... This rarified profession is covered by the "United Wainwrights' Association, Angleport," along with the "Legion of the Wheel."

Weavers & Dyers... "The Society of Weavers & Dyers" is the most prominent guild covering this field in Angleport. Others include the "Order of Ink" and "The Weave Collective."

Woodcarvers, Coopers, & Bowyers... The "Woodworkers' Guild" has a virtual stranglehold over those seeking to ply their wares and apply their skills in this arena. However other associations include the "Brotherhood of Cask & Barrel Formers," "The Protectorate of the Crate," and the "Archers' Tools Foundation."

Structure

Each group is typically run by a "Guild Master" or a board of regents.

Public Agenda

To protect the interests of their signatory members in matters both financial and legal.

History

The history of the guilds is about as ancient and varied as that of modern civilization. It is known that once a settlement reaches a population density nearing the five digit range, it tends to also grow a good number of unions or guilds. Competition, fair working practices and conditions, and quality of life are all factors in the development of the guilds (and most factions as well).