The Honored Association of Domestics
Domestic workers and servants
The HAD embodies all domestic workers and servants, such as butlers, housekeepers, dressing maids, housemaids, cooks, valets, chauffeurs, grooms, and nannies.
Structure
Guildmaster
Cyndara Blacklock - female dwarf
The Guildmaster is an elderly dwarf woman by the name of Cyndara Blacklock, though most of the guild just calls her Ms. Blacklock or Ms. B. Cyndara has been in the domestic trade for nearly a century, starting as a junior housemaid at a small country estate and working her way up to being considered one of the finest housekeepers in the country, having worked for several noble families along the way.
The Guildmaster is an elderly dwarf woman by the name of Cyndara Blacklock, though most of the guild just calls her Ms. Blacklock or Ms. B. Cyndara has been in the domestic trade for nearly a century, starting as a junior housemaid at a small country estate and working her way up to being considered one of the finest housekeepers in the country, having worked for several noble families along the way.
Guild Representative
The representative for the HAD is a haregon woman named Daphne Fairroot. Daphne is a first-rate dressing maid, but she can no longer work in her preferred trade due to a carriage accident that cost her a foot. She has found new purpose in serving the guild as representative and advocating for workers rights.
Guild Administrator
The guild administrator is a middle-aged human male who goes by the name of Jacobius Tyler. Mr. Tyler is a butler who spent his entire career serving one family before retiring to work for the guild directly. He is an exacting but kind man, who runs the administrative department like a finely-tuned machine.
Guild Structure and Ranks
The HAD runs in much the same way as the hierarchy of servants within a house, and the titles they use follow suit. Typically, an apprentice chooses a career path upon starting their studies, and follows that up through each rank, although some anomalies do occur. Apprentice: Guild apprentices are trained in the lowest-ranking position of their path first. Apprentices are called simply by their first names.- Housemaid: A housemaid is responsible for basic cleaning tasks, such as sweeping fireplaces, washing floors, beating rugs, and the laundering of basic household linens. They are not yet deemed ready for tasks involving expensive items such as clothing or dinnerware.
- Kitchener: A kitchener is responsible for cleaning the kitchen and helping with basic cooking duties such as chopping vegetables.
- Nurse: A nurse is responsible for looking after the infants within a house, making sure they are clean, fed, and cared for.
- Page: A page is responsible for the most basic of service tasks, such as fetching mail, opening doors, and helping to serve at meals.
- Stablehand: A stablehand is responsible for mucking stables, feeding and watering horses, and learning to groom the horses under direction.
- Chambermaid: A chambermaid is responsible for taking care of their employer’s bedchambers, laundering clothing, and making repairs when needed. A chambermaid progresses from a housemaid.
- Parlor Maid: A parlor maid is responsible for cleaning the living areas of the house, polishing silver and china, and caring for furniture. A parlor maid progresses from a housemaid.
- Undercook: An undercook is responsible for preparing simple dishes and assisting the head cook with creating meals. An undercook progresses from a kitchener.
- Nanny: A nanny is responsible for the well-being and education of children between toddler and adolescence. A nanny progresses from a nurse.
- Footman: A footman is responsible for serving meals, setting tables, and accompanying their employer on errands. A footman progresses from a page.
- Groom: A groom is responsible for caring for and grooming horses and maintaining tack. A groom progresses from a stablehand.
- Dressing Maid: A dressing maid is an attendant for an individual, responsible for helping their employer with clothing, hair, makeup, and accessories, mending and altering garments, drawing baths, and other personal necessities. A dressing maid progresses from a chambermaid.
- Housekeeper: A housekeeper is responsible for running a household, ordering supplies and groceries, keeping inventories, and overseeing the work of the other servants. A housekeeper progresses from a parlor maid.
- Head Cook: A head cook is responsible for the management of the kitchen, menu planning, cooking of complex recipes, and food preservation. A head cook progresses from an undercook.
- Governess: A governess is responsible for the well-being, education, and propriety of adolescents and teenagers. A governess progresses from a nanny.
- Butler: A butler is the head servant in charge of the ground floor of the house, responsible for maintaining the wine cellar, serving meals, winding clocks, and announcing guests to the home. A butler progresses from a footman.
- Valet: A valet is a personal assistant to an individual. While trained in dressing their employer, valets are more often tasked with maintaining and assisting their employer with armory and weapons, running errands, handling financial affairs, and accompanying their employer in traveling. A valet progresses from a footman.
- Stablemaster: A stablemaster is in charge of the household stables, keeping health records of the horses, acquiring new stock at the request of their employer, and overseeing the work of the grooms and stablehands. A stablemaster progresses from a groom.
- Chauffeur: A chauffeur is the driver for a household, responsible for maintaining the carriage or other vehicles and driving their employers where they are directed. A chauffeur progresses from a groom.
Culture
The guild is extremely strict in terms of formality and hierarchy, considering it part of their continued duty to ensure that every member knows their place and tasks. The guild takes enormous pride in their work. There is also considerable jockeying for positions at wealthy or comfortable estates. However, there are also strong familial bonds within the guild, with older members often being extremely protective of their juniors.
Patron God: Elowyn
Guild Symbols
Apprentices dress in the standard uniforms of their position, typically a plain black dress and white apron, white shirt and black britches, or something similar. Journeyers dress in skirts and blouses, dresses, or shirts, trousers, and waistcoats in the colors of the house they serve, or a color of their employer’s choosing. Masters may wear clothing of their own choice, though it is typically modest and somewhat plain. When in service at noble houses of note, guild members often wear the heraldry of their employer somewhere upon their clothing.Guild House Description
The guild hall of the HAD is a large, well-appointed manor house in which there is ample opportunity for continued education. The lodging for guild members is fairly utilitarian, since the guild does not put much emphasis on extreme comfort for its guests. However, the food offered in the guild kitchens is some of the best around.Public Agenda
Eisen society would not exist without its dependence on the Domestics’ Guild. Households across the country, from the wealthiest estate to modest middle class homes run because of their staff. The HAD ensures that their members are trained to be excellent staff, no matter the wealth of the employers they serve. Additionally, they help to find suitable situations for their members, and mediate disputes between members, employers, and other entities.
Assets
While the HAD may not be the wealthiest of the Eisen guilds, they have connections across the country, and rumor has it that their information network rivals that of the Confidantes.
Type
Guild, Professional
Alternative Names
HAD, Domestic's Guild, Servant's Guild
Demonym
Domestic
Location
Elowyn Guild Symbol
Uniform