The National Confederation of Laborers

Most humble of tradespeople

The Laborers, as they are commonly known, are a loose association of workers in the humblest of trades, those considered demeaning or lowly. These include:

• Bellringers
• Chimneysweeps
• Dishwashers
• Farmhands
• Gaolers
• Grave, ditch, and well diggers
• Lamplighters
• Launderers
• Miners
• Nightwatchers
• Rag and bone collectors
• Streetsweepers
• Undertakers

There is currently a push by the Guildmaster to expand their membership to factory workers as well. Presentation of a new draft charter for the Laborers is supposed to be presented to the Council of Masters sometime soon.

Structure

Guildmaster

The current head of the Laborers is a young ama’il hexblood named Nivex Rinjava. A former street urchin, Nivex has worked as a lamplighter and nightwatcher for years, but often helps out in other trades as well. They are a fierce proponent of workers’ rights, fighting tooth and nail for laws that will help laborers, and are adamant about taking factory workers under the wing of the guild.

Guild Representative

The guild representative is an elderly leonin man named Vaneri Blacktongue. Vaneri is a priest of Nicodemus who just recently retired from service as the head of Novandria’s undertakers, and has joined as guild representative to continue serving the people and his god. Vaneri is slow to speak and slow of temper, often weighing options for a long time before making a decision.

Guild Administrator

The guild administrator is a human male who goes by the name of Edwardus the Mad. Eddy (as his guildmates call him and which he hates) is a rag and bone collector who just sort of stumbled into leadership one day, and does the guild’s administrative work in exchange for a comfortable place to sleep and a whole lot of alcohol. Cranky, ill-tempered, and prone to shouting at wayward apprentices, Edwardus is nonetheless remarkably organized and good at keeping records.

Guild Structure and Ranks

While the official titles of the membership of the Laborers follow the standard structure, pretty much no one within the guild actually uses those names, and the three ranks have each developed a series of commonly-used slang titles instead
Apprentice: Common slang terms for apprentice laborers include grunts, sprouts, underlings, imps, urchins, moppets, and tadpoles
Journeyer: Terms for journeyers include drudges, stiffs, dusks, tweeners, hands, grinders, and horses
Master: The most commonly used term for a master in the Laborers is pro, which stands for professional, producer, or proletarian, depending on who you ask. Other titles include heads, overs, brasses, helmers, and bosses
Mastery Exam: The mastery exam, such as it were, mostly consists of “can you do your job competently, efficiently, and without fuss.”

Culture

The Laborers are incredibly insular, mostly due to other guilds looking down upon them. They tend to be distrustful, a bit secretive, and wary of outsiders. However, to other members of their guild, they are generous and form a solid community, often relying on each other for sharing childcare, caring for each other when sick, and protection
Patron God: Nicodemus

Guild Symbols

The Laborers don’t really have a symbol, save for a commonality of almost all of them wearing black gloves at pretty much all times.

Guild House Description

The main guild house sits just on the edges of town, a squat stone and brick building that seems a little old and dusty. On the inside, there are barrack-like rooms for members, a cafeteria where workers can come and get fed, bathing halls, and a small healer’s office. In addition, the Laborers maintain a number of small shelters in each major city; these are referred to as burrows and act as safehouses and shelter for members

Public Agenda

The Laborers perform the menial but necessary jobs that keep Eisen functioning -- collecting refuse, dealing with the dead, mining, and the like. The guild ensures that workers are paid fair wages for their efforts, that those found abusing said workers are adequately punished, and that working conditions continue to be improved upon and made safer.

Assets

The Laborers are one of the poorest guilds in terms of actual money, but they more than make up for it in sheer labor power and the ability to shut down the city’s proper functioning if pushed to.

History

The Laborers have evolved over time, encompassing new trades through the years.

Type

Guild, Professional

Alternative Names

Laborer's Guild

Demonym

Laborers

Location

Novandria, Eisen

Patron God
Nicodemus
Guild Symbol
Black Gloves