Artificers Guild
The largest Abyssan guild of inventors is a hive of infighting, one-upmanship and more or less accidental firestarting.The Blackreach Artificers Guild, or simply the Artificers Guild for short, is the largest and most well-known of its kind in Abyss. As competitive as they're competent, the Artificers Guild is infamous for the often destructive hijinks its members get into as they try to outdo each other. Yet, in spite of all the mutual disdain so blatantly on display whenever any number of them meet, no guild member would knowingly and purposefully sabotage any of their comrades.Wayfarer's Almanac
Insignia
The Artificers Guild has no uniform or even shared colors, as its members belong to a wide range of species. However, most members wear the Guild's insignia.Agenda
The primary purpose of the Artificers Guild is to ensure quality of training and work, as well as adequate pay for its members, their apprentices and employees. It also serves as a network of professionals in related occupations, thus allowing members a better chance at being recommended by their comrades, at finding work through their local chapter's job board, and support when setting up their own business. Another important part is the opportunity to learn from fellow members, be that by sharing discoveries and ideas, or by cooperating on projects. Their mindset is to always take things apart, try things out, and occasionally blow things up. And along the way, of course, to apply all the knowledge thus gained to improve something or create something new.Structure
The Guild is made up of masters of a variety of related trades, confirmed as such by degrees from the Guild itself, or from other recognized masters and institutions such as universities. The vast majority are mechanikers, mechanical, aerospace and nuclear engineers, weaponsmiths, shipbreakers, demolitions specialists, and pyrotechnicians. The Guild has no individual leader, though some its local chapters do. Decisions concerning the Guild as a whole are voted on by all members. The local chapters enjoy a good deal of freedom with their operations, due to the often significant differences in local laws, economy, and other factors.Education
While the Guild doesn't offer university courses and degrees (though it does help university students fund their education and housing), it does offer apprenticeships and additional education through its members. Those who already hold a university degree or have completed an apprenticeship outside the Guild can receive further training by the Guild.Apprenticeship
Those who train with a member of the Guild begin as apprentices. The duration of the apprenticeship varies by craft. Once they graduate, they become journeymen for a few years, and go on to work for a different master of their craft as they travel from one town to the next. At the end of their journey years, they have created their masterpiece, which they submit to the Guild for judging. If deemed worthy of a master, they receive their master's letter, and the title of Master Artificer.Notable Members
Wrath Sings-to-the-Void is a voidbrood from Farglow in Blackreach. Xe joined the Guild as an apprentice, and over the centuries became a master of multiple trades and in several guilds. While xe became notorious for unrelated reasons, xe certainly proved xyr skill as an Artificer when xe turned an ancient derelict back into a spaceworthy ship, without access to a shipwright's yard or similar infrastructure.The Guild During the Exile
The Artificers Guild thrived during the Exile, becoming one of the major organizations in charge of engineering and maintenance for the Exile Fleet. Like many guilds, they recruited members of local species for their knowledge and new perspectives.Notable Artificers from Human-Settled Space
Purgatore is a wastelander and reborn mogry from Ser South. He was always too fond of fire and explosives for his own good, which earned him the attention of the Artificers Guild.
He later became an Intermediary for the Witherlight Alliance. While working in Winterbourne, he met Sideris, and knowing potential when he saw it, he brought hir to the Guild's attention.
Purgatore by spacetrash with Heroforge
Sideris by spacetrash with Heroforge
Sideris (aka. Faidon Sideris / Angeliki Sideris) is a reborn mogry from Sulna. Prior to hir death, (s)he was an engineer and Sunforged priest, and finally the leader of the Lightbearers.
Hir knowledge, charm, and ruthlessness made hir more than suitable to join the Artificers Guild. After hir resurrection, (s)he was recruited and trained by Master Artificer Wrath Sings-to-the-Void, who eventually also became hir lover.
(Sideris uses he/him and (s)he/hir pronouns.)
Juster (aka. Morion Burguet) is a baridan wastelander. A freelance shipbreaker and demolitions specialist by trade, he's also a pirate, and a Deathbringer serving the Abyssan machine god Death Mist.
He joined the Artificers Guild on the suggestion of his deity, thus gaining access to additional training, equipment and other resources only the Abyssans can offer.
His Captain, Sanglante Corsair Mangtas, was delighted by the idea of potentially gaining access to the sealed sections of the Lynx Route.
Juster by spacetrash with Heroforge
Tian Xiaoyu by spacetrash with Heroforge
Tian Xiaoyu is a wastelander from Ser South, and an officer in the Kentauran Spacefleet. A nuclear engineer by trade, she was first recruited by the Artificers Guild, and later by the Wayward Coalition as an Intermediary.
When her crew investigated events on the Lynx Route, the training and knowledge she had received from the Abyssans proved useful, but eventually also forced her to reveal her affiliation with them.
Her Captain, Rick Benayoun Lancaster, was not amused by the revelation, but agreed to let her talk to the Coalition to get the answers the crew was looking for.
(Tian is her family name.)
Alternative Names
Blackreach Artificers Guild
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