Vedian Firearms

The research and development departmern of the Vedian Guard knew they needed weapons to combat the dangerous situations they would inevitably find themselves in. So, they developed these firearms. Every member of the Vedian Guard are allowed (and encouraged) to carry one of these weapons. Even if they are capable of their own magic, these offer a solution to any anti-magic situations they may come across.
There have been many evolutions to the design of these firearms over the years, and many types as well. Each have their own strengths to them, and allow Guard members to decide how they want to approach a given situation.
The R&D Department has also worked to create customized ammunition for these guns, including ones that use Mana Crystals for their propulsion system, and ones that are entirely magical in nature.

Types

Revolver

Revolvers are made for faster use, with a chamber that holds 6 rounds at a time. These allow the user to shoot more times without having to worry about reloading. These have a shorter range, as well, meaning those who want to stay further way tend to choose another option.

Rifle

Rifles require a reload after each shot, but they are also much more powerful, and have a greater range. Some members of the Guard also augment their rifles with scopes and modifications that allow them to have even greater range and more power, though these are far less common and more situational in their use.

Shotgun

Shotguns are much more powerful than revolvers, but they have even less effective range. They are made for those who like to be almost directly up against those they are fighting, and are hardly used by most members of the Guard.

Social Impact

There are citizens of the Luxford Isles, and Arratha as a whole, that do not like the idea of these firearms. They are dangerous, and really only have the use of harming others, unlike magic, which can also be used to help others.
Most people, though, appreciate the access the Vedian Guard have to these weapons. They work hard to keep the citizens of the Luxford Isles safe, and these weapons afford them the opportunity to recruit members they might not have considered previously because of the firepower they can provide.
There are a few campaigns to destroy all of these firearms, but, because of the safety measures the Vedian Guard have put in place around them, these campaigns have never gained much traction.

Inventor(s)

The Vedian Firearms were created by the research and development department of the Vedian Guard, specifically for their use. This invention came on the heels of the discovery of black powder (later dubbed "gun powder" for its newfound use), with the idea that non-magical guards could have a quick, efficient, and above all powerful way of dealing with trouble in the world.

Access & Availability

These firearms are almost exclusively used by the Vedian Guard, though they do not keep it a secret, partially because that would be an incredibly difficult undertaking.
However, because of the dangerous and powerful nature of these firearms, they are not commercially available. A select few allies of the organization are permitted to purchase a limited number and variety of these weapons, but beyond that, the only ways to get one are being a member of the Guard, or killing a member.

Discovery

The firearms themselves were invented with a specific purpose, but the idea only came about after a gnome artificer named Isosany Hergaradis discovered a rather combustible mixture. Isosany was trying to find a way to create bursts of fire without relying on magic, and she was able to do so with this black powder she created.
Using that powder, she (and a team of artificers working for the Vedian Guard) created the first firearm which is the basis for most of their firearms to date.