Brewer's Guild

Brewer’s Guild of Bard’s Gate

Overview

The Brewer’s Guild is one of the oldest institutions in Bard’s Gate, officially chartered in 627 and maintaining uninterrupted operation since the city’s earliest days. Its banners hung in the Bardic College before its ruin, and its seal was once etched into temple chalices. Though Bard’s Gate has changed drastically—especially following the calamity of the Twin Elvish Kingdoms—the Brewer’s Guild remains, stubborn as a cask-bound dwarf.
In recent years, the guild’s influence has been tested by the sudden arrival of new residents. Following renewed contact with Dern-Kalduhr, an ancient dwarven kingdom that sealed itself off during the goblin uprisings, a massive influx of dwarves has flooded into Bard’s Gate. Many have taken up residence in the abandoned northern quarter, now known as the Dwarven District, and their thirst has reshaped the economics of brewing.

Structure & Membership

“It’s not a crime to brew without a license. It’s a mistake. One we correct—with interest.” – Barrelmistress Cynda Greybluff

There are no official independent brewers within Bard’s Gate. The law is clear: you either pay a steep fee and join the Brewer’s Guild, or you are shut down—sometimes by taxmen, sometimes by fire. Exceptions are made only for alchemists with minor stills, whose concoctions are regulated through the Alchemist’s Circle, not the Brewer’s Guild.
Membership requires sponsorship from two standing members, a tasting judged by the guildmaster or their delegate, and a sworn oath before the copper tap.
The guild is primarily composed of humans of Oeridian descent, but a handful of halflings, gnomes, and clanless dwarves have risen through its ranks. Clanned dwarves typically brew independently within their strongholds or through private arrangements, but some have begun eyeing the Guild with ambition… or contempt.

• Guildmaster Merrol Thaste – Elderly, sharp-tongued, and still sharper of nose, Thaste has held the copper tap for over thirty years. Whispers say his health is fading, though no one dares ask.
• Deputy Master Ellig Deepfoam – A gnome eccentric known for wildly experimental brews. Once exploded an entire caskhouse with a “cinnamon vapor mead.” Now wears a sootproof robe.
• Barrelmistress Cynda Greybluff – A hard-edged clanless dwarf with immense authority over bulk distribution. Rumored to be sympathetic to Guaco—or perhaps simply pragmatic.
• Archivist Thimbletop – A sharp-eyed halfling with a perfect memory for ledgers and grudges. Has been known to quote license violations from five years past. Cheerfully ruthless.

Location & Holdings

The Brewer’s Guild operates from a walled compound just west of Butcher’s Block, the district that houses Bard’s Gate’s slaughterhouses and the Butcher’s Guild. The air is thick with the scent of malt and blood, depending on the breeze.
The compound includes tasting halls, fermenting vaults, license archives, a training facility, and a heavily guarded treasury where the Copper Tap—symbol of guild authority—is kept under lock and ale.

• The Guild Compound – Brick, timber, and iron-ringed casks as tall as a house. Guards patrol the gates, and no one gets in without a reason, a badge, or a bribe.
• Old Barleygate Brewery – One of the oldest facilities in the city, located near the ruins of the Bardic College. Still functions, though heavily guarded and used mostly for ceremonial batches.
• Deepfoam’s Caskhouse – A site of unending alchemical mischief, near the Hin Hideaway. Gnomes and halflings frequent it for "research."

Influence & Current Crisis

The dwarves’ arrival—and their legendary capacity for drinking—has dramatically increased demand for beer, mead, and spirits. The Brewer’s Guild is struggling to keep up, and that strain has opened the door for exploitation.
The Galibano family has used their muscle and contacts to seize control of several key supply routes, offering “protection” to brewers and redirecting stock as needed. As a result, Guaco and his crew in The Dregs have been cut off entirely—no shipments, no supplies, no drink. This dry spell is rapidly escalating tensions.

City Districts & Context

Bard’s Gate is not divided into wards, but rather five loosely defined regions:

• The Dregs – Outside the main walls, curving from the eastern farms down to the southern riverfront. Home to the halfbloods (half-orcs) and ruled by Reeve Wonderful. Now suffering under an unofficial alcohol embargo.
• Upton – The commercial heart of the city, featuring the open-air market, various trade houses, and a vibrant gnomish neighborhood. Bilvyn Boonspell serves as interim reeve and guild custodian.
• The Dwarven District – Located in the northern quarter of the city, this area was recently reclaimed and repopulated by dwarves following the reestablishment of contact with Dern-Kalduhr.
• Worker’s Rest – Predominantly human and home to most of the city’s functioning guilds, including the Butchers and Brewers. A hub of labor, industry, and beer-thirsty complaints.
• Hin Hideaway – A small but lively halfling district, once overseen by Guaco himself. Known for tiny doors, strong drink, and fast gossip.

Rumors & Hooks

• A secret “gray market” of unsanctioned dwarven brewers may be rising beneath the city’s cobbled alleys.
• Barrelmistress Greybluff is rumored to have family in Dern-Kalduhr—possibly even noble ties.
• Thimbletop has begun cross-referencing brewery permits with known Galibano contacts. He may need help he doesn’t want to admit.
• A cursed batch of barley is said to bring misfortune to any who drink its brew. Naturally, it's the exact grain the party just intercepted.