Expert - Jewelcrafting
"Coronators? They make a pretty enough crown, but I find the speed at which they gravitate towards power rather than skill... unsettling."
Finnebeir Flith, Master Jewelcrafter
Qualifications
A subjective determination of a Journeyman - Jewelcrafting's ability for political intrigue as well as crafting ability are taken into consideration before they may attempt to become an Expert.
Appointment
Journeymen become Experts by crafting three rings of distinct gems and styles and making the journey to Crossings. There, Journeymen display their rings for Masters to judge. Since Masters are not bound to stay within the guild, the number of Masters that judge a Journeyman's rings varies and has become a measuring stick for the Experts to judge each other by how many Masters gave their approval. Only one Master is needed but often Journeymen will wait until more than that are in the hall before presenting their rings to improve their status among their peers.
Duties
Experts are the work horse and show ponies of the Gem Cutters Guild. Once they become Experts, jewelcrafters are given free reign of the guild hall and introduced to the political intrigue of their patrons and mentors, if they hadn't already used those back channels to propel themselves to become Coronators. This knowledge will serve them well since Experts are typically sent to Kings and Queens of varying realms to become jewelers of the royal family. This benefits the guild in two ways. First, the Expert builds the reputation of the Gem Cutters Guild when the royals of the land are seen in guild crafted jewelry. Since Experts are given the full support of Crossings, the jewelry they make is typically unrivaled. Secondly, having a member of the guild nestled in the higher echelons of society allows the guild to manipulate kingdoms for better profit, or any other schemes they see fit.
Responsibilities
Since coronators are expected to ingratiate themselves to the nobility, their duties often demand them to attend court and parties. This networking expands the control of the guild as well as generates business for the jewelcrafter. Plying the guild's agenda to the nobility is what experts of countries and territories are there for; knowledge of secrets and pressure points that can be used to manipulate certain parties towards those ends are paramount. Of course they are expected to create beautiful ornaments as well, but as far as the guild is concerned this is only a means to an end for the experts placed in high society.
Experts who have retired from political life or never enjoyed the graft and racketeering of court appointments are expected to manage the guild operations from within the guild hall of Crossings. This typically includes gathering Journeymen and expert annual fees, fielding recommendation letters from Journeymen, coordinating schemes put forth from the Ruby Crown with Experts in court, and managing the interplanar portals and the dispersion of resources to Master - Jewelcrafting.
Benefits
The monetary gains from court appointments are extreme. Often coronators are wealthier than their clientele. These riches are not the main benefit from this position; the power that court intrigue and information brokering affords is what most Experts crave.
Managerial experts do not benefit from the wealth their skills give them. Instead they benefit from being so centrally located within the guild and its secrets. Court appointed Experts may gather information about a king and his concubines, but an Expert established in Crossings gathers information on nations, alliances, interplanar politics, and trade secrets. A Ruby Crown was never forged outside of Crossings, and often managerial experts are aiming towards this end.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Court appointed experts enjoy a lavish lifestyle and a workshop that is well known throughout their territory. Materials and equipment, whatever they may need to craft their baubles, are provided by the guild. There is no formal difference in appearance between Journeyman - Jewelcrafting and Experts, but its immediately obvious who caters to merchants and who is contracted by trade princes.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
Like Journeyman - Jewelcrafting, there is a fee demanded by the guild of Experts. This has never been an issue. Since they are given all the materials they ever need and have the skill to craft jewelry befitting their rarity, money is never an issue. This is simply a way for Crossings to support itself and the needs of its Master - Jewelcrafting and Grandmaster - Jewelcrafting.
An Expert is dismissed only when the political intrigue they've conjured has gone sideways. An embarrassment on this level may ruin the Gem Cutters Guild's reputation; an expert who threatens the guild's name is often removed far before national news is made. This is done with as little attention drawn to the transition of one court appointed Expert to another. Assassinations are not unheard of especially when the offending Expert's death may assuage any wounded parties.
Managerial Experts are much safer, only being killed when they've stumbled upon a secret someone wanted to keep hidden or mucking about interplanar issues far beyond their capabilities.
Type
Professional
Alternative Naming
Coronator
Source of Authority
Authority is conferred by Master Jewelcrafters.
Length of Term
No length of term, although most Jewelcrafters remain at this level for life.
Reports directly to
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