The Artificers' Guild

Aside from the clergy of The Order, one of the most influential organizations in the Eight States of Chronan is the Artificers' Guild. This coalition of inventors, engineers, alchemists and clockwork smiths has risen in power during the Steaming Age, when the influence of magic-users waned in the wake of the industrial revolution.
The guild has a base in each of the eight capitals of the Eight States, and the guildmaster of each guildhouse holds a position in the city council. An aspiring artificer can become a member by performing a task for the guildmaster at any city, but to become a guild-approved master artificer themselves, they must travel to all eight capitals and study under each guildmaster. Each city where the member performs a task allows them to rise in rank:

1. Initiate
2. Journeyman
3. Adept
4. Craftsman
5. Fabricator
6. Specialist
7. Expert
8. Master

There are only a handful of masters among artificers, including the eight guildmasters. They each have their own specialization:

Cidalpha Daelus Truddigon, the elderly guildmaster in Czenova and the head of the Guild Campus. He also founded the Steam Fair in search of new talent. He was an apprentice of Metropolite Deliverance Prometeo, the founder of the Prometech Institute and inventor of The Warforged.

Gnosticus Marvellan, a recluse deep gnomish master artificer living in his Clockwork Tower in Magnapolis surrounded by autognome servants. He wishes to bring Chronan into a new Electrum Age. He is the son of a former magnapoleian guildmaster Bombasticus Marvellan, who founded the Marvellan Academy of Artificers.

Janeway Borglum, the guildmaster in Magnapolis whose specialty is engines.

Jourdain Colichemarde, the high elf guildmaster in Jubileum who specializes in gadgets and machines.

Killian Jamboree, the halfling guildmaster in Parcivale, an alchemist specialist. He is the twin brother of Metropolite Shillian Jamboree, but hides his true age with a strong illusion.

Ventura Casca, the guildmaster in Reignstone who is a bomb expert.

Roto, the kobold guildmaster in Gardenoor, who is in charge of the irrigation system within the city.