Artificers Guild

The Artificers Guild is one of the core guilds in Ashak, and saw its rise to its current status during the reign of Emperor Valtyv. The Artificers are the cause for the importance of Ashak, and thus are a very prestigious guild. The guild is a very large guild within Ashak, and due to its importance and numbers holds a lot of political power in the city. The Guild is split all over the city, with the different branches of the guild having their own workshops. There is no true one central guild hall, rather there are four main guild halls spread over the city. The Artificers Guild is known for employing adventurers and the Mercenary Guild in their expeditions into the desert and jungle to find new materials. There is a saying in Ashak that goes “If you don’t work for the Artificers, you ain’t an Ashakian.” This saying came about in the explosive growth phase of Ashak, during which everyone either directly or indirectly worked for the Artificers Guild. The Artificer Guild not only provides goods for every day life, they are also the main suppliers for the Ashakan army. The Ashakan army is known for not only having the traditional equipment, but also special forged Arcane Turrets.
Whereas the Artificers Guild tend to tinker things for the sake of tinkering, useful inventions have come out of them. The most famous magitech to come from Ashak are the Airships, becoming large and important enough to become its own guild. The split away of that branch from the Artificers was peaceful, and the two guilds still have a good relation to this day.
The Artificers Guild works via the traditional Master-Apprentice system, in which potential apprentices present themselves to the masters and convince them to impart their teachings. Often these Artificer Apprentices take classes at Tersi University, combining their technical tinkering with scientific studies of the world around them. Classes often filled with Artificer Apprentices include mathematics, engineering, and geography. These classes are seen as providing the required theoretical knowledge for their practical tinkering.
Apprenticeships with the Artificers are long training periods, in which only the true tinkerers make it to the end. The apprentices are expected to invent, plan, and complete a full project every year of their apprenticeship. Once their yearly project is up to expected Craftsman Standard, the apprentice is promoted Craftsman. Often times this comes unexpected to the Apprentices, and there are traditions around not informing Apprentices of the upcoming promotion until the moment it happens. The reasoning behind this is that the Masters look for those that can work well and be inventive, and not limited by the pressure experienced when it comes to becoming a full craftsman. The average apprenticeship for the Artificers lasts 5 to 8 years. The large range occurs due to the differences between the branches of the guild, the required skills, as well as the individual’s inventiveness.

Founding Date

Unknown, before Emperor Valtyv's reign

Type

Guild, Craftsmen

Alternative Names

Artificers, Arty Guild, Arties

Demonym

Arty/Arties

Leader

Veli

Location

Ashak

Notable Members

• Veli