The Jewelers' Guild was one of the official guilds of Waterdeep.[2][3] It was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of gems throughout the city, as well as the cutting, mounting, and appraisal of gemstones.[1]
Organization[]
The Jewelers' Guild was small, secretive, and extremely wealthy. Its members were known to be always accompanied by large contingents of bodyguards, usually up to the maximum limit of sixteen guards per non-noble person.[1]
Guild members wore deep purple robes with a triangular crown-cut white gem placed on the chest, with the point downward. They also wore purple hats adorned with white feathers.[1]
Activities[]
All work of cutting, polishing, and mounting gems was handled by members of the Jewelers' Guild. They also performed repairs and resetting of gems upon request, as well as appraisal of gemstones at the behest of other merchants.[1] The guild also provided exchange of currency to and from Waterdhavian-minted coins, at guild-standard rates. Together with the Guild of Trusted Pewterers and Casters, they were known for having the most accurate scales.[4]
The guild also took it upon itself to police illegal gem traffic and gem theft within the city. They relentlessly pursued suspected perpetrators and enacted quiet vendettas upon them.[1]
Tactics[]
The guild typically handled the acquisition of gems by privately hiring mercenaries and adventuring parties to bring hauls of uncut precious gems from distant locations. The most common expeditions were hired to steal such gems from the South.[1]
It was common for guild members to hire dwarven artisans and mages to create traps to protect their gems and gold.[1]
Base of Operations[]
The guild's headquarters was the House of Gems, located on the north side of Gem Street in the Castle Ward.[5]
Relationships[]
All external activities of adventurers commissioned by the Jewelers' Guild were closely monitored by the Red Sashes and Shadow Thieves. It was rumored that at least two high-ranking members of the guild had ties with the Shadow Thieves.[1]
History[]
During the Guildwars of the mid–13th century DR, Lord Parnak Deepwinter allegedly conspired with Jewelers' Guildmaster Yivvik Chourm to create a powerful faction by merging the Jewelers's Guild with the Guild of Silversmiths and Gilders (then controlled by the Deepwinter family). Lord Parnak was the fourth son and not likely to become the leader of the guild, but assassination of all the other noble members of the clan brought him to power and the merger was accomplished. After Lord Parnak died in the fire that consumed his family villa, the Deepwinters and the Guild of Silversmiths and Gilders ceased to exist.[6]
In the mid‒14th century DR, the Jewelers' Guild donated a copy of the book Jewel and Gemcutting to the library of Bard Keep near Silverymoon.[7]
Members[]
By the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, the guildmaster of the Jewelers' Guild was Master Jeweler Stromquil Halazar, who also owned the shop Halazar's Fine Gems in the Sea Ward. The spokesperson for the guild was Gentleman Speaker for the Jewelers Jhauntar Olmhazan, who also owned and operated the shop Olmhazan's Jewels in the Castle Ward.[1]
Membership into the guild cost an initial entry fee of 40 gp, plus an annual membership fee of 25 gp.[1]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Dungeon #29, "Ex Libris" • Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Who's Who in Waterdeep”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 169. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
- ↑ Map included in Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (2000-08-23). Part Seven: Kahla the Ghost of Heroes' Garden (HTML). Realms by Night. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2004-09-17. Retrieved on 2021-01-03.
- ↑ Randy Maxwell (May/June 1991). “Ex Libris”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #29 (TSR, Inc.) (29)., p. 39.