The Order of Cobblers and Corvisers was a registered guild in Waterdeep representing skilled tradesmen who crafted and repaired all manner of footwear.[2][3][5] Due to the area of expertise they presided over, this unostentatious guild's tradesmen were both feverishly active and quite wealthy.[2][3]
Organization[]
The Order was governed by a Council of Senior Merchants, made up of those who had been members of the guild for 15 or more continuous years, with a central guild leader. In the mid–14th century DR, this leader was Falloor Malthind. The guild's public contact held the title of "Spokesman of the Order".[2][3] During this same period, that title was held by Darion Sulmest, proprietor of the expensive footwear boutique Sulmest's Splendid Shoes & Boots.[2][3][6]
Admittance to the Order required submitting an application to the Council of Senior Merchants. Once approved, new entrants had to pay an entrance fee of 15 gold pieces. Full members were expected to pay an annual due of 10 gold pieces. Part of these dues went towards the guild's annual fall order of materials.[2][3]
By Guild law each full member could have up to a maximum of nine apprentices serve under them. Apprentices had to pay their own annual due to the Order, which was 5 gp more expensive.[2][3]
Activities[]
The members of the Order were all dedicated and hard-working craftsmen, kept busy by a constant influx of demands for boots and shoes to be mended or crafted anew, including the thick-soled wooden clogs that Waterdhavians wore in rain and snow. Some Waterdhavians would go so far as to pay or promise them extra in return for expediting their order, moving it ahead of other waiting clients, and when a dozen or so pulled this in quick succession it could cause a Guild members' shop to get a bit hectic.[2][3]
Base of Operations[]
The headquarters of this guild was Cobblers' & Corvisers' House,[1][2][3][7] situated on Soothsayer's Way[2][3] in the city's Trades Ward.[1][2][3][7]
Possessions[]
Most guilds in Waterdeep had some form of livery, a uniform that denoted an individual's membership and was legally only wearable by members of their guild.[8][9] Members of this guild had the option between a grey cloak or cap for their livery. Both garments would be adorned with the symbol of the guild, on the right shoulder and cap-front respectively.[2][3]
Relationships[]
Annually during the fall season, this guild would put in a large order to the League of Skinners and Tanners for dark brown, heavy-duty finished leather from the guild, as it was during this time of year that many herd animals would be slaughtered. Both guilds worked together to carefully guard these shipments. These tons of leather were sold to the Order at a bargain, as this annual transaction kept many of the League of Skinners and Tanners members with enough money to tide themselves over during the winter season.[2][3]
Reputation[]
The Order of Cobblers and Corvisers had a reputation for its full guild members being either investors, with money invested into several businesses or properties in Waterdeep, or hoarders of vast treasures hidden securely in one place or another in the city. The former of the two reputations was cause for a long-standing saying in the city, "Most landlords are corvisers; they know best when and how to give the boot".[2][3]
Members[]
In the mid–14th century DR, the Council of Senior Merchants was consciously working to keep the Order's number of active members down to around 80.[2][3]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Campaign Guide”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 51. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Who's Who in Waterdeep”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), p. 51. 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.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 82, 218. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (January 1993). Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 107. ISBN 1-56076-335-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 34. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Steven E. Schend (July 1994). “Who's Who in Waterdeep”. City of Splendors (TSR, Inc), pp. 3, 35. ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.