The Guildhall of Zerdargia

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Guildhall

Since the rebuilding the clan leaders made several decisions which were about practicality and the benefits of spending money wisely.

One of these decisions was the amalgamation of the guilds into a single building. The guilds represented the artisans and craftsmen and women of Zerdargia maintaining standards and quality overseeing apprenticeships and the training of the various skills that made up the daily life of the city.

This building is one of a number of grand edifices that dominate the central square of Zerdargia, built of good solid stone and finely crafted wood in the low roofed style favoured by dwarfs. It is built around a central circular floor on which most business is done. Placed around the walls of the building are tables clearly labelled with the nature of the trade represented

Stonemasonry Carpentry Mining Smithing and Metal Working Jewel Crafting Falconry Hunting and Woodcraft Brewing and Distilling Building and Decoration trades

This guild of guilds acts in many different ways not only does it oversee the various trades and skills in terms of maintaining quality of product it is also a hot bed of intrigue. It should be pointed out that the guild of guilds is an autonomous organisation built as a convenience for the dwarfs. The work of each guild within this building is independent and rivalries exist not only between the guilds but within the four main dwarf clans that have fingers in the guild pie. It also acts as an employment bureau for the city. Posted up around the walls are notes asking for labour stating rates of pay and conditions of employment. Equally if a person wants something built or made the guild can supply information and assistance to the customer pointing them towards firms and artisans who may be able to see the dream made reality.

The main skills represented by the guilds are just a small fraction of the skills available in Zerdargia. This is the place to ask the question and find out if the great city of Zerdargia can supply your needs.

Behind each of the guild desks stands or sit’s a clerk of various races but as the majority population is dwarf it is likely that any prospective enquirer will meet one of the bushy beards who will greet the customer with

Serale and welcome to the grand hall of the guild of Union of Trades how can I help you?

Most of the work of the guild is done on the busy floor of the building however there are private offices on the ground floor allocated to each of the guilds. There is plenty of spare office space still available for anyone who wishes to form his or her own guild. New guilds are charged an entrance fee of 1000 crowns for a space on the trading floor and office space.

From the central atrium winding dark wood staircases lead to the next floor here larger wood lined rooms allow for meetings around long tables. There is a guild members dining room and a kitchen to supply their needs. These rooms can be hired for private meetings by non guild members but two brightenings notice is asked by the guild employees for this service.

The central atrium is large enough to hold balls and dances and with a dwarf band available for hire and the grand hall resplendent in warm candlelight many a grand darkening can be spent in merriment and romance.


This building it typical of the ever practical dwarf it was designed for many uses and to stand in the centre of dwarfdom as a beacon of the rebirth of Zerdargia.

[Arkas Belrak]

3rd cycle of Cryxatum

It didn't take long for Arkas to find his way around the great city of Zerdargia. While in his searchings he found the Guildhall, which in fact was the place he was looking for the entire time.

Quite impressed by both the inside and outside of the building he quietly made his way into the hall and made his way over to the Mining table.

"Serale brother, my name is Arkas Belrak of the Chilling Mines of High Peak. I have come today to see if you are accepting members into the Mining Guild?"

[Firebird]

"Searle, brother Arkas, what can we do for you today." The young male dwarf behind the desk was friendly and outgoing. One could tell he was proud to be a dwarf, his long beard was braided into three parts. His genial good looks and his compact sturdy frame looked competent and at home in the office of the mining guild. His hands were working man's hands, big and callused.

At Arkas request the young dwarf looked excited, "ye have come here to live, I hope," he said with enthusiasm. "We've been looking for good miners here, though you'll have to work in Dargis. I hope that's not a problem. Zerdargian residents are given 1 cycle on and 1 cycle off in rotation. So you would work 1 cycle in Dargis and the next cycle will be off. Ye'll get your training and experience in Dargis."

"There are also amenities for new residents. As you know, we were hard hit and destroyed only 5 eras ago. So when we rebuilt the city, we set up a clan system so all the citizens could be sheltered and protected. Its not as easy bein' in yer own and since the clans were pretty messed up, we offer clan membership to all new citizens. Ye can choose yer clan and live on clan land. That way ye'll always have someone at yer back. Tradesmen like the Derisson clan, like me. By the way my name is Oscar Drumly of Clan Derisson. My family was killed in the war and Clan Derisson took me in."

The young dwarf finally took a breath and then continued, "Only thing is we all have to join the Veldar Elite as reservists. Tis' only two days a month and they gives ye 200 crowns a month stipend. That's cause we ain't gonna let anyone destroy our city again. Ye's have to swear allegiance to Zerdargia and the Veldar, take a weapon skill, and ye'll be able to live on clan land. Ye can even change yer last name if ye wish."

Arkas was astounded at the difference between this young enthusiastic dwarf and the reception he got at the bank.

[Arkas Belrak]

Arkas nodded his head, "Days off huh, well one cycle is a little extreme. Are we getting paid during this one cycle off?...Right now I am getting 80 crowns a cycle working up in High Peak. I am one of their best hands, it seems that the promotion rate is very good there. Living on clan land huh? Well that sounds mighty nice. What do I get? A bunk in a room or my own dwelling?.." Arkas paused as he thought about his next question.

"A weapon skill huh? Does the Veldar not have a engineers section or maybe construction? Either way its not a problem as long as the money is right for mining." Arkas stuck his hand in his pocket and felt the small amount of money he had.

[Firebird]

"If ye've got that much experience, they'll pay ye 100 crowns a cycle, why they pay red-cheek small beards 75 for apprenticeships. If ye're going up to a higher level of skill then the wages will be higher. So when you get to level 2 you'll go up to 130 gc a cycle. Yea, the work is backbreaking but you get paid for both weeks. They do this cause they need good miners at Studdard's Bros. Gold Mining Company. Since ye have to be up there a week, ye have a week off here. All Zer miners get that deal."

The young dwarf again stopped, his enthusiasm still brimming over, and took a breath. "Yea mate the mines of Dargis are very productive, but Dargis clans control all of them but Studdards. Studdard married into the gold mine, but they used to be Zerdargians a long time ago. So's they have trouble gettin' a lot of Dargis miners who prefer to work at their clan's mine."

He almost forgot the part about the Veldar, then he remembered, "oh, all the clans make their members become recruits of Veldar Elite. They got a reserve program. Ye just train in a weapon, yeah they want a weapon, in case ye have to be called up. Now the only time ye'll get called up is if Zer was attacked. But the weapons trainin' is free, so if you want to progress ye don't have to pay for yer trainin' and they give you 200 gc a month for two days work."

[Arkas Belrak]

Arkas laughed out loud, "Have I got the experience!? Well my friend lets just say I do. Ok....you have me convinced, where do I sign? And you forgot my question, what type of housing will I be provided, once I become a member?" Arkas asked as he already had his core worries out of the way.

"And after I am done here, can you point me in the right direction for the Veldar?"

[Firebird]

"Oh, sorry, they say I talk a lot. Yeah, ye'd get a one room apartment, but after ye'r here for a while, they'll give ye more room. The common rooms at the complex ye'll live at have dining rooms so ye'll meet clanmembers there. They'll try and make ye welcome. Its a grand thin' to have clans livin' together again, like the olden days. Though you probably find some scrappers, they usually only fight when they're drunk and then they forget by mornin'." The young dwarf laughed to himself, as if he had told a joke. Then he caught him and continued, "Oh, the Veldar parade grounds are just across the road. Just walk up the road straight ahead and the recruitment office is the first buildin'."

All of a sudden the young man seemed to stop in his narrative. He looked around like he was looking for something. "Oh, yeah, here's the form to fill out. Ye'll need to fill out yer name, the Clan yer wantin', age, and I'll have to see your Visa to make sure all's the information is right. If ye can write, ye can do it yerself, or I could help ye if ye needs it. When ye get to the mines, they'll give ye a job accordin' to yer experience."

He stood there waiting for Arkas to get a word in edgewise.

[Arkas Belrak]

Arkas smiled as he looked down upon the sheet.

Name: Arkas Belrak
Clan: Derisson
Age: Little past half?

"Not too sure on the age, I kinda lost track in the mines a long time ago. I guess you can put anything you want on it." Arkas said with a slight chuckle.
Arkas removed his Visa from his bag and presented it on the table as well.

[Tylag]

Spring Era XV Post Fractum.
Tylag found the guildhall easily enough. As the young dwarf walked through he noticed signs indicating which guilds were what and what each represented. Tylag found the one he wanted. The jewel crafting guild. Tylag approached the attendant clerk at the desk. "Serale I was looking to join the Jewel Crafting guild." Tylag asked the attendant.

[Firebird]

As Tylag walked up to the desk, Carbol Goldbrick stood and introduced herself. She was a young dwarf from Clan Goldbrick and she was prettier than most young dwarfen women as she tried to keep her weight down to 130 pounds. She did not have facial hair, as blonds in her family scarcily wore beards, instead she shaved regularly and seldom had more than peach fuzz on her cheeks and chin. Her long blond hair was braided into two very long braids that fell to her waist. She was 4'2" tall with pretty milk chocolate eyes. She was an artist who was enrolled in Gemma's Playhouse at Goldbrick Theatre. She wanted to be an actress of great reknown some day.

She worked at the Artist's Guild part time and was very pleasantly surprised to see Tylag. "I'm happy you want to specialize in jewel crafting. Dargis mines produce the most beautiful stones in Aelyria, but I might be a little prejudiced." She smiled at Tylag as she held out a form to him, "We would love for you to become a member of Clan Goldbrick. Though you may join whichever clan you wish. Is there any information I can give you?"

[Tylag]

Tylag walked up to the desk and the receptionist stood and introduced herself. The female dwarf looked prettier then other dwarves since she seemed to weigh less then the other hulking dwarves.

The other thing Tylag noticed was the female dwarf kept her beard brided into tow different groups. This was different then the style of Tylag which was simply a straight beard.

Tylag wondered how much truth there was to her comment about Dargis producing the most beautiful gems in the world. Tylag decided not to make the claim that the stories of Gems and dwarves in the Khadrans.

Carbol Goldbrick held out a form for the young dwarf. Tylag took the form and when she asked if he had any questions. Tylag paused for a moment and asked "What are my responsibilites as a member of Clan Goldbrick and as a apprentice Jewelcrafter." the young dwarf asked curiously.

[Firebird]

The clean shaven dwarfess was friendly and outgoing. She answered Tylag quickly. "The purpose of the clans of Zerdargia was to give all our brother and sister dwarfs a chance to belong to a clan where they can establish a family group. During the eras of Zerdargia, which I'm certain you know of, the clan system broke down to the extent that when the war came, and dwarfs were scattered everywhere, they did not have the advantage of family and friend. When we rebuilt Zerdargia we wanted all dwarfs to feel at home in a city that was dwarfish. Not that we don't want other races in the city you understand." She was quick to say that lest he think that dwarfs hated outsiders.

"So what you need to do is pick the clan of your choice, I'm hoping it will be Goldbrick," she blushed a little, "that's me clan."

"You also have to belong to the Veldar Elite as a reservist. It will cost you 800 g.c. for basic jewelmaking, and 200 g.c. to belong to the clan, then you start work at a shop as an apprentice and get paid 75 g.c. a cycle. The Veldar Elite will pay you 200 g.c. a month as a stipend.

You will live on clan land for free in a one room apartment, but if you want to pay an additional amount for a larger house or apartment you can."

[Arkas Belrak]

Arkas looked around the room and slid the paper closer to the female Dwarf. "Is that all I am going to need, or did I need to sign something else?" Arkas asked as he was in somewhat of a hurry.

[Firebird]

Arkas

Well sir, if you've a mind to go out to Clan Derisson's land, ye can look at the map up in the hall, its on the North wall. Do ye know when you want to start working at the mines."

[Arkas Belrak]

Arkas looked over to the north wall and back, "Thank you very much, I will head over there today... And I can start working at the mines when ever you tell me to." Arkas said with a enthusiastic smile.