====== The Dwarven Guilds ======

Even above family or state, dwarves and gnomes revere their membership in one of many guilds. Their role within their chosen guild is of primary importance. There are many stories of children who are disowned just for choosing to join a different guild to pursue other goals than the rest of their clan. Over the centuries, some guilds have risen and others fallen or been lost to time. A few guilds have been disbanded because of tragedy or blasphemy or both. A few of these "lost" guilds have been re-constituted in hiding, creating a number of secret societies within the dwarven heritage. 



The best known guilds include:

  * The Arcanists Guild
  * The Armorers Guild
  * The Capitalist Guild
  * The Explorers Guild
  * [[healers guild|The Healers Guild]]
  * [[image guild|The Image Guild]]
  * The Scriveners Guild
  * The Stonecutters Guild
  * The Subterraneous Guild
  * [[steel guild|The Steel Guild]]
  * The Tanners Guild
  * [[teamsters guild|The Teamsters Guild]]
  * The Tinkerers Guild
  * [[varrik guild|The Varrik Guild]] 

Each individual guild generally recognizes four ranks below Guildmaster. In ascending order of rank they are: Members, Apprentices, Journeymen, and Directors.

===== Heritages =====

The guild system are powered by a number of clans of various peoples. The [[mountain dwarves|Mountainborn]] and 
 [[hill dwarves|Hillborn]] dwarves, the [[rock gnomes|Rockbred]] and [[deep gnomes|Deepbred]] gnomes, the hearty outlander [[goliath|Giants]], and the rare synthetic heritage of the [[warforged|Automatons]].