Coopers' Guild

The Cooper's Guild in Magnimar

The guild is housed in a series of cozy, rustic workshops. These workshops are designed for hands-on crafting, with large wooden workbenches and neatly organized tools for cooperage. The scent of fresh, aged, and exotic woods fills the air. Apprentices work with a variety of woods, from the common oak and pine to more unusual timbers used in crafting specialized barrels. The guild boasts a group of skilled and experienced coopers who serve as mentors to the apprentices. They are eager to pass on the guild's rich traditions and techniques.   There are shelves of coopering manuals and instructional texts. Apprentices can access these resources to study barrel-making techniques, woodworking methods, and the secrets of crafting airtight and leakproof containers. Safety is paramount in cooperage. Apprentices are encouraged to wear protective gear such as aprons, gloves, and safety goggles while working. Tools like chisels, mallets, and planes are essential for precise craftsmanship. The guild has an impressive inventory of wooden staves, metal hoops, and other cooperage materials, allowing apprentices to select the finest materials for their projects.   The emblem of the Coopers' Guild, typically an intricate wooden barrel with cooper's tools, is proudly displayed throughout the workshops, emphasizing the guild's commitment to the craft. The guild embraces both tradition and innovation. Apprentices learn to respect the time-honored techniques of cooperage, while also exploring modern methods and experimenting with new barrel designs. In addition to functional barrels and containers, some apprentices focus on artistic cooperage, incorporating intricate woodcarving and decorative designs into their work.   The guild is a place of camaraderie, where apprentices learn, share, and collaborate. It's common to see cooperative projects where apprentices team up to create larger or more complex items. The guild's master cooper oversees the workshops and provides guidance. Upon successful completion of an apprenticeship, apprentices receive the guildmaster's approval, signifying their competence in the craft.  

Master Cooper Grizzick Ironhoop

Specialty: Barrel Construction
Appearance: A robust and grizzled dwarf with a hearty laugh and a thick, well-groomed beard.
Expertise: Master Ironhoop is the go-to mentor for barrel construction. He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of stave selection, shaping, and hoop fitting. His practical guidance ensures that apprentices produce barrels that are both functional and works of art.  

Artisan Faelan Woodcarver

Specialty: Decorative Cooperage
Appearance: An elf with a keen eye for detail and an ethereal air. Faelan is often found meticulously carving intricate designs into barrels and containers.
Expertise: Artisan Woodcarver specializes in the artistic aspect of cooperage. Apprentices seek his guidance when they want to add decorative woodcarvings or engravings to their projects. His creations are renowned for their beauty and intricacy.

Mistress Althea Greenleaf

Specialty: Exotic Wood Selection
Appearance: A knowledgeable and affable halfling with a keen sense of wood identification.
Expertise: Mistress Greenleaf is the guild's wood connoisseur. She educates apprentices on the unique properties of various woods, helping them select the right timber for specific projects. Her expertise extends to rare and exotic woods used in crafting special containers.

Engineer Brogan Gearspring

Specialty: Innovative Cooperage
Appearance: A gnome with a knack for mechanical contraptions and inventive ideas.
Expertise: Engineer Gearspring encourages apprentices to think outside the barrel, integrating clockwork mechanisms, hidden compartments, and other innovative features into their cooperage creations. His expertise bridges traditional cooperage with modern ingenuity.

Journeyman Lissa Timberhollow

Specialty: Cooperative Projects
Appearance: A versatile and adaptable human who excels in bringing apprentices together to collaborate.
Expertise: Journeyman Timberhollow emphasizes teamwork and cooperative projects. She organizes group efforts, where apprentices pool their skills to create larger or more intricate containers. Her guidance fosters camaraderie and shared learning.

Guildmaster Harken Oakenshield

Specialty: Overall Guild Leadership
Appearance: A wise and venerable figure, Guildmaster Oakenshield is a respected dwarf with a regal presence.
Expertise: Guildmaster Oakenshield oversees the entire guild and ensures that cooperage traditions and innovations are upheld. Apprentices who excel in all aspects of cooperage may seek his counsel for well-rounded guidance.