The Veinstone Guild

Overview

The Veinstone Guild is the most influential mining organization on Gio, controlling vast territories rich in minerals, gemstones, and rare metals. Its operations delve deep into the heart of Gio's crust, from the volcanic caverns of Gio’s southern ranges to the shimmering gem-veins beneath the frigid north.   But their power and influence did not come without some moral sacrifices. And those in leadership are known to take bribes. And if you owe them money, they will not forget. Nor will they forgive a deadline when it comes and pass.   Founded by a consortium of dwarves, gnomes, and human entrepreneurs after the colonization, the guild has become synonymous with dirty wealth, innovation, and exploitation. They are both praised for fueling Avaleen’s resurgence with raw materials and criticized for their ruthless methods.   Their headquarters are located on Gio's northern mining frontier, Rivencrag Outpost.  

Structure & Hierarchy

The Veinstone Guild's power lies not just in its monopoly-like control of the resources, but in its ironclad structure where every single person knows its place and purpose. From the lowest grunt to the shadowy figures in the highest echelons, every member of the guild has their role to play, lest they risk being crushed by the weight of the machine.  

The Grand Overseer

Currently held by Zeke Eleazar, a middle-aged orc with a charming smile and scars across his arms. The Grand Overseer stands at the top of the guild's pyramid. Where others in the guild's history rose through the ranks via calculated schemes or familial ties, Zeke's ascension was a testament to true grit, charisma, and an uncanny ability to rally people to his cause.   As the Grand Overseer he seldom leaves Rivencrag Outpost, preferring to rule from the towering obsidian keep known as Ironspire Citadel - close to the import harbors of Gio. The Grand Overseer is responsible for issuing decrees that shape the fate of Gio and beyond, sanctioning new mines, negotiating trade deals with Avaleen, declaring strikes, and quelling dissent with the precision of a miner's strike.  

The Shard Pact

These are a small circle of advisors who ensure the will of the Grand Overseer is carried out. Each advisor controls a facet of the guild's operations. While the Pact works together publicly, behind closed doors, intrigue, and power plays are constant. Each member has a network of spies and informants within the Guild, ensuring no one gains too much influence.  

Forgewright General

A fancy name no one remembers the origin of, but it stands for the Master of Production. The Forgewright General oversees the transformation of raw material into exportable ore, weapons, tools, and arcane constructs. The current holder goes by the name of Marric Dregstone. As cold and unyielding as the stone he mines. Hailing from an ancient dwarven clan on the surface, he has claimed this position through a combination of ruthless strategy and unflinching vision of progress.  

Warden of the Veins

This is the head of the mining operations, responsible for ensuring efficiency and discipline within the mines. Kael Travenmore, nicknamed The Specter of Stone, is the current holder of the title. A half-elf whose mixed heritage is reflected in his unnervingly ageless appearance. He is slender but wiry, his features sharp and angular, with pale gray eyes that seem to pierce through any lie or evasion. His long-term vision often clashes with Celeste's focus on immediate profit and Durathk’s aggressive tactics.  

Master of Coin

This is the treasurer and chief negotiator who is charged with handling trade agreements, smuggling operations, worker pay, and the Conclave’s extensive network of bribes. Celeste Arum pushes for expansion and increased trade, often risking stability for greater gains, much to Kael's dismay. She is always impeccably dressed in clothes that suggest wealth but are practical enough for sudden relocations.  

Enforcer of the Chain

This is the guild's head of security, ensuring order within the guild and its operations while dealing with external threats, or the occasional internal rebellion. The current Enforcer is Durathl "Ironbrand" Grull. A towering orc with a no-nonsense demeanor and a booming voice. Durathk is direct and brutal, but surprisingly fair to those who follow the rules. He is fiercely loyal to the Overseer and tolerates no betrayal. He constantly and consistently advocates for strict control, believing any laxity invites rebellion. He often distrusts Celeste's deals with shady off-worlders.  

Guild Wardens

Below the Shard Pact are the Guild Wardens, regional managers who act as the guild's voice in distant mining outposts. Wardens are usually tasked with maintaining order, enforcing quotas, and representing the guild in dealings with local powers.  

Foremen and Lead Engineers

In the mines themselves, the foremen are the enforcers of discipline and productivity. Tough and experienced, they command respect and fear in equal measure. The lead engineers in the meantime are the architects of the guild's mining machines and constructs, as well as the designers of the portal-powered transport networks that links Gio's remote outposts to Rivencrag.  

Miners, Laborers, and Workers

At the bottom of the ladder are those who toil in the mines, giving their life, blood, sweat, and tears to the grind. These ranks consist of both professional miners, whose skills keep Gio's veins flowing, as well as indentured workers who have been forced into service by debts, punishment, or coercion.   The Veinstone Guild also exploits Gio's in effect captured and somewhat subjugated population, often forcing Gioans or captured dissenters to work the most dangerous veins. These workers live under constant surveillance, tracked by arcane constructs to make sure they don't get out of line.  

Shadow Operations

Beyond its visible structure, the Veinstone Guild operates a secretive Shadow Division, a network of spies, assassins, and saboteurs. They work to eliminate threats to the guild’s interests, whether those threats come from rebellious miners, meddling nations, or curious adventurers.  

Points of Interest

The power and influence of the Veinstone Guild is maintained through an array of tools designed to enforce loyalty and productivity. Some of it are remnants from the Age of Arcanists, like:

• Arcane Implants. Often given to high-ranking guild members to allow them to monitor operations or enforce their will. Some foremen use these implants to project their voices across vast spaces, or create hard-light whips to maintain order.
• Mining Constructs. Golems and automatons plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations, from tunneling deeper into the moon's crust, to guarding important sites. The most feared are the Sentinels of Stone, towering constructs designed to crush dissent.
• Portal Network. One the the guild's greatest achievement is the creation of their own portal system on Gio, which connect mines to outposts to Rivencrag. While the rewards of rapid transport of ore and supplies are celebrated, the maintenance is fraught with risks.

  Despite its power, the Veinstone Guild is not invulnerable. Corruption festers within its ranks, as council members and wardens vie for position and profit. The guild’s brutal treatment of its workers and disregard for Gio’s natural balance breed resentment among the oppressed, fueling the flames of rebellion.   Moreover, the strange artifacts and creatures unearthed in Gio’s depths present challenges that no amount of drills or golems can fully contain. Rumors of cursed veins, ancient guardians, and portals to other planes whispered through the mines, spurring adventurers and fortune-seekers to challenge the guild’s authority.   The Veinstone Guild yet stands as a monolith of power and ambition, its shadow stretching across Gio and beyond. Yet, like any structure built on greed and exploitation, it carries the seeds of its own downfall. For those with the courage to oppose it, the cracks in its foundation might yet widen into gaping chasms, swallowing its empire whole.