Editing Council of Guilds (section)

==== Craftsman Guild ====
The Craftsman Guild was formed about 18 years ago. Previously, each major craft (smithing, weaving, carpentry, etc) had its own guild and thus, its own maestre on the Council. However, with the rising interest in and demand for artifice, and the resulting power and resource boon for the Shipping, Merchant, and Lenders Guilds, the individial craftsmen's guilds found themselves with little to no political sway. 

Then, Aemon cas Weston, maestre of the now-defunct Weaver's Guild, convinced the splintered guilds to merge and create one monolithic guild of Craftsmen. Not only did it pool the splintered resources and influence of the splintered guilds, but it also allowed for other smaller, less essential crafts to gain representation where before they had none. 

This merger was a massive power swing on the Council. In addition combining the resources of the old guilds, it also added all the resources of other, unrepresented crafts. This massive consolidation of power would've easily taken control of the Council if it weren't for the constant infighting and jockeying for position within the Guild itself. Aemon cas Weston masterfully persuaded and wove the old guildmaestres together into a powerful political force. But now, much of his efforts are focused on ensuring the Guild doesn't collapse under its own bulk. He had forged a sword too heavy to wield.