Spoiler
Disciples of the Hand
Alchemist:
The Phrontistery employs equal amounts of men and women, which seems to dismay the adventurers whom they hire. (1.0 R20)
Patients for new medicines are selected based on a principle of broad, but balanced testing.
Young, old, male, or female. (1.0 R20)
Rarity and potency of ingredients seems to go hand in hand. (1.0 R20)
Titles? A Healer is seemingly either a nurse, or a specialist in applying medicines. (1.0 R20)

Blacksmith’s Guild/ Armorer’s Guild:
Most seem to join up for the sake of being able to build their own ship one day. (1.0 R20)
They have a standing supply contract with Amajina and Sons Mineral Concern, the Miner’s Guild. Occasionally the export of the materials is denied by the Syndicate (1.0 R30)

Disciples of War
Archer:
Live in pact with the Elementals of Twelveswood.
Their missions are given by the Elementals through the conjurers. (1.0 R20)
(The elementals weren’t keen on Gridania allying with the other city-states, due to seeing their travelling through the Twelveswood as an incursion of malignant character.) (1.0 R30))
When on patrol, must work in pairs. (1.0 R20)
Strive for Peace through Strength. (1.0 R30)

SpoilerConjurer:
They communicate with the elementals of the Twelveswood, effectively making them the ambassadors between the people of Gridania and the forest itself. (1.0 R20)

The ability to understand the elementals is something that one can be born with, but it can also be learnt through training. (1.0 R20)
The elementals protect the forest, and the conjurers protect the elementals. (1.0 R20)

Created the Hedge, a magical barrier surrounding the forest, in tandem with the elementals. This allows them to detect intrusions. (1.0 R20) The Hedge was created so that intruders could be detected, before they bring harm to the most ancient of trees, which house elementals of such immense power, that the conjurers are unable to calm them, should they be angered. (1.0 R30)

The Elementals sacrifice themselves to bless the materials that Gridania’s buildings are made of, in return the demand favours of the conjurers, such as dealing with rabid wildlife upsetting the balance of the forest. (1.0 R20)

Appeases the elementals, so as not to bring the greenwrath upon the denizens of the Twelveswood. (1.0 R20) The greenwrath is when the elementals of the Twelveswood are angered by the intrusion of irreverent souls, those outsiders who are oblivious to the ways of the forest, every breath that they draw while within the confines of the Hedge is defiling, and risks drawing the elementals’ ire, the greenwrath, upon all who live in the Twelveswood. (1.0 R30)

On ThaumaturgyOn Thaumaturgy


(The following text has been derived from the Thaumaturge class quests available in ARR)


History


Within the hallowed halls of the Arrzaneth Ossuary, the art of thaumaturgy is taught - primeval magicks with which to bring about an enemy’s ruin.


The nation of Ul’dah inherited its traditions from ancient Belah’dia, a city founded by the descendants of the first mages.The secrets of these illustrious sorcerers were ultimately entrusted to the priests of the Order of Nald’thal, who have since passed them down from generation to generation ever since.


Within the Arrzaneth Ossuary, home of the Thaumaturge’s Guild and sanctuary to Thal -  the divine arbiter of the afterlife, rests the countless tomes and teachings passed down to the guild. There are five guild-masters, all of which hail from the same house. Though each wields supreme authority, it is the eldest, Master Cocobuki,  who provides a singular voice for the guild when one is required. His siblings include Master Cocobygo, Master Cocobani, Master Cocobezi, and Master Cocoboha.


Focused and refined over centuries of use in the Order’s funeral rites, the arcane magicks of their ancestors eventually emerged as the art we now know as thaumaturgy. A freezing blizzard to halt corruption; a raging fire to cleanse the corpse; a bolt of lightning to expel the sins of mortal life... The dweomers employed in the preparation of the dead are equally efficacious when applied to the living.


It is said that to wield thaumaturgy is to unleash devastation at the highest magnitude. The lethal force of the arcane spells far exceeds the destructive capability of any other form of arcane manipulation. Using the three elements which comprise thaumaturgy, the thaumaturge is able to call upon an expansive arsenal of offensive incantations to incapacitate and obliterate all manner of adversaries. It is through aether - the very stuff of life - that thaumaturges are able to weave such arcane magicks



Thaumaturgy: The Yawning Abyss
A tome penned by the renowned thaumaturge, Zozomaya.


Chapter I: The Threat of Intimacy
Passage: “The Threat of Intimacy. Ah, how magnificent the potent power we wield. Roaring flames, piercing ice, and shocking bolts are matched not by fist or sword or spear. But the burly warrior waxes fearsome with every closing step. Fists shatter bone; blades slide through flesh; spears puncture soft bellies. Know you this threat, and stand you apart from such men.”


Chapter II: The Threat of Paucity
Passage: “The Threat of Paucity. Ah, how magnificent the ruthless power we wield. Flame devours, ice entombs, and lightning courses through the stricken bodies of our foes. But, oh, such desperation when the wellspring runs dry. Flame sputters out, ice melts into slush, and lightning sparks no longer. Know you this threat, and mind you the limits of your mortal vessel.”


Chapter III: The Threat of Superiority
Passage: “The Threat of Superiority. Ah, how magnificent the intimidating power we wield. Flames sear the air, ice frosts the ground, and lightning flashes with blinding incandescence. But not all are cowed by our elemental fury. Ignite not your flames, summon not your ice, and strike not with your lightning. Know you this threat, and stay your hand against such foes.”


Chapter IV: (Currently Unknown)


Relics
Mormo’s Urn - A cursed relic stolen by the Alacran thieves owned by Mormo, a voidsent succubus. Mormo claims to have been sealed within the urn by other voidsent for helping a mortal, though it is highly suspected she is lying...The urn is broken by Cocobusi after Mormo attempts to persuade him to release her.


Key Figures


Cocobuki
“Hm hm hm... So you wish to peer into the abyss of thaumaturgy?


“I am the Piercing Eye, the Duke of Destruction, the Archmage of Annihilation... though most of my colleagues simply call me "Cocobuki." Of the five thaumaturge brothers that claim the title of "Guildmaster," I am the eldest. I offer guidance to those wishing to explore the stygian chasm of our discipline, and instruct aspirants in the art of arcane devastation. It is also my role to encourage the accumulation of thaumaturgical wisdom through both theoretical and practical application.”


“Thaumaturgy is a form of arcane manipulation that allows the practitioner to unleash his will as deadly manifestations of primal power. The origin of our art can be found in the cumbersome magicks of our ancestors - subsequently focused and refined through their use in the funeral rites of the Order of Nald'thal. Though once used exclusively for the preparation of the dead, these incantations of destruction soon found new purpose on the battlefield. Hm hm hm... "Death," of course, is still very much the central focus of the discipline.”


Priestess Mamane
“The Arrzaneth Ossuary is a sacred structure where mortals nay seek the favor of Thal, arbiter of the afterlife... for death, we must all abide by Thal's final evaluation of our existence. Those deemed to have led lives of richer virtue are rewarded... with greater comfort for their eternal souls. I urge you to consider making a donation and embracing your virtue, thus ensuring a golden paradise for your time in the realm beyond...”
Priest Yayaroku


Prelate Erasmus
“The Thaumaturges' Guild is run by five siblings. The eldest is Cocobuki, who is recognized as guildmaster. After him is Cocobygo, Cocobanu, Cocobezi, and the youngest, Cocoboha. Hmmm... There was a sixth sibling, though, as I recall. The youngest, who did not take the vows of the Order. But the, I am wrong from time to time.”

Spoiler
Accepts all combatants for the bloodsands, whether they use “steel or spell” doesn’t matter. (1.0 R20)

Makes use of tournaments to, “weed out the lesser individuals,” among their applicants. (1.0 R20)

Being a gladiatorial arena, death is very much possible during fights on the bloodsands. Restraint during the tournaments seems to be encouraged to some degree. (1.0 R20)

“A true gladiator knows the only fight worth thinking of is the next one.”
This seems to be a primary training motto in guild, meaning that obsessing about a previous fight, whether it was won or lost, can’t teach you as much as when you actually fight again. (1.0 R20)

Gladiators should not just win their fights; they must also win the crowds. (1.0 R20)
Ala Mihgan would-be-gladiators do not have to pay to enter the tournaments, but most seem to lose (1.0 R20). The reason for this is that a successful Ala Mihgan gladiator once lost deliberately, so that the crowd would not have turned on Ala Mihgan refugees in Ul’dah. As a form of reparations for this, and the fact that he could not ensure the safety of the spectators, the guildmaster waived the fees for Ala Mihgans (1.0 R36).

Occasionally gladiators are sent abroad to scout for talent from outside of Uldah, otherwise the fights become too monotonous and boring for the spectators. (1.0 R30)

Gladiators appreciate the need for both strength of arm and knowledge of one’s foe, as requirements to win in battle (1.0 R36).

Spoiler

• Arcanima is the name for their style of magic. (Guild intro)
  
• Arcanima is based on the study and use of arcane geometries with inherent magical power. (Guild intro)
  
• Arcanima was historically taught individually by masters to students. (Guild intro)
  
• Several of the Admiral's advisors are arcanists. The Admiral commissioned them to create the Arcanist's guild to ensure the continued teaching and existence of the art. (Guild intro)
  
• The current guildmaster of the arcanists is missing. (Arcanist level 1 quest)
  

SpoilerGoldsmith’s Guild:
Located in Ul’dah, also called Eshtaime’s Lapidaries. (1.0 R20)

They worship Byregot the Builder. (1.0 R20)

They originally created their accessories for use as foci for the Thaumaturges, and as such still have ties to the Thaumaturge guild. The accessories later became fashionable when wealthy merchants and members of the Sultanate started commissioning more elaborate designs of their work. (1.0 R20)

Master Goldsmiths often name their best creations after those whom they were crafted for, or those who served as muses for the piece. (1.0 R20)

SpoilerLancer:
The Lancer’s Guild is also known as “The Wood Wailers”, they function as the peacekeepers and security force of the Twelveswood, and act on the behalf of the people of Gridania. (1.0 R20)

The masks that the Wood Wailers wear are enchanted so that those who wear them are hidden from the gaze of the elementals. The Wood Wailers know that culture and nature cannot coexist in perfect harmony, and that they will, even when working for the sake of the forest, anger the elementals with their actions every now and again. Thus the masks are a necessary deception. (1.0 R20)

The Wood Wailers regularly cull the masses of various pests, with the sanction of the elementals. This is to ensure the safe growth of the plant life in the forest, and more importantly the crops. (1.0 R20)

Members of the Wood Wailers are occasionally sent on diplomatic missions to the other City-states. (1.0 R30)

Other diplomatic duties include escorting caravans from Ul’dah through the Twelveswood, when the elementals are found to be ill at ease, or otherwise prevent the caravans from getting to their destinations in the Black Shroud. (1.0 R30)

Leatherworker:
The Leatherworkers’ Guild is also known as Atelier Fen-Yll, they both create and repair items which require skinning, tanning, and/or curing. (1.0 R20)

They believe that even inanimate objects deserve respect for the roles that they fulfil in the daily lives of the living, as is the “Gridanian way”. (1.0 R20)

They hire adventurers to transport shipments, either by carriage load or in singular pieces, depending on the amount of bandit activity on the required roads to the wares’ destination. (1.0 R30)

The leatherworkers are capable of repairing that which doesn’t include leather of any kind, such as Garlean Magitek cores, whether this type of experience comes through being adept with reverse engineering, or a similar concept, is never mentioned. (1.0 R36)