Gemcutters

Introduction

The Gemcutters take stones as the mountains give them and cut them until they catch the light. They are the artisan family's gem guild: they teach gem cutting, gemmology and identify gem, and from the third rank they teach enchant gem, the spell that wakes the power sleeping in a cut stone. Gem cutting was once taught by the old Jewelry Haven and later by the smiths; it is taught here now. The Professional Smiths still set stones and make jewellery.

The Gemcutters take only proven hands. The guild asks a good standing among the Master Artisans, and from the second rank the guild master wants to see stones you cut yourself.

For how stones, cutting and waking work, read Gems.

Location

The Hall of the Gemcutters is at the western end of the artisan complex under the western side of Vaerlon. From the Hall of the Master Artisans go west into the Hall of the Professional Refiners, then west again.

Sigrun, the guild master, teaches there. Ask her about cutting, stones, the bench, provinces, ranks, marks, enchanting or the guild itself, and read the plaque by the bench.

Gemcutters

The Gemcutters take stones as the mountains give them and cut them until they catch the light. The ranks teach gem cutting, gemmology, identify gem, fine hand coordination and craftsmanship, and at the higher ranks, how to wake a stone (enchant gem). The hall's bench is a practice wheel and never takes a stone past a plain cut; real cutting is done in the cutting rooms that province councils build onto their smelteries.

The guild takes only proven hands. Joining asks a good standing among the Master Artisans, and the higher ranks ask a higher one. From the second rank on, Sigrun wants to see a stone of your own cutting, cut on a province wheel and carried loose, before she lets you advance; 'list info' names the cut each rank asks for. The stone is shown, never taken. The last rank also asks to see a piece of smith's work whose stone you woke yourself, its power still in it.

Advancement is by advancement points; profession levels will not advance you here.

Maximum level: 5

Bonus Matrix

The Gemcutters give no stat bonuses.

Skill Matrix

Skill Name	1	2	3	4	5
gem cutting	30	50	70	85	100
craftsmanship	40	55	70	85	100
gemmology	30	50	85	90	100
identify gem	40	60	80	100	100
fine hand coordination	40	60	75	90	100

Spell Matrix

Spell Name	1	2	3	4	5
enchant gem	-	-	60	70	100

Ranks and requirements

Each rank needs a Master Artisans rank and, from the second, a stone of your own cutting. Cut it yourself on a province wheel and carry it loose in your inventory, not in a gem case. Sigrun looks at it and hands it back; nothing is taken. A bought stone does not count: "a full purse proves a purse, not a hand."

Rank	Title	Master Artisans	Skills needed	Stone to show	Enchant gem
1	stone reader	3	—	—	—
2	gemcutter	3	gem cutting 25	fairly cut or better	—
3	facet master	5	gem cutting and gemmology 45	well cut or better	wakes a faint power
4	stone waker	7	gem cutting and gemmology 65	finely cut or better	wakes a steady power
5	master gemcutter	10	gem cutting and gemmology 80	excellently cut or better, and a piece of smith's work whose stone you woke yourself, its power still in it	wakes a strong power

list info in the hall shows the requirements for your next rank.

A practical note: the stones you show must come from a province cutting room. The practice bench never cuts past plainly cut, and the better grades need a better grinder: well cut needs at least a flywheel grinder, finely cut a geared grinder on an Advanced smeltery, and excellently cut a faceting head or a master's lap. See the cutting room for what each province can build.

The practice bench

The worn treadle-wheel by the door is for members, and for practice only. The cut runs there as it does anywhere else, bright facets and hairlines included, but the bench never takes a stone past plainly cut and never gives a fine finish. A stone cut there can never be woken. Real work needs a province cutting room.

Profession

Advancement is by advancement points. Profession levels will not advance you in this guild. Your Master Artisans rank caps how far you can climb.

In-game help

help gemcutting, help skill gem cutting, help skill gemmology, help skill identify gem, help spell enchant gem, help artisan progression.