The Wordsmiths Guild
It is considered a far more romantic gesture to present one’s lady with a poem crafted by a member of The Wordsmith’s Guild than to give one you have written. A wealthy and amorous noble will hire a bard to serenade his love but it is considered the height of bad taste to sing to her yourself. A document or contract is only considered valid if inscribed by one of the guild’s specially trained and authorised scribes. Only a member of the guild knows all of the correct addresses to use at a high society gathering.
The guild, composed of scribes, poets, bards and actors admits members on pure talent. Those who wish to enter are auditioned by Isana Di Canto. Scribes must present her with a beautifully written text. Isana is an ideal patron, richly rewarding the most talented. The Guild requires only that its members submit a new work in public at the Nevernight Festival each year. The Wordsmith’s are artists above all and do not give much concern financial matters. Only the most successful can make a continued living from it. The majority find themselves performing for bed and board.
The Guild mistress is a mysterious lady simply known as Larksong. She is a true songbird and reputedly a phenomenal beauty, though no-one is certain of this anymore. For the past seven years she has worn a visor to prevent her beauty distracting from her art. At the present time she is the only singer permitted to sing the compositions of the Di Canto family. She is reported to have several bastard offspring but no-one can name any of them.