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AllianceStonemasons Guild
Edwin VanCleef Mercenaries 1
Main leader IconSmall EdwinVanCleef Edwin VanCleef
Race(s) HumanHuman Human
Character classes Engineer, Artisan, Builder
Capital Stormwind City
Theater of operations Elwynn Forest, Blasted Lands
Affiliation Kingdom of Stormwind, Alliance of Lordaeron
Status Disbanded; reorganized as the Defias Brotherhood

The Stonemasons Guild[1] (or Stonemason's Guild,[2] Stonemasons' Guild,[3][4][5] Stonemason Guild[6] or simply the Stonemasons) was a guild of artisans and builders, similar to the dwarven Royal Stonecutters Union, with Edwin VanCleef as their elected Guildmaster.

History[]

After the Second War, the guild built Nethergarde Keep in the Blasted Lands under the supervision of Edwin VanCleef, the project being funded by the various kingdoms of the Alliance of Lordaeron.[4] Then the guild was contracted by the Stormwind House of Nobles to rebuild Stormwind City, which had been razed by the Old Horde in the First War. It was a massive project which required a small army of engineers and artisans.[7] They restored Stormwind to its former majesty, and their skill and distinctive style are evident in Stormwind Keep and in the Cathedral of Light.[8] At the time, a few nobles supported them, such as Queen Tiffin Wrynn[9] and Count Erlgadin, who lobbied to improve the working conditions for the stonemasons during the restoration of the kingdom.[10]

However, while the stonemasons spent years toiling to rebuild the glorious city, they were left broke, their fees and salaries left unpaid and unspoken for, as they were forgotten by the city's officials. When the time of the rightful payment came, the nobles of Stormwind couldn't because they ran up a huge debt by expanding the kingdom's military presence through Elwynn and into Stranglethorn, and the massive debt crippled the kingdom's economy.[6] In the shadow, Lady Katrana Prestor manipulated both sides with the Drakefire Amulet - her meddling in the rebuilding of Stormwind left the nobility unsatisfied with the craftsmanship of the guild, while the workers were enraged that the nobility despised them and were threatening to withhold payment.[5][11] King Varian Wrynn was unable to negotiate a resolution that appeased both parties. While he agreed that the Stonemasons' fees were excessive, he felt the amount offered by the nobles was too stingy, and began to suspect Lady Prestor.[12]

When Edwin VanCleef spoke out, demanding restitution for their works, the House of Nobles ordered the Stonemasons' Guild disbanded, and it turned into a heated dispute, which resulted in riots that led to the murder of Queen Tiffin, a projectile killing her instantly while she tried to calm down the rioting stonemasons.[8][13] In response, King Wrynn vowed to punish those responsible and dealt with the rioters more severely.[14] The Stonemasons, fleeing the city, hid in the rural areas of Westfall to escape prosecution. Knowing Varian's anger would never fade, many were forced to remain in hiding.[5] From the shadows, Onyxia continued to stoke their rage by using her influence to cut off supplies and support to the region. They later became the terrorist organization known as the Defias Brotherhood, and turned to banditry and murder to recover the gold owed to them.[11] Under Edwin VanCleef's reign, the Defias were determined to destroy the corrupted House of Nobles and Stormwind City with it.[15]

Decades later, after being crowned, King Anduin Wrynn offered pardons and reparations for the former Stonemasons and their families. As King Varian died against the Burning Legion, it became harder to carry on old grudges, and the young king's reforms allowed more aid and resources to arrive at Westfall, which caused the spark of revolution to fade.[16] Consequently, the majority of the former Stonemasons decided to left the Defias Brotherhood, returning to live in the kingdom they once rebuilt.[17]

Known members[]

Items[]

Notes[]

  • Their skills were said to rival those of the dwarves themselves.[4]

References[]

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