PageMasters Guild

"Seated above the doorway, was an engraving of a crest. The crest was a interesting choice, though not particularly clever—a P&M crossed fused with a feathered pen"

- The PageMasters Guild Insignia

The PageMasters Guild is one of the larger established guilds in Cantaras City. The group has a primary focus on publishing.

History
Established some time ago, the PageMasters Guild presently is headed by is third set of leaders. The head of the guild is referred to as The Editor by all members, and is treated with the utmost respect. In actuality there are three leaders of the guild, each leading their distinct obligations to the guild. In term of member count, there are over 500 active members of the PageMasters Guild.

Known primarily for their news print articles that they distribute to Cantaras City, and through Cantaras amongst trade routes at a slower pace, the PageMasters Guild actually focuses on several areas of publishing. The guild prints texts for educational purposes, as well as folk tales for children. Notices from specific family estates are sometimes contracted by the guild. The news publication run from the guild is their largest effort, with agents working all over Cantaras, and sometimes outside, gathering news stories as quickly and accurately as they can.

Funding
While most self-respecting guilds are self-sustaining, the PageMasters Guild actually has an in with several noble houses. Even though the guild is known to print documentation that could potentially ruin a noble name, this is often done at the bequest of their benefactors. As a result of this, the guild is entitled to their free speech, but restrict themselves at the risk of upsetting their backers, which would devastate a guild the size the PageMasters has grown.

While certain noble families due partake in footing the bill for the PageMasters Guild, due to their being a commoner guild, and an organization not entirely sanctioned by the kingdom, let alone the church, the noble houses prefer to remain anonymous as a silent partner, lest they be outed by their peers.

Kingdom of Cantaras

 * Due to their free speech nature, the PageMasters Guild has often found itself at odds with the views of either the Kingdom of Cantaras and the Church. As a general guild ideal, it is often preferred to avoid saying anything that would gain the wrath of the Palace, at the risk of their guild being declared illegal and shut down. Due to their commoner status and their public view of being a self-sustaining organization, the guild would have no other choice but to comply, or face dire consequences.

The Church
It is for this reason that many members of the PageMasters Guild find themselves unable to commit their lives to religious beliefs.
 * The Church is another matter that the PageMasters Guild has come under fire of, quite literally. Often publications, be they news or texts, and very often folk tales, are deemed blasphemous in the eyes of Criador. As such, the Church has often protested the guild's actions, and have on occasion collected various works produced by the guild, be they original or reproduction, and have had public burnings of the items in question.