In Vasagarod, the Artisan class represents the bridge between raw nature and refined civilization. They are the master crafters, engineers, and builders who transform the minerals of Gurval, the timber of Zharruk, and the steel of Azarim into the infrastructure of power. While the Aristocrats claim ownership of the world, it is the Artisan who actually built it. They are driven by a pursuit of perfection, often viewing their creations as more permanent and significant than the kings who commission them.
Artisans in Vasagarod are highly specialized, with their skills often dictated by the unique resources of their home kingdoms. They are the only class capable of maintaining the complex machinery of the Northern Barrier and the Great Blockade.
Rawah (Khara): A level 17 Master Shipbuilder in the Khetai Kingdom. He is the most protected individual in the realm, as his knowledge of naval architecture is the only thing keeping the Khetai trade fleets—and their defense against the Crimson Tides—afloat.
Yhat (Zharra): A master smith residing in the Zharruk forest. He utilizes the Blazing Anvil, a forge powered by geothermal vents, to craft weapons that harmonize steel with ancient druidic enchantments.
Gatsil (Ravaha): While he owns the Tharval Tavern, he is a master of masonry and woodcraft, having been a lead architect in the construction of the plateau city of Tharval. He represents the restless spirit of the class, longing for new horizons to build upon.
The influence of the Artisan is rooted in the "Great Workshops" of the north, where traditional techniques meet experimental engineering.
Azarim Steel Forge: A world-renowned facility specializing in "Mountain-Forged Steel." The artisans here produce the Azarim Swiftbow and the Highland Bayonet, weapons designed to function in the freezing, thin air of the Great Highlands.
Khetai Pottery and Shipyards: These hubs produce everything from the massive merchant vessels that clog the Irya River to the delicate, spiritually significant ceramics used in the Sacred Irya Bank rituals.
Gurval Refinery: An industrial titan where artisans develop the Nailhead Bombs and heavy mining rigs required to pierce the earth’s toughest stone.
The Artisan class holds a unique position of "Passive Resistance." Because they possess the specialized knowledge required to maintain the kingdom's defenses, they can subtly influence politics by slowing production or "adjusting" the quality of a fortification. In the Kingdom of Gurval, the artisans and miners are so intertwined that the entire civilian population is capable of taking up arms, using their construction tools as weapons of war.
The legacy of the Artisan is found in the landmarks that define the map:
The Great Bridge of Kharathuun: An ancient architectural marvel that remains the primary chokepoint of the north, its secret structural weaknesses known only to a few master masons.
Veynar Ford Command Centre: A masterfully engineered fortification that allows a small group of Defenders to hold off an entire army through superior positioning and trap-laying.
Narethin’s Great Naval Fort: A sea-wall of stone and iron that has survived a century of battering by the Crimson Tides, a testament to the endurance of Narethin engineering.
In the "prelude to chaos," the Artisan is the one preparing the stage. They are sharpening the blades for the Defenders, reinforced the walls for the Aristocrats, and—secretly—providing the Peasants with the tools needed to tear it all down.