The Grand Livery Company of Lyon

Andrei was lead into a dark room by two men he had grown to know well in the past year as he felt the weight of the moment fall upon him. He had spent a year as a smith working with the Grand Livery Company and knew this was the moment his life would change. He approached the familiar figure standing at the end of the room. It was the Master Smith, dressed in a dark robe with a red line down the arms, this was the Livery of the Smiths and in moments it would be placed on him.

“Do you from this moment henceforth and for the rest of your life promise upon your honour to hold the Grand Livery Company oaths of diligence in all things, fraternity among all in the Grand Company, respect of the works and organisation of the Company and to hold all knowledge shared within the Company secret to your dying day?” The voice of the Master asked calmly.

“Upon my honour and life, I will hold the four oaths of the Grand Company to my dying day.” Andrei responded, his knees slightly weak.

Upon the response the room began to light from various parts of the room. Candles held by robed figures began to light and as the darkness receded he could see the faces of the various Smiths he had met over his year. The two men placed the robe on his body and tied the clasps together.

“Then by these oaths and by the placing of the livery I hereby welcome you as a new mann to the Grand Company. From now on you are held to the four oaths and will now be treated as a brother among it.” The Master responded with a clear look of relief and a smile on his face.

Background Information

The Grand Livery Company of Lyon was founded as a home for those skilled in various trades to come together to develop their skills and produce their ware and share their skills in a safe environment, bound to the four oaths of the company. Focusing less on trading of their wares they instead use the shared nature of the Grand Company to develop new techniques, materials and tools that will benefit the Company and the Duchy.

The Grand Company consists of various trades, each of which has its own livery to distinguish it and is relatively free to pursue its own path. A member of the Company is called a liverymann and is bound to the four oaths. The head of each trade is a Master, a long-standing expert who has an in-depth knowledge of their trade. After the Master there are two Wardens of a trade, these are veteran liverymenn of the Company who hold administrative duties and answer for the Master when they are not present.

Any are welcome to join the Grand Company with appropriate skill of a trade and are referred to as freemenn. At this point they will be given tasks by the Master or Wardens of the trade for a period of a year to test their skills and character. After being accepted by the Master of the trade they are initiated into the Company, the livery of the trade is placed upon them and they receive the four oaths, binding them to the Company and their new brothers and sisters. Those who wish to learn a trade are also welcomed to apprentice. In this they work with a liverymann to learn the skills of the trade. After a period determined by the Master and shown they hold the required skill they are initiated into the Company as a liverymann.

A liverymann is a full member of the company, this allows them access to the company records and research of their brothers and sisters, resources to develop their work on their trade and room and board in the Company Halls if required.

Wish to contact us or would like to join? You can find us here: Discord