Any thoughts on when the Guild of Alchemists set up shop on Visenya's Hill, perhaps a specific king who may have invited them? And do you think they were once based in Oldtown (given their rivalry with the maesters of the Citadel), only moving to King's Landing many centuries later, somewhat similar to how the High Septon eventually moved to the Great Sept of Baelor in the capital?
According to what we know, the Alchemist’s Guild is apparently older than the Citadel, so their rivalry may have been started when the maesters started to perform a similar service. I would imagine that the pyromancers would have had a presence in Oldtown, if for no other reason than they would want to be in an area where they could receive patronage, but they may have been based in Casterly Rock, or on the east coast if they came over from Essos.
The first time we hear about the pyromancers chronologically is Aegon IV’s dragon debacle, which would mean that they’re already established in the capital. If I had to speculate who would have permitted them to set up shop, I would guess Jaehaerys I or Maegor. Septon Barth seems the type of guy to want to have wildfire to study more about dragonlore and other magical elements of fire. Maegor doesn’t seem like a guy who would want to use wildfire, he’s either on dragonback or fighting with Blackfyre personally, but if he suspected the Citadel of disloyalty or the Citadel stopped sending maesters to Maegor because he kept murdering them, he may have looked to invite the Alchemist’s Guild to provide advice.
Thanks for the question, Anon.
SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King
