Tradesman's Guild
From Elan Vital Wiki
The Tradesman's Guild is the organization that oversees the training of craftsmen and the selling of their merchandise all throughout Titania.
Contents |
Overview
The Tradesman's Guild was originally established to ensure quality control of goods, as well as prevent price gouging on necessities and other such harmful economic tricks. Over time it has evolved into a more internally-focused establishment; keeping a hold on its monopoly is also a premier priority. Still, for the most part the Guild does protect consumers more than its own revenue.
Heraldry
For its seal, the guild has adopted a pair of evenly balanced silver scales, representing its fairness and equal dealing with all individuals involved in the process of trade.
Role in Government
The Tradesman's Guild fills one slot in the High Council, which is always the organization's High Trader.
Structure
Unlike many of Titania's other organizations, the Guild has something of a haphazard structure. Certain things are fixed- all would-be craftsmen must apply officially for a license to study. These licenses are approved, and the applicants become apprentices; one of the duties of full members of the Guild is to accept the apprentices they're sent. Children of full Guild members being apprenticed to one of their parents is strongly encouraged, so that a traditional family business can be kept up.
These apprentices train under their masters for a length of time that is not set in stone, but determined by the apprentice's competency. As soon as the master believes the apprentice is ready, they will craft a masterwork of their field to be examined by a council of other masters. If it's judged acceptable, the apprentice becomes a full member themselves- and, after a year of practice, is allowed to take on other apprentices. Full members must pay dues to the Guild every month, based upon their level of revenue, but the dues are not crippling. Teaching of craftsman's skills to individuals who aren't registered apprentices is deeply looked down upon by the Guild, though it is impossible to fully prevent it. Those found guilty of it may be dismissed from the Guild, which prevents them from openly selling their wares anywhere in Titania.
Merchants undergo a slightly different process from craftsmen; they undergo a shorter teaching period in which the tricks of appraisal and salesmanship are carefully imparted. After this, they are certified as an official guild merchant. Many craftsmen can and do sell their own wares, but for those with surpluses in their own shop or no permanent location, it's common to sell their products off to these middlemen. Merchants are also behind every store that sells wide varieties of wares; no craftsman, after all, can make everything.
Ten senior merchants are elected by all their fellows to fill the slots of the Watchful, a council within the Guild whose sole responsibility is hunting down price fixers, inferior goods, and people selling outside the Guild's purview. Contemptuously called the Coingrubbers by those who disapprove of their work, the Watchful are thorough and tireless, usually finding the majority of rogue craftsmen/merchants. Once found they may face fines, confiscation of merchandise, and even jail for repeat offenders. However, the best may instead find themselves conscripted into the Guild. Of course, like anyone else, the Watchful are only human... and bribes might enable those with deep pockets from their illicit sales to fall through the cracks.
The High Trader is the leader of the Guild. This position is filled, like the Watchful, by a vote of full members. The High Trader's job is to deal with the Council, reminding them of the repercussions of their decisions on trade and supply. Also, s/he serves as a broker for all requests directly made by House Petakova or Stocklin as an organization; these large or special orders are accepted by the High Trader and parcelled out to the most skillful of craftsmen. This is also a way for the Trader to ensure that no craftsman who displeases him/her will have the profit of such a lucrative order. Individual deals do evade this, but rarely will a craftsman be so skilled and so displeasing to the Guild that an outside organization will eschew the protocol and go directly to them.
Values
The priorities of the Guild are made clear by the Watchful: protecting citizens, and protecting profit.
| Theme | |
| Titania | Calendar - History - EV Versus Real Life |
| Major Organizations | House Petakova - House Stocklin - Titania Militia - The Masks - High Council - Tradesman's Guild |
| Culture | Education - Law - Lore - Religion - Society |
| Magic and Technology | Celestians - Science and Technology - Celestian Academy - University of Stocklin - Magic |
