Fair share of labour
Jasna Kazimerczyk stared at the letter on the writing desk, struggling to believe the news could be true. She'd read it three times now and still couldn't quite believe it.
The Imperial Artisans Guild... it didn't sound like much. More like a Temeschwari carta with ideas above their station than some body of state. But according to Miloš, the civil service were appraising the prospect of making this League guild into an actual sodality. A body of state, on a par with the Conclave or the Bourse, but there to stand for artisans and to represent their interests to the Empire. No more relying on the Conclave to speak for them, no more urging the Golden Pyramid to fight their corner. The artisans would finally get the recognition they deserved.
Of course it was far from a foregone conclusion. Miloš said they'd done the same for a shipwrights sodality last season and that hadn't passed the Senate. At least not yet. There was no reason to assume this guild would fare any better. And yet Jasna dared to hope that somehow this might finally be their moment. She thought back to her own time in politics, all those years ago, agitating and arguing with people for change. Two years she'd spent traipsing down to Casinea every season, walking around Anvil trying to drum up support for the cause. Always the same answer, too expensive, too difficult, too many other battles to fight. She'd been full of hope when she first arrived in Anvil, convinced that the Virtue of her cause would be impossible to argue with. She'd soon learned that nothing was impossible to argue with. Two years later she'd quit in frustration vowing never to return.
And now, finally, all these years later, there was a chance to do the Virtuos thing. A once in a lifetime opportunity to fix one of the great flaws in the Empire. If Urizen had been a nation of artisans rather than a nation of magicians, the Conclave would have been a hall of craftspeople and the magicians would have been stood round the edges hoping to be let in. Instead they'd had four centuries of fighting for their rights, nearly forty decades fighting for their voices to be heard, the best part of four hundred years fighting for their work to be acknowledged. Surely the Senate would see the Virtue of acting? What senator wouldn't want to seize this opportunity to right this wrong? It might be too expect that Virtue would move them to act, but surely they would want to leave their mark on the world? To change the very nature of the Empire? What mortal soul could resist the urge to fashion something new, something better, when given the chance?
Hope is not a virtue she told herself. Leaving this to hope was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. If this guild was going to become the voice of the Empire's artisans it would need every ally they could muster. The new sodality would face opposition from all corners - every single vote would be needed, of that she had no doubt.
Jasna Kazimerczyk picked up her quill, dipped it in the well and began to write. She was in no condition for waltzing off to Anvil at her age, but she still had a lot of friends across the north from her days as a preacher in the Assembly. Friends and allies she'd made all those years ago when fighting for the cause. Friends who'd sworn that they'd back her when the time came. Well, she thought to herself, it appears that the time has finally come...
Overview
At the recent summit, Emperor Vesna, requested that the Constitutional Court appraise the implications of a new Imperial sodality, the Imperial Guild of Artisans. Any new Imperial sodality can have significant legal ramifications, which depend on the precise wording of its manifesto. The aim of the civil service appraisal is to provide clarity on these consequences, to enable the Senate to better decide the matter.
The Artisans Guild has been in existence for some time, with the Senate ordering the construction of Guildhouse in 385YE, creating the position of Guildmaster of the Artisans. Now the Senate is in a position to consider the full implications of making the Guild into an official Imperial sodality.
A single season remains available for the Throne to instruct the civil service to appraise the legal implications of a new sodality. Whoever is chosen this season, if any, will be the final sodality that can be reviewed in this way, unless the civil service can find the resources to make the facility permanently available (although the Senate would still be able to appraise the implications of a new Imperial sodality of course).
Consequences
- Emperor Vesna has asked the civil service to assess the constitutional implications of the Imperial Guild of Artisans
- Magistrate Abraham has delivered their analysis based on the proposed manifesto
- It would not be possible to create a second sodality concerned with artisans and the creation of magical items
Magistrate Abraham has conducted an analysis of the constitutional implications of the new sodality's provisional manifesto. The magistrate congratulates the Guild on the clarity and Ambition of their manifesto which has made this appraisal particularly straightforward.
This sodality holds the following to be true:
- Imperial artisans are the finest in the world, deserving commensurate respect, recompense and pride;
- Artisans and the magic items they create are valuable strategic resources for the Empire;
- The voice of the Empire's artisans should be preeminent in all matters relating to artisanry.
The sodality therefore exists to:
- Guide, aid, and provide consultation to the Empire's artisans, bodies of state and wider citizenry on the matter of artisanry;
- Support and coordinate artisans in the study, innovation, and creation of magic items;
- Represent the Empire's artisans, seeking and supporting opportunities within the Empire's borders and beyond.
The manifesto defines a sodality with responsibility for Imperial artisans. The Magistrate notes that it makes no mention of having responsibility for the means to create magical items - there is no suggestion that the sodality should have any oversight of mines or forests or the materials they produce. If the Senate ratifies the decision to create the Imperial sodality, they will be responsible for the study, innovation and creation of magical items, but the manifesto would need to be updated if the Senate wanted them to take on any additional responsibilities.
This narrow focus ensures that there is no legal conflict with either the Imperial Apothecaries Guild or the Conclave. The Magistrate does note that the sodality's name is very similar to the Apothecaries Guild, which he predicts will inevitably cause errors to happen at some point, when the wrong thing is written down. In particular, as a body of state grows into its power, it is common to refer to it with a singular name. Technically the Conclave is the Imperial Conclave of Magicians, but literally nobody calls it that - it's just called "Conclave". If people start referring to either the Artisans or the Apothecaries Guild as the "Guild" then it's going to lead to problems.
The Magistrate also raises the concern that employing a name commonly used to describe a League business affiliation risks narrowing the appeal of the sodality to other nations, or giving the impression that the Guild has undue League affiliations which would obviously undermine its status as an Imperial sodality. The magistrate has spoken with members of the Guild about these concerns and understands that they have their reasons for the name and he is the first to admit that there is no legal bar to using the term Guild to describe one - or more - sodalities - but he feels he would be remiss if he did not point out the issue. Ultimately the Senate is contemplating the creation of a new branch of Imperial government - not establishing a trading guild.
Imperial sodalities must be "singular" - there cannot be two sodalities in the Empire with overlapping concerns. If the Imperial Senate approves the manifesto of the Artisans Guild, then it would not be possible to create a new Imperial sodality that had responsibility for the study, innovation, and creation of magic items nor otherwise represent the interests of artisans in the Empire.
Powers
- The power to enjoin the creation, sale, use and bonding of magic items would be delegated to the Guild
- The power to disseminate a schema would also be given to the Guild
- Any new legal powers that were solely concerned with magical items would need to be delegated to the new sodality
If the Artisans Guild were enacted with the provided manifesto then the ability to outlaw the creation, sale, use and bonding of magical items would be delegated to the Guild. Legally, this power currently lies with the Imperial Senate which can use a Senate motion to outlaw a specific item - such powers always default to the Senate in the absence of any other constitutional body with the legal authority to govern such activities. Once the sodality was enacted and had it's first member, it would no longer be possible for the Senate to use a Senate motion to pass laws around magic items - they would need to respect the authority of the Guild.
In recent years, the Conclave has employed the power of interdiction to outlaw the creation of some magical items. Abraham notes that there is absolutely no constitutional basis for this activity - or for the interdiction of potions or similar. It represents a very clear overreach of the powers of the Conclave, which ought properly to be restricted to the oversight of magicians and the use of magic. The Constitutional Court failed to notice this at the time, in part because there were no good alternatives in the past. That is definitely not the case now that there is an entire body of Imperial government that has oversight of potions - and certainly wouldn't be the case if the Empire chose to make the Artisans Guild an Imperial sodality.
The Court haven't taken the step of ruling that the Conclave cannot continue to interdict magic items at this time, if only because they are clearly hoping that the Senate will resolve the problem for them. If the Guild were created, that conflict would be resolved. Any items that are currently outlawed by the Senate or interdicted by the Conclave would remain illegal to create, use, sell or bond - but the power to change their status would pass to the sodality. It would require a majority vote of members present at a session of the sodality to enjoin or permit the use of a specific magic item.
The Guild would also gain the legal power to disseminate a schema, the detailed instructions that allow an artisan to learn how to create a magic item. Currently the Imperial Senate has this power, but it would pass to the sodality if it were enacted. By default, the sodality would need to provide the ten thrones required to disseminate the schema - the Senate could pass a motion to permit these costs to be borne by the Imperial treasury if they wished.
There are no other legal powers that currently exist that would be automatically delegated to the Guild, but if the Senate created new legal powers in the future whose sole remit was concerned with the creation and use of magical items then the well-worn path for the exercise of those powers would be by vote of the sodality members. Any legal powers that were related to magic items, but were not solely concerned with them, could be delegated to the Guild, provided they did not impinge on the constitutionally protected roles of the other houses. For example, the sodality could be given the right to prohibit some citizens from crafting magic items in the same way the Conclave can declare someone a sorcerer.
The Senate could grant the sodality the ability to announce one or more commissions each season. They might include edifices or sinecures that provided materials, but the ability to commission new runeforges would fall squarely within the sodality's remit.
Appointments
- The well worn path for any Imperial title whose responsibilities primarily relate to the creation, acquisition, distribution or research of magical items would be election by the Artisan's Guild
The civil service have conducted a preliminary review of all current Imperial titles to identify those whose responsibilities involve the creation, acquisition, distribution or research of magical items. In all cases these titles could be appointed by the new sodality if it were passed.
Where a title relates primarily or solely to magical items, then the sodality would become the only constitutionally valid way to appoint the position. In that case, the title would be automatically amended if the sodality is created. If the are other constitutionally valid ways to appoint a title after the sodality is created, then there will be no change to the method of appointment without direct action by the Senate.
No other details would change; if a position had tenure, it would only come up for election by the sodality at the point where the incumbent died, stepped down, or was revoked. National positions would be voted on by all members of the sodality, but only citizens of the relevant nation would be eligible to hold the title.
The constitutional implications of the sodality's existence would also impact any new Imperial title. The well worth path for any position whose sole or primary responsibility relates to magical items , would be appointment by simple vote of members of the Artisans Guild.
Amended Titles
| Automatically Amended Titles |
| Guildmaster of the Artisans |
| Dean of Runesmith's Caution |
| Keeper of the Runegrott |
| Seer of the Spiral Sword |
- Four titles would be automatically amended to be appointed by the Guild
The civil service have identified four Imperial titles whose responsibilities are solely or primarily concerned with the research of new magical items, training new artisans or representing the interests of artisans. If the proposed sodality were passed by the Senate, then the only constitutionally valid way to appoint the listed titles would be by a vote of members of the sodality.
If the Senate pass the motion to create the Artisans Guild, then all four listed titles will be amended to be appointed by the sodality.
Potential Titles
| Potential Titles |
| Architect of the Crucible |
| Blackroot Broker |
| Burgher of Ketsov |
| Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills |
| Marracossa Sendito |
| Preceptor of the Skarsind College of Warcasting |
- Imperial titles whose responsibilities partially relate to artisans or magical items could be elected by the Guild
- The titles will continue to be elected by the current method if the Senate declines to act
- There are six titles that could be changed with a single Senate motion to have them all elected by the sodality
The civil service have identified six Imperial titles whose responsibilities include the creation or acquisition of magical items, but it is not their sole responsibility. It would be possible for the Guild to appoint these six titles, but it is not obligatory.
Given their split responsibilities, creating the new sodality wouldn't change the appointment method of any of the positions. They could be amended by the Senate; a single motion could be used to amend any one title or all six simultaneously if desired, making them appointments of the Imperial Guild of Artisans.
The Constitutional Court have noted that the Blackroot Broker could be appointed by the Imperial Apothecaries Guild, the Imperial Artisans Guild, or the Vallornguard - the position has responsibilities claimed by all three sodalities, so it would be acceptable for either one to appoint the position. The Burgher of Ketsov and the Marracossa Sendito both deal with groups of artisans who provide the benefits the title enjoys. Before changing their appointment methods it would be wise to consult the Ketsov and the Marracossans respectively.
Support
A number of groups have indicated that they might be interested in supporting the Imperial Guild of Artisans, if it were given a broad remit by the Imperial Senate and backed with significant legal powers. As is usually the case, few groups have any interest in supporting a talking shop; they are only prepared to support the sodality if it is clear that it can wield actual power.
Fire and Stone
- The eternal Estavus would be open to serving as a patron of the new sodality
- If the sodality is given control of Imperial runeforges, Estavus will provide the sodality with a new schema each season for a year
The Forgemistress is known to favour those who build, construct and create - she is a patron of architects, builders, shipwrights and most especially artisans. Her heralds have made it clear that the Prince of Shikal would be pleased if the Artisan's Guild where made an Imperial sodality and given the power and authority that goes with that onerous responsibility.
If that happens, then the eternal will be open to serving as a patron fo the new sodality, should they request it. As an example of what benefits their support might entail, they would provide the sodality with a single schema each season for the year after it passes the Senate. Estavus can make any item that is made in the mortal world, each season they would provide the Guild with a list of three schema to pick between. The Guild would need to use a simple vote to select the schema they wanted - and a second vote to select what type of magical item (e.g. rod, shield or foci) that they would like to replace it on the list at the next summit.
The eternal asks for nothing in exchange for these gifts - they are pleased simply to do what they can to encourage the creation of the new sodality. Should the sodality find the relationship beneficial, then the eternal would be open to discussing the potential to formalise the relationship by officially recognising the Prince of Shikal as the patron of the sodality.
Carmine Band
- The Carmine Band will triple their donations to the Golden Pyramid if the Artisans Guild passes the Senate
There are many groups of artisans and their allies across the Empire who have campaigned for years for the craft to receive the same recognition and status that the magicians of the Conclave enjoy. Many of them have thrown their support behind the Golden Pyramid, hoping that the Order would be true to its noble manifesto and work to establish the prominence of Imperial artisans.
Now that the moment is at hand, these groups are looking to the Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid to throw their weight beind the new sodality. Artisans have always been an afterthought in the Conclave, denied entry in their own right to the Hall of Worlds, they have lacked a voice ever since the Empire was founded. Supporting the Golden Pyramid in the hope that the order would uphold the promises made in its manifesto has been one of the few ways for artisans to get their views aired.
For such groups, this is a historic moment, a chance to right a fundamental wrong in the make-up of the Empire's constitution. As such, there is a heavy expectation that the new grandmaster, Terentia of Sarangrave Reforged, will throw the support of his order behind this proposal - and make clear to the Senate that it has the backing of the Conclave.
If that happens - if Conclave passes a declaration of concord calling on the Throne and the Senate to ratify the plans for the new Artisans Guild, then the Carmine Band will increase their regular donations to the order's vaults, providing an additional three measures of Beggars Lye each season. If the efforts are successful, that is if the Senate creates the new sodality, then the Carmine Band add a further three measures of Tempest Jade to the Order's vaults each season in perpetuity, in gratitude for their political support at this crucial juncture.
The Carmine Band are clear that they do expect the grandmaster to support the sodality at this vital moment - if that doesn't happen, or worse the grandmaster is seen as working to prevent the sodality from being ratified, then the Carmine Band will abandon their support of the Order.
Treji's Legacy
| Starsrest/Goodfellow Brokerage |
| Commission Type: Great Work |
| Location: Treji, The Glen of Shadows, Hercynia |
| Cost: 12 weirwood, and 36 crowns in labour |
| Time: 1 season |
Effect:
|
| Availability: Opportunity ends if not commissioned before the end of Summer Solstice 389YE |
| Special: Can only be built if the Imperial Senate approve the Imperial Guild of Artisans |
- The artisans and brokers of Treki offer to work to boost production of mines and forests in Hercynia if the Artisans Guild passes the Senate
- If the guild becomes a sodality, the Empire could commission a great work in Treji to boost the production of forests and mines in the territory
The settlement of Treji has a long and sorrowful history. Overrun by the Thule when they conquered Hercynia, the countless artisans who worked there were forced to work for the Thule churning out weapons and armour for their soldiers. When the settlement was finally relieved, scores were freed, but scores more had been taken north, to labour in the frigid lands of the Thule, creating powerful magic items for the dragons.
Not until many years later after protracted negotiation with the Thule were the artians of Treji finally freed and allowed to come home. Slowly, steadily, they have rebuilt Treji, restoring the forges and with the establishment of the Broker of Treji Wayhouse the town has been restored to life. Prosperous and busy, it has become the beating heart of Hercynia, a place where brokers gather to buy and sell the materials that the artisans of Treji need and the valuable items they create.
The artisans who toiled for so many years under the brutal dominion of the Druj are fierce advocates of the Artisans Guild. It goes unsaid, mostly, but there is a quiet sentiment that if the Guild had existed a decade ago, then things might have been different. If there had been a political body to rival the Conclave but which existed to represent the interests of artisans then they could have been released sooner. As a result the Treji artisans are eager to offer their support.
Of course there is not much they can do by themselves, but they do have the support of many of the brokers who live in Hercynia. Together they have created a plan designed to try and win the support of their fellow Navarr, both across the North and elsewhere. They hope to persuade the senator for Hercynia and hopefully other senators to back the proposal for the Guild when it comes before the Senate. If the motion passes and the Guild becomes an Imperial sodality then they will propose the commission of a network of brokers, and a small central meeting place to coordinate the movements of brokers working right the way across the territory. The brokers would work to ensure that mines and forests were supplied with all the tools and equipment they needed to maximise their productivity. Several Treji artisans propose to call the central hall Starsrest, after the obscure historical figure many of them have a particular fondness for. Equally, the brokers in Hercynia are more keen on Goodfellow Brokerage as a name, pointing to the inspiration of the Long Tom Goodfellow, who worked hard to provide support for those who needed it and was especially good at speaking to people of all nations.
Regardless of what it ends up being called, the benefits it provides would be the same. If the Imperial Guild of Artisans becomes an Imperial sodality, then the Empire could commission Starsrest/Goodfellow Brokerage in Treji in the Glen of Shadows of Hercynia. The hall would require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns and take a season to build, but once complete it would raise the level of investment in forests and mines across the territory. The central hub would fall under the aegis of the Broker of Treji Wayhouse, allowing the title holder to use a Senate announcement to redirect the efforts of the brokers and artisans associated with it if the opportunity presented itself.
The Last Calling
- Members of the Pride Assembly are agitating for their Assembly to throw their support behind the Guild
- The Pride Assembly could use their highest calling to support Imperial sodalities, old and new
"The Virtuous inspire others to greatness; they do not demean them." is one of the five tenets of Pride. It is often interpreted to mean that members of the Assembly should seek to lift up their fellows, empowering them to enable them to take Pride in themselves. One member of the Assembly, Jasna Kazimerczyk, is a skilled artisan who likes to practice what they preach, providing a Biting Blade once a year, to young schlacta who are seeking to prove themselves in defence of their home, the vales of Perumaki in Miekarova from wolves.
Jasna is adamant that the artisans of the Empire should finally get the recognition and reward they deserve. Since the Empire was founded, artisans have always been the poor relations of the magicians, condemned to the sidelines of Imperial politics, overlooked and ignored. They argue that the Senate approving the Imperial Artisans Guild is the only Proud outcome - and they are hoping that the Pride Assembly will employ what influence they have to ensure that happens.
And while Jasna cares passionately about artisans and their fate, she is not blind to the fact that Imperial Apothecaries Guild was made into an Imperial sodality, but the Senate has pointedly refused to grant the Guild significant legal powers. Jasna accuses them of demeaning the apothecaries, treating them like servants who are obligted to do the Senate's bidding, but denied the authority and standing they would need to make Virtuous choices and take Pride in their status. Jasna is keen that the Assembly do what it can to ensure the new Artisans Guild does not share the same fate as the Apothecaries Guild - or perhaps as bad - the fate of the Court of the Far Horizons who appear to have been passed over completely.
Jasna makes an impassioned plea for the Assembly to remind the Senate that the Empire must take Pride in the way it conducts itself - that the Senate has a responsibility to inspire others to greatness, not to demean them. If the Assembly agrees, they could offer their backing to the proposed sodallity, but they could go much further. Last season the Assembly judged three different highest callings, but in the end none of them achieved a greater majority. If the Pride Assembly made supporting the new Imperial sodalities their highest calling it would lead to opportunities that would put more pressure on the Senate to create new sodalities and give them the authority to match their responsibilities.
Only So Many Hours
- The Constitutional Court note that the proposals and incentives mentioned here are likely only the tip of the iceberg
Magistrate Abraham ends his report by noting that the handful of proposals put forward by groups such as the City of Fire and Stone or the Carmine Band are potentially just the tip of the iceberg. There are many interests in the Empire who work with magic items and artisan lore directly - and also plenty of crafters outside the Empire who would likely respond positively to overtures from such a sodality. The Prosperity assembly for example may have thoughts on the creation of Imperial sodalities that support the industry and rewards of Imperial citizens once they have discharged their highest calling in Feroz. He also mentions the people of Skoura, who are known to elevate artisanry to a fine art, and even people like the smiths of Murolosch in the Commonwealth.
Appraising every such possibility is beyond his remit, but he is at pains to point out that this is true of every Imperial sodality. As bodies of state they cannot help but attract ongpoing attention and opportunities from groups within the Empire, across the Known World, and in the eternal realms.
Further Reading
- In the Court of Far Horizons - 388YE Summer appraisal of the Court of Far Horizons
- Arranging grace - 388YE Spring appraisal of the Cat's Graces