IntroductionThe Imperial Trades (IT) is an organization created to give birth to, develop and support the Dark Empire's economy. In order to do such, the IT specializes in production, transportation and trade of goods, and most of our services will be extended to commoners as well.
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hereThe StructureThe IT, following the Dark Empire's tradition, has an Aspirant Process (Recruit and Apprentices Ranks, in our case). Then, we have two full-fledged ranks (Third and Fourth Ranks) and above, the Overlord. The full-fledged ranks are divided by Branch, there being Three Branches. Pay attention to the fact that no branch is worth more than the other: third ranks (Journeyman, Trader, Officer) are equivalent in terms of hierarchy and the same happens with the fourth ranked.
- The Overlord - Fifth Ranked
The Overlord is the Founder or a person later appointed by the Founder and/or the Dark Empire's Overlord Council. It is a Branchless Rank and works a bit like the sum of all the higher ranks of each Branch (see bellow), which means the Overlord has rights and duties in the administrative, productive and businesses areas, mainly of supervision, but also of participation and organization. Politically, the Overlord is the person who writes the Imperial Trades' Document, which is the guiding document that organizes the Imperial Trades, and also the one who represents the IT in the Dark Empire's Overlord Council and in Yliakum's Society in general.
The Crafter Branch's Ranks
- Master Craftsman - Fourth Ranked
Recognized for their great familiarity with a craft, the Masters have the duty to guide apprentices and journeymen by teaching them their craft. They are the organizers of group crafting with their Apprentices and Journeymen. To be able to ascend to this rank one must, between other requirements, create a masterpiece.
- Journeyman - Third Ranked
A Journeyman that travels from city to city in search of better improving his skills. He participates in group crafting and is guided by the Master Craftsmen of the city he is in. Some Journeyman may one day ascend to Master Craftsman, while others either choose the free life and keep traveling about in search of further improving their skills, or take a more stable life, establishing themselves as a part of the producing chain of the Guild.
The Trader Branch's Ranks
- Head Trader - Fourth Ranked
The Head Trader is a person skilled in the ways of trade, who has many duties depending on his job. In general, his duty is to know the best routes and contacts in order to create and maintain trade routes that produce good income. Head Traders take care of pretty much all aspects of the route and are expected to take responsibility for them in front of the assembly. To ascend to this rank it is required to propose the establishment of an important trade route and maintain it for some time.
- Trader - Third Ranked
Living in a city center of trade, the Trader takes on jobs from the Head Trader to transport goods from one city to another and take care of smaller businesses. Some aspire to reach the rank of Head Trader, but many decide to take upon the stable life and remain as a Trader, buying a house, getting a family, a few hobbies to enjoy their time between the jobs.
The Officer Branch's Ranks
- High Officer - Fourth Ranked
A person with great responsibilities, the High Officer is in charge of taking care of the most important things such as transactions of big importance, and organizing lower Officers to supervise the IT and do their organization jobs. To ascend to this rank one must be known as a highly trustworthy officer.
- Officer - Third Ranked
An Officer directly takes care of the organization jobs by supervising and keeping records. He has a pretty stable life as it is rare for an Officer to walk out of a city due to their job. Some Officers work hard to make themselves electable to the High Officer rank, but most remain in the officer's life, enjoying the free study of languages and letters, some even becoming renown writers or masters of a specific language.
The Aspirant Ranks
- Apprentice - Second Ranked
A person with some experience and time in the guild. Still has ways to go until reaching full membership and therefore works hard until the day he will be acknowledged into one of the IT's Branches.
- Recruit - First Ranked
A person who was recently recruited into The Imperial Trades. Has to learn the guild structure, hierarchy and Branches, as well as to remain enough time to show himself as a to-be stable member.
The StatusCurrently, the Imperial Trades is almost two years old. During such time, the IT has developed a good structure, both in terms or organization mechanisms, as well as in terms of people, which resulted in a production of a bit over 2000 goods and a profit of 4000000 tria, in the first year alone (second Annual Report should be out in October).
There is still need for development. The most developed professions at the moment are those related to either steel stock production, which is our traditional business, or weapon making, which has finally been successfully established, mostly due to the creation of the Imperial Trades' Shop. That same shop brings potential development to the Trader Branch and the Officer Branch is also starting to get some work, as the IT's structure has grown enough for administrative and organizational duties to be passed to the Officers.
Plenty of room exists for new recruits, from creative ones to those wanting to follow the more traditional route. The IT still lacks a bit in support to new internal enterprises, as well as a system that allows all members to live off of their IT activity, without being forced to engage in other activities to receive enough money for their needs. Yet, recognizing these flaws, the IT welcomes new members with open arms and promises of positive development in such areas, and others.
Finally, as usual, the IT remains open to business proposals from other economic organizations, even though, in the past, all enterprises the IT has helped economically, or simply observed, have failed. We hope, though, that the scenario of closed individuality of economic organisms and the general failure of enterprises changes and offers help to all ideas that aim in such direction.
The BusinessesTwo general concepts apply: First, prices are reasonable, not too expensive, not insanely cheap (remember that we're still under inflation so what we consider reasonable may be indeed cheap). Second, we take orders, so if there's something you'd like and it's not for sale, ask the IT member to write an order for you.
Which can be found in the Guildsquare Hall in Hydlaa, sells many weapons (knives, swords, axes...) of varying quality and some items, though still not many.
Still somewhat separated from the Shop, we produce steel stock (or other kinds of stock or ingots on request) from varying qualities. Ask Jamek, which can usually be found in the Furnace, or try to see if you can make an order, or find some, in the Imperial Trades Shop.
