Guilds
From IMiA
Contents |
Overview
The first guilds formed hundreds of years ago; small groups of craftsmen bonding together in order to further business agendas against other competitors. They weren't officially recognized by the Royals until much later. At this point, each individually recognized craft, once they've satisfied basic requirements of membership and aggregate income can petition for its own charter and the right for a representative to participate on the Guild Council.
A guild serves as more than a simple organizational body. Naturally the primary concern is for trade. In most cases, guilds have two sets of regulations. One has to do with external affairs, with what might be called the commercial side of the guild; the other deals with internal matters such as wages, duration and conditions of apprenticeship, welfare and obligations to the guild. A guild with significant membership can control imports and exports, regulation of prices, and the inspection and standardization of goods. Craftsmen who did not choose membership found their opportunities limited and circumstances difficult for advantageous competition.
Profitable guilds see to more than just the economic well-being of their members. The typical guild has a common chest for upkeep and for the relief of the widows and orphans of its members, adopts ordinances for the regulation of its own activities, punishes members for improper conduct, and cooperates with town government. Furthermore, many guilds additionally support social functions for members in good standing, typically an annual banquet or the like.
The guild system is also very closely connected to the Church. Almost every guild has a patron saint, before whose image a candle is kept burning. Many set aside sums for the sustentation of a priest or the maintenance of a chapel.
Structure
Each individual guild is governed by the Guild Master, an elected Grand Master of the craft he or she represents. The general membership is divided into three grades or levels of skill: Masters, Journeymen, and Apprentices.
Apprentice
At a young age, a man or woman, typically the relative of some other guild member, enters into the service of a Master Craftsman in order to learn a trade. The contract between the two parties is seldom written, but more often sworn on relics. The master undertakes to feed, clothe, and otherwise provide for the apprentice along with teaching them their craft. In some cases, the apprentice also receives a small stipend. Apprentices can expect long, hard days, and much depends on the disposition of their master. A kind master is considered a great blessing.
Apprenticeship can vary in duration. The length of service is often related to a fee, the value of which the apprentice must "earn back" on behalf of the master who has invested in him. In addition, the apprentice must demonstrate their ability to practice their craft, and produce an item which passes all the tests and requirements of the guild in order to move onto the next level of craftsmanship.
Journeymen
Considered the level that bridges the gap between apprenticeship and mastery of a craft, many guild-members remain journeymen for years and years. Significant differences include the fact that a journeyman is paid wages by the master who owns the shop in which they work. To graduate to the next level, the journeyman must produce a "masterpiece" that shows mastery of their craft and the ability to teach it to others.
Master Craftsman
A master craftsman owns their own shop and under guild auspices has apprentices and journeymen to work there. There is often a guild limit on how many apprentices one may have though one can hire as many journeymen as one can afford.
Grand Master
Once every other year, the guild members in good standing (i.e. those who have paid their dues and followed the restrictions of their craft faithfully - apprentices do not participate in this) gather in Assembly, and, among other things, elect a Grand Master to govern the Guild from among those who hold the level of Master Craftsman. Each quarter, the Grand Masters of each guild gather together in a Council meeting to decide various issues that concern the guilds and the trade markets. Other duties of the Grand Master can include things like surprise inspections of shops to ensure that they are following the standards set forth by the guilds. Where they find infarctions, they levy fines and often confiscate substandard goods for distribution to the poor at no profit to the unworthy creator of said materials.
Current Guilds of Amber
Bakers
Brewers
Butchers
Carpenters
Chandlers
Jewelers
Masons
Painters
Scribes
Smiths
Tailors
Tanners
Weavers
Wine Sellers
Each guild has its own symbol, often worn prominently by members so they can identify each other and those of other guilds.
-- Main.KrisFazzari - 09 Aug 2005
