Lein Emperor's Artisan Office

The Emperor's Artisan Office (Itrani: Sabo Gankarnondo Furaimi ne-i-Tairazun, literally Office of Artisans for the {Personal} use of the Emperor) is an office in the Internal Palace, responsible for making all tools and utensils needed for the Imperial Family, as well as for purposes of the Palace itself.

History

The Office was founded by Emperor Lein Durun, putting an end to previous systems where scores of artists were kept on the payroll of the Empire while only occasionally being called upon to produce works; now that the number of artisans was much lower the office accordingly became far more efficient in supplying the needs of the Palace and the family, and also coordinating orders for materials as needed.

This system, while efficient and perhaps fitting for a toughened military emperor such as Lein Durun, meant the restriction of styles produced by the artisans and the variety of the designs. Ironically it was the infamous Emperor Lein Jungi who "solved" this problem by coercing large numbers of artisans and craftsmen to be ready at any time to make playthings, weapons, or whatever he desired at the moment for him. His method was to issue skilled craftsmen with edicts of recall, such that whenever he wanted something made his cronies could use these edicts to summon the unfortunates to the palace on pain of death.

After Lein Jungi was deposed, his son and successor Lein Loran retained but altered this system dramatically. Instead of keeping the edict as a summons letter for craftsmen, he instead issued them as "Letters of Imperial Approval", issued to recognised craftsmen who had reached great heights and ability within their field. These letters, like the summoning edicts before them, gave the Emperor the power to summon them to the palace for comissions as and when so required; yet they were also great marks of honour, as well as gateways to further patronage and power within their respective craft guilds. This system, much welcomed by the populace and artisans, was later refined when some particularly talented experts were retained in the Court to serve as chief designers working exclusively for the Palace, and who then suggested suitable people to be summoned or issued with the Imperial Letter.

Organisation

The Artisan Office plays the dual role of being the Imperial House's designers for personal projects, as well as being the chief contractor on behalf of the Palace and the Imperial House. As such it is divided into many offices, according to the many tools and objects needed or wanted by the Emperor.

The work scope of the Artisan Office is truly wide, even if its target audience is very small; to earn a Letter of Approval is to be acknowledged as being a master of the craft, and the ultimate goal of many artisans is to make even a single lacquered box for the Emperor, or carve a toy for a Prince. The "officials" of this unique department thus make up a large cross-section of the Empire's greatest talents, whose techniques are often noted down by Imperial demand for the examination and learning of future generations.