Celestial Ministry
“The vast Empire of the Dragon contains hundreds of thousands of people. Many are human; some on the fringes of humanity, but Emperor Kisu rules all. Yet one man, even an ascendant emperor, cannot see to all of the concerns and laws governing so many. To keep Cantha running effectively, a bureaucracy is and always has been key. This bureaucracy — known collectively as the Celestial Ministry — has grown in size and power over the years, though not necessarily in efficiency. Emperor Kisu knows that the bureaucracy is too large, and in places too corrupt, but even the sovereign ruler of Cantha can only do so much to stem the tide of a growing bureaucratic class in Kaineng City.
The Celestial Ministry is divided into four smaller Ministries, each one devoted to a different aspect of Cantha's imperial government. These ministries, each named after one of the four major elements, have been created over several hundred years to (ostensibly) meet certain needs that the Celestial Ministry could not handle. Their elemental names — Fire, Earth, Air, and Water — are traditionally tied to specific (and largely mythical) powers. The most visible function of all Ministries is tax collection, which makes them even more unpopular among the masses. Most Canthan citizens love their emperor, but hate the bureaucracy that runs his empire.
Ministries[edit]
| Ministry | Description | Mythical Power | Minister |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame | Also known as the Ministry of Fire, this is the oldest known division. The ministry oversees law enforcement and justice and is in charge of incarceration. | Control over the sunrise and sunset. | Minister Zal |
| Earth | This is the paperwork ministry, in charge of record keeping, building projects, and accounting. It is infamous for beginning public projects that never seem to get finished, but prove profitable to the friends and allies of the ministry. | Control over the bounties of the land—animal, vegetable, and mineral. | Minister Jaisan |
| Water | This ministry controls the city's water supply, irrigation, and the fishing industry, as well as sharing direct control of Cantha's harbors with the Ministry of Wind (an eternal bone of contention). | Controls rainfall as well as the moon's rise and set. | Minister Nai |
| Wind | Also referred to as the Ministry of Air, this division oversees all trade and shipping that relies on the wind, over land and across the sea. Ship captains pay taxes to make the winds blow in the desired direction. This ministry shares control of Cantha’s ports with the Ministry of Water. | Controls the winds and storms. | Minister Tao |
Trivia[edit]
- Chinese mythology describes a Celestial Bureaucracy.
