Firearms

Firearms on Nalan are impressively powerful, more like hand held cannons rather than sleek and precise weapons. Due to the fact the firearms are, for most purposes, generally considered by the general public to be inferior to stringed weapons such as bows and crossbows, they are not manufactured by any one specific company. Instead, gunsmithing as become something of an artisanal craft, with the designs of one Gunsmith looking completely different to the designs of another. For this reason, it is very difficult to place weapons into specific categories since most are created for an individual, for a specific purpose.
On top of this, the enormous lack of standardisation in the craft means that while as a general rule of thumb, the average firearm has a range of only around 20ft, a masterpiece by an exceptionally skilled gunsmith could as much as triple this distance. Weapons such as this however would take months to create, requiring an enormous amount of time and effort from its creator. In addition, since all weapons are loaded in slightly different ways (some being breach loaded, some requiring use almost like a cannon, with the best even having revolving chambers allowing for rapid fire) ammunition for these weapons are not compatible with each other.
As with most things on Nalan, firearms are Essence powered. While it has been discovered, gunpowder is not commonly used, since powdered essence does the same job, only far better.

Access & Availability

A firearm is at its heart a big tube that contains an explosion, propelling a shot out one end. Although slightly more expensive than a bow or crossbow, these terrible, dangerous to operate hand cannons would never cost more than 100 suns.
A true, well crafted firearm however is a different story. Most would be considered art by their creators, few are willing to sell, and fewer still are willing to buy. Most gunsmiths create their weapons to use them personally, or for one person specifically. Custom made weapons such as these are near priceless, at least for most.
The largest scale force equipped with firearms are the Honoured Guard guard of Ran'Haldin, who each have a longarm capable of impressive range and quick reloads. The cost of outfitting such a force would be astronomical, and only the most wealthy province in The Empire would be capable of it.

Complexity

Firearms are one area of technology where the existance of essence is not a great deal of help. It is far better than gunpowder, yet that only serves the propellant. Naturally, the cheap hand cannons used by street thugs and folks with a deathwish are basically shrunken down cannons, and not particularly complicated to create.
Other weapons however are a different story. As mentioned before, a true firearm is something of incredibly intricate design, each one is a small masterwork of engineering, something designed with a complexity and finesse that is rivaled in very few places throughout The Empire.

Discovery

Firearm technology began with the arming of airships with essence cannons. The first creation of a handheld firearm is undocumented, however it is likely that somebody looked at a cannon, and wondered what it would be like to hold one of those in your hand and blow someone apart with it.