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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jul 2008 : 02:33:46
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I was thinking about, for my Realms at least, having the clergy of Waukeen embark upon an ambitious program of boosting their popularity and influence among the elite merchant lords and subsequently the common people of the Realms.
The desire to do so is attested to in canon and the booming pace of the faith's growth in Chondath (Scions of Arrabar series) appears to suggest that they've done well.
So, I begun to think how the Waukeenar would go about ensuring that every merchant spoke a prayer to the Merchants' Friend when sealing and deal and tossed a few coppers 'to make coin flow more freely'.
Obviously, the faith provided some services to faithful merchants and it would make sense to expand those services in a way that would be profitable for all. Here's a few of the things I came up with.
Knowing the Coin: Every priest of Waukeen will identify coins and tradebars brought to him. He'll state the origin of the coin (if he knows) and he'll always note the current trade value of it. He'll also tell whether a coin is true or false. For identification, Waukeenar claim no further authority than any sage, but as regards purity, their word is divinely inspired and it is generally taken as gospel.
This service is free to devout worshippers**. For those who are not among the faithful, a fee of one of every ten coins typically demanded*, but paying one's respect to the goddess can reduce that fee down to as little as a coin in every hundred, especially if the priest judges that the person can be converted to the worship of the Merchant's Friend.
Jewels of Trade: For a fee of 1-5%*** of the value of a precious stone, Waukeenar will identify and value specimens brought to them. Worshippers in good standing can use this service for free, as long as priests are not otherwise occupied, but a little donation to temple coffers is expected to court the favour of the Merchant's Friend. Gems cut into one of the 'standard' dwarven trade cuts will be easily identified and someone willing to ask for the Goddess's blessing will usually be able to pay only a few coppers given as a sacrifice.
The value given will be the most likely trade price and most merchants will not hesitate to accept a gem accompanied by a Waukeenar certificate for full price. This method, however, will not take into account any enchantments placed upon the gems, their possible use as magical components or any special historical significance they might have had (beyond what a knowledgable priest might happen to know).
Waukeen's Bond: Upon the receipt of a merchant's valuables, a temple of Waukeen will issue him with an impressive scroll that pledges to return to him a sum equivalent to their value within a tenday**** of him presenting the scroll to them and asking that the pledge be honoured. The value of the items, coins and gems is fixed by the temple at reception; but the clergy take care to be scrupulous in their appraisal. The elaborateness of the scroll depends on the amount in question and very high amounts will have magic placed within the scroll.
If the merchant presents this scroll at the same temple that issued it, a worshipper pays nothing at all. Those outside the ranks of the church are charged a yearly amount ranging from 1-100 gp per large strongbox***** that storage of the amount in question requires.
Presenting the scroll at another temple of Waukeen will cost a sum of 1-5% of the value of the sum, but never less than 500 gp (which covers the needed security for such transactions). Worshippers pay less and very favouted ones can get away with the minimum amount, regardless of how much coin they need.
Through magic, Coinspinners can also send their brethren in other temples word that Master Merchant so-and-so has deposited a certain sum in their coffers and should be extended credit at another temple. This will cost 10% of the required sum, with pious and generous merchants being able to reduce it to 5%; but never less than a 1000 gp. Favoured worshippers are reputed to be able to pay 1% or even the minimum amount, regardless of how much coin they need.
Manycoins Pact: Priests of Waukeen will witness contracts, provide assistence when it comes to interpreting complex provisos in them and demand an oath from both (or all) parties that they'll hold to the pact as understood by the Waukeenar (and read aloud to them, with any needed clarifications). Those who break such a pact incur the displeasure of Waukeen, up to and including Waukeen's Curse (FaA).
For this service, priests charge a varying amount. Very simple contracts with little importance might rate a few coins, but complex business arrangements might warrant a percentage of the gross. In all cases, faithful enjoy vastly better rates than those outside the church.
Just a basic service of acting as a witness can be had for free if the worshipper is devout, brings the contract to the temple and is a frequent donator to Waukeenar causes.
*Of course, it's possible to bring only one coin from a horde and be charged a silver for a gold or copper for a silver, but that will not constitute proof that the rest of the hoard is genuine.
**That is, those willing to publicly claim their allegiance to the Merchants' Friend and who invoke her name at every trade deal. Also understood to mean those generous in donating to the church and its favoured projects and willing to follow the word of Coinspinners when it comes to recommended investments.
***Depending on the difficulty of evaluating the stone and the bringing person's demonstrated piety, standing with the particular temple and his potential usefulness to the Goddess.
****This period of time is a safeguard built into the system, if the local temple should be low on funds when many merchants demand their funds at the same time. It then allows the temple to call in debts, access caches of wealth or call on the wealth of allied temples. In actual fact, the temples usually hand over the money instantly, since they have no wish to present obstacles to trade.
*****Depending on perceived risk, difficulty of converting the wealth into cash and the merchant's piety.
Thoughts? Ideas? Criticism?
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Edited by - Icelander on 29 Jul 2008 17:24:58
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2008 : 08:09:50
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Failure to abide by the terms of a Manycoins Pact could also result in a visit from a lovely inevitable! yay!  |
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Victor_ograygor
Master of Realmslore
Denmark
1076 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2008 : 17:12:29
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Thoughts?
Honestly I really like the thought about the work shown, and as a DM I would always make sure that it is rewarded.
Ideas?
If there are a lot of money changing hands, I would suggest that some high level thief’s would be interested in getting there hands on the coin and Jewels.
Criticism?
I don’t know if other priest have already found out of this already, but if not they would try to do same kind of business, if there are is lot of money in it.
Vic |
Victor Ograygor The Assassin and Candel keeps cellar master
Everything I need to know about life I learned from killing smart people.
Links related to Forgotten Realms
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Adventuring / Mercenary Companies / Orders / The chosen from official sources
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Priests in Forgotten Realms.
http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9609&whichpage=1 |
Edited by - Victor_ograygor on 29 Jul 2008 17:15:42 |
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Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jul 2008 : 17:44:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Victor_ograygor
Ideas?
If there are a lot of money changing hands, I would suggest that some high level thief’s would be interested in getting there hands on the coin and Jewels.
Stealing from a temple would be a foolhardy act indeed, but the Realms has no shortage of fools.
Security at Waukeenar temples is tight, even when it may not appear so, with the clergy being well aware that their gold and jewels are desired by thieves. Spells of True Seeing and truth-finding are employed surreptiously, making sure that no one finds its way into a temple by claiming to be another than he is. The vaults are sealed with impressive wards designed to keep out others than the clergy and mercenaries from orders such as the Sapphire Crescent are often kept on guard in temples.
Added to which, of course, that few people wish to court Waukeen's curse. A thief who cannot prosper in business is a thief who has trouble fencing his loot.
quote:
Criticism?
I don’t know if other priest have already found out of this already, but if not they would try to do same kind of business, if there are is lot of money in it.
The church of Helm, the God of Guardians, will store items or valuables at their temples for a price. This price, which remains the same for all beings, regardless of faith, is 5 gp per strongchest per month. Dedicating these strongchest to the Watcher and decorating them with the Unsleeping Eye is required. The clergy will not take in magical items or living beings unless the priest of Helm is convinced that by guarding them they serve the cause of Helm.
In many temples, the vaults are full with protected items and there is little chance of storing more there. As such, the clergy is debating whether the raise the cost, but many older Tried and Tested clergy feels it would be sacrilege to price their services out of the range of the common people. Protection should not only be accorded to the rich and powerful.
The priests of Tyr will also witness contracts, in most cases without asking for any payment. They'll demand, however, that the contracts by made in full accordance with the strictures of their faith. No amount of money can sway them in that demand. |
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Better banking through Waukeen!
