CURRENT LOCAL EXCHANGE RATES AND TAXES

These are the currencies currently used and rarely seen in the kingdom at large:

Platinum Shield (PP) - Worth 10GP - aka Platshields. Named for the escutcheon shape of the unmarked coins. No longer produced since the collapse of most of the dwarven kingdoms. Seldom seen except as tax payments or tithes.

Electrum (EP) - Worth 10GP - In the old days this was considered a lesser coin because kings would adulterate their gold crowns with silver. But for some reason wizards have started hoarding it.These days not found as actual coins, but unmarked slugs or coins so old the markings have warn off.


Gold Crown (GP) - Worth 50SP - standard currency of the noble classes, named for the picture of the reigning monarch on the face of the coin when it was minted. Thieves and other lower classes have been known to split gold coins in half, quarters or even "pieces of eight", even though doing so labels one as a chiseler and is subject to a fine and public whipping in the stocks.


Silver Keshel (SP) - Worth 10CP - Named for antiquated term for the bushel of grain on the back of the coin. The standard currency for merchants and middle classes.

Copper Sheaf (CP) - Worth 10 Nails - Names for the sheaf of wheat on the back of the coin. Standard currency for the masses.

Iron Nails (IP) - De facto currency for the destitute and the frontier. In some rural communities they're worth almost as much as silver. Not popular with elves for some reason.

TAXES:

10% Kingdom Tax - collected by well-armed guards with wizardly escort when the party reaches the city limits.

10% Tithe - Paid by all Lawful characters, entitles them to the most basic food and shelter at local temples on their journeys. A Writ stamped with the signet of a faith elder is proof of payment. The writ is also a prerequisite for even DISCUSSING healing services. Of course there's a black market for stolen Writs, but don't get caught...

Donation - Donation of course being the code for mandatory payment to the local Thieves Guild for permission to operate in city limits. A pickpocketing urchin may pay a single silver. A master jewel thief may have cough up a chest of gold crowns. Merchants also pay donations as protection money, depending on the nature of their business. Donations are taken one way...or the other.

I will set a precedent for the Elven people, by referring to "Iron Nails" as "Coffin Nails."

Very cool! love the lore and background and "Coffin Nails".

In reply to Lord Xenophon (msg # 2):

BRILIANT!

Also, as a libertarian, I must object to being forced to tithe to a Lawful Evil faith. I have my own gods. I don't need the Human ones.

Did a Dwarf put you up to this?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Thu 16 Aug 2018.

In reply to Lord Xenophon (msg # 6):

The church tithe is different from the taxes. The tithe is optional, it you don’t pay it means you have to go to an alchemist or chiurgeon for aid. Or one of those OTHER clerics.

That's all beside the point, which is that I am not Lawful. It's an alignment conflict.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Thu 16 Aug 2018.

In reply to Gendolyne Zahl (msg # 9):

City humans seem a bit embarrassed about worshiping at the feet of statue these days, which started the Unified Faith movement. Much like the Romans did in our world, they assimilated other nations mythoi into their own. A family may go to the Solar Temple for holy days but still leaves gifts for a shrine to Apollo at home.

The Goddess of Valor is another such deity. The previous king almost wiped out her agents (the Knights Exemplar) entirely but she is still bestowing her mantle to those she finds worthy.

Then you have Oceana, Gaia, Enlightenment (knowledge & wisdom).

Out in the countryside you still have Druidic orders and those Chaotic ones like Aradia the moon goddess.

The city halflings go with the flow. But most demihumans and humanoids, of course, wonder why the human gods would ever tolerate that level of bullshit.

Read up on Bacchus.

I might go for the bridge, depending on where it is.
This message was last updated by the player at 03:22, Sun 19 Aug 2018.