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Currency

Coins and Treasury Certificates are the main forms of currency in civilized regions. Barbarians invariably prefer to trade objects, placing almost no value on currency. Accepted in every major city on the continent, Imperial currency is manufactured in the capital. There are six coin types, all made of steel, with equivalencies  in coin sized portions of gold. These, and some of the local parallels in other major cities, are:

- Brennar, (bn) large coin equal in value to twenty gold coins. Used by merchant companies and governments. Distinctive dark metal color. In the Militocracy they are Firrof, in Serval Clure, and in Felineo Visette.

- Tarell, (tr) medium coin equal in value to ten gold coins. Considered a good investment by independent merchants. In Cheetah they are Domak, and in Pallassi Recasse.

- Corund, (cd) medium coin equal in value to one gold coin. In the Militocracy they are Gerov, in Lione Royals, in Serval Fellows, in Ocelot Crests, in Felineo Crowns, in Pallassi Roena, and in Cheetah Dannar.

- Arund, (ad) medium coin equal in value to one fourth of a gold coin. In Plaintlan they are Marks.

- Ceyl, (cy) small coin equal in value to one twelfth of a gold coin. Rarely used, as it is an ancient currency.

- Cernan, (cn) small coin equal in value to one twenty fifth of a gold coin. In Ocelot they are Pytes.

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Pricing for Goods

Common prices for goods in large cities may depend on availability. Example common street prices for items of approximately the same quality are shown below.

Each chart includes pricing examples for eight towns and cities. They are: CTL (Catalania City), SRV (Port Serval), CHT (Port Cheetah), LNE (Lione), OCL (Port Ocelot), BDN (Brandon), BEN (Bengal Port), MYS (Port Myasicar).

Approximated / Common Prices for items

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* = small 30 gal. barrel (sold only to tavern owners) 
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Drinks A - Selected Wines, per 1 quart bottle

(1) Serquisitus Denath (Patrin - Table Reserve)
(2) Green Vineyard (Patrin - Table Reserve)
(3) Errosar III (Patrin - Table Reserve)
(4) Derroquiete (Marchiré - Table Reserve)
(5) Kazerjan Jirroul (Rahajad)
(6) Dierosse (Birsel - Table Reserve)
(7) Rieto (Birsel - Table Reserve)
(8) Silver Oath (Patrin - Quality Reserve)
(9) Willorien Adrenen (Patrin - Quality Reserve)
(10) Erman Carbelle (Birsel - Quality Reserve)
(11) Innovaste of Pallassi (Birsel - Quality Reserve
(12) Taverne (Marchiré - Quality Reserve)
(13) Markass (Vicinity of Port Ocelot)
(14) Qerran Agdur Jirroul (Rahajad)
(15) Vineyards DeRichand (Marchiré - Platinum Reserve)
(16) Bertrand Mitier (Marchiré - Platinum Reserve)
(17) Blue Sun Collection (Birsel - Platinum Reserve)
(18) Vineyards of Pallassi (Birsel - Platinum Reserve)
(19) Vineyards of Clin (Birsel - Platinum Reserve)
(20) Alier (Verqin)

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Drinks B - Spirits, per bottle

(1) Lionian Gradlin (Vaelar)
(2) Sorchev ast Jaquari Gradlin(Snar)
(3) Foresters Wairgan (Catalania)
(4) Lord Armont's Wairgan (Vicinity of Yonmayer)
(5) Watercrest Wairgan (Catalania)
(6) Golden Reserve Herston (Brandon)
(7) Arenson Herston (Brandon)
(8) Bourat, (Kar Koroeth)
(9) Dark Bourat, (Kar Koroeth)

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Treasuries

Every nation offers the use of it's treasure vaults to the populace, so that they may protect their assets. In Catalania, the Imperial Treasury, located one block from Imperial Road, on Aquithen Road, is a great fortified structure. It is where the national reserves of currency are kept, and where anyone can have their wealth protected.

Taking one's currency to a treasury is the first step in making the deposit. A treasury officer proceeds by taking the depositor into a private chamber and counting the money, asking routine questions about it's origins. Once satisfied that all is in order, he will issue a Treasury Certificate, which he and the depositor will sign. A record of the transaction is kept at the treasury in case the Certificate is lost, destroyed, or stolen.

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Poverty

Although many nations are concerned with the poor, aiding them whenever possible, poverty is widespread in most regions of the continent. The west coast, in particular, has suffered much from Freemen's exhaustive taxing. After both of the Freemen-Catalania Wars, the coast suffered economic turmoil and a great amount of the general population were impoverished.

It is not uncommon to find families begging on the streets of Port Ocelot. Near Bengal Port, vast slums have developed, and crime has also grown. Villages along the coast are rarely free from these hardships.

In the south, poverty has been dealt with in the same ways for centuries. Laws have been instituted to aid the needy, and temples of Torla and Parda dedicate much of their efforts to poor. In Felineo, every adult male is offered work by the Kingdom, and can make enough money to support a small family.

Catalania handles poverty in a similar way, but demands that all merchant companies pay specific taxes to aid in the welfare of the destitute. The Empire strives to give the poor (men and women alike) jobs, mainly in maintaining the infrastructure of the city and surrounding areas. They are paid for their services, and free to leave employment at any time.

In Port Cheetah, the Commander of the Northern Militia has had sufficient influence to establish laws keeping the homes of the poor in a well watched, separate part of the city. They are given minimal provisions, and encouraged to work. However, many basic rights have been compromised in the Northern Militia's quest for an end to high criminal activity.

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Taxes

Three major types of taxes are common throughout the continent. The first is normally due to the ruler of the land and his association. In Catalania, this is the Imperial Tax, and was perhaps the first tax ever created. The Imperial Tax rate is based on an individuals social status.

Imperial Tax collectors are well educated and accompanied by Imperial Scouts or Mountain Rangers. They are usually very courteous. If they cannot collect dues from an individual, that individual is prompted to sign a Statement of Debt, which the government can use to confiscate secondary possessions, or force the individual into Imperial service. If the statement is not signed, that individual is likely to be summoned to be judged upon by a Treasury Magistrate, and can be sentenced to prison, or forced into service in distant territories. Almost every region on the continent has similar national tax laws.

The second most common type of tax is the County, or Territory Tax. The County Tax is due to the Count of a region, and is based on type of occupation of the individual. For example, an Innkeeper must pay between 5 and 15 Corunds to the Count's Collectors every month, and the exact amount is dependent on that collectors impression of the businesses profits. A tailor or a cobbler may pay a Corund every month.

Another important tax is the Barony Dues. It is due to the Baron by all of his counts, and every member of their courts. Usually, every county is expected to pay 45 Corunds every month, and his subjects anywhere between 1 and 15 Corunds. Outside of the Empire, where the Baron and Count roles are reversed, this is called the Regent-Minor Tax.

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Merchant Taxes

Imperial Port Tax is unique in concept to the Empire. It is an overall, flat rate added to all other port dues. In Catalania City, the tax is 20 Corunds for ships from 23m to 35m in length. Larger ships pay 50 Corunds. Ships under 23m do not pay the Imperial Port Tax.

Many merchant companies consider the Imperial Port Tax as a major drawback for doing business at Imperial ports. Still, great amounts of ships visit Catalania City every month, catering to the enormous market at the continents largest city.

Standard port dues, found in nearly every port on the continent, tax a merchants use of the port, and any transactions he may carry out while at that port. Port Ocelot does not tax merchant transactions, and Port Cheetah has outlawed all merchant ship activities outside of it's and Port Myasicar's protected ports.

The Union of Serval has the most complex and most effective port tax laws on the continent. It's vast seaport has been the location of choice for merchants to manage their business from, and these merchants have an active voice in the nation's government.

Recently, the new Port Tax laws in Port Serval have been praised as the greatest advance in the mercantile system in centuries. Already adopted by Brandon and Felineo, one of the laws provides that, for every four Corunds of local goods purchased by a specific taxable ship, two Corunds will be deducted from the final taxes due to that city. Goods being imported to that city are still taxable. A new index of taxes has been formulated, however, using the prevalence of the imported goods on the local market as a basis for higher taxes.