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Essay 2 - Currency

COPYRIGHT 1986, SKYREALMS PUBLISHING 
This essay is a collection on design notes intended for inquiring garners. 
This material is not in its final form, and may appear significantly altered 
if and when eventually published. We provide these essays to give interested 
parties an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes at SkyRealms 
publishing and to get a look ahead upon our coming releases. 

BY: Andrew Leker 
FOR: Mark Wallace 

ABSTRACT: Currency on Jorune and wages. 


The currency of Burdoth is gem based. Different grades of gems have different 
values. Uncut, un-scultped gems are beautiful, but do not constitute 
currency. Only those stones which bore the Dharsage's seal were used for 
exchange. After the Energy Weapon's war, and the discovery of Earth-Tec, the 
Dharsage slowed down the manufacture of metal coins in favor of drilling 
narrow, clean holes through gems with the newly acquired laser-torches. This 
system is virtually impossible to duplicate by any other means; nothing but a 
laser-torch can cut as fine or as clean a hole. 

The most common gems used in Burdoth are: 

Bits: The smallest unit of currency. Equivalent to about a penny in Burdoth. 
Twenty bits make a gemule. Physically, bits are crude, ugly crystals with 
rough exteriors. Bits are not considered currency in quantities greater than 
100 because they lack dharsage marks. 
Gemules (yules): Gemules are the most common unit of exchange. They have the 
buying power of 20 bits (about 20 cents). Although they are well formed 
crystals, their interior is white and milky. Old gemules are patterned, new 
ones have laser holes in them. One hundred gemules make one gemlink. 
Gemlinks (links): Gemlinks differ from gemules in that their centers are 
considerably less milky and light blue in color. A gemlink has in this 
society the equivalent buying power of a twenty dollar bill in late 1980's 
U.S. currency. Ten gemlinks are equal to a single *gem." Gemlinks are about 
the size of a fifty cent piece. 
Gems: The beginning of the nice gems. Center is completely clear of milky 
color but sparkles with blue, green and yellow. Ten gems form a gemcluster. 
GemCluster: Similar to gems, but the color in their centers is clustered into 
small, bright bursts of color. Ten gemclusters make a single gemstar. 
Gem Stars: The finest gems. Completely clear except for the colorful 
starburst pattern that emerges radially from their centers. This is the 
highest unit of Burdothian currency. 

It is important to have a grasp on the buying power of each of these units of 
currency. Knowing the value of gemlinks in terms of gemules is not enough; 
here are some basic equivalences: 

A reasonable lunch in the center of Ardoth is going to run about 2 yules 
(gemules). Fast food (thivin kiosks) will cost less, usually between 20 and 
30 bits (that's between 1 and 1.5 yules). A medium priced dinner is going to 
run about 3 gemules, while a good meal will run as high as 20 to 30 gemules 
(higher if drinks are included). 

Here are some sample rates of pay for different occupational types: 
Beggars: Scrounge two to three gemules each day in a large city. 
Durlig pullers: 13 gemules/day 
Movers 11 gemules/day 
Miner 8 gemules/day 
Harvester 10 gemules/day 
Digger 8 gemules/day 
Sailor 7 gemules/day (at sea) 
Fisherman 16 gemules/day (self employed) 
10 gemules/day (employed) 
Carpenter 13 gemules/day (on a team) 
20 gemules/day (building cabinets, woodwork) 
Butcher 20 gemules/day (self employed) 
Butcher 14 gemules/day (apprentice) 
Tanner 12 gemules/day 
Trainer self employed: paid for animals, not day-by-day 
13 gemules/day (employed) 
Cook 12 gemules/day (kiosk, food included) 
16 gemules/day (small restaurant) 
25 gemules/day (nice restaurant) 
50 gemules/day (fine restaurant) 
Clerk 15 gemules/day 
Secretarial 20 gemules/day 
45 gemules/day (competent) 
Garment maker 9 gemules/day (making cloth) 
11 gemules/day (making nice clothing) 
20 gemules/day (making very nice clothing) 
25 gemules/day (designing) 
Beverages 14 gemules/day (making rusper) 
20 gemules/day (winery) 
15 gemules/day (serve drinks in an illidge) 
22 gemules/day (shast in a shenter) 
Oils 10 gemules/day (extracting oils, smells bad) 
Perfumer 10 gemules/day (simple, hard labor) 
Rug maker 12 gemules/day 
People groomer 14 gemules/day (hair, nails, etc.) 
Animal groomer 6 gemules/day (cleaning thombos and bochigons) 
Shoe maker 13 gemules/day 
Tapestry 11 gemules/day 
Gardener 12 gemules/day (friendly neighborhood gardener) 
16 gemules/day (for kesht or dharsage) 
Jeweler 20 gemules/day 
Weaver 12 gemules/day 
Trader 18 gemules/day (thivin trader clears this much) 
Flower seller 8 gemules/day 
Food vendor 6 gemules/day (a thivin working in a kiosk) 
25 gemules/day (owner of a thivin kiosk) 
City guide 15 gemules/day (arranged position with chell) 
City Yord 20 gemules/day (under the chell) 
Private yord 15 gemules/day (hired guard) 
Archer 24 gemules/day (under the dharsage) 
Patroller 25 gemules/day (under dharsage, exterior patrol) 
Daijic 45 gemules/day (daij-meat daijic, very few) 
20 gemules/day (crystal daijic) 
Soldier 30 gemules/day (real combat soldier for Khodre) 
Dancer 5 gemules/day (working in the streets) 
9 gemules/day (in a troop) 
Crafts maker 12 gemules/day (display of goods) 
Musician 6 gemules/day (working in the streets) 
10 gemules/day (in a troop of musicians) 
Singer 15 gemules/day (not on the streets, royal events) 
Administrating 16 gemules/day (small business) 
20 gemules/day (medium business) 
75 gemules/day (fairly substantial business) 
Kim member 5 gemules/day (minimal pay) 
Beaster not a paid position (self employ only) 
Caji guard illegal to hire caji in the city as guards 
30 gemules/day (expedition, few dyshas) 
50 gemules/day (expedition, somewhat useful) 
1 gemlink/day (expedition, useful) 
2 gemlinks/day (expedition, many colors, dyshas) 
Hishtin 1 gemlink/day (boccord only) 
Teacher 15 gemules/day (simple subject) 
25 gemules/day (competent teacher) 
25 gemules/day (thriddle fadri, 5/day per person) 
Healer 30 gemules/day (in own enclep) 
Thriddle calc 14 gemules/day (mathematical grindouts) 
Iscin 20 gemules/day (mathematical grindouts) 
20 gemules/day (translation) 
60 gemules/day (expedition) 
Yordeh 30 gemules/day (beginning) 
80 gemules/day (experienced) 
150 gemules/day (very professional) 
Translator 5 gemules/day (decent speaker) 
18 gemules/day (fluent speaker) 
Aid to Council 1 gemlink/day (wild fluctuation) 



ABSTRACT: Food on Jorune (durlig on Jorune). 

What do the people of Jorune eat and how do they eat? 

When out doors, Ardothians eat mainly sandwiches and fried food. Durlig 
leaves are often used to pick up food, and the fried durlig chunks called 
"bryits" are crispy on the outside, making them neat enough to be eaten by 
hand. Meals eaten in the home are served primarily in wooden bowls (fine 
brynk hardwood is preferred) and are eaten with spoons. Although plates and 
forks are available in most homes, a typical Ardothian meal doesn't require 
them. Meats are usually cut up into small pieces before being served. The 
basis for this style of eating is very old. When Burdothians came to 
understand durlig's importance in the human diet, there was great impetus to 
introduce this bad tasting vegetable. Children especially, were urged to eat 
durlig with every meal. Eventually, people started cooking more casseroles 
and stews that used diced durlig heart as a base. As a result, most Ardothian 
food served in the family setting involves durlig either in the form of a 
casserole or stew, or for children who are especially bad, boiled or baked. 
Under such harsh circumstances, forks and knives are provided. 

Of the fast food available, the thivin control more than 65% of the market. 
Their little kiosks, booths and stands liner Ardoth's streets. Although only 
involved in the food industry for thirty or forty years, they have come up 
with some strikingly original means of preparing durlig. Although rumor has 
it that they use questionable meats (beagre and rat), people continue to eat 
thivin food with broad smiles. And although very greasy, it tastes good and 
contains enough durlig to keep a body healthy. The thivin klades in Ardoth 
keep their techniques as secret as possible. 

For a yule you can purchase a bag of bryits, a mug of squaum, and three 
crisps. They called it the food deal of the century. What makes it possible 
to enjoy these same plates over and over again is tly changing 
thivin recipe. They aren't trying to hit the perfect formula, nor are they 
capable of it - thivin don't eat the food they prepare...