Equipment

The diverse inhabitants of Talislanta exhibit an uncanny aptitude with regard to the making of a wide variety of tools, implements, and mechanisms. This is particularly evident as pertains to the creation of devices intended to kill, maim, and mutilate, a talent for which the Talislantans display a practically limit less degree of creativity and invention.”

Excerpted from the journals of the wizard Tamerlin

This chapter describes the most common pieces of equipment that characters may wish to purchase and use. Magical devices of various types, particularly the most minor sorts, are relatively common in Tal islanta, as are products made of exceptional metals. As you will see, however, the large supply of these items does not mean that their prices are low. Be ginning characters will have the basics of what they need, but to get those exceptional weapons, armor, and devices, they will have to save for a while. Also bear in mind that items from all across Talis lanta are described together in this chapter. In certain areas, however, the prices for some items are consid erably higher than listed here, if they can be found at all. If your character is buying something unusual, check with your gamemaster first to be sure that it is available in your area of Tallslanta, and what the price is there. In addition to these lists, players and gamemasters alike will find additional equipment and enchanted items in the Gamemaster’s Guide to Talislanta.

money & wealtH

As in real life, characters in the game will need money to purchase food, clothing, equipment, and shelter. In Talislanta, the rate of exchange is based on the gold lumen, a coin equal in value to ten sil ver pieces or one hundred copper pieces. One silver piece is worth ten copper pieces. For game purposes, assume that twenty coins of any type weigh approxi mately one pound (see Chapter One for a list of Tal islantan currencies).

The cost of living in Talislanta depends on a char acter’s status and the lifestyle he or she wishes to en joy. Use the Incomes and Expenditures chart on the following page as a guideline. Note that characters must pay to maintain their upkeep while training or otherwise taking time off from duties that earn them steady income.

Those characters who live below their means may save money, but they may also find that their status in the eyes of peers and potential employers may drop. In addition, living among those who are considerably poorer can put a character in dangerous circumstanc es, as envy and greed have been known to overcome neighborliness on more than a few occasions.

Note that the incomes listed in the chart must be continuous in order to allow a character to attain the niceties that go along with them. Spending 300 g.l. a week for two weeks does not allow a character to move to a better part of town, hire guards and ser vants, and get a new, stylish wardrobe.

As a rule of thumb, assume a character must spend 100 times the normal weekly expense in order to move up to that level of income. Once the character has made this transition, he or she must then make the necessary expenditure regularly in order to cover such expenses as taxes, rent, fees, and pay for ser vants. For example, someone who wants to be “be yond considerations of cash” would have to spend 30,000 g.l. setting up his or her place and then 300 g.l. per week from then on.

In civilized areas, a character can often invest cap ital and receive interest from those who borrow it, provided he or she has a considerable sum, such as 10,000 g. l. Generally speaking, a character can earn 10% annual interest, though the chance of loss is al ways present. That means that 50,000 g. 1. invested one time could produce a very comfortable but not truly wealthy income, a little over 100 g.l. per week. The dependability of these investments is strictly up to the GM.

inComes and exPenditures