A-253: Spanial
Lia Day 49
It is more like a good find than an exquisite piece… but still not bad for a wrecked freighter in the middle of nowhere (where was the original owner going to wear those jewels?).
Economics Meta
ʄ1 is close to $US1, but not exactly comparable, as the Dominion’s economy is structured differently to our contemporary one (mundane examples: Textiles, plastics and fresh food are a lot more expensive in the Dominion. Metals, ceramics and crystalline substances are cheaper. Plastic jewelry is considered tacky in contemporary society, but can be expensive in the Dominion.)
The range of wealth is generally compressed compared to what we have in contemporary society.
An average working person in the high tech areas of the Dominion where Lia hangs out can expect to earn about ʄ120/Cycle (ʄ3,600 per 30 Cycles).
However, that’s not the ‘average person’ – a real average person in the Dominion earns about ʄ25/Cycle (ʄ720 per 30 Cycles) – in contemporary terms that ring is the equivalent of six months’ pay for the average working Jo. As you say, a good find.
At the high end, the wealthy are not necessarily excessively so; though there are, of course, exceptions.
Most of the powerful work for the Dominion, in one of the main streams of government, as such they’re very well paid by average standards, but it’s still a government salary – no one is earning millions in stock options as CEO of a corporate real-estate giant.
This is because:
- There are no corporate giants
- There is no stock market
- No-one can own land
However:
- There are some large private organisations/individuals in the form of partnerships or primitive mutual societies
- These are often members of the old F families who have accumulated a lot of stuff over time
- The Dominion Bank can be leveraged as a source of venture capital, as can some established wealth owners
- It is possible to own buildings (and other large valuable objects that can be put to work to earn money)
As the part owner of a multi-million Money starship, Karmen is by definition a wealthy person, but she may not have a lot of Money other than the float she needs to run the ship.
Lia Day 50+
Hull Flake
Prrri’s hypothesis seems reasonable, if incomplete. Lia’s tests reveal the metal is a lot more brittle than one would expect, but they knew that…
Clothes
She will need to have some alterations made for most things, yes.
Drugs
Lia doesn’t think it’s Zoner! Roll Streetwise and/or Chemistry as a default on Pharmacy Skill to do some tests.
PDA and Chats
It’s a pleasant evening, though alchohol seems to make Gregar more…Gregar…rather than a loud or crying drunk or anything.
In terms of economics and jewelery, I assume that means Lia would be equally adept at creating/assessing costume jewellery? I believe she has a preference for gems since she enjoys geology and she likes the marriage of her interests but she wouldn’t object to some fake shinies.
Lia is frustrated that her tests on the hull don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Are the setbacks likely to be bad enough to deter her from further attempts?
13 vs 13 for Streetwise – has she seen these drugs before? If not, she may need to run some tests.
Lia enjoys Gregar, so more Gregar isn’t a problem. He may notice that even when Lia’s drinking and ostensibly relaxed, there is an air of control about her. She laughs a little more, talks a little faster but never gets more than slightly tipsy.