Eclipsyian Pyr
Money Maketh Gard Spin
Eclipsyian money has long been a predicament in the mountainous state. The Pyr has thus gone through numerous transformations to become Gard's first banknote.
The vaults of Avderugh, the first bank of The Eclipsyian Vaulata, contain unprecedented quantities of gold, meaning the Pyr is a very stable currency. Therefore Eclipsya does not require coins that reflect their worth in real value, and can utilise light materials for the ease of everybody.
Early examples of this practice include tin currency, the cheapest and lightest metal available in The Eclipsys Mountains . A mint was created in Mêzrîsipyî, only accessed by four craftsmen who were accompanied by eight guards. This method worked well until contact was established with Giit in 345 AD.
"There is enough gold in a single Eclipsyian bank to fill the hold of every ship on the Divide."
Greed
Giit traders were greedy and ruthless, by 347 AD, forged coins were entering circulation; crafted from the poorer tin of the Orface hills. The counterfeit currency was easy to spot, however, following the execution of a number of Giit merchants, political tensions rose.
It was around this time the Vaultarim were established. The personal thugs of the banks.
The Eclipsyians turned to other materials, at one point even releasing batches of glass currency. Finally settling on coins made from Solun wood, a tree that only grows in The Eclipsys Mountains.
Slolun wood had its own problems. The effics of the Eclipsyians had been firmly upheld throughout their previous history. Due to their religious faith, few people attempted to dishonourably manipulate the banking system. When Solun wood came into use, this changed.
Solun trees grow in sparse populations along the lesser slopes of The Eclipsys Mountains, typically in the regions of poorer communities. This enticed paupers to harvest the wood and forge their own coins. Tales of vast riches been gained by farmers spread throughout the land, although most end with the Vaultarim taking back the money and wiping the enitre family from the census.
Eventually the Vaultarim toured the foothills and chopped down all the Solun trees that grew outside of the state plantations. But this was extremely disrespectful to the culture of those communities, who still worshipped the Solun tree for its ability to tell the seasons. The rural communities broke into open revolt and a civil war ensued.
After years of bloodshed and state ideaology being torn to shreds, the banks signed the Solun Copse. They agreed to outlaw the felling of Solun trees. After which they turned to a new form of currency: papyrus notes.
Take Note
The papyrus notes, known as pyr, were a revolutionary idea, merchants could carry a bundle with ease and be entitled to vast amounts of gold anywhere in Eclipsya.
To deter forgers, each note is signed in invisible ink that could only be seen under the light of a starstone. These rare and cumbersome gems are few, and all are held in the vaults of the grand banks. Each note is given a serial number so business men can note in their ledgers who provided the note. If any are found to be a forgery, the Vaultarim will hunt down the source of that note and exact the most horrific punishments.
As well as the security details, the notes is painted with the great scholars of Eclipsya. The poctures are applied via transfer from a set of golden etched plates held in the Mêzrîsipyî mint.
These notes are now uses across Spheria Gardia, spreading the influence of both The Eclipsyian Vaulata and their guard dogs.
"Greed is a Heavy Burden with which to Summit a Mountain"- The Rocks of Wrath
The Vaultarim
Favouring the heavy recurve bow, the Vaultarim are a security and hunter force that counterfeiters will always fear and never see.
Every member is picked at birth from the bordering towns, ensuring they hold no loyalty to any in Eclypsia other than the bank. They are traines in an undisclosed location and operate from unknown safehouses across Gard.
Their equipment is of the highest quality amd their weapons are coered in so much filigree they look golden. The heaviness of the gold makes the weapons wieldable by only the strongest, resulting in few been able to effectively use them against the Vaultarim.
The only Vaultarim ever seen in public are the personal guard of the arch-treasurer.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments