Hospitality, assistance and trade

Third Horizon culture

Checking on the Coriolis Discord, I read that the publishers are OK with players recreating tables, figures and data from the RPG source material where the only purpose is the facilitation of playing their game and I hereby promise this is my only intent with this article. The 'origins' First-come and Zenithian are from the Coriolis RPG; everything else is my own content - Doctor Weather

These three related interactions are based on a structure shared by the First-come and Zenithian cultures. Though there are differences across the Horizon, they are often local to individual locations rather than simply unique to just the two cultures.

Assistance and aid

It is polite to refuse aid at least once - in both cultures
Outside times of sheer desperation, assistance is usually refused at least once. The situation controls the number and strength of the polite refusals: a hungry person will quickly accept the second offer of food; a shah or company CEO would refuse help from a subordinate three times in indication of their wealth and - even if only theoretical - lack of need.
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Hospitality

There are innumerable variations upon this theme across the Horizon, the base principals apply everywhere and to both cultures
The rite of hospitality is sacred at all times
Importantly, this is true at all levels of society, with friends and enemies alike. If you break the rules you lose favour in society and in the eyes of the Icons.
The commonly accepted rules are:

• Neither host nor guest will offer physical or direct spoken insult to the other
• Every invitation is a banquet in the Third Horizon: a host will do their best to fill their table with everything that could appeal their guests
• A guest is expected to bring a small gift to the host to honour the invitation received - the gift can be anything and is in practice controlled by preparation time:
• If you suddenly find yourself at someone's campfire then you would give them news or tell them a story
• If you've half a segment to get ready for festivities at the shah's court then you better find something good
• It is considered offensive to refuse to eat and drink from your host's offering

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Trading

Bargaining and haggling is normal and expected
This is common to both cultures. Accepting a first offer is considered a sign of desperation or lack of intelligence.
First-come trading involves gift-giving
It is customary to offer a small gift to your counterpart during a trade agreement. There are no set rules but the more thought you've put into the gift the better.
Zenithian trading is usually performed with hospitality
Negotiations are usually made over an offer of tea and food provided by the seller.
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CC61, segment of The Deckhand

Contents

• Assistance and aid
• Hospitality
• Trading

Related articles:

• Architecture
• Clothing
• Civilised society
• Forms of address
• Greetings and partings
• Recreational substances