Thursday, February 12, 2026

Cost of Service

 In Gorean Roleplay (RP), service costs are rarely fixed by a "price list" and instead fluctuate based on the city (Ar vs. Ko-ro-ba), the caste of the practitioner, and the specific SIM or group’s economy.

However, using the standard Gorean monetary system (10 Copper Tarsks = 1 Silver Tarsk, 100 Silver Tarsks = 1 Gold Tarn) and lore-based living standards, here is how those services are typically priced in-character.

The Gorean Service Economy

RoleEstimated Cost / RetainerLore Context
Scribe1–5 Copper Tarsks per documentScribes (White Caste) handle everything from private letters to high-level state secrets. A simple letter is cheap; a complex legal deed is not.
Accountant10–50 Silver Tarsks (Monthly)Often members of the Merchant or Scribe castes. A wealthy merchant might pay an accountant a retainer to manage ledger books and taxes.
Clerk2–5 Copper Tarsks per dayGenerally a lower-tier member of the Scribe or Merchant caste. They handle the "grunt work" of record-keeping.
Advocate10–100+ Silver Tarsks per caseIn Gor, legal disputes are high-stakes. A top Advocate (Scribe Caste) can command a small fortune in silver if your life or property is on the line.
MagistrateState Funded (Official)You don't "hire" a Magistrate; they are appointed officials. However, "fees" or "court costs" for a hearing usually range from 5 to 20 Silver Tarsks.
Ambassador1 Gold Tarn (Monthly Retainer)Ambassadors are elite High Caste members representing a City or Ubar. Their costs include their massive entourage, guards, and travel.

Detailed Breakdown of Roles

The Scribe (White Caste)

Scribes are the most common service providers.

  • Simple Task: Copying a map or writing a slave's bill of sale might cost a few Copper Tarsks.

  • Complex Task: Translating an ancient text or drafting a treaty can cost Silver Tarsks.

  • Note: If the Scribe is a slave (Kajirus), you pay the Master the fee, not the slave.

Advocates & Magistrates (The Legal System)

Legal fees in Gor are notoriously high because the Scribe Caste holds a monopoly on the law.

  • Advocate: They charge for their "tongue" and knowledge of the City’s laws. A retainer for a trial is usually paid upfront in Silver.

  • Magistrate: While they are salaried by the Council of High Castes, filing a petition to see one often requires a "clerk fee" (1–2 Copper Tarsks).

Ambassadors (The Political Elite)

You do not hire an Ambassador for a one-off task. If you are a Merchant needing an Ambassador to negotiate trade routes, you are essentially paying for their influence.

  • Expense: Their "cost" is less a salary and more an expense account for their household, which can run into Gold Tarns per month.


A Quick Reference for Value

To help you scale these prices in your RP:

  • 1 Copper Tarsk: A decent meal and a mug of Paga at a tavern.

  • 10 Copper Tarsks (1 Silver): A week's worth of modest groceries.

  • 100 Silver Tarsks (1 Gold): Enough to buy a high-quality field slave or a small house in the lower quarters.

No comments:

Post a Comment