The Trade Offering

Page ID

event:26457e92-79c0-432d-bf11-0b210be7a942

Source files

events.json

Revisions

1

Download JSON

{
  "event": {
    "options": [
      {
        "outcomes": {
          "failure": {
            "text": "You take the salve and leave what you think is a fair trade - a piece of dried fruit. When you look back an hour later, a vulture has eaten the fruit. Your contribution to the trade post lasted approximately twelve minutes."
          },
          "success": {
            "text": "You take the tin of cured meat and leave a handful of caps weighted under a stone. The system works because people make it work. You feel slightly better about the world."
          }
        },
        "skill_requirement": {},
        "text": "Take something you need and leave something of equal value. Honor the system."
      },
      {
        "outcomes": {
          "failure": {
            "text": "You reach for the tin and your hand stops. You look at the sign again. Then at the items left by others. A child's drawing. A hand-carved bead. A folded letter. These aren't trade goods - they're offerings. You put the tin back and walk away feeling like you almost stole from a church."
          },
          "success": {
            "text": "You pocket the cured meat and the salve. Nobody's watching. Nobody will know. The sign says 'leave what you can.' You can't leave anything. That's technically honest."
          }
        },
        "skill_requirement": {},
        "text": "Take what you need and leave nothing. Sentiment doesn't fill your stomach."
      },
      {
        "outcomes": {
          "failure": {
            "text": "You recognize the layout as potentially ceremonial but misidentify the tradition - you leave your offering in the wrong position. It's not offensive, just incorrect. A local would know the difference. Your cultural literacy has limits."
          },
          "success": {
            "text": "The layout follows a pattern: food in the north position, tools in the east, medicine in the south, and raw materials in the west. This is a trail offering - a practice some communities maintain for travelers between settlements. The clay pot's mark confirms it - same maker's style you've seen at Aniid Kin market. You take the salve, leave a respectful offering in the correct position, and add a note of thanks in the style the tradition calls for. Someone will appreciate that you knew."
          }
        },
        "skill_requirement": {
          "writing": 3
        },
        "text": "The items on the cloth - the arrangement and selection tell you this is a specific cultural practice, not random generosity."
      }
    ],
    "text": "A flat rock beside the trail has been set up as a trade post - items arranged neatly on a cloth, with a small sign reading \"TAKE WHAT YOU NEED. LEAVE WHAT YOU CAN.\" No one is present.\n\nThe offerings are modest: a tin of cured meat, three rounds of ammunition, a coil of wire, and a small clay pot of salve. Beside them, a collection of items left by previous traders - mostly junk, but a few useful bits.",
    "title": "The Trade Offering",
    "type": 2,
    "uuid": "26457e92-79c0-432d-bf11-0b210be7a942"
  }
}