The Soul Plains - Economy

Sun Mar 24, 2024 6:12 am

General

Souls utilize commonly utilize a currency known as xia. These are wholly physical coins of varying colors - copper, gold, silver, and jade that vary in size as well as value. They are used among all souls - as it is easier to carry and offer them than carry 'trading items' like materials, garments, accessories & the like (especially when they are likely to get you robbed). Those that do not use xia at all are confident in themselves and tend to rely on the 'original lifestyle of Soulborn', hunting and fending for themselves. Over the past few centuries, the currency has slowly phased into the lifestyles of Soulborn as a whole, especially with the influence of familial or master-servant relationships becoming more frequent among the common populace of Soulborn, who are promised a better, safer, and more sustainable lifestyle under it.

Currently, the top ten percent of more wealthy souls & Soulborn alike dwell within the 'cities to the east' as a haven from the more harsh lifestyle that the Soul Plains garner.

Living as a Soul

".. People are scary. Always willing to fight. I just tell 'em 'ya', go right on ahead' and go about m'day. I don't wanna deal with that mess."

Souls lead a simple life; distanced from Soulborn. Only those who do not care for the risk of being around them, plan to become one, or have a Soulborn at the ready as hired muscle live around or go near them. They are rarely bothered or persecuted by Soulborn unless they in some way draw their ire, as they provide little to nothing beyond supply, so that Soulborn do not have to provide it for themselves.

Jobs

Souls work whatever lacks the demand of speed or power. Due to being less susceptible to physical things -- such as illnesses or airborne blights, they are highly useful infantry for labor so long as they receive reishi to refill themselves with energy. Souls usually work in architecture, mining, at food stalls, as tailors, farmers, cleaners, babysitters or even ghostwriters for spokesmen & scribes. They have the most job variety and embody (as well as eventually live) the simple, comfortable dream of working hard for several decades (extended to half a century or so for them) then settling down and living comfortably for the remainder of their days. Even though the pace they work at is far slower, they are useful for smaller companies due to not bearing nearly as many health risks.

Wealth

A soul that survives long is usually guaranteed to be middle-class at a minimum. Many Soulborn take pity or simply do not care to harm them; if you are harmed (or more normally, killed) as a soul, you either asked for it or you were very, very unlucky and encountered a malicious Soulborn. There are some among the high-class, namely in Guāngliàng, though these tend to be middle-aged ones that got lucky early on.

Living as a Soulborn

"It's no problem. 'Hard work' is the essence of the soul. It's how we become what we are; great."

Stubborn and always willing to use themselves as collateral, Soulborn find any opportunity they can to flex their abilities - and potentially even further them if thrown into the line of danger. They by definition 'stand on business' to whatever may challenge them and allow them to grow.

Jobs

Vast, tending to orient around odd jobs. Their most lucrative fields of business are assassination (especially under the Den of Stalkers), scouting, serving as a guard, escorting, and serving a master; usually a rich soul or weak but wealthy & influential Soulborn. Those who serve masters tend to be by the dozen and affiliate with a common group, often wearing crested attire or changing how they speak, look or even practice their abilities. Those in or affiliated with a family tend to be pushed off onto tasks, especially involving esoteric locations such as disappearing lands or even into the living realm.

Some tend to explore roads less taken such as exploration, construction, mining, scribing and farming, but these tend to be 'too boring' for the younger, more impatient ones.

Wealth

A rarity among Soulborn. Tending to be bustling with blazing spirits and those who constantly want to challenge the route of the strongest, their high mortality rate guarantees that the eventual decline of vicarious spirit is unlikely among them. Those who do get to this point are usually traumatized, were instructed formerly (by family or a master), maimed or simply were wise enough or grew to be wise enough. Regardless, these types tend to be more involved with organized affiliations or simply did not waste their money and managed to 'luck out' in business. That is, if guilt hasn't lead them to live a life of asceticism.