Equipment

From the fresh food markets of Applegate to the hammering smithy districts of the Armathainian plateaus to the seedy black markets of Stormholmish alleyways, Frostmark offers a wide variety of equipment and items if you know where to look. Most village markets offer items such as torches, rope, and rations, but getting your hands on quality arms and armor often entails traveling to a large city market. This section offers details about items that might be of interest to an adventurer, which can be found in the Realm of Frostmark.

When you create a character, you gain a list of starting equipment from the background you choose, some starting money, and, in the Accomplishment section, you may acquire a bit of extra coin. You will find the items given to you by your background here. You may spend your starting money purchasing more items that make sense for your character. Buying items with your starting money doesn't necessarily have to mean that they came into your possession just recently or that you purchased them. They could have been given to you, found by you, or even stolen. Nevertheless, your total amount of starting money is the maximum value of items you can start your journey with. It may be fortuitous to keep some loose coin in your purse for the occasional tavern stay or tankard of ale.

#### *Wealth and Coin*

Wealth doesn't need to be measured in the number of coins you possess. Indeed, most trade in villages and beyond is made through trading objects and services. Wealth can be measured in land, how much cattle you own, the right to exploit natural resources, etc.

In all history records in Frostmark, there is no recollection of who created the coins, one of copper, one of silver, one of gold, and one of platinum, or how their values were set. Records say that they all look the same today as they did hundreds of years ago. The Church claims that the wealth of humanity, the civilized way of conducting trade through coins were bestowed to humanity by Riahn. Researchers of the Enneade from other Realms argue that the coins and their concept were created by several Enneade sometime after the creation of the human.

As described above, trade doesn't always take the form of coins exchanging hands, but the common practice is to value items in their respective coin count, whichever is the most efficient. A coin weighs about 10 gr, for example, a kg of gold is valued as a hundred gold pieces (gp). All coins have a small hole in the middle for easy transportation by threading them onto a short string. In addition, they have all been stamped by a particular pattern that is universal for all coins of the same material.

A copper coin (cp) has the lowest value. With one coin, you could purchase a candle, a torch, or a piece of chalk. The copper coin is shaped like an ellipse with a rainfall pattern on one side.

A silver coin (sp) is worth 10 copper pieces. With one coin, you could purchase a laborer for a day or a night's stay in a modest inn. The silver coin is crescent-shaped with a star pattern on one side.

A gold coin (gp) is worth 10 silver pieces. With one coin, you could purchase a goat, a sickle, or a bedroll. The gold coin is rectangular shaped, with soft edges and a pattern of a branch with leaves on one side.

A platinum coin (pp) is worth 10 gold pieces. You could purchase a fine bottle of wine, a shield, or light leather armor with one coin. The platinum coin is shaped like a pentagon with a fiery pattern of a large bonfire on one side.

#### ***Selling Treasure***

It is common for adventuring parties to stumble upon a treasure, be it coin or items. Normally, you can sell your treasure and trinkets when you return to a town or other marketplace, provided that you can find buyers and merchants interested in your loot.

##### *Arms, Armor, and other Equipment*

As a general rule, undamaged weapons, armor, and other equipment fetch half their cost when sold in a market. Weapons and armor used by monsters are rarely in good enough condition to sell.

##### *Magic Items*

Selling magic items is problematic. Finding someone to buy a potion or a scroll isn't too hard, but other items can only be bought by only the filthy rich. Likewise, besides some particular common magic items, you won't normally come across them to purchase. The value of magic is far beyond simple gold and should always be treated as such. Many merchants upon Frostmark don't even know what magic is, and because the Church controls most markets, the Church can easily confiscate magical items. Trade with magical items in Frostmark is near impossible.

##### *Gems, Jewelry, and Art Objects*

These items retain their full value in the marketplace, and you can either trade them to acquire coins or use them as currency for other transactions. The GM might require you to find a buyer in a large town or larger community for exceptionally valuable treasures.

##### *Trade Goods*

Beyond urban areas, the most common form of trading is through exchanging objects and services. Trade goods, like bars of iron, bags of salt, livestock, and so on, keep their full value in the market and can be used as currency.