Fantastic framework—magic as channeled energy through rune-etched materials is a rich, tactile style. That naturally extends into a distinctive currency system. Here’s a two-part answer that gives you:
A formal, trade-based currency
A symbolic, relational currency for promises/favors/debts
1. Monetary Currency: "Keels"
Name: Keels
Form: Thin, triangular wedge-shaped etched stone slivers or pressed metal shards, embedded with low-grade rune patterns that prevent counterfeiting and track provenance.
Origin: Originally created by early human scholars to record arcane calibration values. The dwarves repurposed the shape for trade, and the name stuck.
Value Expression: “Three keels a head,” “That’ll run you ten flats or a single full keel.”
Denominations:
Flats – Low-value squares (1/4 keel)
Full Keel – The standard triangular shard (like a gold piece)
Crest Keel – Larger, rare mint used for contracts or major transactions (like a platinum)
2. Sentimental/Favor Currency: "Vows"
Name: Vows
Form: Small, disc-shaped carved tokens, usually wood or bone inlayed with softstone runes. Each is unique and often handmade.
Meaning: Given to signify a personal promise, favor, or bond—whether political, emotional, or moral. Often returned to the giver once the debt is honored.
Slang: Known informally as “Whispers” (as in “she slipped him a whisper before the deal”).
Common Phrases:
“You’ve got one of my vows, don’t forget it.”
“A whisper’s worth more than coin in these canyons.”
“He took the token, which means he’ll bleed for it.”
Bonus Touches:
Vows may sometimes carry magical traces—not enough to cast spells, but enough to glow when returned or react when the promise is broken.
Some factions (like orc clans or skyport smugglers) refuse keels altogether and trade only in whispers, as they care more for reputation than wealth.
Keels should be hexagonal and split into 6 triangular flats. They snap together by the runes stamped onto them. Instead of crest keels, make isokeels which are larger and a series of triangles that snap together into an isocahedron. A copy of the contract terms are stored inside the isokeel
For the other, I do like the slang of whisper, but can you provide a list of other options for the formal name?
ChatGPT said:
Excellent refinements—your setting’s tactile, rune-based world is really coming into focus. Here's the revised Keels system and a curated list of potential formal names for your favor/debt tokens, keeping “Whispers” as the slang. Updated Monetary Currency: Keels
Base Unit: Keel – A hexagonal coin made of rune-etched stone or metal.
Each keel is modular, composed of six triangular "flats" that can be snapped apart or rejoined using the interlocking rune lines etched on each segment.
Used widely in trade, they’re carried in bound stacks or fitted into lattice coin-wheels for fast counting.
Sub-unit: Flat – One of the six triangles within a keel; often used for street-level or low-value transactions.
Contract Unit: Isokeel – A 20-faced isocahedron (like a D20) formed by snapping together multiple flats into a complete structure.
Purpose: Used to seal high-value agreements or formal contracts.
Function: When completed, the isokeel’s internal cavity stores a rune-etched, magically sealed copy of the terms.
Breaking it open invalidates or nullifies the contract unless done jointly.
Let's go with that, different races call them different things. Orcs call them Scraiths Elves call them vellure Dwarves call them veskar Humans call them tessen Halflings call them Bindles Gnomes all them Charns
The slang for the metacurrency is "tack", the formal name depends on the racial languages.
The monetary currency are keels/flats
The contract currency are isokeels
the efforts to study and reactivate the Stoneheart network and the various components, like cn07, is something that will take generations. Or, at the very least, completing the network is WELL OUTSIDE the scope of this adventure hook
Magical Communication (Not "Data Uplink")
Let’s swap “data uplink” for:
Runebind Relay – Enchanted stone monoliths used to transmit messages between nodes.
Verdant Accord Dispatch Beacon – A magical flare that projects a coded rune pulse back to a central reading tower.
Stonecall Glyph – A limited-use sending stone system for short text-like bursts of magical message.
For how people use magic, they can't actually "cast" anything, everything is channeled arcane energy using etched runes and devices (which are powered/channeling arcana by way of etched runes in the stone/metal/wood)