Business Dealing (sage ability)

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Business dealing is an Amateur-status sage ability in the study of Law & Policy, providing the character with an understanding of contract wording, negotiation tactics and the structuring of agreements in a way that encourages voluntary entry and mutual obligation. While this ability does not grant the character authority to dictate contract terms without negotiation, it ensures that any agreements made — including informal, handshake deals — are honoured by the other party, provided they are physically and legally able to do so. In cases where an agreement is broken, there is a high probability of redress, dependent upon the character's wisdom and ability to leverage existing laws and social expectations.

In the context of market transactions, this ability allows the character to negotiate large-scale trade agreements by securing favourable deals beyond what is typically available at the marketplace. If the character successfully makes a wisdom check when dealing with a seller or buyer, they can arrange one of two outcomes:

  • If negotiating with a seller, the character may secure bulk supply by agreeing to a 5% mark-up on all items. This allows the seller to procure up to ten times the quantity of goods listed on the market table. For instance, if a merchant originally has 10 longswords priced at 20 g.p. each, the character can arrange for 100 longswords to be supplied, at a cost of 21 g.p. per sword. The procurement process takes 1–4 weeks, during which the seller organises the additional goods.
  • If negotiating with a buyer, the character may arrange a large-scale sale by agreeing to a 10% reduction in price per item sold. This allows the buyer to purchase up to ten times the listed quantity of goods. For example, if a market buyer was originally willing to buy 10 longswords at 10 g.p. each, the character can arrange for the sale of 100 longswords, provided they accept 9 g.p. per sword. The buyer requires 2–8 weeks to make the necessary arrangements before completing the transaction.

In this latter case, the character is not required to show possession of the goods at the time of negotiation; the agreement is made in good faith, assuming the seller will acquire or provide the promised inventory before the deal is finalised. This ability is especially useful for merchants, trading companies and those engaged in large-scale commerce, as it allows for significant expansion of trade opportunities beyond what a typical market encounter would provide.


See Theology & Customs (sage field)