Business Dealing (sage ability)

Business dealing is an Amateur-status sage ability in the study of Law & Policy, granting skill in the wording of contracts in order to promote voluntary entry and mutual consideration. While the ability does not allow the character to set terms of the contract without negotiation, agreements that are made with the character — even handshake agreements — will be kept if the other party is physically able. If the opposite party fails to keep the contract, there is a high probability that redress will be made, based upon the character's wisdom.

If the character, in making an arrangement with a buyer or seller, succeeds in making a wisdom check, then one of two arrangements at a market place may be made.

• A seller will agree to provide up to 10 times the number of items presently shown as available on the market table, if the character agrees to pay a 5% mark-up on all items. Thus, if the equipment list showed that there were 10 long swords available at a cost of 20 g.p. each, the seller would agree to arrange for 100 long swords to be available at a cost of 21 g.p. each. The time needed to arrange such a sale will be 1-4 weeks.
• Alternately, a buyer will agree to buy up to 10 times the number of items presently shown as wanted on the market table, if the character agrees to take 10% less per item sold. Thus, if the equipment list showed that the buyer was willing to buy 10 swords for 10 g.p. each, the buyer would agree to buy up to 100 swords if the character was willing to take 9 g.p. for each. The character is then given a period of 2-8 weeks before the market buyer is willing to make this deal with the character.

It should be noted that in the latter case, the character will not be required to show any items in the character's possession, as this will be taken in good faith.

The DM should make provisions for other arrangements to be made between character and non-player character, presuming that such arrangements in some way benefit both parties. Note that if the character fails to keep a bargain, the character will be requested in a court of law to pay 10% of the coin the player was set to make in penury damages.