“The cost of transport does not vary with distance.” I got a vague feeling that the machine was getting testy with me.
“Thank you,” I said. “What about the price to send a letter or a package? Can we send messages without any physical base, like what we’d call an email?”
“The price of sending a physical object depends on several factors. The lowest price, to send a single letter-sized sheet of paper, is one hundred credits. Messages can be sent to other sapient beings through the Trade Centers, but must be picked up personally by the sapient being they are addressed to. The cost for this is fifty credits for a text message of any length or a video or voice recording of up to fifteen minutes in duration.”
“What about something like a voice or video call?”
“If all parties are in a Trade Center at the same time and indicate that they wish to communicate, we can provide full-motion video communication for fifty credits per minute, per Trade Center. There is no discount for voice-only communications but they are also available.”
I thought about this for a second. Danielle just sat patiently, sipping her orange juice.
“Can we send a message to a general addressee? Like, ‘the first person who enters the Trade Center nearest to Danbury, New York?”
“You may send a physical object including a message in that fashion, but non-physical messages can only be addressed to a specific sapient being,” came the immediate answer. I doubted I was the first one to think of this. “The price is the same. We will not guarantee delivery but we will confirm that the object has been delivered if it is accepted. Information about the being who picked up the message or the circumstances of its receipt is not complimentary.”
I gave Danielle a smile. “We’re on the right track, kitty. We can get a message to your parents. It’ll be expensive but we can do it. Samantha and Mike can get a message home.”
She started to cry. “Thank you, James, you’re brilliant. I’m sorry I made fun of you.”
“I deserved it. Let’s get some more good news out of this thing.” She smiled through a few tears and I turned back to the screen. “Do you sell gear?”
“Of course. That is also a principal function of Trade Centers.”
“Are you familiar with Mental Disruptors?”
“There are multiple devices which could be described as Mental Disruptors. I find it likely that you are referring to a type of handheld weapon which was offered to some Earth natives as a perk at System Start. Is this your meaning?”
“Yes. Do you have any for sale? If so, how much?”
“We have one available. The price is twelve thousand credits.”
I let out a low whistle. “Could you sell me a steel sword? How much?”
“Yes. We can fabricate any reasonable steel sword on demand. The price for an unenhanced steel sword of any reasonable size or design is ten credits.”
“Now we’re talking,” I said. “How about some leather armor?”
“Leather armor of several varieties is available on demand. The most basic set is fifty credits.”
“What about, say, leather with the protection of steel plate?”
“Leather armor with steel reinforcing plates, unenhanced, can be fabricated to order for one hundred credits. Leather armor enhanced to have the durability of steel can be fabricated to order for three hundred credits.”
“Don’t you buy me anything,” said Danielle with some steel in her own voice. “Just the armor would cost almost everything from the bear.”
“You’re right,” I said reluctantly. “That’s not fair. This isn’t all mine to spend. Next question. Do you sell Skills or spells?”
“We sell spellbooks of many different kinds. We can also provide assistance with leveling some Class Skills. We cannot sell a Class Skill to a sapient being who does not already possess it.”
“How about a basic Light spell?” It was way too early to be buying level-ups, as I couldn’t imagine they were cheap given how hard it was to level Skills.
“A spellbook for a spell to produce light at any desired brightness up to the equivalent of direct sunlight at a distance of ten feet and uses five Mana Points per minute is five credits. Spellbooks for more efficient and more powerful versions can be purchased at a higher cost.”
“How much for one five times as efficient? And how many times can a spellbook be used?” Every question spawned a dozen more. This was going to take forever. I needed something positive to bring out, and then we had to go report back.
“One thousand credits, and a spellbook can be used a single time to teach a single sapient being the spell it contains.”
“Yikes,” I said. “Not very linear. Do you have a spell that cleans or repairs gear?”
“A spellbook for a spell that will clean a limited amount of equipment for ten Mana Points is five credits. Spellbooks for more efficient and more powerful versions can be purchased at a higher cost. A spellbook for a spell that will repair unenhanced gear, with a variable Mana cost, is fifty credits. Spellbooks for more efficient and more powerful versions can be purchased at a higher cost.”
I looked at Danielle. “I want to sell a few things and buy a few spellbooks, just to show people. Any requests or ideas?”
“Does that cleaning spell clean people too?” she asked. “Because it’s hard to get clean while you’re adventuring.”
“The spellbook I mentioned teaches a spell which, if targeted at a sapient being, cleans the being and all equipment on its person up to a certain limit,” said the machine, before I could relay the question.
“Buy it,” commanded the little Shadow Dancer, in a voice that would have impressed Mandy.
I sold the Bear’s heart and gall bladder, two of the four liters of blood, and half of all the claws and fangs I had, putting 33 Credits in my account. While looking at my Inventory, I realized there was something else we desperately needed.
“Do you sell an Appraisal spell?” I asked.
“A spellbook for a spell that will identify basic items for fifty Mana points is one thousand credits. Spellbooks for more efficient and more powerful versions can be purchased at a higher cost. To anticipate your next question, we can also Appraise items for a cost which varies with the item.”
“Damn,” I said. “That’s a little rich. How much to Appraise this?” I put the Hunter’s Shirt on the desk.
“We are pleased to offer you a complimentary Appraisal for this item to demonstrate our services,” it said. “You may Examine the item to see the result.” I did.
Hunter’s Shirt: Provides slight protection from cold. Provides slight protection from detection by nonsapient animals. Not very stylish.
“Thanks,” I said. “What would that appraisal have cost me?”
“You are quite welcome. The price would have been five credits, which is the lowest Appraisal fee. The fee varies with the rarity, power, and complexity of the item to be Appraised. Also, that was a basic Appraisal, which provides only general information. Additional and more specific information can be provided at an additional cost.”
Danielle looked at me and said, “We should really let everybody know what’s going on in here. I’ve tried to use Party Chat and it says, ‘Party Chat not available in this area.’”