The Orichalcum Key, What is it worth? Options

[Dave]

Using Ancient History’s cracking artefact index I decided to introduce my players to unique artefacts, so I hid the ‘Orichalcum Key’ in the Arcology. During last session my players actually managed to find it.

On escaping the Arcology (and spending some months healing/hiding) they approached the Draco Foundation and arranged a meeting to hand over some documented blood rituals and spell formulae. At the end of the meeting one of my players produced the key and asked if they would be interested in it, the attending Foundation mage immediately saw it was an item of great power and rushed them to a more secure location and a meeting with Aina Dupree, who just happened to be in town on business.

Dupree recognised the key but “for the safety of those involved” did not reveal its unique abilities. The players want the Foundation to make an offer but at the time I couldn’t think of anything appropriate.

I didn’t want to just dump a stack of nuyen on them and would much prefer something a little different. A couple of OOC suggestions they were discussing included tattoo magic or personalised spell foci but I think the Foundation would be reluctant to provide either of these. I do realise Aina can just *ask* for it but they have already tasted the bittersweet 'victory' of Brainscan so I figure this could be their small reward.

Can any of you think of a suitable Foundation offer?

[Backgammon]

Whatever they give would probably be inconsequential peanuts compared to the true value of the artefact, so the Foundation would not mind giving out Foci, tatoos, deltaware MBW 3, whatever. They'll give out whatever makes the runners give them the key and go away happy, never to ask questions again.

[Ancient History]

Offer 'em new identities(including cosmetic surgery and new SINs, if they want), a modest bank account, a paid-for vacation to somewhere expensive and exotic (like Tir na nOg or the Kingdom of Hawai'i), further work with the DF if and when they want it, plus limited access to DF magical research libraries, enchanting labs, and shadow clinics. Off the magicians training and a small-to-moderate focus (Charms work nicely), offer cybertechs a free implant or round of gene therapy, maybe even a nanite hive.

Hell, the thing is worth over a million nuyen just in raw materials (if anyone could figure out how to melt it down).

[Kagetenshi]

I'd offer them more or less the raw material value, as AH said, cut by 50% to keep the going price decently above what they could get on the street.

~J

[Shockwave_IIc]

Whats it worth?

Your life, since anyone knowing that you have it, will quite happily kill you for it. More so if they are from Tir Tairngire.

[Edward]

2 ways of thinking

they offer as little as they can for it while getting the runners to sell it, probably nuyen. This would be reasonable in the world but a bit of an anticlimax for the game.

What I would do is tell the characters what it is in broad terms (uber powerful magic item not exact powers) and apologise that the dunkulzan institute can not give its true value but can provide a significant sum of cash and access to our facilities and traders in certain items

Other wise known as a few contacts that ignore street index in arias the dunkulzan institute has influence. This may include traders in the items they requested OC

Edward

[Kagetenshi]

[hyzmarca]

A class B corp....

Seriously, an Artifact, any Artifact, with a capital A, meets the definition of priceless.

That being said, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. It would be wise for Aina to ask them to make the first offer and then negotiate from there. If she makes the first offer they will become suspicious. If it is too high, they'll wonder why she's so eager to get it. If it is too low they'll thinkk she trying to screw them out of some easy nuyen.
If she asks them to name a price, then they'll be happy if what they get is close to it.

Of course, if they insist on something absurd like a seat on the Corporate Court, Sexually explicit photos of your favorite dragon, or One Billion Nuyen,it is just as likely that she'll have them killed and take the key. So they shouldn't go overboard/

[Dave]

[Spook]

Is that the same key that a team of runners found themselves outside the Tir border with during the '57 campaign?

[Adarael]

[hyzmarca]

[lorthazar]

Me personally I would have Aina act with some interest, offering twice the normal (non street) rate of a force 12 power foci, explaining that it is unique enchantment that had been stolen from her. She is willing to give them this money and the names and contact numbers of several 'friendly' fixers, talismongers, and arms dealers, as reward for their kindness.

Watch the PC's drool as she mentions the amount and the high level contacts thus insuring thet they can continue to run the shadows profitably.

[Kagetenshi]

Again I ask why on earth she would let the PCs know that she's more interested in it than the worth of a lump of Orichalcum of the same size would indicate?

~J

[lorthazar]

Becuase with a proper explanation the PC's aren't as suspicious. Especially if they think they know the big 'secret'. Of course I am infamous for playing my mind games with PC's. As it was the hand was already tipped by the mage who whisked them away to a safer location

[Backgammon]

Seriously, Negociation 101, never show interest. Always act like you'll be doing the other guy a favour by taking it off their hands.

[lorthazar]

No more like.

"I thought that was missing. It was kind of you to retrieve that for me. Oh, you didn't know it was mine? You found it where? Really? I guess my secuirity has been a bit lax. Well it's not really that useful except on the full moon during solstice, but it is mine and there is the principle. How about (X amount of money)? Oh you are too kind. I'll make sure others hear of you kindness."

Middle road is always safest becuase it's knee jerk reaction of most people to believe that someone that powerful would just kill them if it was important. If it's moderately important and the person is question is rich money really has no meaning. And like I said the characters think they know the secret. Also as I noted the hand was already tipped a factsome of you missed.