Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

He would tell the story as an example of how to work in a culture. He had his passport lifted in the hotel, and when he reported it missing to the US Consulate they told him it would take a week to get him a new one. As his money had also been stolen, they gave him USD$100 to live on for the week, which even back then didn't stretch very far - certainly not to room and board for a week. So, he told us, he stepped outside and asked a taxi driver to take him to a respectable brothel. He assumed that the brothel would tip the driver for bringing in business.

He was duly delivered, and 'checked in' for a week's stay. He said that the food was excellent, the room had a great view and was very comfortable, and the only difficulty was that he had to have one of the girls in the room at all times so that the place would not get in trouble with the police - if he was just staying there, they would have been able to fine the brothel for running an unlicensed hotel; with the girl in the room, it was all perfectly legal and very respectable. It cost him about USD$50 for the week; he loved the food, got a lot of sleep, the girls got a week off (in rotation; he paid for their time), and he learned Mandarin and Cantonese. Everyone was happy, as everybody got what they wanted.

He had a million of these stories; he'd been pretty much everywhere and done everything, in that part of the world, and it showed when we gamed in his Tekumel...

Oh, Crom, I'd forgotten about that. But now, yeah, and I remember him saying it took some explaining that he didn't want sex, but once he got it across to the madam it went fine. The girls were delighted to get an extra night's sleep each, too.

Originally Posted by Greentongue

Just how pervasive is this bureaucratic paperwork?
How much can be glossed over to avoid gaming boredom and how much should be front and center as an aspect of the setting?

Is it wise to hire a scribe with your first Katiar to handle all the boring but required paperwork?
Is this an important talent for one of your wifes?

There is a lot of talk about citizens not using cash but having "clan credit cards".
How does this work exactly and are there those that provide this service for non-citizens?

I'm sure there are "Payday Loans" even for citizens but how do these work and why would they be used?
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The paperwork is there, but it's more like 'background radiation' more then anything else. Players don't need to really worry about it - all we usually did was ask the clan's major-domo "Is the the paperwork in order?" once in a while. It can - and probably should! - be glossed over in favor of other action, for the very reason you give.

No; I think you'd be better off spending your first Kaitar on a nice, presentable kilt and a pair of sensible sandals, and a little 'inducement' to Cousin Woofel to get you an introduction to a respectable clan. They will handle all of your paperwork for you, once you are 'in', and you won't have to worry about it.

Yes, it can be. My Senior Wife runs the household, and the scribes and the clerks do the heavy lifting. She looks over the accounts, and makes sure that all is in order.

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything, but what's the context of the discussion of the 'clan credit cards'? I'm asking because I've never heard the term before. What I think is being referred to is the interlocking clan accounts; an example might run as follows:

Eldest Daughter wants a new party dress to go to a party at the Sea Blue clan house. She asks her parents nicely, and they set up an appointment at the high-class dressmakers for her. She gets fitted, and goes off to her party. The dressmakers' clan presents the bill to the parents' clan; it may be that their clan has something that the dressmakers want so, so the goods are exchanged and the accounts debited and credited as needed. It may also be that the dressmakers want something else, so they get something from a third clan, who then bills the first clan and they exchange goods or services. It's all what could be called 'money of account', as no specie changes hands unless coins are actually needed for the transaction. At the end of the week or month, the various clans send their clerks around to reconcile the accounts, and balances struck on the credits and debits for everyone.

Actual money does change hands, of course; as a little present, Eldest Daughter might be given some cash to spend on her dress as a way for her to have some fun. The clan will, of course, continue to back the transaction as needed. The clan provides room, board, and most - if not everything - needed for ordinary life; the adventures come when the 'extras' / 'luxury goods' are wanted. And, of course, you get adventures from the escorting of the bearers taking the specie to the other clan, too...

Yes, non-citizens are taken care of; again, the ever-helpful Cousin Woofel will provide an introduction to somebody who can provide help, in return for goods and services.

There are money-lenders, but they are very low-status and not used by respectable people. They tend to charge ridiculous rates of interest, and are not very nice about extending credit - or goodwill, either. They are the last resort of the desperate, frankly.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Oh, Crom, I'd forgotten about that. But now, yeah, and I remember him saying it took some explaining that he didn't want sex, but once he got it across to the madam it went fine. The girls were delighted to get an extra night's sleep each, too.

Yep; it all worked out well for everyone, and made for quite the story!

Originally Posted by AsenRG

Great overview! Too bad the second link appears to be leading to a site that no longer exists.

Was that the standard fare? I mean, would it have been more expensive if he had asked for sex and accommodation?
I'm honestly not sure what were the prices in HK at the time, but I've always assumed that room, board and company would be more expensive than just room and board.


I guess so.
You totally have to include them in your book, too!


Yeah, I guess he was a non-standard client.
But then, imagine being able to claim you went to a Hong Kong brothel and were considered a client with non-standard wishes!

I will check the second link; I can get to it, but I have to dodge the link to the web ring to do it.

No, it was flat-rate, he said.

I am, where they fit in to the story.

Yep, and Phil had all sorts of stories like this. When we 'got too close to the edge of the film' he'd divert our attention with a story like this until he could come up with something at the next game session...

I'm honestly not sure what were the prices in HK at the time, but I've always assumed that room, board and company would be more expensive than just room and board.[/quote]I assumed a room at a hotel might have been cheaper, but I figured that without a passport, credit card, money, etc. he couldn't get a hotel room, whereas the brothel was less picky about wanting to see a passport or a credit card.

Originally Posted by Bren

I'm honestly not sure what were the prices in HK at the time, but I've always assumed that room, board and company would be more expensive than just room and board.

I assumed a room at a hotel might have been cheaper, but I figured that without a passport, credit card, money, etc. he couldn't get a hotel room, whereas the brothel was less picky about wanting to see a passport or a credit card.[/QUOTE]

This would have been in the early 1950s, so I don't think that a grad student - he was a Fulbright Scholar at the time - would have had a credit card. (Had they been invented yet?) I think you have it, here, given that the Cold War was just heating up, and passport controls were pretty strict...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

This would have been in the early 1950s, so I don't think that a grad student - he was a Fulbright Scholar at the time - would have had a credit card. (Had they been invented yet?) I think you have it, here, given that the Cold War was just heating up, and passport controls were pretty strict...

Aside from Diners Cards, the early 1950s is pretty much pre-credit card. A hotel back then might have wanted a deposit. I seem to recall having to put down a cash deposit for a hotel in the Precambrian Era before I had a credit card. And in much of the world you still have to show a passport when you register for a hotel. That was a thing, and still is for non-EU folks in Europe and it is a thing (and probably was a thing) in most or all of the Asian countries I've traveled to. One of the hotels in China even checked to make certain my Visa was valid.

The brothel is a cool way for a character in an RPG to lay low though. I'll have to remember to use that.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

I'm not trying to put you on the spot or anything, but what's the context of the discussion of the 'clan credit cards'? I'm asking because I've never heard the term before. What I think is being referred to is the interlocking clan accounts; an example might run as follows:

The context is gamers and their desire for LOOT!
Your explanation was good but gave a rather involved process that could confuse.
I do like the balance transfers and the adventures they can spawn.

I am considering substituting a "clan chop" that allows them to purchase things that the clan would then pay for.
Clan payment being much like you are talking about with them doing jobs for the clan to pay back their debt.

Instead of a "chop", a document that was script and had a set face value was another idea.
Trying to learn which was the accepted practice or could fit the need.

The biggest problem is the rules for experience being based on gold value so working in cash or a cash equivalent is encouraged.
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Hello Sir,

Thank you for the reply to my question.

Could you please tell me a bit more about Khirgar? The Blue Fish God story was great.

Since some of the clanhouses are close together and tall, how tall? I have read some good descriptions of some of the houses in Jakalla. What would the houses in Khirgar be like?

What would a young noble/high clan member do for fun(hanging out in the clanhouse can get boring...)?

I was thinking of taking a trip...There is not too much out there about Khirgar that I have come across. Thank you in advance. :0)

H