TIDAL BLADES MARKET & SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS

"In the floating markets of Lau, a sharp tongue is as dangerous as a sharpened shell."

Trade, negotiate, and build your reputation across the islands

I. THE SHELL EXCHANGE Market Rates

Prices fluctuate based on the tides and tournament seasons. These are the standard "Market A" rates at Coral Atoll.

CATEGORY ITEM COST
Island Harvest Star Berry (1d6 Heal) 2 Common Shells
Iron Mango / Glow Melon 5 Common Shells
Golden Fig (Full Restoration) 12 Common Shells
Crafting & Forging Tide Shard (+2 Forge Bonus) 8 Common Shells
Prism Shell (T2 Upgrade) 15 Common Shells
Glimmer Shell (T3 Upgrade) 50 Common Shells (Rare)
Island Services Tide-Smith Tune-up 10 Common Shells (+2 to next Forge)
Harbor Docking Fees (Ship Rest) 4 Common Shells (Restores 1 Luck)

Market Tip: During low tide, food prices decrease by 1 Shell. During high tide, crafting materials cost 2 extra Shells but are of higher quality.

II. SOCIAL ENCOUNTER MECHANICS: "THE CURRENT"

When the squad tries to persuade a council member, negotiate with merchants, or navigate island politics, use the Group Success Requirement system.

Group Persuasion Check

  • Small Group (1-3): 1 Success (DC 12 Spirit/Focus) to win the argument
  • Medium Group (4-6): 2 Successes required
  • Tournament Team (7-8): 4 Successes required

The "Tidal Support" Rule

A player can spend 2 Synergy to grant an ally +10 to their Social Check. This represents the champion rallying support or providing key information during negotiations.

Star Berry
🐚 2 Shells
1d6 healing
Tide Shard
🐚 8 Shells
+2 to next Forge
Prism Shell
🐚 15 Shells
T2 Weapon Upgrade
Harbor Docking
🐚 4 Shells
Restores 1 Luck

III. ISLAND FACTION REPUTATION

Your actions in tournaments and across the islands change how the archipelago's factions treat you.

The Coral Council
Rank 5 "Citizen of Honor": Harbor taxes are reduced by half across all islands.
The Reef Guard
Rank 5 "Guard-Brother/Sister": Gain +1 Armor during any island defense scene.
The Trade Guild
Rank 5 "Master Trader": Sell found items for 2x Common Shells value.
The Under-Current
Rank 5 "Void-Walker": +5 to Failure Matrix d100 rolls (81-95 becomes 86-100).

Reputation Tip: Complete faction quests, participate in their tournaments, and support their causes to increase reputation. Opposing factions may lose reputation when you help their rivals.

IV. MARKET RUMORS & HOOKS d20 Table

Roll d20 when the squad enters a new floating market or island district.

1-5: Tidal Shift
Market prices for Glimmer Shells double for the next tide cycle (24 hours).
6-10: Spice Surplus
A local merchant offers "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" on Tide Shards for today only.
11-15: Arena Challenge
A rival champion challenges the squad. Winner gets 20 Common Shells.
16-19: Tidal Spire Sighting
A reliable lead on an active Tidal Spire (triggers Recovery Mission).
20: Council's Favor
The squad is invited to the Coral Citadel; gain +1 Reputation with one faction.

V. THE HARBOR HAGGLE 8-Player Rule

To prevent shopping from stalling tournament-paced games:

Shopping Rules for Large Groups

  1. The Quick-Buy: Players can buy anything from Section I instantly between scenes without a roll.
  2. The Harbor Haggle: One player (highest Spirit) rolls d20 + Spirit.
    • Success (15+): 10% Discount for the whole squad
    • Overclock (20+): 25% Discount!
  3. The Merchant's Limit: Each player may only visit one specialized shop per market visit.

Island Master Note: For small groups (1-3), allow individual haggling. For medium groups (4-6), limit to 2 shopping scenes per session.

VI. ISLAND MASTER SOCIAL TWISTS Tournament Scale

The Tidal Interruption

During a crucial negotiation, a Tide-Sick citizen causes a scene, ranting about "the void in the waves." The squad must handle the threat without losing their social standing or offending their hosts.

Divided Loyalties

The Council will only help the squad if they publicly favor one island heritage over another during the next tournament. This causes a temporary -1 Reputation with the ignored heritage's faction.

The Unexpected Boon

A merchant recognizes a champion from a previous tournament and offers a rare item at half price... but asks for a "small favor" in return that may complicate future plans.

QUICK MARKET TOOLS

Essential utilities for island trading and social encounters

Squad Shopping Cart

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Total Cost: 0 Shells

Pro Tip: Use the Harbor Haggle before making large purchases! A successful haggle applies to the entire shopping cart.