Silver is the universal anchor of the Sarnout economy. For the League and most independent allods -- money is a commodity.

The Free Merchants manage the world’s most stable banking network, with the Great Goblin Bank being the most trustful and respected bank. They issue promissory notes, backed by silver stored in their vaults. These notes allow traders to move vast wealth across the Astral without the weight or risk of transporting heavy bullion. A note from the Great Goblin Bank is a guaranteed claim on silver at any Free Merchant outpost.

The Empire, however, has abandoned the silver standard to preserve scarce metals for the military and mana-tech. Their economy runs on the Imperial mark, a fiat currency backed by state industry and mana production.

The Great Goblin Bank facilitates trade between these systems. League merchants view the Imperial mark as worthless paper, but hold much trust in the Great Goblin Bank. The Free Merchants bridge this gap by acting as a global clearing house, and accept Imperial paper because they can spend it on the Empire’s massive industrial output. They then provide League traders with silver-backed promissory notes.