Soltherra’s economy functions the way it was designed to function. Some residents work hard, earn well, and live comfortably. Others work harder, earn less, and make choices that would not look like choices to anyone above them on the ladder. The city does not call this a design. It calls it the market. Those who know better say the market had help.
Two denominations circulate in Soltherra. The Crown is the standard coin — minted by the city, stamped with the current year and the seal of the inner district administration. The Bit is a smaller copper piece worth one-tenth of a Crown. Ten Bits make one Crown. Most transactions in the outer districts are conducted in Bits. Most transactions in the inner districts are conducted in Crowns. The gap between those two facts is, in miniature, the entire economy.
Monthly wages vary by caste and occupation. The table below gives a compressed overview. The full breakdown — by specific occupation, with notes — is on the Wages page.
| Caste | Monthly Wage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casteless | 2–5 Crowns | When work is available. Many have no regular income at all. |
| Lower Caste | 10–25 Crowns | Dock work, guarding, trades, and outdoor labor with danger pay. |
| Middle Caste | 35–80 Crowns | Institutional channelers, artisans, and inner-district guards. |
| Upper Caste | 150–400+ Crowns | Established merchants, court channelers. |
| High Caste | Not salaried | Estates, investments, and holdings. Money is not a concern. |
The “when work is available” note on Casteless wages is not a technicality. Many Casteless find work only a few days in a given month. Monthly wage, for the bottom of the ladder, is an optimistic ceiling — not a floor, and not a guarantee.
Each page below is a self-contained reference. You do not need to read them in order, and you do not need to read all of them. Find what you need and get back to the table.
© Soltherra RPG System