Trade Ring

Related Myths

The Broken Set: To find a set of three rings with one missing is considered an omen of betrayal.

Marriage Misinterpretation: Some later cultures mistakenly identified the rings as wedding tokens, sparking stories of “interracial marriage traditions” that never existed.

The Silent Exchange: Legend says that during the darkest years of the Triad Wars, a set of three rings was exchanged in silence, binding peace without words.

Related Materials

Silver, bronze, or gold as well as crystals from Ta mines. Glyph patterns inscribed on the rings (often copied onto scrolls as keepsakes).

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The rings are simple bands — no hidden mechanical parts. Their power lies in their symbolic craftsmanship: the metalsmithing, inscriptions, and ritual blessings interwoven into one piece. To the people, it was the process of creation, not the object itself, that made it binding.

Manufacturing Process

Mining & Smelting: Ta extract and refine the metal.

Forming: Smiths hammer the ring into a flawless circle.

Inlay: Pecou artisans cut and set tiny stones, then engrave glyphs denoting peace, alliance, or trade.

Blessing: Kiwta place the ring in ritual saltwater or ash to bind its symbolic weight.

Exchange: Rings are only “true” once formally exchanged by representatives of all three races.

Significance

Historical: The rings embodied the unity of the Ta, Pecou and Kiwta coming together near the end of The Triad Wars. They were a portable version of the peace, openly worn and displayed. Sometimes they were handed from merchant to merchant. They were considered living contracts of peace and mutual survival, reminding wearers that commerce and cooperation outweighed bloodshed.

Religious: To the Kiwta, the rings were consecrated to the fallen of the Triad Wars. Exchanging them was not merely political, but a vow to the dead: that war’s cost would not be forgotten, and its lessons would be carried into trade and governance alike.

Cultural: For the Pecou, merchants who carried a set were seen as “peace-bound,” unable to cheat their partners under penalty of social ruin. Ta smiths, more practical, considered the rings a visible proof that caravans were “under oath,” protected during trade fairs. To all three, the rings became one of the most enduring symbols of interracial cooperation, commerce, and trust.

Loss or Destruction: If a set was destroyed, it was not only a historical tragedy but a symbolic collapse of shared memory. Many accounts record violent skirmishes sparked when one person accused another of deliberately breaking or losing their ring. Today, it is a significant archaeological find, even if their meaning has been misinterpreted.

History

Origin: The Trade Rings were first forged in the First Era After the Triad Wars during a landmark trade summit. Each race contributed its own craftsmanship:

• Ta: mined and smelted strong mountain bronze,
• Pecou: engraved elegant glyphs of wealth and balance or gems,
• Kiwta: bless the rings with ash and ritual.

Spread: Sets were entrusted to the leaders of trade caravans, envoys, and even temples. Each complete trio was regarded as a living treaty. To see them exchanged was to witness trust in action.

Consolidation: The tradition did not fade. Instead, the practice expanded — entire trade fairs began with the ceremonial display of rings, and disputes were often settled by ring exchange rather than violence. Over time, possession of a Trade Ring became both a practical passport and a sacred charge.

Enduring Symbolism: Though some sets have been lost to time, the tradition of forging new rings has never ended. Though some of the meaning behind these rings has been lost.