Overview
The Vires (abbreviated vr) is the sole, state-backed digital currency of the Sapphire Empire. It operates under the strict oversight of the
Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) and is managed day-to-day by the Sapphire Mint & Revenue Division (SMRD). No other currencies exist or are legally recognized within Imperial space.
Introduced in Year 1 AFE, the Vires system was a foundational part of the Empire's economic unification. It is a non-physical, ledger-based, and value-stable currency, used in every transaction across the Empire’s 75 realms
Wealth
Wealth generally appears in the form of Vires. The Sapphire Empire issues vr through MoEA, and all vr transactions are universal accepted within Imperial Jurisdiction. Other expressions of wealth—such as assets, artifacts, private holdings, or trade stock—can reflect a character's economic standing.
Members of subsistence-level populations may stil engage in service exchange or resource sharing under realm-specific customs, but true barter is not recognized under law. Legacy nobles in pre-unification realms may transact in historic holdings—such as mineral rights, trade ports, or chartered institutions—but all formal exchanges must still be valued in vr. Only licensed merchants, adventures, and state-registered professionals deal in vr directly on a day-to-day basis.
Value & Utility
1 vr is a powerful unit of value.
In practice, vr amounts are often dealt with in fractions, commonly in 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 vr increments. The Empire ensures consistent pricing across realms, and subworlds, to avoid regional inflation or destabilizing speculation.
Common Cost:
| Item/Service |
Cost (vr) |
| Basic Street meal |
0.2 vr |
| Public transit fare (in-city) |
0.3 vr |
| Basic off-grid lodging (1 night) |
1.0 vr |
| Civilian-grade Weapon |
5-10 vr |
| Utility drone or slatepad |
7-15 vr |
| Private apartment (Monthly rent) |
20-40 vr |
| Entry-level M.A.V. |
60-100 vr |
A skilled professional (soldier, technician, security officer) typically earns 15-75 vr per month, depending on rank and assignment. High-ranking officials, officers, or elite contractors may earn 100-500 vr or more monthly, especially in risk-heavy sector.
Transactions & Medium
Despite being digital, Vires can be exchanged in several secure formats:
Direct Transfer - Most common; executed via Slate, biometric gesture, or HUD command.
Ledger Keys - Portable access sticks or slatechips tied to limited preloaded balances.
Encrypted Slates - Temporary transferable balances, often used in field transactions.
Identity-Bound Authorization - Large-value exchanges required retinal, neural, or voiceprint verification to complete.
Barter is virtually nonexistent within imperial borders. Only in fringe zones or outside lawful systems might other exchange systems appears — and even then, Vires remains the dominant measure of value.
Transaction Security
All vr transactions are monitored through the UNIS network:
Fraud detection
Anti-hoarding measures
Predictive market stability modeling
Tax and wage enforcement
Attempting to bypass or corrupt UNIS systems is one of the few officially recognized high crimes, punishable by immediate asset seizure and state investigation.
