Currency Triangulation in Faerûn: How the Waterdeep Trading Company Manages Exchange Across Provinces and Planes

Trade across Faerûn moves from city to city, guild to guild, and plane to plane. A single contract may involve Cormyrean Golden Lions at the point of origin, Calishite Crescents at a mid stop, and final settlement in Faerûn Standard Dollars. To keep these movements steady, the Waterdeep Trading Company uses a method called currency triangulation. This keeps conversions fair, keeps ledgers clear, and protects the company from swings in regional markets.

Triangulation uses the Faerûn Standard Dollar as the steady point. Each regional coin has an exchange rate to the FSD. By passing through the FSD, the company avoids broken or unstable direct exchange pairs.

What Triangulation Is

Triangulation is the process of converting from one currency to another by first converting into a base measure. In Faerûn, the base is always the FSD. Many regional currencies do not publish direct rates to one another, so the FSD serves as the neutral step.

A merchant converting Amnian Trade Bars into Rashemi Spirit Coins simply moves the Trade Bar value into FSD, then moves the FSD amount into Spirit Coins. This path keeps pricing steady.

Why It Matters

• Triangulation helps with three key goals.
• It avoids uneven direct rates across regions.
• It provides one steady anchor for all postings.
• It aligns with the ledger methods found in the
• standard Faerûn financial guides, including exchange rate types, provider setup, and posting controls.

Exchange References for Faerûn Trade

In this section, the Waterdeep Trading Company records the key conversion figures needed for daily commerce. These references give merchants, scribes, and Arcane Treasurers a clear view of how each regional coin compares to the Faerûn Standard Dollar. They support long-distance pricing, contract settlement, and interplanar trade adjustments.

This table shows how common currencies compare to the FSD. These values are examples only and help explain the method.

These base rates allow all other rates to be calculated by moving through the FSD.

This table shows common trade routes and how the company processes conversions.

These paths keep exchange stable even when direct pairs do not exist.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Payout in Rashemi Spirit Coins for a Sale Settled in Calishite Crescents

A customer in Waterdeep settles an invoice of 650.00 CLC for a shipment of furs. The supplier in Rashemen requests payment in RSC.

Step 1: Convert CLC to FSD

CLC rate: 0.65 FSD

Calculation:
650.00 CLC × 0.65 FSD = 422.50 FSD

Step 2: Convert FSD to RSC

RSC rate: 0.40 FSD

Calculation:
422.50 FSD ÷ 0.40 = 1056.25 RSC

Step 3: Post the ledger entries
The Accounts Payable clerk records 1056.25 RSC as the settlement amount.

Any fraction rounding is posted to the exchange adjustment account, as outlined in the Faerûn financial guides.

This table captures the numbers from the example in a clear format.

Example 2: Paying a Cormyrean Vendor Using Thayan Red Notes

A shipment of enchanted scrolls from the Thay Enclave arrives in Waterdeep. The vendor requests 1,400.00 CGL as the final payment.

The company holds excess THR and plans to settle the full amount using this currency.

Step 1: Convert CGL target into FSD

CGL rate: 1.25 FSD

Calculation:
1,400.00 CGL × 1.25 = 1,750.00 FSD needed

Step 2: Convert FSD requirement into THR

THR rate: 1.10 FSD

Calculation:
1,750.00 FSD ÷ 1.10 = 1590.91 THR

The Arcane Treasurer rounds up to 1591 THR to avoid underpayment.

The small difference is logged as a rounding entry.

Realms Aware Considerations

Some markets operate partly in barter. When a contract calls for goods plus coin, only the coin value is triangulated. The remainder is noted as an in-kind payment.

Planar currencies can drift when elemental tides shift. Rates posted through the Planar Trade Authority are always tied back to FSD. This prevents erratic shifts and keeps ledgers steady.

Local guilds may restrict exchange rates. The Mage Guild sets upper ceilings on Arcane Mark conversions to protect the component trade. Triangulation is the safest way to remain within these limits.

Final Thoughts

Triangulation offers a safe and steady path through the many coins of Faerûn. By using the FSD as a single anchor, the Waterdeep Trading Company keeps prices fair, keeps ledgers clear, and avoids sudden losses during long supply routes. This method supports trade from the Sword Coast to Calimshan and from the Material Plane to the Elemental reaches.

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