trade goods part two

1.XEZ. This is the digital currency of choice among the mechanical life forms of the

Xitentoeten economic zone. It is backed by Xitentoeten itself. More specifically it's back by Xietentoeten's auto-factories. A single XEZ represents roughly an hour's worth of fabber time. The XEZ underpins a sophisticated manufacturing economy, and is popular among machine sapients.

2.Gnomic Handshake. An ancient cryptographic protocol; this one use password allows the user to negotiate their way into the Gnomic trade network. These venerable trade routes carry raw materials and sophisticated machine components throughout the many Gnomic planets around the galaxy. A merchant can become very rich by inserting themselves into this stream of automated commerce. However, the handshake only gives them a seat at the table; they need to work out their own deal with the Gnomic majordomos, cryptic intelligence left behind by the vanished Gnomics. These beings speak in garbled metaphors and often seem to be little more than simple chat bots. More than one merchant has negotiated what they thought was a great deal and has gotten literal garbage in return. Still, the potential rewards make Gnomic handshakes quite valuable. They are found in Gnomic digital environments, almost always looked after by powerful guardians. Gnomic handshakes are also advertised for in many red-light districts, but these offers refer to a service, not the protocol.

3.Deactivated robo fairy. One of the many kinds of mecha- fauna that live in the Gnomic robot forests. Many aristos collect them for their elegant lines and intricate patterns. They are also of interest to those versed in Gnomic engineering. Their internal circuits can be used for jury-rigging and field repair. With a little finesse they can be reprogrammed to serve either as simple drones or free willed familiars. Even a deactivated robo fairy can be dangerous, because, like all Gnomic machines they can harbor nanite plagues and malware.

4.World core. These can take many forms, but the basic variety is a fist sized chunk of pseudo-computronium* in a casing. Though their computing power can be put  to many uses, their primary function is the simulation of artificial worlds.  These are the favored outposts of the digital lifeforms known as the Counter Gnomic, but the appeal of these devices is universal. After all, who doesn't want their own private kingdom?

5.Widget.The common term for the wide range of small devices endemic to technological civilization. When concentrated in bulk quantities, they represent a wealth of rare elements and technological components. Crates of widgets are a common trade good. Often, they are more useful for improvisational engineering then their intended function. Widgets are harvested from recently destroyed worlds as well as inattentive tourists, and are then shipped off to manufacturing concerns around the galaxy.

*Real computronium requires a level of technical expertise to manufacture that has not been seen since the time of the bastards. Pseudo-computronium is the best available approximation.