* Restricted Information: Higher Powers only
A Being's Karma is calculated as the sum of the following:
1.1 Experience * 1000
The total of its levels, multiplied by 1,000, fractions rounded down. For example, a person with FtL 4.2, ThL 1.5 and ElL 2.6 would have 8,300 Karma for Experience, and a Demon of DL35 would have 35,000 Karma for Experience.
1.2 Credit * 1
The total of its Clerical Credit earned with all Gods. Debit is subtracted (Karma may be negative.). Credit with opposing Gods is added together for Karmic purposes.
1.3 Karma * 1
"Karma" for this purpose is used in its strictest sense; of Credit awarded by KOROS in His/Her Karmic Aspect for worthwhile lives not rewarded by the other methods used in assessing Karma. Such Karma may be negative.
Total material wealth (excluding Souls) assessed in Gold Pieces, divided by 1,000, fractions rounded down. All assets and liabilities are valued at appropriate market rates, and net asset value used for the calculation. The result may be negative.
1.5 Souls / 10 * (1+(No. of incarnations postponed))
Souls of other Beings held are valued at their own current Karma (not Karma at the time they are sold), divided by 20 for a 1st soul (i.e. the 1st time it is sold, so that it represents the Being's next incarnation), 40 for a 2nd soul, 80 for a 3rd soul, etc. The subsequent sale of a 2nd soul does not affect the value of a 1st soul, etc., as only the one incarnation was previously sold. The likelihood of death of the current incarnation does not affect Karmic value, but can affect trade value. A soul held in its present incarnation (e.g. a soul bound in a Magic Item, or enslaved as an attendant Minor Demon or Spirit) is valued at its Karma divided by 10.
Magic Items possessed are valued at their trade value for Karmic purposes. For inanimate Items this is assessed in GP, under 1.4 above. For animate Items this is assessed in Karma, under 1.5 above, with their material value being treated as Wealth of the Item, and so added to its Karma. Market value of Magic Items is usually assessed on the basis of a trade between willing Demons, as there is an insufficient market amongst people.
Souls are freely tradeable, by written Pact (in any language) which specifies the consideration for the assignment of the Soul, and is signed in the vendor's blood. The value (if any) of the consideration is immaterial. Once a valid Pact has been executed, it is known immediately to KOROS and is binding on the parties. It cannot be revoked except by subsequent Pact, and the subsequent fate of the written instrument is immaterial. Pacts must be freely entered into. Any form of duress exerted by or on behalf of the purchaser vitiates them, but they may be procured by deception.
The soul itself always remains in its present incarnation. An unbound present incarnation cannot be sold by Pact, though a suicide Pact can achieve the same practical effect. The current owner of a 1st Soul may specify to KOROS its next incarnation upon death, and will be Summoned to the House of Karma for the purpose. The incarnation must, however, be within the limits set by KOROS. Such a reincarnation may be (and invariably is) Bound to the owner or into an Item.
Souls in their current incarnation may be stolen, for example by SOROK as Undead, or by a Silver Halo spell. In such case they are suspended from the Karmic order, and have Zero Karma whilst the suspension lasts. They may still be traded during suspension. An undead or Being otherwise under Karmic suspension may not sell its Soul. A silver haloed Soul can be physically transferred, but the transaction has no validity for Karmic purposes. All it achieves is to give the transferee the power to end the suspension by breaking the silver halo, or to prolong it by keeping the halo.
This system was originally created for the "Dream Demons" 1-off, © P.R. Wild, 10 August 1993
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