:: Chiaroscuro :: The Interactive Fantasy Saga ::

The optional items that players can acquire with ChiaCredits are known as enhancements. They're not necessary to play on Chiaroscuro, but they provide added benefits to players who support the game. Click here to order ChiaCredits.

Several value packages are available for your convenience and savings. A full list of available enhancements can be found further below, and an enhancements showroom can be visited in-game, just off the OOC area.

No. 1 - Crafty Fastheldian

You pay: $25.
Valued at: $41.
You save: $16.

What you get:

Luck Card
Purge Protection
5,000 Crafting Minutes
2-room shop
Fast horse
Guild Membership

No. 2 - Fastheld Good Citizen

You pay: $25.
Valued at: $41.
You save: $16.

What you get:

Luck Card
Purge Protection
3-room home
Fast Horse
Pet

No. 3 - Halaghi Bargain

You pay: $15.
Valued at: $26.
You save: $11.

What you get:

Luck Card
Purge Protection
Spindlestepper
Pet

No. 4 - Island Getaway

You pay: $25.
Valued at $41.
You save: $16.

What you get:

Luck Card
Purge Protection
Llama
Pet
3-room home

Luck: Luck cards can be used to survive certain-death situations. Type +luckyme in-game to receive a luck card. Cards cost 1,000 CCs each.

Purge Protection: We purge characters that don't log in for 30 days or longer. Type +protect me in-game to receive purge protection for a character. Purge protection costs 5,000 CCs.

Crafting Minutes: All players acquire crafting minutes automatically by staying online and in-character. On their own, players can acquire 1,440 crafting minutes in a day. We also toss out random gifts of crafting minutes, which can take players beyond the 1,400 maximum. But we also offer larger packages of crafting minutes - used to make items with the System 4.0 crafting system. Type +craft/minutes in-game for a help menu and current pricing for the packages.

Guilds: Several guilds are available for crafters to join in the Market District of Fastheld. Players are invited to join the guilds, which allow opportunities for leadership and camaraderie, as well as access to skill trainers and free tools and supplies. Guild membership costs 10,000 CCs. Request guild membership by posting an +str (Type +str/help in-game for more about the +staffrequest system).

Armor: Although generally no more effective than normal, smith-produced armor, personalized armor is a staff-produced item with a story behind it. Often, these items will be offered for bidding in auctions using the +str system. However, staffers can also produce personalized armor on commission from players. Each piece of armor acquired this way costs 10,000 CCs.

Jewelry: Heirloom jewelry is a staff-produced item with a story behind it. Often, these items will be offered for bidding in auctions using the +str system. However, staffers can also produce personalized armor on commission from players. Each piece of jewelry acquired this way costs 10,000 CCs.

Weapons: Although generally no more effective than normal, smith-produced weapons, a personalized weapon is a staff-produced item with a story behind it. Often, these items will be offered for bidding in auctions using the +str system. However, staffers can also produce personalized weapons on commission from players. Each weapon acquired this way costs 10,000 CCs.

Effective Jan. 1, 2005, NPCs are only available as enhancements as part of pre-built shops, homes and keeps. They are no longer eligible for purchase individually.

Cook: This NPC can be set up with as many as 10 food/drink items. The owner is set up to receive profits from the NPC. Available only to players with properties of at least two rooms. A cook costs 10,000 CCs. Request using the +str system.

Courier: This NPC can deliver letters and crafted objects to other players throughout the realm. Available only to players with properties of at least two rooms. A courier costs 5,000 CCs. Request using the +str system.

Healer: This NPC can heal injuries and provide healing kits. Available only to players with properties of at least two rooms. A healer costs 10,000 CCs. Request using the +str system.

Quartermaster: This NPC can provide as many as 10 items commonly used in crafting as a convenience for the player. The owner is set up to receive profits from the NPC. A quartermaster costs 10,000 CCs. Request using the +str system.

Tutor: This NPC can teach as many as five skills (reasonable requests only, please - no asking for a tutor who can teach reading, writing and dragonslaying!) at a discounted XP cost. Usage of the tutors is monitored, however, so just a reminder: No allowing alts to benefit from them. Abuse of tutors will result in their removal without refund. A tutor costs 15,000 CCs. Request using the +str system.

Sold currently through shops in the Emporium in Fastheld's Market District (off Guild Row, south of the Central Bazaar) and in stores elsewhere in Fastheld, Halagh and the Weeping Stones Islands, pets provide companionship and, in some cases, protection and burden-sharing.

You can own anything from a domesticated cat to a mankiller bear. You can name them too! However, be warned: You need proper Taming skill to handle the more dangerous animals. They'll claw, bite, peck or chew on you if they become too frustrated. And all animals require feeding and occasional attention or they'll suffer. Type +pet/sinfo to learn more about the pets system.

Available pets in Fastheld include: Cat, Mongoose, Nightslider (large venomous snake), Snaplizard (alligator-like reptile), Wildcat, Raven, Rock Wolf, Mankiller Bear, Mudbear, Steadfast (mastiff-like dog), Mutt, Mountain Terrier, Bulldog, Osprey, Pig and Moss Jay.

Available pets in Halagh include: Tarm (grouse-like bird), Pardcat (snow leopard-like wild cat), Ming (small fuzzy rodent) and Quatch (miniature Yeti).

Available pets in the Islands include: Island tortoise, Skopelos monkey
and painted boa.

All animals cost 10,000 CCs.

Basically, this boils down to having a place to put your stuff. This can range from a private room in one of the inns around Fastheld to a full-blown castle if you're a noble.

But, for some, it's more than just about a place for your stuff. It's about further immersion and impact in the game world. For example, a player who owns a keep with a tournament ground may become a popular center for jousts among other players.

Properties are available throughout the grid. Type +agents in-game for a list of NPC agents selling properties. Type +agents/review <agent name> in-game to get a location and run-down of the property offered for sale.

Many properties sold via agents include rooms that protect against items deteriorating, tools and NPC quartermasters providing basic necessities for crafting, animal, vegetable and mineral resources, and crafting minutes.

Beyond the properties available through NPC agents, staffers are able to develop customized real estate on commission. The base cost for any project of this kind is 5,000 CCs per room. Additional CCs will be charged to set up a room for MUDQuest or prospecting. Properties may be set up with Fair quality furnishings that cost 250 CCs each. The price of furnishings increase by 250 CCs per quality level after that. Post custom property requests using the +str system.

Property owners also are allowed to have organizations set up for them by the staff. Use the +str system to request the creation of an organization.

Boats: Personalized boats are custom-created and named based on the preference of the player (within reason, in keeping with the theme). Available in Fastheld and the Weeping Stones Islands. Each boat costs 10,000 CCs. Request via the +str system in-game.

Horses: Personalized horses are custom created and named based on the preference of the player (within reason, in keeping with the theme). Faster and less prone to hunger than normal horses. Available in Fastheld. Each horse costs 10,000 CCs. Request via the +str system in-game.

Llamas: Personalized llamas are custom created and named based on the preference of the player (within reason, in keeping with the theme). Faster and less prone to hunger than normal llamas. Available in the Weeping Stones Islands. Each llama costs 10,000 CCs. Request via the +str system in-game. Request via the +str system in-game.

Spindlesteppers: Personalized spider-like spindlesteppers are custom created and named based on the preference of the player (within reason, in keeping with the theme). Available in Halagh. Each spindlestepper costs 10,000 CCs. Request via the +str system in-game.

E-Mail Account: Through our host, RPG Works, we're able to offer jointhesaga.com e-mail accounts. These are handy if you want to join our forums, our Yahoo group, or as a means of communicating with other players and you don't want to spam your main e-mail account. Each e-mail account costs 5,000 CCs. Request via the +str system in-game.

DISCLAIMER: Chiaroscuro is an evolving virtual world, in which the actions of its players have consequences. Therefore, it is entirely possible that items acquired with Chia Credits will be lost or lose inherent value due to in-character situations. Although Chia Credits are transferable from one player's character to another character of the same player, holdings cannot be transferred between one player's characters as this is a violation of our policy on alts. Alternate characters may derive no benefit from each other, ICly or OOCly. Players are allowed to resell their purchased belongings to other characters, however, to recoup their investment. Mongoose Online Entertainment offers no refunds. However, in circumstances where bugs or other out-of-character mishaps result in a loss of actual Chia Credits, the credits will be replaced for use in-game.