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#
Since we introduced currency,
obviously, we had to start paying people salaries.
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### **Salary Structure for Aurorian Citizens:**
We set a **standard minimum wage** for every working Aurorian.
It was important — if we didn't, chaos and resentment would quickly follow.
Here's how salaries were structured:
| Job | Salary (Monthly) |
| Basic Guardsman | 3 Large Silver Coins |
| City Patrolman (Police) |4 Large Silver Coins |
| Soldier (Active Duty) | 5 Large Silver Coins |
| Secret Soldier (Shadow Operative) | 8 Large Silver Coins |
| Junior Officer | 7 Large Silver Coins |
| Senior Officer | 10 Large Silver Coins |
| General | 4 Gold Coins |
| Governor | 6 Gold Coins |
| Council Member | 8 Gold Coins |
**Note:**
Special bonuses could be given for acts of bravery, exploration, discovery, or military victories.
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Honestly?
We minted **millions** of coins just to cover all salaries, public funding, and city projects.
It took months to balance it,
but hey, it was either that or a riot.
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### **Taxes – Because Money Must Flow**
Then came...
**Taxes.**
**We introduced several types:**
| Type of Tax | Rate | Description |
| VAT (Food, Weapons, Clothing, Jewelry, Tools) | 2% | Small but constant tax at every sale point |
| Store Sales Tax | 5% | Tax on stores' gross monthly revenue |
| Annual Merchant Profit Tax | 2.5% | Annual tax on all profits made from trading |
| Land Ownership Tax | 5% | Annual tax based on the property's value |
| Housing Purchase Tax (Deed Tax) | 2% | One-time tax when buying a house |
| Train Ride Fee | 1 Small Silver Coin per trip | Affordable public transportation fare |
| Inheritance Tax | 5% | If a family member dies, inheritors pay tax based on property value |
| Business License Fee | 3 Large Silver Coins (Yearly) | Any business needs to renew its license annually |
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**However, healthcare and education?**
**0% tax.**
We prioritized **Aurorian health and knowledge** above everything else.
Everyone deserved free medical attention and education.
Whether you were a farmer or a general, you could walk into a hospital or academy without worrying about money.
Because what's the point of civilization if your people suffer?
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### **New Justice System:**
**Currency brings greed.
Greed brings crime.
Crime brings laws.**
Simple chain of logic.
So, yeah, we created the first real **Aurorian Justice System**.
**1. Law Enforcement (Police)**
- City patrols were organized into shifts.
- Each major city district had a police outpost.
- Every outpost had patrolmen, investigators, and captains.
- Officers were trained in **non-lethal methods** — unless authorized for deadly force.
**2. Common Laws Passed:**
- **No stealing**
- **No assault** (fighting outside of official duels is prohibited)
- **No murder** (except if ruled a righteous duel)
- **Arena Law:** Personal grudges must be settled in a sanctioned public duel at the Arena. Winner decides punishment — exile, repayment, or trial.
- **No property damage without compensation.**
- **No unauthorized magic use inside cities.**
- **No smuggling rare metals or relics.**
- **Marriage Laws:** Both partners must be 18+ Aurorian years and consent in front of a Witness Officer.
**3. Courts and Trials:**
- Courts were simple:
- A Judge appointed by the Council (rotates every year)
- A group of 12 Citizens (Jury) randomly selected
- Trials could last 1-7 days.
- Sentencing included:
- Fines
- Community service
- Banishment
- Imprisonment
- Death (for only the worst crimes like mass murder or treason)
**4. Prisons:**
- Created fortress-prisons outside major cities.
- Light offenders had work duty sentences (building roads, farms, bridges).
- Heavy offenders were exiled or imprisoned for life.
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### **Economics in Daily Life:**
What the economy looked like now:
- **Farmers** grew crops and sold surplus at market.
- **Blacksmiths** forged tools, armor, weapons, and repaired infrastructure.
- **Merchants** sold spices, clothing, weapons, artifacts — some even began long-distance caravans between cities.
- **Craftsmen** created furniture, jewelry, paintings, and luxury items.
- **Builders** constructed homes, public baths, libraries, train stations.
Every working citizen now had something to *earn*
and something to *spend.*
**Marketplaces were alive again** — colors, sounds, smells.
It wasn't just survival anymore.
It was living.
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But...
**A part of me missed the simpler days.**
The days when devotion alone held society together.
When there weren't shady merchants, greedy nobles, and black market rings forming in the shadows.
This was the price of *progress*.
This was the burden of *civilization*.
I closed my eyes, leaning back against the ancient tree.
Thinking...
> *What's next?*
Because one thing was certain:
**Change was coming faster than ever.**
And maybe...
just maybe...
It would finally shake me awake.
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**To be continued...**
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