At their core Cynic believes in fair trade, a price specialized to the person, not the product. They don’t base their prices on the person but rather the circumstances of the trade.
The true value someone sees for the product also plays an important role, a person struggling to make ends meet understands the value of a loaf of bread much more than a rich businessman who hasn’t had to think about how to get food on the table in ages.
The current circumstances dictate the final price, a person who has less to give but has a lot of artistic talent might just be asked to apply their talent as payment such as a nice drawing or a good song. A person who has a lot and values little in life should expect to pay accordingly.
What is and isn’t a fair price to pay is heavily based on the buyer’s current circumstances, how much do they need the product? Do they appreciate the value of the trade? What do they have to spend?
A poor artist who is passionate about their craft and is struggling for food could pay with their talent, a nice piece of art that they have spent proper work on is a fair trade for a good meal.
However on the other hand a rich businessman who underpays his employees and doesn’t think twice about eating at a fancy restaurant might have to give up his entire company just to stop themselves from starving.
While these metrics stand true for any version of Cynic that exists, the possibilities of a trade are massively affected by the bounds and limitations of the world they are living in. A world where soul deals are a common occurrence, a trade such as that isn’t off the table.
In a world where fay and devils run wild and every deal can risk you accidentally selling your soul, this is the level at which Cynic operates. A desperate traitor might sell their soul to bring ruin to the empire that wronged them, however this doesn’t mean that lower stakes trades are off the table, the original example still holds true and might even add more value to the trade, a painting that is created with true dedication and mastery of the craft often holds real magical power.
In a world where power can’t be explained by magic, Cynic must also place value on being able to maintain and build their network. If a traitor were to wish to become king of a country Cynic might grant this with the limitation of placing some of their own people in power too, this gives them a hand in the kingdom and stabilizes their network while the original deal is relatively unaffected.
From dealing in absolute power to granting a nice meal, if it is within Cynic’s power they will grant it, however their ability to make deals is heavily dependent on the world they inhabit, if the laws of the world don’t allow it it’s a deal they can’t make.
When making deals Cynic has a singular rule that will always be present: the power or service granted cannot be used as a direct instrument of exploitation. Breaking this rule would mean using Cynic’s own system to undermine fair trade, something they will not allow.
It is important that Cynic does not consider indirect cause a problem, they realize that granting some deals can cause shifts in the world that affect the circumstances of those around them. They are okay with causing the downfall of an empire even if it causes some people to be exploited because of it, however they will not allow a ruler they put into power to exploit their people.
When a deal is broken, such as a king starting to exploit his people, Cynic will take back the power they granted. In the case of granting power this could involve unraveling the foundation that has helped to do so, or for more material deals they can simply take back what they traded.
However in situations where the deal can’t be as easily reversed, Cynic might ask for a debt to be paid in the future, a debt to be paid on Cynic’s terms, called in whenever and however they see fit.