Token

A Token is a representation of power which can be from Greater Powers or just between people; like a mini-totem.

Particulars

Can be thought of as a representation of commerce.<ref name="Imp">The Coin is a small token, subtle, and tied heavily into the notion of fortune, fate, and exchange.  A typically metal, stamped disc that can be held in the palm.  Rarely the centerpiece of a practice, though it may act as a very weak talisman if marked, or as a token of power that can be easily handed away, replaced with Self over time.  The coin is instead a sign of one’s relationship to power, marking them as a broker, gambler, or hoarder, depending.  The specific coin and one’s handling of it are big determinants of its ultimate effect and what it attracts; consider the defective print, the rare coin from a faraway place, the handful of coins dating to a series of specific years, or the shaved coin.  More common among those who deal with Others or dwell on the contests of Faerie or Other.

Exercise: a practitioner flips a wooden nickel, his implement.  What does this tell you about him? - excerpt from Implementum, quoted in Bonus Material: Implementum Text</ref> It doesn't have an effect in itself like a magic item but is the extension of something else.

They are not restricted to the shape of coins or similar but should reflect the nature of the person or power involved.<ref>“Call Brie,” Jessica said, pulling something from a tree trunk.  It looked like a coin, but it was lumpier.
[...]
“What’s that?” Avery asked, indicating the bit of metal.

“A token.  Certain inevitable forces will leave them places.  Like an Other closely related to Love leaving behind roses or rose petals, or an Other related to Mania leaving a pitchfork embedded in something.”
[...]
“What’s got you guys spooked?” Avery asked.  “Does it have to do with that token?  The bit of metal?”

“A group of lesser incarnations,” Jessica said.  She reached out, holding the token like she was going to drop it.  Avery put her hand out.

The bit of metal, slightly triangular.  A squashed bullet, edge sharpened.  It was wrapped up in cord.

“My best guess is this is Hunt,” Jessica said.

A bit of glass wrapped in more cord, curved and smooth on one side and broken on the other, like it was from a magnifying glass or marble.  There was blood on the pointiest corner, worked into the cracks.

“Inquest or Inquisition.”

And a ring, snipped, the band twisted so it formed a curl, where the snipped ends didn’t meet but crossed instead.  There was a heart shaped hole at the center of the band, opposite the mis-aligned ends.  The cord was threaded through the hole and around the ring itself.

“Which one is this?”

“I don’t know.  But it’s compatible with Hunt and Inquisition, that token represents it.  If you let them drop from your hand, they fall into a position that forms a triangle.  Don’t actually drop it.  I don’t want to waste the time.”

“Okay,” Avery said, holding the tokens in her hand.

“They fall equally distant apart.  The triangle shape appears in the tokens, too.    They’re a team of three.” - Excerpt from Vanishing Points 8.3</ref>

They can represent an extension of power and/or responsibility,<ref>“Or is it another one of those things where if you take a stance, you’ll get on the bad side of international powers?” Verona asked.

“Neither, exactly,” Raymond Sunshine replied.

“We could extend our protection to Charles through tokens,” Toadswallow said, joining the conversation.  “If it’s a question of expending the power or having the responsibility.”

Raymond shook his head.  Then he straightened, handing the papers to Zed.  He turned to Musser, and he gestured. - Excerpt from False Moves 12.7</ref> or the anchor of a Curse/Hex<ref>

- Excerpt from Dash to Pieces 11.13</ref>

Named can be condensed down to tokens, this is keeping with the idea of a token as it is essentialy the Other taking another form

Trivia

• Token is also used in the modern sense with phrases like "token approval".

References

<references/>