Editing Alt.gothic Alcohol Transfer Engine (section)

== Description ==

agATE is a simple process. Let us suppose that Alice and Bob have a shared
secret. No, wait. Erm. goth(a)<ref>e.g. Absinthe Fabricat Cardiac</ref> wishes to buy goth(b)<ref>e.g. Bier Of Sorrows</ref> a drink. goth(a) and
goth(b) are unlikely to be at the same event in the near future, but both
know goth(c)<ref> e.g. Charlotte Octal </ref><ref> Look, i'm doing my best here. it is about process, not names.</ref> will be seeing goth(a) and then goth(b) soon.

So, goth(a) acquires a stone<ref>No, really - some kind of rock or a marble or something, a physical token. [[AgLET | an agLET]] ([[AgLET | alt.gothic Libatory Encounter Token]]) is an acceptable substitute. I might even make some for distribution...</ref>, buys goth(c) a drink, and sends goth(b) the
stone. When goth(b) sees goth(c) they give goth(c) the stone, and goth(c)
buys goth(b) a drink. For validation purposes, goth(a) has supplied goth(c)
with a picture of the stone, if not a counterpart.<ref>agLET's may, for example, be a key and a lock. this is not just about working, but about being exclusionary and elitist. think of these as our very own round TUITs.</ref> goth(a) has, for all
intents and purposes, purchased a drink for goth(b), and goth(c) not only
has a story from it, but a token of their participation in the transaction.