Perhaps some scripting may be necessary?
EDIT: As far as I can tell, the only necessary script would be one that causes the item to reappear after it is taken (or sold, as the case may be). I can "cheat" and place the items outside interior walls (somewhere in the ether) to prevent theft. I think. Ideas?
EDIT, PART 2: ELECTRIC BUGALOO: I wonder if the "AddSoulgem" command might help?
player->AddSoulgem, "golden saint", Grand
Or perhaps DropSoulgem... except I can't figure out how it works.
EDIT, PART 33 1/2: THE FINAL INSULT: I suppose that I could very well *create* new misc objects in the editor with the same graphics as soul gems and place scripts on them that replace themselves with the appropriate filled soul gem (using the AddSoulgem command) once they enter the player's inventory... and I know this should work because the Morrowind Patch Project does something similar with cursed items.
Example:
begin DaeSummon_Diamond_01if (OnActivate == 1) if ( MenuMode == 1 ) return else Activate PlaceAtPC "Dremora_lord" 1 128 1 player->removeitem "ingred_Dae_cursed_diamond_01" 1 player->additem "ingred_diamond_01" 1 endifendifend DaeSummon_Diamond_01
The only problem I have to work with is that the player isn't *activating* the item, but rather buying it. But this definitely seems to be the way to go. Something tells me that this script right here is just a few tweaks away from being exactly what I want.