[IC] Death & Taxes (Session 2)

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May 11, 2020 4:59 pm
Looking at Nera's proffered parchment, Hildar and Tronus quickly determine that it's a writ from the baron's treasury. The document conveys Kellis Isle's authority to collect back taxes from Buzzard's Ford. The map on the other side is crudely drawn, but the four locations circled are clear: The mayor's manor, the trading post and smithy, the weaver's shop, and the ferry.
OOC:
As a reminder, you all need to let me know when you're trying to ascertain the truthfulness or authenticity of something. For instance, if you suspect someone might be lying, or if you suspect this is a forgery of some kind. (Not saying it is, but instead using this as an example.)
May 12, 2020 7:09 am
"I hope we're not disturbing the festival too much by visiting. Good luck for the pageant. Maybe it will be your daughter's turn this year " Nekurr leaves the shop and turns to Bruv when it is safe to do so "Well, now that she mentions the ferryman, we haven't confirmed that Isle actually left the village have we?"
Last edited May 12, 2020 7:10 am
May 12, 2020 2:42 pm
"Nope. Nor what, if anything, or who, if anyone, 'e moight 'ave 'ad wit 'im."
May 12, 2020 3:25 pm
Vanya Tabbins points Nekurr and Bruv in the direction of the ferryman. The path takes them past both the weaver's shop and an abandoned church—now little more than a ruin. The road then winds past a few small gardens, hog pens, and farmhouses, but then the swamp foliage encroaches. The thick trees beat back the dying rays of the later-afternoon sun.
[ +- ] ferry
The earthen path leads to the banks of the Flametail River, here a boggy, black mass covered in green foam. A ramshackle shelter overlooks a boat launch where a flat-bottomed barge floats on the river, tethered to a rope that extends over the river to a similar structure on the other side. A middle-aged Human with light-colored hair is tying off the barge when you approach.

He regards you cooly through squinting eyes. "You're too late," he says, spitting into the roiling muck below. "I's just closing things down to head over to the festival. Or've you come to pay me the fare you owe me?"
May 14, 2020 11:02 am
"We were hoping to ask you a few questions actually" Nekurr replies reassuring the man that they are not looking to cross the river. "Though I think we probably should start with that story about paying what we owe
May 14, 2020 1:47 pm
The man finishes tying the knot and stands up to face you. "Well, word is you all came 'round from the swamp-way and had to be beg to be let into the village. With horses no less!" He pats his pouch. "Hear that? Empty. My wages comes from ferrying folks back an' forth. You folks so cheap you can't pay for a ferry and come through the swamp instead? That means the Zymph family don't eat." He shrugs and stands to full height, hands on hips. "Fare's one silver each, plus a gold for each horse and cargo. That's 35 silvers you folks owe me."
OOC:
Rolling with a couple of boosts because you actually do want information out of him...
You get the impression that he'd settle for a lot less -- maybe 20 silvers or so? But he seems to be resolute that some form of "tax" is due for your arrival at the village by unorthodox means. He might be reluctant to talk without some form of compensation.

Rolls

Negotiation

2 Advantage, 4 Failure, 1 Threat

Total: 4 Failure, 1 Advantage

May 14, 2020 10:47 pm
Hildar begins to study the documents that Nera has found, making comparisons between them and the documents they were issued with before they journeyed here.
OOC:
Thinking the best way to check the documents are valid is to try a direct comparison with the documents we have, not sure what I need to make for a check on that
May 15, 2020 7:15 am
"Oh, I mean, we were pursuing other matters and got a bit lost back int he swamp... We didn't mean for the Zymph family to ... erh" Nekurr grabs some coins and gives them to him "Here, even though everyone seems to think we're here just to take from the village, that is not true. You see, we're not really tax-collectors, we're just looking for the tax collector... any ideas where he may be?
OOC:
I'll just "randomly" pick 20 silver from my pocket without counting... I can see now why Nekurr is always out of cash ;)
May 15, 2020 1:51 pm
mcneils5 says:
OOC:
Thinking the best way to check the documents are valid is to try a direct comparison with the documents we have, not sure what I need to make for a check on that
OOC:
So, no roll required to determine that the wording of the two baronial writs is identical. The one Nera found is the same as the one your client gave you, just with Kellis Isle's name in the place of your group's.

However, if you want to be certain that the one Nera found is not a forgery, let's say you can roll either Knowledge (Geography) or Perception. I think the idea is that you would roll against the (hypothetical) forger's Skulduggery skill for the difficulty. There are only examples of this sort of character in Star Wars (nothing so far in Genesys), so we'll go with that: RRPP for the difficulty ("Forger" from Edge of the Empire core rulebook). You get two boosts for having an authentic document to compare it to. Success means you can definitively say that the document from the guest room is authentic. Without equipment (like a magnifying glass or something), add a setback, as well.

I'm OK with saying that, regardless of what skill you use, you benefit from Nera's Heightened Awareness talent for +2 more boosts. So, Perception or Knowledge (Geography) +BBBB vs. RRPP + Black.
May 15, 2020 1:56 pm
CESN says:
"Oh, I mean, we were pursuing other matters and got a bit lost back int he swamp... We didn't mean for the Zymph family to ... erh" Nekurr grabs some coins and gives them to him "Here, even though everyone seems to think we're here just to take from the village, that is not true. You see, we're not really tax-collectors, we're just looking for the tax collector... any ideas where he may be?
OOC:
I'll just "randomly" pick 20 silver from my pocket without counting... I can see now why Nekurr is always out of cash ;)
OOC:
So, saying you aren't here to collect taxes isn't entirely true -- your client has hired you to both find out what happened to Isle and to get the back taxes. In fact, your pay is supposed to come as a cut of whatever moneys you collect. Want to try a Deception check to convince him of that?

PP for difficulty, plus 2 setbacks and 2 boosts for motivational reasons that haven't been sussed out yet.
The man accepts the coin and makes a show of counting it and putting it in his purse. "Bit short, but it's a start," he grumbles. "What's this about a tax collector? You mean the red-headed fella who was here few weeks back?"
May 15, 2020 2:10 pm
SavageBob says:
So, saying you aren't here to collect taxes isn't entirely true
OOC:
I mean... by now everyone already told us that the taxes left with Isle so, unless we find evidence otherwise, I guess Nekurr as no reason to believe the main focus is finding Isle so it would have not been said to deceive I suppose
"Yes, exactly that one. Do you know what happened to him? He should have reported back a while ago..."
Last edited May 15, 2020 2:13 pm

Rolls

deception

2 Success, 1 Advantage, 2 Failure, 2 Threat

Total: 1 Threat

May 15, 2020 3:16 pm
OOC:
Bruv can "Assist" with a 4 Cunning...
"He's suspected of walkin' off with it all. Anyting you can recall would 'elp build our case..."

Rolls

Additional Deception dice

1 Success, 2 Advantage

Total: 1 Success, 2 Advantage

May 15, 2020 9:15 pm
Hildar subjects the document to intense scrutiny
OOC:
Going with Knowledge (Geography).....oooooffffff, wellnet 2 advantage and a despair......Advantages to have a bit of additional info that might have been missed on the first pass (like a scribbled note on the back of the map or something) maybe
Last edited May 15, 2020 9:22 pm

Rolls

Knowledge (Geography)

3 Success, 6 Advantage, 3 Failure, 4 Threat, 1 Despair

Total: 2 Advantage, 1 Despair

May 18, 2020 3:11 pm
Tronus, Hildar, and Nera

SavageBob sent a note to mcneils5
As Hildar is finishing up his analysis of the documents—sniffing the writ Nera found but putting it up to his nose—a nasally voice wafts in from the next room. "What've you got there, outlander?" Glancing up, Nera, Tronus, and Hildar find that Rupert Wayland has come back inside.
OOC:
Deception versus him is RR. Or tell the truth; up to you!
May 18, 2020 3:19 pm
Bruv & Nekurr

The strange man looks from Nekurr to Bruv then back again, weighing your words as frogs croak from the waters. "Good. We ain't rich enough to pay the baron's taxes twice, you know what I'm saying?" He straightens up as best he can, but his posture seems a bit stooped. "Your taxman came roaring through here in the dark of night. I was sound asleep, but he rang the bell like a madman and demanded to be let across. I told him to come back in the morning, but he threatened to box my ears if I refused." He shifts from one foot to the other and points across the river and shrugs. "I ferried him across, and he rode off into the night on the Tamalir road."
May 18, 2020 6:46 pm
Nera puts her hands behind her back, assuming an innocent stance to clear away any suspicion. "Oh, just a map Hildar insisted on making soon as he could. "
OOC:
Upgrading deception >:)

Use the advantage to determine how concerned he is to find us gawking over something.
Last edited May 18, 2020 6:49 pm

Rolls

Deception

4 Success, 3 Advantage, 3 Failure, 1 Threat

Total: 1 Success, 2 Advantage

May 19, 2020 8:55 am
"Really? In the dark of night?" Nekurr fakes surprise as if no one had mentioned that before. "Why would anyone do that? And to be that pushy!" Nekurr looks, in a very obvious way, to "haunted house" close the to mayor's residence "I mean, one would say he saw a ghost!"
May 19, 2020 2:06 pm
OOC:
CESN: Remember that the smithy mentioned this same detail, more or less: He said he was woken up in the dark of night by the sound of Isle fleeing the village.
"Heh," the boatman flashes a crooked-toothed smile. "I heard your boy got chased outta town by the mayor. He was stealin' booze or something. Figures. He probably stole the tax money, too." He looks to you, pauses. "That all? I gotta get to the fair grounds for the festival. Should kick off here in a little bit."
May 19, 2020 2:09 pm
OOC:
How much he cares = He seems not to care.
Rupert Wayland regards Nera for a moment, stone-faced. The Catfolk can almost hear the wheels turning in the big man's head. Finally, he speaks. "OK." He points a meaty finger toward the open front door. "Festival's starting. Brother asked me to to get you."
May 19, 2020 9:10 pm
"Oh?" Nera's head is racing, festivals are great spots for cons and the like. "What kind of attractions will there be? Perhaps an archery contest?"
OOC:
Being a bit cheeky with the suggestion lol. If not Nera won't bring her bow.
Last edited May 19, 2020 9:13 pm
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