GM Advocate's Hell's Vengeance (Inactive)

Game Master Sir Longears

Welcome to the team Miss Arioch. You are Marcellus's replacement. He was a brave man and a good fighter, but sometimes had trouble following the plan I trust you will have no such issues.

Vicenzo also conceded, "Aye, welcome. May lady luck be kinder than it was to our last enforcer."

Once trust was given, his demeanor changed, "So Miss Pava, you're local here. that should help a lot. What made you leave? Do you still have family here?"

"I'm sure I'll have no trouble sticking to a plan; I would only improvise if the original plan was falling apart." Pava looks Melani over, examining the woman. Her eyes settle on the holy symbol, and she gives a small start. "Asmodeus? You're pretty devout?"

When asked about her family, Pava gives a short answer. "No, I have no family remaining in Longacre. I left 5 years ago to train in Egorian." Pava glances almost imperceptibly at Melani, then continues. "When I got back, nobody remained."

(Pava appears to be quite young; around Cimri's age, perhaps. If she left Longacre 5 years ago, she'd have been quite young then indeed.)

Devout? Melani snorts a fiendish laugh. I am my master's vessel on this realm. He lives and acts through me. I have little other purpose.

Ok, I think you finished with your introductions now... moving on! Feel free to post something to wrap up the scene but try not to extend it so we can avoid parallel scenes.

Cimri arrives at the jail and upon noticing Pava, she slightly smiles. "Hey! Look who we got here!..." she then notices the Archbaron's sash. "...hum, glad so see you joined us. Right in time." she turns her attention to Anarxos. "So, how was your hunting?... And where is Marcellus?"

Pava returns Cimri's smile, and then arches an eyebrow. "You work for the Archbaron, too? So I owe you passage through the gate and my new job too. Cimri, you've been too good to me."

Cimri arrives at the jail and upon noticing Pava, she slightly smiles. "Hey! Look who we got here!..." she then notices the Archbaron's sash. "...hum, glad so see you joined us. Right in time." she turns her attention to Anarxos. "So, how was your hunting?... And where is Marcellus?"

Vicenzo rolls his eyes and looks up, "He... he was cut down by a zealot. Much like the ones that wanted me and my family dead. We buried his body on the outskirts of town."

He grit his teeth, "Fortunately, I am stronger than I was back then and could exact vengeance on the misguided oaf. With the help of the rest of team, of course. He was a tough old bastard; I'll give him that."

He asked, "So, any news? Any more missions from Razalengo or the his Lordship?"

And what did you mean when you said right in time?

Ahreni looks up from where she sits, surrounded by a miscellany of weapons, tapestries and labelled bottles. She waves to Cimri before turning back to the parchment and pen she is wielding.

A few minutes later she speaks.
"Between us all I think we have about 4000 sails worth of gear here. Cimri, I could use your help fencing it. Also - someone needs to take Marcellus' gear back to his wife. Pava, since you're a local would you mind doing it? Melani can go with you to lend the churches sanction."

Cimri smiles at Pava. "Yeah, I'm also on board! Just give me your first payment and we'll be even!" she winks and smiles once more, "I missed you Pava..."

The girl opens her eyes wide when she hears about Marcellus. "Bu... but how? I mean, he was strong as a bull... well, I'm glad that it is him and not me and to be honest I think he had some loose bits inside of his head but even so... a big loss for us." regaining her posture, Cimri continued after shaking her head, "No, no new job from Razelago... thinking about it, since the Archbaron tursted us to handle everything, I think that the less we hear from him the better, right? It means we are doing our job nicely and he isn't having to worry about it!"

Cimri shakes her head at Melani's question. "Oh, nothing special actually, just referring to the general state of this 'Reclamation' business..." now she changes her attention to Ahreni, "...and yes, I can help you... I know a couple guys and I think Mr. Ingoe can help to."

Yes, when I was getting myself up to speed on things, I noticed the Downtime system; I will have to refresh myself on that. Are you looking for downtime actions now, or in our posts for the next day? Are we coordinating activities towards any particular goal right now?

Pava returns Cimri's smile. "It's nice to see your face for sure. I wish you'd come to Egorian with me; we'd have had fun together." She gets thoughtful before continuing. "Though, it's a disciplined place. As I recall, you liked to push the limits of what's allowed by the law. You might have been more trouble than I needed! Maybe once things settle down here, I can take you and we can see the sights; that is, if you promise not to get us arrested." She grins a friendly grin, but is unable to completely hide the serious undertone carried along with her friendly joking.

"As for this Marcellus, I don't think I knew him; I was just a girl, and the old soldiers mostly didn't pay attention to str… to children playing in the street. But I'm happy to deliver his goods. I need to start showing my face around town and connecting to the people that I did know; any excuse to go out is a good one, right now."

Pava is otherwise ready to move on to the next day.

Vicenzo was happy to bask in the glory that his services provided for him. he was enjoying life for the first time in a long time. eating good food, drinking good wine, and not having to hide himself was a wonderful change from his previous experiences.

While he knew that he was not easy to 'stomach', he felt like he did not have to hide from his new acquaintances. I wonder when I can call them friends...

____________
Gladly latch on to someone's side quest. if not, then ready to move along.

Ahreni nods back to Cimri and starts packing things into different bundles, each neatly labelled. "I'll let you handle the weapons Cimri, I can fence a fair amount of this without anyone getting suspicious but those would be a bit tricky. I suggest you take Marcellus' stuff back tonight, no point delaying it and if his suspicions were right it might be worth observing the wife - that's easier after dark. Oh!"

Turning round she fishes out a collection of vials and starts tossing them across the room. One to Vicenzo and Anarxos, two to Melani and Pava as well as keeping one for herself. "Healing potions, we should all carry them, especially anyone who gets in close and our respected healer!"

Once everything is settled, Cimri grabs Marcellus stuff and gets ready to leave, just halting to invite Pava to rest in the Ash House with the rest of you. "If I correctly remember you have no home hear in Longacre Pava, and since you are one of us now, it just make sense for you to join us..." turning to the rest of you, she adds, "Also, I'm getting a bit tired of sleeping on the floors... we don't know how much time this bloody Glorious Reclamation thing will endure so it could be nice for us to make our headquarters a more comfortable place, you know?"

Your walk back to the Ash House meets no threats. As soon as you arrive there, the constant drizzle of the day turned into a storm, allowing you to meet the countless leaks from the ceiling, as well as the many broken windows which allowed wind from many directions to wake you up. The storm only stopped a couple ours before dawn and soon after Cimri arrived in a clear bad mood.

The sunrays reach you and you open your eyes with the feeling that you haven't rested at all but on the bright side there wasn't a single cloud in the sky today, and Cimri is completely passed out.

You are all fatigued today. I also assumed that Melani would have spent all her channels to bring you back to full life.

Back into the Jail, Ahreni gets ready to start her fencing mission when a familiar figure steps inside: Mr. Ingoe, with a smile in his face while fondling with his sparse beard. "What a night we've had... it seems that it rained all the expected rain for the whole month in a single night!" the man holds an opened letter in his hands and as soon as he notices that you perhaps had not a good night, he simply handles it to you before biding a good day and leaving you to your thoughts.

The letter is from Doctor Gerya Rohalendi to her cousin, a lesser noble named Nivianne Giatanno, in Ramesiana. In the letter, the doctor laments that she has just been informed she owes 300 gp in back taxes, a sum she is unable to pay. Although she has a little money to keep things running for a few more weeks, unless she can come up with some means of paying her debt, she'll have to close the hospice, and she doesn't know how to tell the people who depend on her.

Vicenzo stretches to try and remove the kinks from his back. "We sure do need a better place to rest. Do you all want to make the former jail more cozy or do we repair the Ash House?"

tag?

He then read the letter, "What do we know of this doctor? Why can't she pay taxes? Is it because she squanders her fortune on vice or because she doesn't charge her patients much?"

he gives the letter to the next person that wants to read it, "I've always had to fend for myself. I am inclined to help unless I know more about this."

tag?

Knw Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Ahreni holds out her hand for the letter and reads it, a frown appearing on her face as she gets further. "We have three options here... first we could step in, we have enough money to pay the taxes overselves - which leaves a prominent citizen in our debt. We could turn up to collect the taxes and force her to shut down or we could just wait and let it play out, if she's desperate she might end up doing something which puts her in our power anyway."

Holding the letter loosely between her fingers for someone else to read Ahreni looks thoughtful. "I want to help her. There's no need for people to suffer but I don't want us to suffer for it since we risk being seen as weak if we do something noticeably altruistic. Although..." She brightens somewhat. "I think we can use this. Cimri and I have been setting up a network, Marcellus was helping with that too. If I visit the Doctor I might be able to convince her that joining a group of sensibly minded citizens, aiming to preserve the safety of the town and its inhabitants would be valuable. I'm still not obviously associated with the Archbaron and we might be able to turn this to our advantage - as long as the rest of you don't think I'm being sentimental..."

In short Ahreni wants to use the Doctor's financial troubles to recruit her to Ahreni's information network and get her to spread anti-GR propaganda.

Also - everyone pop a CLW potion on your gear, Pava and Melani you get 2. Should have made that clear in my last post!

k.local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Vicenzo thinks for a moment then adds, "Wait, I do know about this lady. She runs the charity hospice. I agree with Ahreni; no need for needless suffering. How about we arrange a loan for her to pay back her taxes or we mortgage her home or some other asset but we tell her that we won't collect until later?"

He continues, "That may allow her to continue operating. We could also do business with her. I hear she prepares salves. If her stuff is any good, we could buy it from her."

I agree. Here is a chance to show what good a lawful and proper government can do for its people. We shall help I think and then make sure the word of our good deed gets out.

Pava considers these suggestions. "I agree that her hospice is probably worth saving, but we need to be cautious about how we do this. We must be fair and just in how we apply the law. We certainly don't want to give the impression that Longacre's government shows favorites. Whatever aid she receives from us should be by the books, and should be the same aid that is available to any other business."

She nods her head at Vicenzo's suggestion. "I agree. If we were to purchase enough goods from her—at her fair and normal rates—that she could afford to pay her taxes, there could be no question of impropriety. It would also be telling to see if she actually paid her taxes after that financial windfall."

I've add the Rohalendi's Hospice to the map (number 17). I've also turned the map so the north actually points up (it was annoying me as hell).

Located on the outskirts of the town to the west, and with the Castle Gate closed, you have to use the longer way through the north or south gates to get to Rohalendi's Hospice. The north gate would be closer but the only proper road to the hospice connects the south and the Castle gate, and preferring to avoid to have to walk over bushes and around the woods, you walk south, passing by Gield's General Store as well as the Last Stand Tavern, which is opened again although it is almost empty (too early in the morning to attract enough patrons to come across one of the decrees).

You see many farms with orchards and cattle before finally arriving at the hospice, a bigger building that you have expected from the modest letter Mr. Ingoe had intercepted. It is a single store building but quite ample, with many rooms. Albeit the large of the hospice, you clearly see that it could benefit from repairs. You find Doctor Rohalendi helping an old man walk towards a bench on the outside so he can enjoy the morning sun and the cool breeze. Once she notices you, she frowns a bit, as if expecting trouble for her, but approaches you nevertheless, taking care to meet you away from the man on the bench.

"Good morning, may I help you in any manner?" The woman crosses her arms around her chest in a clear sign that she is not pleased by your presence. Her fingers also tip constantly on her elbow showing some anxiety... is she hiding something or just have too many things to do?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

And good morning to you Doctor Rohalendi. It pleases me to see you at your work assisting those in our community. It is my hope that we might help each other this fine morning. We have come to ask if you might have curatives for sale. We have coin and would offer a fair price for such. And in doing so our hope is that having coin might help lift some burdens from you and allow you to continue your work.

An idea occurs to Melani and glancing at her party for a moment goes with it. Your hospice is very large isn't it. Tell me, are you at capacity or might you have rooms you could spare?

Enhanced Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22

Vicenzo remained in the background, knowing full well how his looks sometimes spoiled an honest intent at parlaying.

After Melani spoke, he added, "Yes, ma'am. We are interested in making your business become more profitable. How much do you charge the people that stay here? And what do you have or could make that would be for sale?"

The doctor raises an eyebrow at your questions but also seems to have lowered her guard a little. "Hum, it seems you actually don't really know how I run this place. I can't charge my patients of anything... this is a charitable hospice. Whenever I can, I sell a couple balms to the others townspeople, but even if I constantly make fundraising events, this isn't a profitable activity. I do it because I must... I can't let these people, once heroes of our country, to die in indignity, unable to care for themselves."

The prospect of earning some coins make her almost cheerful for a couple seconds, at least until she remembers that you'd probably not be interested in her balms. "My balms are pretty simple and even if they are valuable against simple bruises, I can't compete with healing magic..."

"...and about the rooms, I'm not really sure if this would work out. I believe you are not asking this for the kindness of your heart... you need a couple rooms and I need the coins, but even if I indeed have some rooms to spare I'm not sure if in the end this would be beneficial or not for me and my patients." She looks around, almost as if worried about being seen talking to you. "I know you are no friends with the church of Iomedae and most of the donations I receive come from the church or from its devotes... I'm afraid that by renting a couple rooms to you, I'd lose the support from the church... the only solution would be to charge you enough to compensate this risk." She thinks for a couple seconds, as if making calculations, "I have two rooms that could accommodate you, but I would require at least 10gp per day for them..."

Seems the forums ate my post... Ahreni isn't coming to the hospice. Instead she'll try and fence some of the more innocuous items (in disguise of course!), not trying to sell the weapons/armour, just the basic valuables.

Vicenzo flinched, "Now 10 gp for a room a day is expensive. I don't think this is where my friend was going. In any case, the rooms would not be for us but for other tenants. Hopefully, tenants that would not jeopardize your other source of income."

He continued, "We would like to help because we understand that you owe some back taxes but you have to work with us. What other things can you do for profit?"

Pava dismounts when the group arrives at the hospice, rubbing Ramael's neck as she listens to the exchange.

When Vicenzo mentions the back taxes, Pava pays close attention to the Doctor Rohalendi and her reaction.

Sense Motive, Crime modifier: 1d20 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 3 = 4

"Doctor, I don't know if you remember me, but I grew up here in Longacre; If you don't remember me, you may have known my sister Nessa. Be assured that our hearts are vested in the health and success of our village." Pava looks to her companions and then back at the doctor before continuing. "You recognize that we act as agents of the Archbaron here. We certainly know that you perform a useful service, and that's not lost on the Archbaron either. But the town only functions properly if all contribute to its upkeep, and it wouldn't be right to others to make exceptions on your behalf simply due to the nature of your service. We would love to work out an arrangement where you could honestly and lawfully come by the monies you need to get your taxes up to date."

Well said Pava. Doctor Rohalendi we do want to help. But for 10gp per day I think we could rent the entire place and not just 2 rooms. No, something more reasonable will have to be done. The people you help have families, at least in some cases. Can any of them help?

The doctor sighs, already knowing that you'd not accept to pay what she needs. "This is the whole problem... the people living under my roof are those who have no families, those who have already spent all their coins and are too old to work. Selling a couple balms or tending a kid or two gives me a couple extra coins but doing so already takes a lot of the time that I need to take care of my patients in the first place."

"Besides another fundraising event, I don't see how I should be able to get the gold I owe... but you need not to worry about it. I've always managed to keep this place running and I'll do so once more."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Hmm

sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8, nope

Vicenzo was satisfied with the answer, "Well, it seems we can't help you or at least not help you in the ways we thought we could."

He gave the house one last look and parted, "We won't bother you any longer ma'am. You'll probably hear from us again and I hope we bring better news next time. Good day."

-----------
later
Once they left the place, Vicenzo asked, "So what we do here? I like the idea of investigating what the taxes are for. But if they are legal then we should enforce their payments, even if it means shutting her down."

He added, "if the taxes are property taxes then perhaps she could relocate?"

tag?

Is Ahreni able to sell all the items in yellow in the spreadsheets? Should get us 1359gp if she can.

Anarxos spent most of the day studying the books with great interest. It even looked as if he had shut himself in his own mind castle, at the same time prisoner and jailor of his very own passion. When his companions return, however, he deigns raising his nose from the scribblings of the book he's currently reading and hear how their visit to the Hospice went.

"You're absolutely right, Vicenzo, we have to enforce that payment, but it doesn't mean we have to do it recklessly. For one thing, she is working for little to no profit, so the heavy taxes can't be related to that. We could have her relocate, but that wouldn't change her current predicament much, I expect. How about discussing her status? She could be seen as a nonprofit organization that benefits the community, and thus receive a compensation - or significant lowering of her taxes - in return. That would be a lawful solution that would spare us raising the anger of the Iomedaeans further - and thus spare the town more trouble. Which leads us to our next move regardless - who is the tax officer? We could pay him a visit."

Vicenzo smiled at Anarxos, "My thoughts exactly. You read my mind."

He backtracked for second, "You didn't really read my mind, right?"

tag?

He then added, "Let's go see the taxman and get some clarification on her past due bill."

You all realize that we're taking this way too seriously and this is probably not where the AP goes, which means we're forcing our GM to 'make things up'. Good think PBPs are slow so he has time to think. :)

Its clear to me that Doctor Rohalendi is not at all sure about her ability to raise these funds. Were we to simply pay her current past due amount then she would likely be in this same undesirable spot the next time taxes are due. So let us go and see if anything can be done at the tax office.

Totally unclear to me where the AP wants us to go, which is great. :)

"We're acting on a tip-off from that dock-man, right? I mean, the Archbaron hasn't asked us to intervene in this situation specifically, so maybe we just let it play out. She's refused our help to find a solution, and claims she can handle it." Pava sets her face with a stern coldness. "I've got no objection to visiting this taxman and learning more—that would let us act with more information when it is time to act—but for now, we might want to just let her handle it as she wants."

Its a balance isn't it. We need to keep the peace and that means keeping people happy at least to some extent. If those old people become homeless on our watch how do you think the people here will react?

Pava examines her memories of her life in Longacre, trying to recall what the town's sentiment would really be.

Knowledge (local), untrained: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Having been so young when she left, and having left so many years ago, she has no insight.

knowledge local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Vincezo also shakes his head, "I'm not sure I know who to talk about the tax issue; anyone know or should we just ask around?"

Knowledge (local) : 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

I don't know either. Not from around here. I bet Ahreni knows. Where has she gotten off to.

Knowledge (local) : 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 7 + (2) = 23

"That would be notary Wenbrade Brakenbol, of course. Let's pay him a visit." suggests Anarxos. Before going, he winks at Vincenzo. "Who knows?! "

Feel free to open the spoiler since Anarxos will share this information with the group.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Knw Loc: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Ahreni chooses that precise moment to come slipping through the jail doors, a large bag cradled under her arm. It settles on the table with a notable chink. After being caught up on the conversation her face forms a frown for a few moments before clearing. "You'd want the local Notary, his name is Wenbrade I think - dry old stick from what I've heard and open to a little extra on the side..."

She turns slowly to face her long-term companions. "I've got more important news though. Allamar is using Marcellus' death to rouse the townsfolk. It was done carefully, no-one broke any of the edicts but his wife is clearly in on this, they're milking it for everything they can. We need to strike back somehow. Did the Doctor come to some arrangement, a woman like her on side could really help us."

We were unable to help her directly without just gifting her the money. She worries that if she associates with us in any way her other support, small that it is, will dry up. So perhaps we can help indirectly with this notary.

Almost beside the Jail, the Longacre Notary was a sizeable building, a necessary feature to house all the papers and documents necessary to run this sort of business. The front door is opened and as soon as you enter you notice a rather gaunt long-haired man of about on his seventies, in fine clothing working sit on a desk.

He raises his spectacles from his work to acknowledge your presence before motioning you to come closer. "Oh, the noble Archbaron's men... how may I help you? Do you need a writ of passage, or something like this? I'm Notary Brakenbol at your service."

Brakenbol's office was well kept and even quite luxurious... it seems the that he earns quite a bit of gold.

Vicenzo notes the wealth in display and nods appreciatively, "Being a notary must pay well. I congratulate you."

He paused for a second and stated, "We are here on a matter that is of interest to the Archbaron. It deals with some taxes allegedly owed by Doctor Rohalendi, the woman who runs the hospice here in town. We wanted detailed information on what those taxes pertain to."

He concluded, "I'm assuming you are the right person to find this out. How long will it take to get this information?"

Notary Brakenbol, it is a pleasure to meet a such a dedicated servant of law and society. We do not mean to interfere with what is properly owed here, only to better understand the debt, and to help collect what is lawfully owed. But we also want to make sure that the value this doctor provides to the town has been properly considered in the assessment of this tax. I would personally appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and you can rest assured that word of your willingness to help will make it to the Archbaron himself.

enhanced Diplo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Could use an assist here. cough cough.

Pava stands tall, adjusting the Archbaron's sash so it hangs cleanly over her shining armor. "Indeed, Mr. Notary, we need but a short piece of your time to simply understand this person's tax situation. It shouldn't take you but a moment; you look to be the kind of person who knows each thing in all of these stacks and can find what you look for in an instant."

Aid Another (Diplomacy), Law modifier: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 4 = 20

Don't forget the +4 Law modifier to use Diplomacy against government officials, Melani.

Anarxos nods, stroking his beard as Melani speaks out their intention. "We strongly believe that it would be the best course of action for the Archbaron on the long run."
Diplomacy, Law modifier, inspiration (aid another): 1d20 + 5 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 4 + (1) = 11

I did forget the +4. So that is a 27 so far.