CASE: THE ORIGIN OF SPECIE START!
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
[X] [Case] The Origins of Specie
[X] [Shiny] No Wasted Moments
"The war's gone badly, I hear," you carefully say.
"That's one way to put it," Vivien harshly laughs. "Oskaria went overnight from the leader of the coalition to the laughingstock. Were we any less important we'd be levied right now so that the King can go waste more of his own people," she bitterly said.
"I am to assume I hear 'thank you Finance Minister Vivien for keeping them off our back'?" you drily respond.
"You are welcome for that, by the way," Vivien haughtily responds.
You nod.
"But I suppose with things this dire, we'll need to get you to your next assignment to fund the ever-so-important Army. Very well. You requested sorting out the currency issue to the west, and I agree with you - to the west lies a significant manufacturing center, and we need to figure out why prices are rising there. We have been regularly weighing the currency with our own scales, and we have not found any discrepancies there - it doesn't appear like they're minting the coinage with new currency. Regardless, we need to figure out why, and soon - it's not like we can source materiel from elsewhere forever," Vivien states. "Unfortunately, your Budget is tighter than ever - the Army apparently doesn't think that your job is that valuable after all, and has slashed your Budget yet further. This time, you get 50 Budget to work with, headed into a province whose cash values have overinflated."
You sit in gobsmacked silence.
"I know, it's a paltry sum. Unfortunately, subordinating you to the Army means that you have to work with the budget they give you, not necessarily the budget you want," she sheepishly responds.
You hold your head in your hands, and open your mouth in a silent scream.
Revealed Achievements:
Swift Justice
Resolve the Case within twelve months. +3 Minor Boons.
Thorough
Defeat all enemies. +3 Minor Boons.
The Ministry Funds Itself
Through the course of normal operations, earn more than you spend. +2 Shinies.
Whatever is going on in this province is stranger than you suspected. On the one hand, many people look...well, full is the wrong word, especially with many of the best fed men already shipped off to the army, but at least with much fewer people starving on the streets.
On the other hand, you've been keeping track of how many beggars you see on the streets, how many people you see hustling goods, and how many people seem to be houseservants. Every day the number of houseservants and hustlers are dropping, and every day you see a few more people begging on the streets.
The storefronts you can see appear to be desperately begging for customers - or at least, you're certainly surprised when you see literal turf fights between hawkers trying to persuade you to come to such and such store. This is far more aggressiveness than you expected, and with higher prices to boot! Carefully, you signal Tekla to go ask around for where the best places to get cheap goods were - and found that people thought that the cheap goods here were commanding significantly higher prices, and that the people were happy to pay it!
You were fairly sure that this mean that most people simply had more money in hand.
It makes you tempted to simply raise the taxes from the city and be done with it. It's not like increased prosperity is a crime - if it was, you'd never get anywhere.
You think back to the Compact's message.
Okay, maybe the Compact had a problem with that or something, but you certainly weren't going to think too hard about that.
But...those increased number of beggars on the street worries you.
Time to investigate a little.
You have 50 Budget. This is bullshit. You're completely kneecapped. You may only spend 10 Budget this turn.
You have 3 [Free] Actions that may be spent in any category.
You have 6 Minor Boons that you may attach to any Action.
You can cooperate with your teammates to add +3 base stat to an action that you are cooperating on. It is represented by using your [Free] Action on one of your already-selected Actions.
Martial (Choose 1) {Kerrie Action}
[] [Martial] Acquiring Power
With the early end of the campaign season, some mercenaries and adventurers have returned to the province. You have the opportunity to hire them...provided, of course, you outbid the other potential buyers, like the nobility, and the Army. The sooner you move, the lower you can bid...hopefully. DC: 20. Cost: 6 Budget.
[] [Martial] Power Mapping
It's almost standard practice at this point, but still, never hurts to check out who the power players in this city are. Still, you will likely have to be quite stingy... DC: 17. Cost: 0 Budget.
Diplomacy (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Diplomacy] The Clergy
You're not sure how the common citizen has so much wealth - fortunately, however, you know who just might. Those same people may also be able to tell you a crucial detail: when. DC: 15. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Merchants - Cash
Alternatively, you could try and pry into merchant dealings a little, but of course, such business information commands a price. DC: 20. Cost: 6 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Merchants - Information
Unless, of course, you have some business information of your own. Information like the Army's cloth expenses growing multiple sizes. DC: 25. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] Asking City Government
Your best bet might be to go straight to the city government and interview the officials and gate guards - acknowledging, of course, that they insist the job simply cannot be done without an upfront payment. DC: 15. Cost: 4 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Nobility
Maybe the nobility knows something about this. Of course, you'd have to get into their circles, which have high entrance fees to keep out the rabble, which somehow includes royal agents. DC: 25. Cost: 8 Budget.
Intrigue (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Intrigue] Seizing City Documents
Hm. You are honestly sorely tempted to simply grab the city documents and not waste everyone's time and money with credentials and all that. Certainly, the...lacking professionalism should make that a simple affair. DC: 15. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Reviewing Merchant Documentation
Unfortunately, merchants keep a closer eye on their own financials than the city government. Fortunately, you're very good at getting into places that other people don't want you in. DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Breaking Into Nobility
You could simply try breaking into the noble estates for their documents. It'd be a little tricky, but ultimately very doable. DC: 27. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Coining Servants
Alternatively, you could simply work on turning the servants for the various noble families to let you in on some gossip - and maybe form the beginning of a network here. DC: 24. Cost: 2 Budget.
Learning (Choose 1) {Tekla Action}
[] [Learning] The Haul
The army did manage to win some spoils before getting completely annihilated, and some are trying to sell those off. May be worth a look. DC: Scaling. Costs: Scaling.
[] [Learning] Understanding Justice
You and Cormag have had close working relationships with different aspects of Justice. Perhaps it may be worth exploring just how Justice behaves? DC: ??? Costs: 0 Budget.
[] [Learning] Magical Mapping
It may also be worth using the Gnarled Rod to check out the magical layout of the area, and see who needs to be appeased where. DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
Stewardship (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Stewardship] Book Sales
You hear that the Army had some trouble with ghosts over in Transulinia. You happen to have some notes about how exactly ghosts form - and implied, what you can do to quickly prevent them. This means you can sell them to some interested buyers. DC: 15. Gain: 10 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Surveys
You can also simply pay people to tell you what's going on across the city, as well as running some other errands here and there. Shouldn't be too expense. DC: 15. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Investments
In addition to your notes about the ghosts, you're pretty sure the Army's going to want to be purchasing a lot of cloth - which means you have an opportunity to get in while the prices are low. DC: 15. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Raise Taxes
Well, you're fairly certain the citizens are more prosperous, which means you can raise taxes to match - acknowledging, of course, that such a move is likely to be...unpopular, at best. DC: 15. Gain: 4 Budget.
Piety (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Piety] Local Spirits
The local spirits may decide to help or hurt your case - best nip them off with an immediate offering, yes? DC: 20. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Piety] The Spirit of Oskaria
Okay, this is distinctly unconventional, but apparently the King is asking for prayers to and from the spirit of Oskaria, which clearly must be strengthened to strengthen the backbone of the serving members. Does this mean they may be able to help you? DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Piety] The Authority of Oskaria
Actually, you may be able to get in on this initiative by simply claiming spiritual authority to do so and then using it to pray to Oskaria more effectively - acknowledging, of course, that you will be able to command a salary from this. DC: 28. Gain: 6 Budget.
[X] [Shiny] No Wasted Moments
"The war's gone badly, I hear," you carefully say.
"That's one way to put it," Vivien harshly laughs. "Oskaria went overnight from the leader of the coalition to the laughingstock. Were we any less important we'd be levied right now so that the King can go waste more of his own people," she bitterly said.
"I am to assume I hear 'thank you Finance Minister Vivien for keeping them off our back'?" you drily respond.
"You are welcome for that, by the way," Vivien haughtily responds.
You nod.
"But I suppose with things this dire, we'll need to get you to your next assignment to fund the ever-so-important Army. Very well. You requested sorting out the currency issue to the west, and I agree with you - to the west lies a significant manufacturing center, and we need to figure out why prices are rising there. We have been regularly weighing the currency with our own scales, and we have not found any discrepancies there - it doesn't appear like they're minting the coinage with new currency. Regardless, we need to figure out why, and soon - it's not like we can source materiel from elsewhere forever," Vivien states. "Unfortunately, your Budget is tighter than ever - the Army apparently doesn't think that your job is that valuable after all, and has slashed your Budget yet further. This time, you get 50 Budget to work with, headed into a province whose cash values have overinflated."
You sit in gobsmacked silence.
"I know, it's a paltry sum. Unfortunately, subordinating you to the Army means that you have to work with the budget they give you, not necessarily the budget you want," she sheepishly responds.
You hold your head in your hands, and open your mouth in a silent scream.
Revealed Achievements:
Swift Justice
Resolve the Case within twelve months. +3 Minor Boons.
Thorough
Defeat all enemies. +3 Minor Boons.
The Ministry Funds Itself
Through the course of normal operations, earn more than you spend. +2 Shinies.
Whatever is going on in this province is stranger than you suspected. On the one hand, many people look...well, full is the wrong word, especially with many of the best fed men already shipped off to the army, but at least with much fewer people starving on the streets.
On the other hand, you've been keeping track of how many beggars you see on the streets, how many people you see hustling goods, and how many people seem to be houseservants. Every day the number of houseservants and hustlers are dropping, and every day you see a few more people begging on the streets.
The storefronts you can see appear to be desperately begging for customers - or at least, you're certainly surprised when you see literal turf fights between hawkers trying to persuade you to come to such and such store. This is far more aggressiveness than you expected, and with higher prices to boot! Carefully, you signal Tekla to go ask around for where the best places to get cheap goods were - and found that people thought that the cheap goods here were commanding significantly higher prices, and that the people were happy to pay it!
You were fairly sure that this mean that most people simply had more money in hand.
It makes you tempted to simply raise the taxes from the city and be done with it. It's not like increased prosperity is a crime - if it was, you'd never get anywhere.
You think back to the Compact's message.
Okay, maybe the Compact had a problem with that or something, but you certainly weren't going to think too hard about that.
But...those increased number of beggars on the street worries you.
Time to investigate a little.
You have 50 Budget. This is bullshit. You're completely kneecapped. You may only spend 10 Budget this turn.
You have 3 [Free] Actions that may be spent in any category.
You have 6 Minor Boons that you may attach to any Action.
You can cooperate with your teammates to add +3 base stat to an action that you are cooperating on. It is represented by using your [Free] Action on one of your already-selected Actions.
Martial (Choose 1) {Kerrie Action}
[] [Martial] Acquiring Power
With the early end of the campaign season, some mercenaries and adventurers have returned to the province. You have the opportunity to hire them...provided, of course, you outbid the other potential buyers, like the nobility, and the Army. The sooner you move, the lower you can bid...hopefully. DC: 20. Cost: 6 Budget.
[] [Martial] Power Mapping
It's almost standard practice at this point, but still, never hurts to check out who the power players in this city are. Still, you will likely have to be quite stingy... DC: 17. Cost: 0 Budget.
Diplomacy (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Diplomacy] The Clergy
You're not sure how the common citizen has so much wealth - fortunately, however, you know who just might. Those same people may also be able to tell you a crucial detail: when. DC: 15. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Merchants - Cash
Alternatively, you could try and pry into merchant dealings a little, but of course, such business information commands a price. DC: 20. Cost: 6 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Merchants - Information
Unless, of course, you have some business information of your own. Information like the Army's cloth expenses growing multiple sizes. DC: 25. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] Asking City Government
Your best bet might be to go straight to the city government and interview the officials and gate guards - acknowledging, of course, that they insist the job simply cannot be done without an upfront payment. DC: 15. Cost: 4 Budget.
[] [Diplomacy] The Nobility
Maybe the nobility knows something about this. Of course, you'd have to get into their circles, which have high entrance fees to keep out the rabble, which somehow includes royal agents. DC: 25. Cost: 8 Budget.
Intrigue (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Intrigue] Seizing City Documents
Hm. You are honestly sorely tempted to simply grab the city documents and not waste everyone's time and money with credentials and all that. Certainly, the...lacking professionalism should make that a simple affair. DC: 15. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Reviewing Merchant Documentation
Unfortunately, merchants keep a closer eye on their own financials than the city government. Fortunately, you're very good at getting into places that other people don't want you in. DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Breaking Into Nobility
You could simply try breaking into the noble estates for their documents. It'd be a little tricky, but ultimately very doable. DC: 27. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Intrigue] Coining Servants
Alternatively, you could simply work on turning the servants for the various noble families to let you in on some gossip - and maybe form the beginning of a network here. DC: 24. Cost: 2 Budget.
Learning (Choose 1) {Tekla Action}
[] [Learning] The Haul
The army did manage to win some spoils before getting completely annihilated, and some are trying to sell those off. May be worth a look. DC: Scaling. Costs: Scaling.
[] [Learning] Understanding Justice
You and Cormag have had close working relationships with different aspects of Justice. Perhaps it may be worth exploring just how Justice behaves? DC: ??? Costs: 0 Budget.
[] [Learning] Magical Mapping
It may also be worth using the Gnarled Rod to check out the magical layout of the area, and see who needs to be appeased where. DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
Stewardship (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Stewardship] Book Sales
You hear that the Army had some trouble with ghosts over in Transulinia. You happen to have some notes about how exactly ghosts form - and implied, what you can do to quickly prevent them. This means you can sell them to some interested buyers. DC: 15. Gain: 10 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Surveys
You can also simply pay people to tell you what's going on across the city, as well as running some other errands here and there. Shouldn't be too expense. DC: 15. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Investments
In addition to your notes about the ghosts, you're pretty sure the Army's going to want to be purchasing a lot of cloth - which means you have an opportunity to get in while the prices are low. DC: 15. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Stewardship] Raise Taxes
Well, you're fairly certain the citizens are more prosperous, which means you can raise taxes to match - acknowledging, of course, that such a move is likely to be...unpopular, at best. DC: 15. Gain: 4 Budget.
Piety (Choose 1) {Agueda Action}
[] [Piety] Local Spirits
The local spirits may decide to help or hurt your case - best nip them off with an immediate offering, yes? DC: 20. Cost: 2 Budget.
[] [Piety] The Spirit of Oskaria
Okay, this is distinctly unconventional, but apparently the King is asking for prayers to and from the spirit of Oskaria, which clearly must be strengthened to strengthen the backbone of the serving members. Does this mean they may be able to help you? DC: 25. Cost: 0 Budget.
[] [Piety] The Authority of Oskaria
Actually, you may be able to get in on this initiative by simply claiming spiritual authority to do so and then using it to pray to Oskaria more effectively - acknowledging, of course, that you will be able to command a salary from this. DC: 28. Gain: 6 Budget.
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