User:Soranin/Sandbox4

Coin, Corruption and Tea

00:06 - 02:38 [152]

[]

• Basim: This must be Kong's crate of tea leaves.

[]

• Basim: Looks like this crate is still intact. Kong will be pleased.

[]

• Kong: My leaves! Praise be to you, little finch!
• Basim: Where shall I put it?
• Kong: Come, come! Put it here.

[]

04:42 - 06:43 [121]

[]

• Luca: Hey, you! Kong's friend. I may have something you would be interested in. Come closer.
• Basim: What can I do for you?
• Luca: This is about what I can do for you. Did Kong ask you to enter a warehouse?
• Basim: Just say what you have to say.
• Luca: That Kong is always trying his luck. Well, it's his lucky day because I happen to know where it is. All I need is something in return...

(Offer token to Bribe)Never mind.

• Basim: Tell me what you know.
• Luca: Follow the road, cross the bridge on the right. You'll see the warehouse on your left, past the river.
• Basim: That narrows it down. Thank you.

[]

• Basim: The warehouse Kong mentioned. I need to find out more about this Harbormaster.

[]

• Soldier: Greece ... India ... anything out of Baghdad. If I want to keep my head, I better be sure to check them all.

[]

Instructions from the Harbormaster

To All:

A blockade is to be erected at the harbor. Seize any foreign exotic artifacts and keep eyes out for a Chinese hairpin. There can be no room for error. I know where all of you live. I know your families. Do as you are told. No questions asked.

Javed

• Basim: Instruction to search any and all foreign goods ... for an artifact. An ancient Chinese hairpin, specifically. This all starts at the harbor.

[]

• Soldier: Did you hear that Javed is in trouble? Maybe I can be the next Harbormaster.
• Soldier: Rather you than me. Whose head do you think will roll next?

[]

The Grand Auction Advertisement

THE DA'IRAT AL-MAL, NOT TO BE MISSED!

Ever dreamt of owning the world? Well, now you can have a taste of what it might be like! The Da'irat Al-mal is here once again - prepare to be awed, dazzled, and amazed by the selection we have for you! Rare porcelain, precious stones from around the world ... we have it all! Join us and revel in the splendor!

• Basim: The Da'irat Al-mal. Ceramics, exotic wares, and rare goods. All on display.

[]

• Soldier: Marha! These tea leaves from the East are worth more coin than my night of work. Hmm. What if I...?

[]

Goods in Holding

THESE GOODS ARE NOT TO BE RELEASED UNTIL THOROUGH CHECKS HAVE BEEN MADE:

Silks from Santo's Smooth Silks
Three-headed Dog Statue from Kinako Porcelain
White Peach Oolong from Kong's Tea Parade

These goods can be released once this note is shown to the respective guard.

• Basim: A list of exotic foreign goods seized. Most from out of Baghdad. There are Kong's things. Vases and some expensive tea leaves. This should be what Kong needs.

[]

Sweetly Scented Letter

Al-Kullulu,

I loathe mistakes. I only had one request and somehow you managed deny me what I seek. You know how much I wanted the hairpin - did I not make it clear when we last spoke? We might need to have another meeting for you to understand.

For now, it seems I must take things into my own hands at the auction.

N

• Basim: A strongly worded letter to the Harbormaster. He let a hairpin slip through their fingers and someone is not happy. There is a scent on this letter ... and a familiar symbol. Al-Kullulu. Looks like the Harbormaster is part of the Order. The Harbormaster has set up this blockade for foreign wares, especially for ancient artifacts from the East.

[]

• Basim: There is nothing more here. The Harbormaster is waiting.

[]

• Basim: Another wall between the people and power at play. I hope the Harbormaster is not expecting me.

[]

• Al-Kullulû: La'anakum Allah! (May God curse you!) One artifact, and no one can find it.

[]

21:09 - 23:00 [111]

Of Toil and Taxes

[]

• Civilian: She's done for. She should have paid them off the first time they threatened her.
• Civilian: Do you blame her? I find myself only scraping by with this new "tax" on our stalls.
• Civilian: Business is not easy...

[]

• Civilian: Broken, completely destroyed! Those guards, they know no mercy.
• Civilian: This is nothing. Do you know what they are doing to the perfume merchant?

[]

01:03 - 02:45 [102]

[]

An Apologetic Draft

I just need a few more days, please. I will get the coin and pay my debt. The perfume that I stock is important and cannot be touched... I implore you to understand. The recent spike in tax has-- (the rest of the letter is incomplete)

[]

• Basim: The merchants should be down this road, perhaps near a ridge for shelter. That camp must be where the merchants are.

[]

• Merchant: Halt! Who goes?
• Basim: As-salamu 'alaikum. I was sent by a friend of yours who was worried for your safety.
• Merchant: As you can tell from the horse's head, she was right to be. We do not know what to make of this...
• Basim: Let me help. Perhaps I can find out what happened.
• Merchant: We would be grateful.

[]

• Basim: The culprit must have left a clue.

[]

• Basim: Footprints ... and a blood trail. The horse's head was carried to the center of the camp.

[]

• Merchant 2: My horse, my sweet Legume! Malaka! Who would do such a terrible deed?
• Merchant 3: Do not cast your eyes on me. I did no such evil!

[]

• Basim: The head is cut clean. Must have been a sharp blade.

[]

• Basim: Was this your horse?
• Merchant 2: He is claimed by Hades now! Not only do I have to worry about Baghdad's ridiculous thirst for coin, now I must be concerned about my livestock! Malaka! Rest in peace, Legume...

[]

• Basim: What happened here?
• Merchant: It happened in the dark of night. I could not see well ... but... I saw someone. I think... I cannot be sure.

[]

Guard Instructions

ATTN: Guards

Coin Collection from:

Anka's Perfumery
Wei's Exotic Mears
Bubble Pop Soap

NOTE: Must I do your jobs for you? Stop their supplies if you must, but do what you need to do to secure coin. Do not forget the extra taxes for the dhimmiyun - if they want to bask in the richness of Baghdad, they must pay the right price. Do whatever you must.

Al-Anqa

• Basim: I think I know what happened.

[]

• Basim: This is a work of intimidation. Someone is trying to prevent your arrival.
• Merchant: La! (No!) Who ... who would do such a thing? I have no enemies, no bad blood...
• Basim: There could be worse fates if you continue down the road. Let me escort your crew to the gates.
• Basim: You would do that for us? Shukran! (Thank you!) God bless you. Quickly, get us away from here!

Let's go.Not yet.

• Basim: Let us move. The city is not too far.

• Basim: Come, we should leave this place. Quickly.

[]

• Merchant 2: Should have stayed home. Hmph.
• Basim: Where is home?
• Merchant 2: I come from a place called Greece, west from here across the water. With my horse Legume, we carried goods to and from Baghdad. Oh, the cities we visited! Al-Quds, Basra, and even Samarra!

[]

• Basim: Your merchant friend tells me that these goods are bound for the Da'irat Al-mal.
• Merchant: Nai. (Yes.) The Great Auction is a big event, and that meant bigger demands.
• Basim: So you are attending, then?
• Merchant: Attending? I only wish I had the coin to spend! No, we are just providing stock for the preparations.

[]

• Soldier: Found them! Argh!
• Basim: Who sent you?
• Soldier: You cannot run or hide! To enter Baghdad you have to pay the price!

[]

Letter of Execution

The merchants must be found. One knows where I am, and for my safety he must be silenced. Kill the rest too, they are of no consequence. From what I gathered they should be enroute to the west of Baghdad. Find them before they arrive and report back - a prize of coin awaits the ones who succeed and return.

Al-Anqa

• Basim: The guards report to someone called Al-Anqa. This confirms my suspicions.

[]

• Merchant: Good heavens, could they have been sent to kill us?
• Basim: Likely.
• Merchant: This is not surprising. We've been vocal against the Caliphate and unfair taxes. It can cost us our heads. But the silent sheep is an ally to corruption.
• Basim: They do not like this opposition.
• Merchant: I would not be surprised if they made an example out of us to others who might try the same.

[]

• Basim: Baghdad. You are safer now.
• Merchant: You are wonderful! Thank you!
• Basim: Here we are.
• Basim: A thousand thanks, ya sayyidi. Baghdad is not safe. Rumors swirl through the markets of merchants dragged from their stalls. Have you heard of such injustice? Who would do this? Rumors say they target the dhimmiyun (foreigners), traders who are not from here. The Abbasids want a stake in all businesses. As long as there is coin, lives are secondary.
• Basim: The note dropped by the guards was from someone called Al-Anqa. This person is the one behind the attack.
• Basim: Hmm. I overheard the guards refer to the Tax Collector as Al-Anqa ... which was odd because is the Anqa not female?
• Basim: Tell me his name, and where I can find him.
• Basim: Suhail lives in a mansion west of Karkh. Be careful, freiend. I doubt he works alone.
• Basim: Thank you, friend. Waffaqaka Allah.

[]

• Basim: The Tax Collector is due a visit.

[]

• Al-Anqa: Where are they? They should be back with the coin! My head will roll if we do not deliver it. How hard is it to shake the coin from those fools, hm? Greece ... India ... China ... hmph. No partiality, not even to their own kind.

[]

• Basim: The taxes have been paid.

[]

The Toll of Greed

[]

• Basim: There might be more information I can find around here.

[]

My Second and Final Letter

Al-Anqa,

Coin is becoming scarce. Have you increased the taxes like I asked? I hear that you might be experiencing a few ... obstacles. The shipment of perfume is also late.

I thought perhaps since you are a local you might fare better than I would, but I have been wrong before.

I do not usually send more than one letter about something I want done. I never send a third.

N

• Basim: The Tax Collector does not work alone. Someone not from Baghdad controls the strings. There is a scent on the letter... Perfume. Rose, with ... iron? Hmm.

[]

Orders to Increase Taxes

Suhail,

Here are the proposed tax increases. Please act accordingly.

Grains: One twentieth
Foodstuffs: One tenth
Textiles: One tenth
Ceramics: One fifth

And according to the laws, the dhimmi shall pay extra, so charge each non-believer another tenth on top of the given tax.

N

• Basim: Orders to increase taxes. More coin tricking into their hands.

[]

Approved Blockade Funding

The agreed upon amount was taken from the tax fund for Karkh and allocated to supplement the Harbor's Blockade as instructed.

• Basim: The blockade at the harbor is funded by the coin of the people.

[]

• Basim: I am done here. Nothing else. Roshan and Rebekah will be waiting back at the Bureau.

[]

A Faceless Feather

[]

• Roshan: Our prodigal Hidden One returns.
• Rebekah: Finally, you found the path back. What do you have for us?
• Basim: The one we are looking for is a dhimmiyun (foreigner), someone out of Baghdad.
• Rebekah: You are certain?
• Basim: I found proof. They were working with the Tax Collector and the Harbormaster. One used the guards to harass and extort coin from the dhimmiyun (foreigners), the other seized goods at the docks.
• Roshan: Extortion, I understand ... but seizing goods? More objects from these ancient beings they worship?
• Basim: They are looking for a rare hairpin, imported from the East Road. It will be up for auction at the Da'irat Al-mal.

[]

• Rebekah: An official invitation into the auction. Now, we have a way in. Well done.
• Roshan: Our target has to be someone connected to both Al-Anqa and Al-Kullulu. Someone working closely with the officials.
• Rebekah: Informers heard whispers of the Caliph's Treasurer. In recent times they have been quite involved in the businesses of Karkh.
• Basim: Someone like that will no doubt make an appearance at the Da'irat Al-mal.
• Roshan: We should prepare, so I will scout ahead. Meet me near the souq when you're ready.

[]

• Rebekah: Not a lot is known about this person. Underestimating your opponent is a fool's folly.
• Basim: Worried? I will tread carefully.

[]

• Roshan: The plan is simple. Enter the auction as a merchant, wishing to bid on exotic artifacts. We know they want the hairpin, and we know they will be at the auction. They already let it slip through their fingers once.
• Basim: When the hairpin appears, I will watch the crowd and make sure to obtain it. That will secure a meeting with this Treasurer.
• Roshan: I am fully confident they will bid on it, whatever the cost.
• Basim: Yes. I will gather as much information as I can about this Treasurer before the auction starts.
• Roshan: For someone in their position, there will be no lack of whispers.

[]

• Roshan: The first feather without a head. It is your duty to find the right one. Do not let yourself get distracted. Focus on the mission at hand. It does no one good to linger on things that do not exist. This is real.
• Basim: I understand.
• Roshan: Silence is better for the wise, and how much more so for fools. Hazzan muwaffaqan. (Good luck).

[]

• Basim: Do you think we need luck?

[]

Assassinate The Treasurer Sitting at the top of Karkh's web of power is the Treasurer. In controlling taxes and extorting the merchants of Karkh, The Treasurer is succesfully funding the Order at the expense of the people's livelihood. Coveting a rare hairpin form the East, the Treasurer seizes the imports of any foreign artifacts at the harbor, causing great distress for various businesses. Having hidden themselves successfully in the shadows, the Treasurer's identity is known to few. It is time to draw back the veil. LOOK FOR intel to expose The Treasurer's identity

[]

Missing

• Basim: .

61+

Coin, Corruption and Tea

00:06 - 02:38 [152]
04:42 - 06:43 [121]
21:09 - 23:00 [111]

Of Toil and Taxes

01:03 - 02:45 [102]