CH. 03 - Fraud Wars

[Daos]

"Well, make it quick, please, I have a business to run," Suwan says.

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"Can I talk to the person responsible for prepping/packing and diluting the potions for the journey"

Vulpi suspects that they don't know who diluted the potions because they didn't do it, but is asking on the off chance that this was ignorant user error.

[Daos]

Suwan looks confused.  "Diluting?  What are you talking about?  Why would I dilute potions?"

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"Oh, I just wasn't certain since we found out the potion of healing was actually a potion of healing but had been strongly diluted changing its affects. I didn't know if you had diluted it because you didn't know better or if it was diluted by someone else. Arthit seems to think that knowing that potions change when diluted is common knowledge, but I am not so certain. Generally, any knowledge a specialist has I consider to need explaining because I have run across people that didn't know what I thought were basic things and I have not known things others thought everyone knew."

[Daos]

Arthit Suwan furrows his brow, trying to understand Vulpi's meaning.  Then he says, "Wait, that's it.  It makes perfect sense.  Sidra Minhas watered down the potions she sold me.  Probably to save a few coins!  I knew she was guilty of fraud!

[Igordragonian]

Zencho scratch his sideburns.
"Would those few coins worth all the trouble? Something doesnt add up"

[Bishgada]

Chispa keeps quiet.

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(OOC: In the general store they said they don't have the authority to allow us to check the receipts and that if they did it will take forever. But as investigators appointed by I forgot who, don't we have such authority? Should we bring some signed paper? And with the relevant dates, about two days, it should be pretty fast.)

[HorizonsDream]

Ha Yun takes whoever wants to go back to the office. "I didn't find anything last time, so maybe someone else will have better luck. We need to find the receipts and anything else that might be out of the ordinary," Ha Yun says.

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

Vulpi will go with HaYun to look for the receipts
investigation Vxi8rzA71d20+2

ooc: awww my streak broke1d20+2

[Bishgada]

Chispa will try as well.
===================================
(OOC: Investigation: 9ZczZ5nW1d20 Perception (if it helps): 1d20+3)1d20·1d20+3

[GardenGnome2023]

Willing to help in anyway he can Seeboe follows Vulpi to help in their investigation  

Investigation roll CouLfNuG1d20+31d20+3

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

ooc: aahhh the curse of progression. we roll badly whenever we might advance the story. Anyway, I stand by my earlier statement:

I am leaning towards this solution: going back to the trade dispute council, asking if this is the first time either company had been reported for malpractice. If there haven't been reports of it in a long time then suggest that the evidence cannot conclusively solve the case and that both companies should be allowed to continue their existence, perhaps with periodic check ins with customers. Then, if one of these companies exhibits malpractice again soon, then the case can be reopened with more information since surely the two companies won't buy from each other again, so we then will know that the company with repeated problems has actual problems. Maybe they both have actual problems which I would anticipate them both showing malpractice at different times. Maybe there is a malevolent 3rd party actor, if the malpractice of the two companies is reported at very similar times, then it will become very likely this is the case, if different times, it cannot be ruled out, but that would involve two more missions which would continue to leave more evidence.



Alternatively, if the two businesses do have a past history of malpractice, then that alone could be cause to shut them down.

[Bishgada]

==========================================
(OOC: I agree that there are no solid evidences.
Also we haven't seen any lead to a 3rd party who will benefit from turning the two against each other. Or benefit from the fraud.

The Alchemist planned to give a gift to an important lady, so if he was to fail (using the bad pottery) it would be published. The question is would it be bad promotion for the alchemist or the potter.

With the Earthmolder, it doesn't seem anyone could get any benefit from switching/diluting the potions, except petty thieving.

The only evidence we have is the initials on the pottery. 

If you have the patience I'd suggest (and not sure if we did it already at the beginning or not):
1. Check who are the other potters/alchemist in town and make some research about that may point to them as suspects.
2. Convince the owner of the general store that helping will give him good advertisement and deflect suspicion of his involvement, and then search the receipts. Although it is a long shot.)

 

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

ooc: is the citadel big enough to have enough pottery stores that counting would be useless/how many are there?

[Daos]

(OOC:  That's hard to say.  The book doesn't specify the Citadel's population, so it'd be hard to guess how many pottery shops would be needed to meet demand.  Just pulling stuff right out of the air, I'd guess...the Trade Discal has maybe 4-5 different pottery shops?  Although Suwan's is probably the only one that sells high quality, magical stuff.  I'd assume the rest sell more mundane wares.)