CH. 03 - Fraud Wars

[Bishgada]

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(OOC:
So no obvious 3rd party to benefit from harming Suwan's name.
What about Alchemists? Is there a known competition?
If not, I suggest, let's try to check the receipts at the general store by trying to persuade the owner it may benefit him, and there return to the dispute council with the best logic suggestion )

[Daos]

(OOC:  Alchemy is more specialized work, so I'd think there would probably be fewer of those.  Maybe one other, if that, perhaps on the opposite side of the Discal.)

[HorizonsDream]

Ha Yun sighs in frustration as nothing was found. "Sorry to have bothered you again," she says to the owners of the pottery shop before she ushers everyone out again. "They are determined to blame each other for the issue," she says. "And we haven't really found anything other than that maybe both businesses committed fraud," she says. "So I would suggest we simply report that we have found possibly fraud on both businesses. The potions were diluted, and the pottery was obviously just bought at the general store and a light spell was cast upon it. That is what we got."

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"If we report fraud on both businesses then both businesses will be damaged. Alternatively we could report that 'the evidence was unclear who committed the fraud at this time and neither company could be found culpable'. Recommend they continue to monitor both businesses, but not act too rashly."

OOC:

[HorizonsDream]

"But they both committed fraud if you look what we have," Ha Yun points out. "If they are willing to do that to each other, then who knows what they are doing to their regular customers. They should be punished either way," she says.

[Bishgada]

Chispa frowns and coughs. "Vulpi, I really see your point, but you forget that Ha-Yun is enlightened." she turns to Ha-Yun straightens up and tells her, "I'll follow your lead."

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(OOC:  )

[GardenGnome2023]

Seeboe mumbles at first then speaks a little more clearly, " Could it be that our thinking is to focused on one outcome? Maybe we should try thinking outside the box.  Is there a way that one or both parties could somehow benefit or profit from this ordeal and investigation? Is it possible they have come up with some plan and are working together and that's why we can't find any fault. Sometimes when the rational makes no sense the irrational maybe true." Seeboe crosses his arms and bows his head as he takes a step back awaiting the rebuttal to his statements.

[Bishgada]

"That's why we follow Ha-Yun. She finds the right path even when it is not clear."

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(OOC: BTW, I should have asked it long ago, but does any of you have 'Charm person', 'Detect lie', 'Know truth', 'Detect thoughts', 'Suggestion', 'Zone of truth' or any spells/abilities of the kind, that will help us interrogate the merchants? Maybe even illusions to intimidate them? In fact I have Zone of truth, so if you want it is possible to wait one day, make list of questions we want to ask under that spell and have new leads.)

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

Mar 14, 2024 21:02:02 GMT -8 HorizonsDream said:

"But they both committed fraud if you look what we have," Ha Yun points out. "If they are willing to do that to each other, then who knows what they are doing to their regular customers. They should be punished either way," she says.

"We don't have that both committed fraud, we have that both have been deceived by fraud, but not that they committed it"

[HorizonsDream]

"But we haven't found anything to suggest that someone else is behind this," Ha Yun says. "The trade went smoothly. Nothing seems out of order other than the items are faulty on both sides. They are both very adamant that one another committed fraud. They aren't willing to listen to any other explanation either, and that seems suspious to me."

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"And we haven't found anything to suggest they are behind it either. Saying that the evidence is inconclusive isn't saying they didn't do it, just that we don't know who did it. Sometimes, knowing that you don't know and admitting that is the best step."

[HorizonsDream]

"I still say they are both behind this mess," Ha Yun says.

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

"Thats fine, we can issue conflicting reports and let them decide what to do. They are the dispute council after all."

[Bishgada]

"Vulpi!" Chispa, her face hardened and her tone increasing a notch. "Mind how you address the divine. If you want to prolong our investigation, I'll be able to prepare tomorrow a spell that will compel anyone we will speak to within ten minutes, to say the truth. If you can think of useful questions to ask the alchemist and the potter that will advance the investigation, I'm sure Ha-Yun will support it. Otherwise we should all be aligned, and this means follow Ha-Yun."

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(OOC: In real life I'd also go for more solid proof, but in game I like the tension that is building here )

[HorizonsDream]

"The divine?" Ha Yun asks in surprise. "I think it is best we can give conflicting reports. We don't exactly have time to wait for spells to get them to tell the truth of the situation."