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UBBFriend: Email this page to someone! This topic comprises 34 pages: 1 2 3 ... 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 ... 32 33 34 Author Topic: A Taxing Time - A Discworld RPG Mina Harker
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posted August 24, 2008 03:33 PM
Meera had looked at the signs of struggle with interest, there was something strange, sure enough.. She pondered this as she made her way back to the tax office. Either someone tried to stop the murderer.. but then why didn't they get killed? ...Or.. Maybe someone was forcing the kill, maybe our murderer was reluctant. Hmmmm...
Mirabell was about to voice her thoughts when Lord Vetinari swept in. I'll wait until he's gone.
When Illyah entioned her name Meera emerged from the shadows. "M'lord" she said respectfully before melting back into the background again.
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Jake Member Member # 5102
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posted August 24, 2008 03:55 PM
The patrician said nothing as Illyah gabbled or indeed as he disappeared. Drumknot handed him a cup of tea and for a long moment he sat looking at the remaining tax officiers. If their Boss's exit had perturbed him in any way, he did not show it, just sat calmly sipping his tea. Finally he put the cup down and cleared his throat.
"Well it would appear that there has been some foul play, I do hope that this will not effect your collections for today. Afterall, when they try to kill you, that's when you know you are doing well, or at least that is what Mr Vimes would have me believe. Please however, keep the casualties to a minimum, it reflects badly if my staff are picked off one by one."
Standing lord Vetinari walked towards the entrance to hte tax office.
"I will not keep you, I am sure that you are all anxious to get back to your duties, please send Mr Kuryakin with an update when he is free...there is...no rush. Also, a parting piece of advice, if Mr Spree's killing was related to his dealings within the tax office, his killers still have four more grudges to deal with. Good day."
With that he walked out of the office, closely followed, as always, by Drumknot.
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Jeannie
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posted August 26, 2008 02:17 PM
Sasha had watched with horror as Illyah had excused himself and hurried out leaving the rest of them to hear what his Lordship had to say.
Sasha hadn't said much whilst Vetinari was in the office, she had heard that saying the wrong thing to the Patrician could have most unwelcome consequences. Once he had gone though she looked at the others and raised her eyebrows
"Well, what a comforting thought that is. Well I don't know about you ladies but I'm not going out there collecting taxes when there might be a crossbow bolt with my name on it. I say we wait for the boss"
Swinging her legs as she sat on her desk Sasha bit her lip thoughtfully
"So any thoughts on what we know so far?"
[ August 26, 2008, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Jeannie ]
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"Were you proposing to shoot these people in cold blood, sergeant?"
"Nossir. Just a warning shot inna head, sir."
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Jock
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posted August 26, 2008 04:26 PM
Kayla wlked out into the corridor and into another man who semed to be looking in completely the opposite direction to that which he was walking. After a breif moment of indecision, in which the number of arms and legs still belongng to each party was in question,Kayla straightened her self up and held out her hand to the dazed man, her apology coming out in a rush.
"I'm terribly sorry I'm a little dizzy still from walking into that troll do you want a hand up?"...
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Sybil:Do you remember when we last went on holiday, Sam? Sam: That wasn't really a holiday, dear. Sybil: Well, it was very interesting, all the same. Sam: Yes, dear. Werewolves tried to eat me
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Thumpy
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posted August 27, 2008 01:10 PM
"That would be helpful, yes please."
Illyah had worked in this Watch House for years...at times like this he wished he had paid more attention to his surroundings.
"I'm uh...what happened to your...hand?"
The wound still looked fresh and the fact that she wasn't screaming in pain told Illyah a lot about this person.
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Go on, prove me wrong. Destroy the fabric of the universe. See if I care. -Terry Pratchett
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Mina Harker
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posted August 27, 2008 04:53 PM
Mirabell relaxed a bit when Vetinari left.
"Well I don't know, but why was there a struggle? Um.. I thought maybe someone might have been trying to fight the killer, but surely somone would have won the fight? There weren't any dead bodies there... So I thought, maybe, that someone was trying to force our killer to kill, I mean maybe they didn't want to? I don't know..." Said Meera as she tried to answer Sasha's question. "It definitely wasn't the assassin's guild anyway, and I don't think it was any other guild because they would surely use official assassins?"
She melted back into the shadows again due to a mixture of habit and embarassment: Mirabell wasn't used to being so conspicuous.
[ August 27, 2008, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Mina Harker ]
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Jake Member Member # 5102
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posted August 28, 2008 03:32 AM
Despite the door to the tax office being open, there was a knock on it and a voice talking to someone clearly close behind it.
There, that must have been where he died, can we get a picture of that?
The disembodied voice came into the tax office and resolved itself into the form of a young lady dressed in what, she no doubt thought, was a respectable manner.
Is this the tax office?
When no answer was forth coming she took out a small notebook and smiled, with a greater certainty that she felt.
I m Sacarissa Cripslock from the Ankh-Morpork Times. We ve been informed that there was a murder here this morning.
From behind Sacarissa there was a blinding flash, a cut of curse and then a voice saying.
it s alright, I am okay.
Looking back at the occupants of the room, her pen poised over the notebook she continued.
We saw Vetinari s coach leaving the tax office and were wondering if you d like to make any comments on the murder. We have been led to believe the victim was a
She paused and flicked through her notes.
Mr Nathan Spree and that he, along with a few of you, had just started working for the newly formed, and not very popular, tax office. Could you tell us anything about him? We haven t got much else to go on I m afraid. What are your feelings about the matter?
Sacarissa looked around the room expectantly.
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Jock
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posted August 28, 2008 04:14 AM
Kayla offered out her good hand and pulled the man to his feet. He looked embarrased as he asked the question, and she could see him makng a conscious effort not to look at her stump.
"Oh... erm... it's a long story. I had a bit of a dissagreement with a butcher..." Kayla had been trying to forget, but she was begining to realise that it was probably going to be the first question anyone would ask when they met her.
Ed snuck up behind her and grabbed hold of er shoulder, making her jump.
"Who's this? Are you playin' fun o' my Kay?" Kayla had noticed a definite protective streak in her companion.
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Sybil:Do you remember when we last went on holiday, Sam? Sam: That wasn't really a holiday, dear. Sybil: Well, it was very interesting, all the same. Sam: Yes, dear. Werewolves tried to eat me
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Thumpy
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posted August 28, 2008 06:02 AM
"Sorry, I'm Illyah...er, Kuryakin. I'm with the Wat- the Tax Office."
He felt the need to explain more, although he wasn't sure why.
"I'm here to see one of the sergeants, trouble is I can't remember where her office is. Excuse me a second..."
He walked up to the desk and made a quick inquiry. The officer hadn't bothered looking up while answering, and that was okay with Illyah.
Returning to the young lady, Illyah took her to a quiet corner and pressed a five dollar coin into her hand.
"Can you do me favor? I have to talk to this sergeant...I'm not sure how things are going to go. Wait about five minutes and then come get me, okay? Make up a story...anything. Can you do it?
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Go on, prove me wrong. Destroy the fabric of the universe. See if I care. -Terry Pratchett
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Jock
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posted August 28, 2008 09:27 AM
Kayla looke dumbfounded at the money for a moment before stammering an answer.
"O...of course. Five minutes... Right... Gotcha"
what on Disc would I have to say to someone like him?
Kayla left the problem for now and simply followed him so she would know which door to burst in on when the time came.
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Sybil:Do you remember when we last went on holiday, Sam? Sam: That wasn't really a holiday, dear. Sybil: Well, it was very interesting, all the same. Sam: Yes, dear. Werewolves tried to eat me
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Jeannie
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posted August 28, 2008 05:30 PM
Sasha turned at the knock on the door, she had been wondering if today could get any worse and apparantly it could.
She greeted Sacharissa with a scowl and stood up from her seated position on the desk, her hair fell wildly around her face and she brushed it back impatiently.
"What do you think our feelings are about the matter? Turning up to work to see a collegue get shot dosn't exactly fill a person with happy happy joy joy feelings"
Taking a deep breath Sasha stopped herself, ranting at someone with a notebook who was going to quote everything that was said was not really the best of approaches. Taking a moment to get into character Sasha rubbed her face with her hands and feined an apologetic expression
"I'm sorry, as I'm sure you can understand this morning has been rather stressful."
Sacharissa nodded, pen stilled poised. "Of course"
Her face was full of sympathy but her eyes full of a journalistic hunger that begged for Sasha to continue
Sasha flopped into her chair and sighed
"Mr Spree is...I mean, was a remarkable person. His loss is a terrible blow for the department and for his collegues."
Trying to ignore the scratching of the pen on paper as she spoke Sasha continued
"He will be greatly missed, however we take our job very seriously and such threats shall not divert us from our task. The new Tax Office may be 'unpopular' however it is a nessecary cog in the machine that is this city. The revenue that shall be acumulated will be re-invested into the city thus improving the quality of life for it's citizens."
Damn I'm good at blagging
Covering her eyes with her hand Sasha faked a sob "I'm sorry...It's just all so horrific"
Sacharissa finished her hasty writing and nodded "Of course, I understand. We'll be on our way as soon as we are done. Otto, can you get a picture of the chalk..."
Sasha stood up again, this time her emotion wasn't an act. She was facing a murder charge, sat in the same room where Nathan had died and these people had just barged in expecting to be given the scoop on what had happened...and they had a damn iconographer, after all her careful work to ensure she didn't appear in the papers. Her temper began to boil
"That is enough! A man died here barely more than two hours ago. The least you vultures could do is allow a little time before picking at the carcass. What on the disc do you think gives you the right to..."
Sacharissa gave a wan smile
"The free press. The people have a right to..."
"Get out!"
Jeannie had barely been back in her office for more than a few minutes when there was knock on her door. Glancing at the clock Jeannie pushed her paperwork into something that resmebled a pile and sat back in her chair
"Come in"
[ August 28, 2008, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: Jeannie ]
-
"Were you proposing to shoot these people in cold blood, sergeant?"
"Nossir. Just a warning shot inna head, sir."
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Thumpy
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posted August 29, 2008 01:10 PM
Illyah entered the office and closed the door behind him; he began talking immediately.
"Sergeant, I know you have a job to do and trust me, I don't want to interfere with your investigation...but Sasha had nothing to do with what happened this morning. In fact, I told her to wait for me while I discussed this with you."
He kept going, not even waiting for her to respond.
"I know, I know how this looks, I really do...if I had come across the scene as you saw it, I might be led astray as well."
Are those chocolates on her desk?
Illyah absentmindedly reached a hand out and palmed one of the sweets.
"What if you were able to recreate the scene? What if we...er, you, set up the murder as it happened - instead of they way you saw it minutes later?"
Look at that ink well! She didn't get that on a coppers salary!
Illyah lifted the ink well and turned it around, admiring the artwork.
"Yes, that is a nice one. Anyway, what I propose is simply looking at two things...just two. First, the arrow and the angle of impact. Second, the place the arrow was fired from. I think you might find that it came from, oh...say...a nearby roof top? Maybe?"
You're about as subtle as a hammer, you know that?
"I know."
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Go on, prove me wrong. Destroy the fabric of the universe. See if I care. -Terry Pratchett
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Jock
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posted August 29, 2008 03:44 PM
"What on earth am I supposed to say? He is a gentleman, and I am not even a scullery maid."
"Nope, yer a messenger."
"A what?"
"Yeh know, a go-between, a running man, pickin' up a few coppers 'ere an' there by takin' unimpor'an' messages fer impor'an' people."
"But this is not a few coppers, this is five dollars!"
"Same pr'nc'ple, trus' me"
"Ok... but what do I say?"
"Well..."
"Exactly. I don't even know who he knows or where he comes from. All I have so far is 'Mr Kuryakin' and that is not sufficient."
"I could go an' find a bi' abou' 'im..."
"In five minutes? That's barely enough time to walk across the watch house and back. And I don't believe you're that good."
"Well... all business men, an' 'e looks like a business man, 'ave 'ired 'elp. 'E could 'ave a secretry or sumfin' tha' wants 'im..."
"Yeah... What did he say he was?"
"Tax Officer."
"And... what do we know about Tax Officers?"
"Nuffin'"
"Bugger."
"We could 'have 'im ou' wiv an emergency or sumfin', sumfin' that needs 'is attentions, an' 'is attentions alone."
"Like...?"
"I dunno, yous is the one 'e gave the job to, so yous think up an answer. 'tain't my problem."
"But if you come too it could be your money."
There was a significant pause while Ed considered this.
"So wha' woul' a secretry 'ave to say tha' was urgen'-like..."
[ August 29, 2008, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Jock ]
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Sybil:Do you remember when we last went on holiday, Sam? Sam: That wasn't really a holiday, dear. Sybil: Well, it was very interesting, all the same. Sam: Yes, dear. Werewolves tried to eat me
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Jake Member Member # 5102
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posted August 30, 2008 11:01 AM
Sacharissa took a step back from the wild hair that seemed to expand wit hthe volume of Sahsa's voice. Still she was a journalist, this was her job and she had been scribbling the whole time.
"So you are taking this as a threat to hte Tax office in general then? has there been any protection arranged for the remainder of you?"
She flicked through her notes.
"Also, would you mind telling us a bit more about Mr Spree, all we've managed to find out is that he lives in Ankh-Morpork and now he is dead, there is a great big gap inbetween in our informaiton."
She looked hopefully despite what Sasha had just said, she was persistent, she would get to the truth.
Angua rubbed her temples, this was a complete mess. Mr Vimes had been taken, with the Patrician, to the palace, where they were going to have a "chat". It seemed the larger the watch got the more work they ahd to do and although Nathan Spree had not been the straightest arrow in the quiver, in Ankh-Morpork, who was? except carrot of course. It had been clear to everyone that trying to separate Ankh-Morpork citizens from their cash was a bad idea, Anuga was surprised it had taken this long to kick off. Before she had finished he train of thought, she found herself outside the door she was looking for. She looked down and saw a girl, a boy standing behind her. The girl's lack of a hand made Angua frown, but right now she coudln't ask any questions. Knocking on Jeannie's door she waited a moment and then walked in.
Stopping she took in Kuryakin.
"Illyah." she said nodding to the former watch officer, supplies, perhaps, but he had been part of the watch.
"Sargeant, I'd like a word with you when you're finished."
After giving Illyah another nod, she closed the door to let them finish their conversation.
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Jeannie
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posted August 30, 2008 03:44 PM
"What else do you need to know about him? He lived in Ankh Morpork and is now dead and the only great big gap I can see is the one between your ears! I told you to get out. I'm not saying another word about it."
Folding her arms she perched herself back on the edge of her desk refusing to answer any of the womans questions by simply sitting silently. Her jaw visbly tightend as the reporter fired off a few more questions but Sasha refused to even meet her gaze.
Sashas indignant expression was suddenly lit up in a flash of eye piercing light. Blinking the purple dots from her eyes she thought she heard a muffled curse from the direction of the iconographer. When she could finally focus again she glared at him
"Did you just take my picture? You can't print that!"
Jeannie didn't have the chance to even greet Illyah before he had closed the door and began speaking. Occasionly she opened her mouth to try to interject but was unable to actually get a word in edgeways. Her eyes narowed as she saw him take a chocolate, reaching out she pulled the box away and closed the lid. The box of Weinrich and Boettcher finest confections had been a gift that she was not willing to share
"Leave those alone..." Illyah carried on before she could get any further, so she sat back and waited until he had finished Plucking the inkwell from his hands she stood up, looking warily at the apparantly vacant space next to him. Who was he talking to? Filing that question away for another time Jeannie put her inkwell back down on her desk
"Have you finished? Right..." she took a deep breath " Mr Kuryakin, there is one thing we both agree on. I don't believe anymore than you do that Sasha Vine is responsible for murdering Nathan Spree. However due to the nature of the circumstances surrounding the incident my colleague Corporal Hodges does have every right to bring her in for questioning. I assure you that the next item on my agenda is to personally check out the area around the tax office, and if there are any clues I'll sniff them out"
A small smile touched her lips, there was a knock at the door and Angua came in. Jeannie nodded to indicate she would come once she was finished here.
"Now Illyah, I would also reccomend that Sasha dosn't take too long to get here. The sooner she comes in the sooner we can clear this up"
She walked over to the door and held it open, a polite yet clear sign that this meeting was over. "Thankyou for coming, your concern for your employees is a rare thing in this city. I'll keep you informed of any developments. Now, if you'll excuse me I have alot to do this morning if we want to get to the bottom of this."
Shutting her office behind them Jeannie nodded a farewell to Illyah and went to find Angua. This was easier for Jeanie than for most officers, all she had to do was follow the scent trail. Angua had gone back to her office, Jeannie knocked on the door
-
"Were you proposing to shoot these people in cold blood, sergeant?"
"Nossir. Just a warning shot inna head, sir."
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