Tax Season

 Alas for those who may have hoped they were forgotten--no, the Souffets of the Dual-Cities have not forgotten about the collection of taxes this year. There was a temporary jubilee regarding taxes given during the election of the new Souffets (to be explained in a separate post), but that jubilee is now over and taxes are due by the end of the month (by 1 January 2023).

The tax schedule is the same as that established before (Tax Reform!, the schedule of which will be published at the bottom of this post), but there is an additional levy, given the gravity of the threat of the Red Cloud hanging over the city:

• every player-character* must contribute at least 25 dinars (gp) to the war levy
• every player-character* owning an institution must contribute an additional 100 dinars (gp) to the war levy

*excepting Iqtadar Sesel, who has separate civil obligations as a citizen and iqtadar

The Scribes have a list of generally active barbarian-adventurers. Names will be scratched off as tax payments are recorded by the Knights Pylaea at their portal-fortress between the cities, the High Gate (i.e. as a comment below or on the Discord channel). Tax dodgers beware! There may well be consequences for those who fail to register for payment.
Bartholomew Pettibone
Gan ad-Din
Durham
Lars Ghar-Rider
Avin
Arngeir of the Green Gleam
Heijo
Najm ibn Marwan
Fa Mei
Alianor Drake
Kzin-Friend
Raoden 

TAX  SCHEDULE

Regarding the taxes, there are several levels. Each barbarian or metic is free to make his or her own declaration as to the amount they are able to reasonably pay--bearing in mind that higher levels of taxation also "buy" wider rights and priveleges throughout the city.

• 1 nufdinar (ep)
  Beggars and day-laborers of the poorest sort who cannot even scrape together a single dinar must still contribute something. Taxpayers of this level are expected to walk through the streets in rags, and to either beg for their bread, or seek employment as unskilled laborers--likely as load-bearers in the market--or even sell themselves into slavery to pay off their debts.
  Those paying at this level must renounce tavern-membership, go about in rags, and incur a -2 penalty on reactions in the city, and have no rights in the Ccourts, or to "build an institution", and they may not be attended by any servants or slaves.
• 2 dinars (gp)
  Poor laborers, fieldhands, servants, and down-on-their luck fishermen for whom a dinar is a significant amount of money.
  Taxpayers at this level must renounce tavern-membership, must dress in only the commonest of attire, incur a -1 penalty on reactions in the city, and have no rights in the Courts, or to "build an institution", and they may not be attended by any servants or slaves.
• 10 dinars
  Apprentices of skilled trades, experienced laborers or members of the lesser Guilds, common men-at-arms, &c. who make reasonable wages, but who have no store of wealth other than their few possessions and whatever cash they can save.
  Taxpayers at this level may wear fine clothes--though no gems or jewelry--and have the right to petition a citizen-patron for help in the Courts; they may not personally own higher than a minor institution in the city without paying "back-taxes" up to the next level, nor may they be attended by more than one servant, slave, or retainer.
• 50 dinars or 1% of total cash, whichever is higher
  Small business holders, Guild journeymen, peasant-farmers, rowers and sailors, &c. who are either paid good wages, or who hold personal wealth.
  Taxpayers at this level may wear whatever clothing they wish, as well as silver jewelry. Any institution they own is protected by the Courts, though they require a citizen-patron to argue cases therein; and they may own any level of institution, though higher "steps" will no doubt draw inquiries from the tax-farmers unless "back-taxes" are paid up to the next level. They are also allowed a retinue of up to ten servants, slaves, men-at-arms, &c.
• 250 dinars or 2% of total cash, whichever is higher
  Captains of soldiers, established taverners and publicans, masters in the lower Guilds or journeymen in the higher Guilds, well-to-do farmers, ship-owners, &c. who own significant personal wealth.
  Taxpayers at this level may wear any clothing, jewelry, or gems, and roll reactions at +1 if they do so. They may build or own any level of institution, and their property and institutions are protected by the Courts, though they still require a citizen-patron to argue therein. There is no limit to their retinue.
• 1300 dinars or 5% of total cash, whichever is higher
  Currently the highest tax-bracket, for wealthy merchants, successful business-holders, barbarian nobility, or nouveau riche adventurers, who are all expected to be flush with cash.
  Taxpayers at this level are expected to wear fine attire, and at least one piece of jewelry, and roll reactions at +1 in the city if they do so. They may build or own any kind of institution, and have no limit to their retinue--indeed, they are expected to have at least one servant. Their persons, as well as their property and institutions, are protected by the Courts, and they have a limited right to speak on their own behalf--though a citizen-patron would no doubt aid their case.