Death of a Taxman is a quest given to the Nerevarine by Socucius Ergalla during the events of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Background[]
Objectives[]
- Chat with people about the latest rumors to find out about the missing tax collector, Processus Vitellius.
- Find the body of Processus Vitellius in the swamp northwest of town.
- Inform Socucius Ergalla in the Census and Excise Office.
- Chat with people about the Murder of Processus Vitellius.
- Locate Processus' girlfriend, Thavere Vedrano.
- Find the murderer and collect the reward.
- Return Processus' ring to Thavere for an additional thank you.
Walkthrough[]
- "Found his body, huh? Well, it's up to you what to do with that information. I suppose that Socucius Ergalla in the Census and Excise Office would be the one to tell, if that's your inclination."
- ―Guard[src]
While conversing with folks around town, it will be discovered that the local tax collector, Processus Vitellius, has not been seen for a few days. A search of the wilderness northwest of town will find his body lying amongst some rocks.
Collect the tax records, 200 gold, and some common clothes from his corpse and return to town. Go to Socucius Ergalla in the Census and Excise Office and talk to him about the deceased. Giving back the gold recovered from his corpse will make one eligible to be rewarded more money later. Ergalla will ask that the killer be hunted down.
- "Someone finally got him, huh? Well, it's no surprise, I suppose. No one likes a tax collector, especially one who flaunts his wealth while taking our hard-earned cash. Only one who could stomach him at all was Thavere over in the lighthouse. The two of them spent some time together. Shame, really. She seemed like a nice woman."
- ―Fargoth[src]
Asking around town will reveal that Processus had a girlfriend who resides in the lighthouse. Talk with Thavere Vedrano to learn that Processus recently had an argument with Foryn Gilnith. Furthermore, an examination of the Tax Records found on Processus will show that Foryn happens to owe the most unpaid taxes.
Find Foryn Gilnith in town. His shack is facing Fargoth's Hiding Place. Gilnith will admit to the murder and state that he believes that Vitellius was corrupt, raising the taxes so that he could keep the extra gold for himself. The choice is whether to turn in Gilnith or not. Spare him and he will be thankful and give Processus Vitellius' Ring to return to Thavere Vedrano. Vedrano gives two Restore Health potions for the ring.
If Gilnith is told he will be turned in to the guards, he becomes hostile, forcing him to be killed. If Gilnith is killed, the reward is 500 gold from the Census and Excise office. Vitellius' ring can be taken from Gilnith's corpse and returned it to Vedrano in exchange for two Standard Restore Health Potion or be kept.
Journal[]
| Death of a Taxman – MV_DeadTaxman | |
|---|---|
| ID | Journal Entry |
| 10 | I found a corpse while traveling near Seyda Neen. It seems to be the corpse of one Processus Vitellius, based on some items found on his body. He is carrying a parchment with what look like tax records. He also had 200 gold on his body, probably taxes he'd collected.
|
| 20 | I've spoken to Socucius Ergalla in Seyda Neen about Processus Vitellius. Socucius wants to know if I found the tax money he'd collected on the corpse. |
| 30 | I've told Socucius the truth about the 200 gold in tax money I found on the corpse of Processus. |
| 40 | I decided to keep the truth about the 200 gold I found on Processus to myself. Socucius was disappointed that the money had been lost, and saddened by the death of his tax collector. He thanked me for letting him know what had happened.
|
| 45 | Socucius wasn't happy to hear I no longer had the 200 gold that were on the corpse. He's told me I should return when I have the money. |
| 46 | I've been able to get 200 gold to replace the money on Processus' corpse, and I've brought it to Socucius Ergalla. |
| 48 | He seemed impressed with my honesty, but confused as to why someone would murder Processus but not take his money. If I can find out who has done this, and execute the murderer, Socucius has promised to pay me 500 gold. |
| 50 | I've asked around town about the murder of Processus Vitellius. It seems he wasn't a popular person in general, which is no surprise, considering he was a tax collector. Some have suggested I speak with Thavere Vedrano, the lighthouse keeper, as she seemed to have some relationship with him. |
| 60 | Thavere Vedrano has mentioned to me an argument that Processus had been having with Foryn Gilnith. Apparently, there was some disagreement about the amount of money Gilnith owed, and how much he had really been making with his fishing. |
| 70 | Gilnith killed Processus, of this there is no doubt. He admits to it openly, and seems not in the least bit ashamed of it. Gilnith contends that Processus was corrupt, as are all the employees in the Census and Excise Office. He claims that Processus was attempting to gouge him on the taxes that were levied, and was taking a cut for himself, spending it on new jewelry and the like. |
| 80 | I believe Gilnith's story, and have decided to keep this knowledge to myself. Perhaps Processus was a corrupt man, perhaps not. It does not seem a good business to become more involved in. |
| 85 | I simply can't believe Gilnith's story, and even if it were true, it is no excuse for murder. |
| 90 | I brought the ring I found on Gilnith's body to Thavere Vedrano in the lighthouse. She was grateful to have something to remember her lover by, and thanked me by giving me two potions of healing. |
| 100 | After killing Gilnith, I reported my findings to the Census and Excise Office. Socucius seemed pleased to see Processus' murder avenged, and he paid me as promised.
|
Trivia[]
- If Foryn Gilnith is killed before going to the Census and Excise Office the Nerevarine gets the reward and gets to keep the 200 gold. No additional information can be received from Thavere Vedrano. However, if Processus' ring is returned, she will still give the Nerevarine the potions.
- If the Nerevarine says that there was no money on the dead body the first time Socucius is spoken to, the money can be kept. Socucius will not ask that the killer be found. If Foryn is killed anyway there will be no bounty.
- If Gilnith is killed, his shack can be used as a player home.
- If Gilnith is not killed, the quest will not complete, and will remain in the journal. Killing him after siding with him and then reporting to Ergalla will complete the quest as normal.
- The title of this quest could be a reference to Arthur Miller's 1949 play Death of a Salesman.