"It's Fiducia Agramunt," says Jaume. "Is that your estimate of the total value under consideration, the surplus you propose to divide with me to discuss the issue until a course is decided, or some other sort of estimate?"

"My apologies, Fiducia Agramunt", Fernando pauses just a moment to put on a slightly plaintive face.  "Uhm, erhm, I'm not certain of the exact terminology you mean, but the price I am to sell for is 600 to 1800 silver pieces.  The price you would profit thereafter should be... well it depends if and how you mean to extract it quickly or not but 6-10 silver pieces a week extracting it slowly.  And you could liquidate 5/6th of it directly for the value of 5 indentured servants on some of the most restrictive contract terms available to place humans under.  And the spiritual question was one of the acceptability and alignment about the means of extraction or erh …" Fernando speaks quickly at first but then stutters a bit, damn he hates his stutter "umm liquidation." And with another pause and stuter "And uhh..." Fernando calls to mind a piece of trivia about the Abadaran that might prove useful "there may be other less conventionally priced forms you could usefully convert this opportunity into." 

"Very well. I will consult with you for up to fifteen minutes for a sum of fifteen silver to be paid now and may continue afterwards on my own interest if I assess that I stand to profit."

Fernando had learned a bit about Abadarans before this conversation, and had mentally set 1 silver piece as his offer for 10 minutes of time, and a line at 10 silver pieces for 10 minutes as his absolute maximum.  15 silver pieces for 15 minutes is… within the spirit of his plan.

After just a moment to do this mental math.  “Very well, I accept” Fernando says rapidly.  He pauses and breathes to prevent another bout of stuttering, then resumes talking at a steady pace. “I am a 1st circle wizard who makes their living primarily through selling 1st circle spells.  I typically adjust my prices according to urgency and demand.  On several occasions my clients were (or had a family member) critically injured and in desperate need of an infernal healing.  I correspondingly demanded a higher price for my spell, which they in turn claimed they could not afford.  I offered a loan for my price.  I described the loan accurately and in full, but the circumstances and some of the particularities might be described as Asmodean.  Realizing the folly and Evil of Asmodeanism due to recent events I thus desire to handle this matter in a Goodlier or erg ah… fairer manner? My first recourse is to sell the loans to one who would handle them fairly, such as an Abadaran as yourself.  The second option I’m considering would be to offer kinder terms to make the contracts less Asmodean.  The contracts are loans originally for 200, 100, 300, 200, 150, and 200 silver pieces.  The amount left to be paid on each is 152, 120, 454, 211, 93, and 182 silver pieces each, respectively.  The interest rate is 20% per year for each of them.  All of the loanees except the one who originally owed 150 silver pieces have at some point or another fallen critically behind on weekly repayments and may be sold into indentured servitude at the whim of the contract holder so long as the full amount owed is not yet paid.  The loans originally set a rate of repayment to 1 silver piece a week, but renegotiation for missed payment has added on various amounts to that to the various loaners (except the one who originally owed 150 silver pieces), for instance several of them owe quite a windfall around harvest time.  As to downsides, well, they are all the way east of us in my home county in Sirmium, so you would probably have to resell to someone able to collect the payments over there. I also understand there is some risk and uncertainty about repayment, but worse case you can always liquidate into indentured servitude with quite flexible terms (on your end).  And I’m not sure I should offer the same deal on all the contacts.  Hence the wide range in my price range.  Oh, and the other matters you might leverage this into… one of the loanees has hinted at, and said outright that there daughter might be willing to marry for the rest of the loan values, especially to someone respectable.  I know marriage as a directly sold good is not the custom per say for more urbane and sophisticated individuals such as yourself, but she’s healthy with all her teeth, clear skin, good hips, and a symmetrical face.”

As he says this Fernando fumbles with his coin purse to get out 15 silver pieces, finishing the motion as he completes his description of the situation.

“And of course I have the contracts if you want to read them in detail”

"For future reference, the correct way to address situations where you and your customers anticipate emergencies that they will be in a poor haggling position for is to arrange an insurance scheme ahead of time." Jaume counts the silver and pockets it and produces a little notebook to write out all the sums. "I would like to see the contracts and the written records of all changes to the terms since they were originally drafted."

Fernando actually has a vague idea of how insurance works!  He thinks it would mean the peasants would pay a smaller amount in advance, which means he doesn't actually mind the idea all that much (smaller is bad but in advance is good), but correspondingly means he would have a hard time convincing any peasant to go for it.  Nevertheless "Thank you for that wise advice Fiducia".  And Fernando pulls the contracts out.

• All 6 contracts have similar basic terms, with 8.3% interest per month, on the amount owed at the beginning of the month, amounts less than a copper piece (1/10th of a silver) automatically rounded up to the nearest copper piece.  There is some standard Asmodean legal boilerplate the defines the terms of who the contract holder is, who the loanee is, and various conditions under which those may be changed.  The contract specifies a minimum payment of 1 silver piece per week, to be held, untouched and unused, if the contract holder is unable to come in person or send a representative to collect for that week (a "collection event").  On the first missed repayment, there is a 1 copper piece fee to be repaid the next week.  On the second missed repayment, the fee is 1 silver piece.  On the third missed repayment the contract holder has the right to sell them into indentured servitude (with some quite harsh terms allowed) until the missed payment is made.  On the 4th missed payment, the contract holder has the right to sell the loanee into indentured servitude indefinitely so long as the loan amount is not yet paid off in full.  The contracts each note clearly that a falling short of payment during a single collection event can count as multiple missed payments, up to 1 missed payment for every silver piece short.  All of the loans have a decently detailed ledge with them, listing interest rate calculations, amounts paid, and reductions or increase in amounts according to various modifier and addendums.
• Contract 1, for 200 silver pieces (currently 152 left to be repaid) has 7 missed payments and 2 addendums.  The first addendum allows for the contract holder to demand the next week's repayment up to 1 week in advance up to once per two months.  The second addendum increases the minimum amount due per week to 2 silver pieces indefinitely in exchange for not being sold into indentured servitude for 6 months (this period has already passed).
• Contract 2, for 100 silver pieces (currently 120 left to be repaid) has 4 missed payments and 1 addendum.  The addendum increases the minimum amount due per week to 2 silver pieces indefinitely in exchange for not being sold into indentured servitude for 4 months (this period has already passed) and a reduction in debt by 8 silver pieces.
• Contract 3, for 300 silver pieces (currently 454 left to be repaid) has 18 missed payments noted and 7 addendums.  The first allows for the contract holder to demand the next weeks repayment up to 1 week in advance up to once per month.  The second raises the minimum payment per week to 2 silver pieces.  The third allows the contract holder to sell a days labor from the loanee for up to once per week if they are behind on repayment for a value of 1 silver piece and forgives 10 silver pieces owed.  The fourth clarifies terms on who is allowed to act as a representative of the contract holder.  The fifth allows for the contract holder or representative to seize up to 1/3 of harvest towards the repayment of the debt (with a very minimal rate at which it counts towards the debt) in exchange for 25 silver pieces forgiven and not being sold into indentured servitude for the next 13 months (this duration has already passed).  The 6th and 7th addendums note guaranteed time ranges (which have already passed) for not being sold into indentured servitude in exchange for raising the total debt further (by 50 silver pieces).  Careful review of the ledge shows they are currently substantially behind on repayment.
• Contract 4, for 200 silver pieces (currently 211 left to be repaid) has 5 missed payments and 2 addendums.  The first addendum is between the contract holder and a third party (the loanee's daughter apparently?) offering the loanee a guarantee of not being sold into indentured servitude for 13 months (already past) in exchange for the third party offering to be the wife of the contract holder if all amounts are not paid throughout the duration of the 12 months.  The second addendum allows for the contract holder or representative to rent the loanee out to a local cleric (with a complicated definition therein) for labor (with a complicated Asmodean description of what labors are included) up to 5 days per month, paying the debt down by 2 silver pieces per day of labor.
• Contract 5, for 150 silver pieces (currently 93 left to be repaid) has no addendums and no missed payments noted.
• Contract for 200 silver pieces (currently 182 left to be repaid).  Has 4 missed payments and 1 addendum, increasing the minimum amount due per week to 2 silver pieces indefinitely in exchange for not being sold into indentured servitude for 3 months (this period has already passed).

In short, the contracts, (especially with addendums made) are intended to trap the debtors in perpetual debt with the threat of indentured servitude.  By Asmodean standards, they are relatively straightforward and could perhaps even be seen as generous.

Fernando waits patiently (time after 15 minutes doesn't cost him anything, right?).  "Let me know if you have any questions, but the contracts and ledgers should be clearly detailed".  (Indeed, the contracts are detailed, but "clear" only by the standards of Asmodean contracts, which can get quite convoluted.)

Time after 15 minutes costs nothing, it just means that Jaume can fuck off without owing him anything if he decides he can't make money here. "These are more thorough than I typically see at this level of business operation," he remarks. It's sort of a compliment except that the standard invoked is low. "Are these all of the parties to whom you offered such a deal? If so it is somewhat remarkable that none of them preferred to sacrifice their Law outright to flee your notice as soon as they became aware they could not meet the terms consistently."

Fernando preens for a moment.  Yeah, he worked hard on his entrapment scheme!  Now he just needs to ditch it since it has become a liability under a Good regime.  "I am sorry to admit Fiducia, but I have had one person relatively recently abscond after the chaos of the Four Day War.  So perhaps that would raise your estimate of the risk, but alternatively perhaps you would see these 6 as the surer bets that are still paying out.  Over 9 years I have offered such deals...  Besides the 6 shown here, and the one that absconded, I have had 4 other loans I have previously sold off or liquidated, ah uh... well prior to recent events.  Two were sold into indentured servitude when they would not make additional offers or terms with me after missed payments, one I sold after I agreed to terms but they seemed likely to flee, and we didn't actually agree to terms that prevent me from selling them for their 4 missed payments, and finally the last I sold at large discount after they already absconded." He pauses a moment, considering how to elaborate.

"The peasantry is often less lawful than such sophisticated people as ourselves, it is true, but many of them have never left their home village and thus have nowhere they know to flee to.  Hmmm... if it makes your decision any easier, contract 1 was made by a man for his pregnant wife's healing, and to this day he has ah, three kids with her, so I think unlikely to flee.  Contracts 2 and 6 were with the pregnant women themselves and they now each have at least a child to tie them down.  And contract 5 has been quite reliable, he has decent land and is careful with his money.  I've been careful to only be harsh with my debtors as needed, I've presented a willingness to negotiate, even as my negotiations made the terms themselves much firmer."  Fernando starts to talk fast towards the end of this little speech, as he considers the exact Evilness he's admitting to...

"If you wait some months for the political changes to propagate, it is widely expected that the Church of Abadar's presence will increase considerably, and you may be able to get a much better rate from financiers who expect to be able to project power and receive intelligence from the village in question on a more convenient basis than I. However, if you wish to sell today, I can calculate a price at which I would be interested in my individual capacity."

Describing things in full has in fact made Fernando feel, well, not guilty, but aware of his actions might be negatively portrayed and perceived (not that this Abadaran has actually commented much on that?).  So he is in fact almost outright eager to sell today, to get this potentially disloyal piece of his past dealt with before the convention.  "Thank you for that context" (does Agramunt not realize the long term risk associated with waiting?).  Fernando considers his words carefully... "I think my exact willingness to sell depends, of course, on your price.  And, relatedly, as I've seen the error of Asmodeanism..." (" And please don't ask what that error actually is", Fernando thinks to himself, as he still isn't sure other than the fact that Asmodeus lost).  He reaches for just the right phrasing, a touch of flattery ideally "...your assurance you, or whoever you resell to, will handle this matter fairly, in the True Spirit of Lawfulness, going forward." (Is that an appropriately flattering way to say properly Abadaran Lawful Neutral).

"Oh and one minor detail to clarify, it isn't one village, but a circuit of closely connected small villages, that the debtors are spread out through."  Fernando digs through his pack and takes out a notebook "I have some maps of the exact areas, and some notes on the debtors, mostly inconsequential to the contracts and ledgers, but it is good to know them personally if you want to renegotiate terms and such.  I won't be needing these notes anymore assuming we come to a deal on all the debtors, so I'll include it for free in that case, and I of course will allow you to copy the relevant portions if we agree on just part of the contracts."

Jaume looks over the map, tots up some distances in his ledger. "The representative you've used before, what is their availability like?"

Fernando suppresses a wince.  How to spin this positively.  "I uh... am not currently making use of a representative, although I have made use of one in the past.  But... assuming they are still in the area (I last saw them a few months ago), and haven't been murdered, they are very likely looking for gainful employment!  They are um, well, a former 1st circle priest of Asmodeus.  I spoke to them shortly after the Four Day War, they were depowered, and I discontinued my use of their services.  They previously worked a circuit of small villages, the same circuit along which all of the debtors are, so they are familiar with the area and people.  Hmm... if you are looking for a way to make use of them efficiently, perhaps a new representative, with a small fee to the former Asmodean cleric to introduce them to the debtors, or to walk them through the area?  It would minimize how much use you had to make of them and reduce the odds they get murdered before transferring their knowledge over to a more acceptable representative!"

It occurs to Fernando he really should have thought of a more positive spin in advance, but he had been trying not to think about this Asmodean associations in general.

"Ah, I see." He makes a little shorthand note. "An opportune choice under the circumstances but likely no longer. Figuring figuring. Consulting a lookup table. "Does this figure agree with your understanding of the face value?"

The sheer lack of concern the Abadaran has for the Asmodean nature of the original contracts, or for the apparent disloyalty to a Good Regime dealing in such contracts might show, almost makes Fernando second guess himself.  Almost... but Fernando has already weighed the odds and evolving political circumstances as best he could.  Anyway the figure looks about... oh wait this is just the face value, without the full accounting for risk and inconvenience?  Fernando runs through his mental math on interests again, yes this part matches.  "Ah yes, for the face value as listed that looks right."  He resists the urge to hold his breath while he waits to see how badly the Fiducia figures the risks to be.

Further calculation ensues. "This is my estimate of the time investment it would take for me or agents I employ to collect on these debts on my projected schedule... the financial cost in travel and postal expenses and the like... the adjustment to their face value associated with stepping down the interest rate to something less likely to provoke a reckless breach or legal appeal in the new regulatory environment... the remaining approximate risk of breach or appeal in the new regulatory environment... a small reputational cost nearly cancelled out by the factor of the young lady's suggestion... and I will be personally prepared to buy these debts from you today at 46% of the face value, in a bundle, provided you purchase a Truthtelling casting to verify the facts."

That was... on the lower end of Fernando's own estimates... but tolerable.  And seeing the numbers all actually written out, Fernando can't dispute any of them.  He assumes "something less likely to provoke a reckless breach or legal appeal in the new regulatory environment" and "a small reputational cost" is about as much acknowledgement as the Fiducia will give about the massive change to Cheliax's leadership, alignment, and religion?  Anyway he needs to answer... "Yes, that discount is acceptable to me, provided you can pay directly and immediately upon finalizing the agreement... and that of course I have your word that you will handle this matter justly and Lawfully" (Fernando hopes that strikes the right balance of seemingly routine reassurance without offending the Fiducia's pride while simultaneously giving Fernando an out if the Fiducia is arrested for Asmodeanism and points the finger at Fernando?)  Pausing a moment "Yes, I can pay for a Truthtelling to verify everything I have said to you and given you in written form is accurate to the best of my knowledge.  Or is their another wording you would use with the Truthtelling?  And uh of course I assume other questions outside the scope of this matter will be not be asked about?  Erh uh... also what is the price of Truthtellings?  I would be willing to come back anytime, and possibly several times to get the best available price if it fluctuates with extra spell slots and rush availability and such.  I understand it is a specialty spell, but I hope with my accommodations we can keep the price to 10 silver pieces or under?  I assume we will finalize the agreement after the Truthtelling?"

Yes, this is almost behind him... just need to keep an eye out for any last minute scams (Fernando is only mostly sure Abadarans aren't allowed to do that)!

"I can write up a list of questions that I mean to pose under Truthtelling in advance, and before I cast it can assert by the power Abadar has vested in me that I am conducting this fairly and Lawfully, thereby verifying with the casting that I have not been egregiously misusing His imprint. The standard rate for a Truthtelling ranges from ten to twenty-five silver depending on demand and availability, and is floating near the higher end here and under present conditions, but it will not rise in price if there are other things you would find convenient to state to any party during its duration; my questions will take much less than half, and I can take the cost out of the amount I am paying for the debt with silver acting only as collateral, if that is more convenient."

Best just to get it over with then "Yes, I would like to read over the exact questions prior to committing to the Truthtelling.  25 silvers isn't ideal, but if the price has been high lately, I suppose I will just pay it as is and get it done now.  And yes, I would be making the silver back upon confirmation wouldn't I?  So it's basically collateral since I have in fact been telling the truth.  As to any other statements I would make to any other party -"  Fernando has a clever idea and pauses for a moment to mentally verify it to himself.  "- how much would you charge on future occasions for a few moments of your time to confirm I have made a brief statement under Truthtelling now at this time and date?  I don't have any other parties I wish to hear such a statement at this time, but it might be a good thing to have a statement already observed by a Lawful person such as yourself and I can just refer inquires about it to you."  There, that way he can get a statement of his general loyalty and his current intentions on the record in a way the would contradict any attempt by the Fiducia (or other people) to rat him out for Asmodeanism.

And he takes out a piece of paper and starts drafting the statement "I can get my statement written out in advance as well if that is your preference?"

"I can notarize a written statement to the effect that you uttered the relevant remark under Truthtelling for four copper. You can also bring people to hear me say in person for the same per occasion but it would be much less efficient."

"That sounds does sound more efficient, and four copper is an acceptable price.  Alright, I'll work out my statement, and you can let me know when you have your questions ready?"

"In just a few moments." And here's, lightly edited for the circumstance, boilerplate about all the material facts discussed being accurate and the records complete and suchlike.

Despite the clarity and boilerplate style, Fernando reads it over carefully, looking for any potential tricks or accidental mistatements such that the Truthtelling might be wasted, but doesn't see any.

"And here is my own statement I would add and take your notarization for 4 coppers on"

I, Fernando of Marti's Crossing*, do affirm my loyalty as a subject and citizen of Cheliax and Queen Catherine de Litran.  I affirm my intent to pursue my future dealings fairly and justly.  Furthermore, I affirm my intent to set aside my former Asmodean dealings and put them in the hands of Lawful persons capable of carrying them forward justly and Lawfully according to the new Laws and Customs of Cheliax.

*Fernando's hometown's name, of no relation to any significant historical figure.

Jaume reads through this, and when Fernando is ready and the collateral's been handed over, he casts.

He casts a Detect Magic just before the Truthtelling is cast, so he can see it properly (even if his spellcraft isn't the best, Fernando loves getting to see less common spells in use).  He reads off the boilerplate without the slightest hesitation or stutter.  When he gets to his own statement, he momentarily pauses as he gets to the word "citizen",  as the Truthtelling almost catches his awareness at his own lack of comprehension of the term, but ultimately Fernando's intent at truthfulness carries through.  Likewise, each time he starts to say "intent" the Truthtelling pushes against his own awareness at his lack of resolve, but Fernando is telling the truth about this intention and does mean to carry it out, so he finishes the word with only the slightest of perceptible pauses.

And with that business out of the way, Fernando is feeling genuinely happy, although he is trying to keep his emotions under control until the money is in his hand and the contracts (and addendums, and ledgers, and notebook of extra details) out of them.

Jaume tidies up the paperwork with the meticulous swiftness of a chef sweeping away preparatory dregs to make way for a new mise en place and hands over the money. Mostly in gold. It takes up less space.