The Gertners' Taxes

**The Gertners' Taxes** is an Act 1 quest in *Pentiment*.

## Overview

This is an optional quest that Andreas receives on the first in-game day in Act 1. The quest can be completed through conversations with people in Tassing and Kiersau. None of these conversations will lead time to progress.

## Walkthrough

The question of taxes comes up early in the Act, the moment Andreas gets out of bed, actually. Clara Gertneryn asks Andreas if he can pay in advance, so that they can cover the abbey's taxation. There are three possible solutions, although two of them depend on the choices the player made during Character Creation.

1. If Andreas is a theologian, he can talk to the abbot (a bit later in the day, rather than just after meeting the Baron) and invoke Christian charity. Attempting to negotiate the rate or getting the abbot to waive his rights is generally not going to work. The abbot will suggest an advance payment on the masterpiece as a compromise. Then it's to Brother Mathieu to collect!
2. If Andreas is a rapscallion, he'll be able to sneak into the sacristy by distracting Mathieu and ~~stealing~~ collecting his wages from among the riches.
3. Andreas can also speak with Brother Mathieu at any point. Simply ask for a favor, explain *politely* that you would like an advance payment, then ask for an exception (not rationalize). Then ask about increased taxes and openly state that you want to help the Gertners with their taxes. Mathieu agrees to an advance payment.

Afterwards, just talk to Clara in the morning whether you left the money on the table or decided to give it to her directly.

## Journal Entries

### Find a Way to Get Paid

*"I need to find a way to get an advance from the abbey so I can help the Gertners pay their taxes."*

> Although Clara will ask Andreas about the advance payment soon after he wakes up, the initial journal entry for this quest does not appear until after he arrives at the Abbey with Lorenz.
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### Ask Brother Mathieu

*"I could speak with Brother Mathieu about an early payment for my manuscipt."*

### Convinced Mathieu

*"I managed to convince Brother Mathieu to pay me early for my manuscript. Luckily I didn't need to convince the abbot. I should get the money to Clara."*

### Mathieu Refused

*"I was not able to convince Mathieu to grant me early payment for my manuscript."*

### Ask Father Gernot

*"Father Gernot might be receptive to a negotiation for the funds. I'll need to approach the subject carefully and make it worth his while."*

### Gernot Agreed

*"Father Gernot agreed to grant me an early payment for my manuscript. I'll need to speak with Brother Mathieu about this arragement so that he can fetch the funds."*

### Gernot Refused

*"Father Gernot and I were unable to come to a agreement regarding early payment for my manuscript work."*

### Mathieu Paid

*"With Father Gernot's permission, I was able to collect early payment for the manuscript from Brother Mathieu. I should get the money to Clara."*

### Sneak into the Sacristy

*"If I can get into the sacristy when the brothers are not around, I could steal the funds I need from the abbey treasury."*

### Sacking the Sacristy

*"I managed to break into the treasury cabinet in the sacristy and pocket enough funds to pay my rent early. I should get the money to Clara."*

### A Little Surpise

*"I decided to leave the money on the table to surprise Clara in the morning. I should speak to her tomorrow."*

### Paid in Full

*"Clara seemed very grateful for the money. Hopefully this will help alleviate some of the Gertner's money troubles."* OR *"Clara seemed very grateful for the money. I think she enjoyed the surprise as well! Hopefully this will help alleviate some of the Gertner's money troubles."*