Hmm - how is this for a more detailed breakdown? Working on the assumption we are in late morning.
1. Leo tails someone leaving the castle in uniform, to find a few targets going to lunch/after work that do not look like pracitioners, and ideally are low ranking officers. At the risk of stereotyping I see this as likely a pub or a cafe.
2. Katherine and Ada, and separately Titus and Leo go to the same restaurant. Tomasz and Richard park nearby. Katherine uses her powers on the targets.
2a If any of them notice and do not understand, Ada causes a scene by claiming they are trying to hit on her and Ada. Titus and Leo then step in. Katherine uses the diversion to mess with their minds.
2b If any of them notice and do understand, they are practitioners. Everyone turns on them. Tomasz and Richard drive through the wall and we attempt to kill everyone there. In this case Ada will attempt to retrieve their souls for later questioning, and their corpses for disguises (she'll sell this as "question their corpses")
3. Information is used to (A) find new targets for Katherine's readings (B) find more information about security - layout, passwords, etc (C) acquire information to assist in disguise based infiltration (D) find out about Heydrich; schedule, information, etc (E) find location of records rooms.
4. We consult whatever public records about the castle exist, seeking to understand whatever we can find out. If nothing else their should be photos, and I bet there is at least a "public blueprint". This would be an attempt to use Knowledge skills, rather than Gather Information.
5. We send in something that will trigger detect magical alarms, but is essentially harmless. If Richard can pull up a ghost, that'd be ideal. Something that already lives nearby could be good. A parcel with a "artefact" might be enough. Even a bird with a magic aura string wrapped around it's leg.
6. That night the sneaky members (Titus and Leo, from the sound of it) attempt to sneak in, aided by the information acquired from step 3 & 4. They attempt to get whatever additional information we discovered was potentially acquirable (bonus points for home addresses of officers). Everyone gives them whatever aid they can. The rest of us separate into two teams; an armed response unit with a vehicle, and a sniper unit to provide cover.
In the even that the sneak-team needs to run, the snipers provide cover, and the response team rushes to a rendezvous to get them out of dodge. We don't leave someone behind - dead or not.
I'm torn on what the 'cover' for the sneak is if we get caught. Unconventional attack team might be best.
7. We meet up to see what we've managed to find out, and make plans for morning. It is critical we do not let them know they have been infiltrated, and a disguise based infiltration is more likely to fail then longer we run it.
Thoughts?
I mean, for what it's worth, most people probably won't worry too much if they see me... XD
For what it's worth, during prolonged skill challenges I try to minimize the rolls for a single given skill, especially if it's one that can possibly result in failure (typically Stealth). That's to avoid the laws of probability working against you.
I just remembered I dumped a bunch of ranks into Linguistics, so with a bit of work I should be able to forge documents well enough.
Katherine is pretty good at them too. She's got a +17, so at least good enough to give a +2.
Ada could probably assist - more critically she has access to communal nondetection, which might nicely help out with disguises - but at enough cost we may have to knock over a jewellers first.
Poke? Do you need something? I was thinking you'd set your plans in motion, but if you'd rather I can create an opening.
I think creating an opening would be good.
If I have this right...
1. Leo tails someone leaving the castle in uniform, to find a few targets going to lunch/after work that do not look like pracitioners, and ideally are low ranking officers. At the risk of stereotyping I see this as likely a pub or a cafe.
2. Katherine and Ada, and separately Titus and Leo go to the same restaurant. Tomasz and Richard park nearby. Katherine uses her powers on the targets.
2a If any of them notice and do not understand, Ada causes a scene by claiming they are trying to hit on her and Ada. Titus and Leo then step in. Katherine uses the diversion to mess with their minds.
2b If any of them notice and do understand, they are practitioners. Everyone turns on them. Tomasz and Richard drive through the wall and we attempt to kill everyone there. In this case Ada will attempt to retrieve their souls for later questioning, and their corpses for disguises (she'll sell this as "question their corpses")
This has now been done
3. Information is used to (A) find new targets for Katherine's readings (B) find more information about security - layout, passwords, etc (C) acquire information to assist in disguise based infiltration (D) find out about Heydrich; schedule, information, etc (E) find location of records rooms.
We have information from the guards:
passing through the checkpoint requires only that documents are checked, one's name is in a list, and that weapons are confiscated. This last ban on arms is not in effect for high-ranking officers of the German forces, from the rank of Lieutenant upwards.
From Titus we know that lots of people are in and out all the time.
That leaves the following
4. We consult whatever public records about the castle exist, seeking to understand whatever we can find out. If nothing else their should be photos, and I bet there is at least a "public blueprint". This would be an attempt to use Knowledge skills, rather than Gather Information.5. We send in something that will trigger detect magical alarms, but is essentially harmless. If Richard can pull up a ghost, that'd be ideal. Something that already lives nearby could be good. A parcel with a "artefact" might be enough. Even a bird with a magic aura string wrapped around it's leg.
6. That night the sneaky members (Titus and Leo, from the sound of it) attempt to sneak in, aided by the information acquired from step 3 & 4. They attempt to get whatever additional information we discovered was potentially acquirable (bonus points for home addresses of officers). Everyone gives them whatever aid they can. The rest of us separate into two teams; an armed response unit with a vehicle, and a sniper unit to provide cover.
In the even that the sneak-team needs to run, the snipers provide cover, and the response team rushes to a rendezvous to get them out of dodge. We don't leave someone behind - dead or not.
I'm torn on what the 'cover' for the sneak is if we get caught. Unconventional attack team might be best.7. We meet up to see what we've managed to find out, and make plans for morning. It is critical we do not let them know they have been infiltrated, and a disguise based infiltration is more likely to fail then longer we run it.
We could amend these with what we know.
Half the party have turned out to have skill at either forgery, disguise, or both. We work on creating a few disguises for people who could go in.
Presuming we know someone on the list (and following some functionaries should give that) then we can probably reroute them - or as Katherine suggests we could risk magic to confuse them into thinking there is a mistake.
If we want to get particularly fancy we could try to take the place of a guard, but I am not keen on this.
If we can get some gems Ada can cast Nondetection to try to get through detecting wards.
Suggested way forward (to be put IC if people are amenable).
1. We identify two targets. Ideally these would be targets who do not turn up every day, and deal with paperwork.
2. 2 PCs are sent in with very strong disguises, forgeries, and nondetection to pass as those targets. 1 should be Katherine so she can mind whammy them if something goes wrong.
3. Remaining PCs contrive to delay the two targets, should they arrive. This might be ideal for magical but blunt instruments like Ada and Richard.
The other person should not be Tomasz, despite being able to disguise himself he has a garbage bluff score. Other than that, I like this plan.
In other news, I'll be camping this weekend and will be very afk
Though Richard might take offense at being called a blunt instrument, it's probably apt for his general magical abilities. I'll pitch in however's needed.
I think it's about as sound a plan as we can manage. It has some potential for chaos, mostly because we're relying on other people not being where we are, but there's no way in hell this will all go smoothly. Might as well build the bugs in.
Plan works for me. XD Titus' ability to be a bird means he's overall likely to be better at supporting rather than being disguised.
Sorry, been a little out of it this week, let me catch up.
I'm reading this as you, being in the bar, being discreet. The guards are not on high alert.
Also, poke?
Hmm - just realised:
30gp left for…
bell & wire
blank book
silver button
tools
Hidden camera (in object)
I never actually checked if Ada had enough to get these.
Prioritised it'd be:1 bell & wire
2 blank book
3 silver button
4 Hidden camera (in object)
5 Clockwork tools
6 Forgery tools
Does she need the focus for Create Soul Gem? I think, sadly, she does... damn thing costs a fortune, not sure how I missed it.
So: plan
Leo and Kathy disguise up (Forged papers, unless Katherine can bypass the need). I am assuming Leo can speak Czech.
Richard and Ada distract these guys
Titus does aerial recon while Leo and Kathy go in.
Thomasz stands ready nearby to make a (mundane) distraction, should one be necessary for Leo and Kathy to escape.
Not sure how Ada and Richard will distract these guys, but we can try. There's a decent chance it is likely to be a permanent distraction, I think. Mugging them is an obvious way forward... but I have my suspicions these guys aren't entirely mundane.
Everyone okay for this to be proposed IC? If so, does someone else want to do it, as I feel a bit like Ada is an outsider. Otherwise happy to propose.
Plan works for me. I'm good with aerial stuff and ranged attacks anyway. XD
My only concern is that Richard and Ada are gonna finish the distraction part of the mission long before we finish the infiltration.
That's a rather valid concern.
I'll be traveling Thursday - Sunday afternoon, and will be largely AFK. I may be able to get a quick post in, but I can't make any promises.
Editor's note: Georg von Küchler was one of the commanders of the Siege of Warsaw - thus how Tomasz knows the name.
Gameplay note: I've rolled a Bluff check for Tomasz, considering a believable lie, against a Sense Motive, and you lost the opposing skill check: at the moment he's not believing you, although he's a bit unnerved. If you want to prolong the exchange, you'll have to roll Bluff again at a -10 penalty, reduced to -5 since you are incorporating plausible information (and you know his name, by Katherine's information sharing).
If anyone else wants to do something to assist, your time is now.
Thank you for doing that - I'm never sure when to stop RPing and start rolling.
@Leo - What rank are you imitating?
One step higher than yours.
So, Richard and Ada now make sure that the patsies don't come back, or call in.
Leo, Tomasz and Katherine are infiltrating.
Titus is on overwatch (or can join A & R)
Have I got this right?
I think so, yeah.
Sounds solid to me.
@Richard, Titus: do you have any clever ideas on how to pull this off? I'm coming up blank. I feel like there should be a way, even if just to summon a flock of ravens to follow Titus in harassing them or something.
Sabotaging communications could work, if it happens enough it is not inherently enough to engage suspicion. Sabotage that triggers a high alert might work anyway (as the minister would then likely be kept outside by a lockdown) but also might lead to the minister going home anyway.
Part of me wonders if we could have them 'arrested'.
Alternatively I wonder if we could call the Rudolfinium and leave a message for when they arrive?
Hmm - these are the days of fairly primitive exchanges and unencrypted communication. Could we "hack" the exchange so we could intercept calls from the Rudolfinium to certain numbers? If we can intercept calls from the Rudolfinium to the Castle, then (A) we can ensure no alarm is raised and (B) potentially intercept any calls the minister makes back to his office.
That said, while Ada actually has good Engineering and Programming, her Disable Device is untrained.
Short of that all I have is Expeditious Retreat, a bicycle, and frantic peddling. I have a feeling attempting an impromptu infiltration is a highly, highly risky strategy.
I'll have to do some reading on how telephone lines worked in the 1940s, but intercepting the call sounds like it should be doable.
I can certainly scare or convince people to do things, or perhaps drive them mad if need be.
*Rubs chin* I mean, I can shoot little laser beams and deliberately miss people for a nonlethal distraction. I'm good at direct damage, not so good at illusions. Since I can do it as a bird, it'd likely be really confusing.
Is there anything I can do to get this back into a rhythm? I feel like you are worried that a wrong decision is going to wreak havoc onto your plans, but if that turns into a waiting game then I'd suggest picking a course of action and dragging the others with you. Consequences will be dealt with as they come.
I think we just need to make a choice - are we sneaking in via distraction, or bluffing our way past? As someone with a phenomenal bluff and poor sneak, I know where my vote goes...
Bluffing seems fine. XD I can sneak through either way - who pays birds much mind? - so whatever you're better at makes sense to me.
Tomasz may need some help, but bluffing is fine with me
I think Katherine, Leo and Tomasz are bluffing in. They should be a go.
Titus, Richard and Ada need to do what they can to buy the other three time to sneak in. The obvious way to do this is to delay the minister.
For us
I'm desperately trying to come up with something clever, heist-like and within our skillset... and failing to do so. This is what I have.
I suggest
(A) Richard drive out into the countryside with an officer's uniform.
(B) Titus bolts, then harasses (dive bombs as bird) the riders. If he can subtly damage the bikes, do so. Simply flying in front of the Minister when the minister is at speed may be enough. Flying should give him a huge edge getting there first. Aiming for delay, rather than injury.
(C) Ada takes her potion of Expeditious Retreat and if necessary potion of Urban Grace, and bolts to get there first. +30ft with ability to leap rooftop-to-rooftop should help. Assuming this is compatible with bicycles, it should make a huge difference.
(D) Ada approaches minister as he approaches, and explains that the officer in question has grown tired of waiting and gone out to the field. He is currently at <Richard's location>
She claims to be a secretary. If she has time to change slightly, that would be good, but it is unlikely she will be remembered. Could use Shroud of Innocuity or Assume Appearance (Greater) if needed, though would prefer to use Chastise. A minute to make basic changes to clothes would be good.
(E) assuming she can redirect them, they go to Richard's location. If necessary, she goes with them.
(F) Titus flies to Richard's location, does his best to look like prisoner.
(G) when they get to Richard's location he claims to be secret police. He tells the situation has been dealt with, the officer has had the situation explained, and this NEVER HAPPENED. Needs to do his best to be intimidating. If extra is needed, once they are out of LOS, "shoots prisoner".
Well, I can try to snipe things from cover. 8D Blowing out tires ought to slow them down a little.
Hmmm. I was just thinking beak to the face, but if you can snipe tyres that might work. Needs to look accidental though.
I quite like that plan. However, it’s worth noting that Richard doesn’t have terribly much by way of bluff. I can do it well, just not fantastically.
Can I roll that DC 20 Knowledge (Local) or will someone else need to?
You can't usually retry a Knowledge check: I'd let you do it again if you had a nearby library that you can visit, or another source of information, but in this circumstance I'll go for "someone else should get it".
Although, in case someone else managed to get a 18-19 result, I'll let your check work as an Aid Another.
Leo's a solid liar if that helps his Know (Local) is functional but nothing remarkable.
Beak to the face also works. XD
@Katherine, @Sappy: if there was prep beforehand then Ada could have helped, but as it stands I am assuming not.
@Richard: I'm hopeful you'll mostly be doing intimidate. Hold off giving any actual information, and just demand an action. Bluff would certainly help, though.
@All: I realise planning in discussion means a bunch of rp we're not doing, but my experience has been it is worth at least getting the basics down here so everyone is on the same page when it comes to gameplay. Otherwise you end up with a story with pages of rambling hypotheticals in the middle of a car chase ;)
@Titus, @Sappy: if you two are also okay with this, I'm happy to run with it now.
Sounds good. I can certainly intimidate.
About Ada helping: I'm thinking you could have planned before acting, so you can roll Knowledge(local) too.
The Discussion thread is very much OK for planning, doing it IC would take a lot more time. And the plan looks like it has a good chance of working, BUT you'll need to come up with a reasonable explanation for why the officer that the Undersecretary has to meet would have gone out of the city.
I'd rather not have Tomasz take the lead on bluffing us in, as he has a horrible bluff score and I'm moving house this weekend. @Leo or @Katherine, care to start us out?
Let the Bluffing begin.