"I'd have used a pair of small boats, rather than swimming a league, but there are magics that make long swims possible. Surely such things are not beyond the resources of the Blood Knives?" Shula winks at the leader. "Fighting through four warships wouldn't be my first choice, but night does fall on the ocean as well, does it not? So, without knowing the specifics, we'd get close under cover of darkness. The loud would create a diversion while the silent would slip on board and get the chest. That is the part where a boat would have come in especially useful, but if you insist on us swimming, then we'd need another spell to carry the chest. Incidentally, will the chest be lighter when we steal in from the parade? Or will it still be several hundred pounds?"
"However, your larger point is understood. You're the boss, you control what information we have to operate with, down to who we're going to have with us on the job. I'll be a good puppet and try not to think anymore."
Martil sits quietly listening. Girl's got some spunk and thinks quick on her feet.
Rupert grins at hearing Shula's rough, but workable, plan. "Personally, I think it would be more fun to just steal the ship. But I've always been fond of intentional failure," he says, jangling his chain to emphasize the point. " But I wonder: how hard to we get to fight protecting the chest?" He grins, sweeping his gaze across the other recruits.
Natalia listens to Shula's impromptu plan, "There's a spell for the chest, it makes anything buoyant in water..."
The leader laughs at Shula "Well, it seems you aren't just another pretty face! Good. We had recruited one of those before, along with the others, and she didn't pan on. Too busy trying to sleep her away around Absalom."
The woman says "This is your mission, and you may plan it as you will. I would strongly suggest not hitting the ship however. There are far more risks involved, and if you fail...well, lets not have that happen hmm?"
The bartender finishes, "The primary goal for the new recruits is to cause a decent commotion, and get one of you close enough to touch the chest with this" He opens his skeletal right hand to reveal a small ruby. "Its a special one use magic item. It will teleport the contents inside the chest to a room here, and swap the platinum pieces with glamered copper pieces. The 'guards' need to put up just enough of a fight to make it convincing, and then drive the 'attackers' away. We are playing at much more complex game here than merely stealing the taxes inside the chest. We're setting up some of our agents to be seen as heroes. Hence the desire for an audience"
Martil shifts in her seat when the leader comments about sleeping her way around Absolom. However, she listens intently to each and every word spoken. Plan a commotion, touch the chest, then act like we've been repelled. She looks at Whirrun, I'm sure he's good for distraction, he can keep several busy.
"When do the festivities begin?"
Whirrun takes a moment to imagine how he could distract people, smiling That's smart, and manipulative. They know what they're doing he nods, new found respect for the leaders
Whirrun, we need to put on a show. A few sparring sessions together should enable us to wow them.
Whirrun claps Ragar on the shoulder "We will get that fight in after all! Oh I'm looking forward to this"
Shula grins as the layers of the plan are peeled back. She stands and gives a bow towards the leaders.
"I see I will enjoy this bit of madness, now I see the method behind it," she says, and sits down again.
Of course, we will also need to find a way to escape with our lives after we disrupt everything, but confusion will be our friend in that.
Natalia thinks over the plan as presented, "I'm not much of a sneaky one, so I volunteer to not be the one to hold the gem. However I think an oil of invisibility will help conceal it from prying eyes."
"You will have ten days come the morrow to plan your mission. We know that there will be around a hundred guards in total, though the vast majority of them are ceremonial and will be lucky not to stab themselves when they draw their weapon" The woman says a bit contemptously.
"If we need any equipment," she pauses and adds,"within reason, is that supplied?" After waiting for an answer she will say, "I understand stealth is necessary but what about causalities to the unknowing guards, or bystanders, is there an acceptable risk?" With a wicked smile that is an afterthought she adds, "Of course, we would endeavor to keep such risk to a minimum.'
"Oh, and what about this additional team member that you mentioned earlier, when will we meet him or her?"
Martil waits for the last of her questions to be answered, she looks over at Natalia winks and whispers, "This should be fun."
"It should be very interesting to say the least. A seemingly impossible task is what we do..."
The leader speaks again "All mundane gear is definitely available, upon request. Some minor magic items as well, depending. I would suggest not killing too many of the guards. If more than a handful fall, it won't matter that your fellow Knives drove you off. Everyone will be caught up in the death toll. Same goes for bystanders, but I would definitely not let more than a few of them die. Try to avoid even that, if possible. Guards are an acceptable loss, but if innocents perish, again the focus shifts"
Whirrun shrugs "Shouldn't be too hard, I see no reason to take a life if it doesn't serve a purpose, and I'm just as good as knocking somebody out as killing them"
Martil nods to the leaders, "Understood."
"Well, it looks like we have some planning to to do," she looks to each of the members. Then back at the leaders, "Is there a central base where we can chart our course?" She picks up the blood knife and spins it in her hand, then draws the keen blade over her palm, "My loyalty is sealed with blood." Then she removes one of her daggers and replaces it with the blood knife on her left hip.
Natalia stand up from her seat and stretches slightly from sitting for so long "Usually we can use the inn here as it is surprisingly private. We even have rooms upstairs" She says with a purr.
[b]"Really...how shocking"[b] she smiles. And convenient.
Martil looks at the winter witch, Time to treat myself to an ice queen. She stands up "If there is nothing else this evening, I think I'm going to go explore the porcelain soaking tub." Her dark eyes flash greedily as she gently sways into Lady Natalia.
Natalia gets her meaning and pushes her gently towards the bath house, "I think I will join you.." She turns around to Ragar and the rest of the group. "Don't wait up..." And laughs at her own comment.
The woman says "Go, and enjoy the rest of the night. We will convene in five days, to check on your progress. If necessary, that is when you may request any additional equipment."
With that, the darkness washes over you all again, and you find yourselves back in the common room, right where you left from.
Whirrun blinks and looks around "That's quite the stylish way to travel" he scans the party, then smiles and puts a hand on the orcs shoulder "Guess we should get our part of the plan together eh?"
I agree. I think we can come up with quite the dance. Let's wake early and set to some sparring outside of prying eyes. For tonight, let's celebrate your indoctrination proper like.
"I suppose we should make a plan for three of us and let whoever this fourth is find a way to be helpful when we meet it," Shula says thoughtfully. "I should be able to get to the chest without being noticed if there's a gap in the line of guards for me to go through. As for the other guards, some smoke sticks might help create confusion, though we can't know if there will be wind that day. I'm more concerned with getting out under the noses of half the city, to be honest."
The next morning the drow comes down the stairs, she seems a touch less edgy as she orders, 'I'd appreciate 3 over easy eggs, a thick salt cured slice of ham, a bowl of grits, some fruit and a pot of chicory coffee when you get a moment luv." The slightest curve of a smile on her face. Wonder where the others are...well most the others at least.
Time to scout the parade route, the building rooftops, alleys and store fronts. Where can we lay the trap and have a calculated opportunity to escape quickly.
Shula leaves the tavern and scouts the parade route.
Its about two and half miles from harbor to the Vault. Its winds through one of the busier sections of the city, so there's lots of stores of a variety of stories as well as plenty of alleys.
She spots at least half a dozen spots that could be perfect for an ambush, but without knowing more specifics its hard to pick the best spot.
Martil is not one to pass up pleasure of flesh when time is permitting. She would still go and scout for herself regardless of what her compatriots advised at this point in their formation.
Right before the sun comes up Whirrun knocks softly on Ragar's door "Morning there guard, lets get moving" after Whirrun gets Ragar up and moving he leads him out into the wilderness where they can have a clear view of the sunrise. Whirrun has his monk pants on and nothing else, letting the morning dew and sun rush over his bare chest. He leads Ragar through some of the monks meditation and stretching techniques, showing amazing flexibility for his size. After the sun is fully in the sky and the sweat is dripping from his limbs, Whirrun takes out a couple of pouches of water "Hope you don't mind all this, just been a while since I've had some peace and quiet" he takes a long drink and pours a good amount over his head. "So..." he smiles and and brings a fist up, twisting his torso to face Ragar "Let's see what you're made of"
Sure, Whirrun, but you likely have me at a disadvantage in fisticuffs. However, I am never one to back down from a fight.
Ragar circles the monk, knowing that stinging blows will soon fall, but he is hoping to use his strength to grab ahold of his fellow Blood Knife.
Grapple (CMB):
Whirrun dances around a bit, throwing in some half hearted small jabs until he gets a better feel for Ragar. When he sees Ragar go for the grapple he grins "Now that's probably the last place you wanna go" as Ragar extends his arms Whirrun turns past him, swatting his hands down and then kicking him away. "By all means draw your weapon, just try to avoid taking my head off with it"
Attack
Grapple (CMD)
Ragar stps back drawing his Orc Double-Axe and moving in for an attack, using the flats of the blade to inflict only non-lethal damage.
Axe Att 1:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 1:
Axe Att 2:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 2:
Feeling the cold steel slap against his skin, Whirrun jumps back to avoid the next one, then launches himself back in but nearly breaks his hand on Ragar's armor. Swearing, he backs off and shakes his sore hand "That's well made" he realizes that Ragar will indeed by a formidable foe and gets a little more defensive, focusing his energy to remain evasive
Att
Felgar laughs as he presses the attack.
You are a slippery fella for such a biggun'. We will give them quite the show!
Axe Att 1:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 1:
Axe Att 2:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 2:
Whirrun smiles as he deftly moves aside of Ragar's attacks "It's been quite a while since I was the little guy in the fight..."
CMB
Whirrun frowns as his hand gets nothing but air "I'm more rusty than I thought"
Ragar again presses the attack.
No worries there...there are not many as large as I...
Axe Att 1:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 1:
Axe Att 2:
Axe Non-Lethal Dam 2:
Whirrun takes a moment to watch Ragar's fighting style, feeling the hard blows but focusing. Right after he gets hit the the third time he steps into it, elbowing Ragar in the armpit followed by twisting his right arm behind his back "Ha, gotcha!"
CMB (Grapple)
Rather than engage in a struggle to grapple back. Ragar raises his hands.
Ok, friend, indeed you do. That should be good enough for today.
After untangling from Whirrun, Ragar sheathes his Double-Axe on his back.
Let's wash up and see what the ladies have been up to. Maybe they have some notion of the parade route. They made our tactical advice.
He sticks out his hand to grasp forearms with his new comrade.
Martil makes a small chalk drawing on some slate, her experience says nothing permanently written which could be discovered, lost or stolen. Chalk on slate easy to erase with a swipe of the hand. She notes from her recollection the various potential ambush locations and escape routes. As she waits for the others to come down. I must've plum tuckered natalia out last night. She has a wicked satisfying grin.
Whirrun pants and smiles as he clasps Ragar's forearm, then winces "I think some cold water would do me well, I think I've got some nice bruises coming" he grabs his pack and sets off to the nearest river followed by heading back into town
Natalia dismisses her invisibility spell from her spot at the table. No one is sure how long she had been sitting there, but long enough.
Shula sits at the same place at the table she was last night, looking at Whirrun and Ragar with a kind of fascination until it became clear neither of them was seriously injured. She nods in greeting to them, and to the frisky ladies. It seems the other recruits have paired up with a veteran. Probably a sound plan, but I don't know that any of these are quite ready for me.
She giggles softly to herself, and turns her eyes to Martil. "I wonder if you saw anything more than I did when you walked the route this morning."
Yes, do tell. Can anyone draw us a map of the scouted route so that we can all offer our tactical expertise?
Whirrun orders a water and a pack of ice for this throbbing forearms, then turns and sips while listening to the others
Shula points to the half-elf's slate.
"The theft itself shouldn't be too difficult," she says. "It's the disappearing before we're massacred by an angry mob after that I'm not quite sure how to manage. That part seems especially important since we're not supposed to hurt the nice people that will be trying to rip us limb from limb."
"We need something to deter people from following us"