Thanks.

Good questions, all.



This. It's a security feature, pretty much standard on keeps in general.



There are a handful of women in the Bloodforged. There are also a few half-orcs, dwarves, and half-elves in the company.



The Church of Arma is pretty small in Balefyre. It's not a very martial city. The old priest that currently runs the temple might be willing to help, but his body probably isn't very able. The 3-4 young acolytes that assist him, likewise. Most of the folks that worship regularly at the temple are/were in the Fire Watch.

See Message #6 in the Adventurer's Journal notice for more potential allies.

I'm not sure about Corros' spells so I'll let him answer that.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:13, Wed 13 July 2016.

I will have to do some cross referencing when I get home for my spell list to see what doesn't have a somatic component.  At this point, Corros is pretty much set up to either attack or counter-attack magic via dispel or counter style spells.

I'm down with nabbing a patrol if that's the route we want.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Wed 13 July 2016.

My current line of thought involves two "Bloodforged" stumbling into the keep looking like they've been beat to shit, dragging a "prisoner" and a "witness" from the latest "attack on a patrol."  Creative moulage will add to the disguise and will help deal with any blood we get on the gear in the process of acquiring it.  This will have the added benefit of getting any QRF moving in the direction we indicate, thus further drawing down the total number of guards in the keep.

For added verisimilitude, we can have our various allies create a noisy riot with stuff on fire - that'll be where we're allegedly coming in from.

I understand that this is a work in progress and that nothing is yet decided. This is just a little FYI to help you make a decision/work out the detes.

Teg's suggestion is certainly a workable scenario. Here's how I would roll it:

The relevant skills could be deception, persuasion, performance, and/or intimidation, depending on how you play it. I think there's a disguise mechanic as well, but I'll have to read up on it.

Depending on how you describe your PC's words and actions during the act, I may grant advantage on the rolls. In other words, if you write up some really clever, convincing stuff, I'll give you advantage- but no pressure. ;)

The DC will be pretty challenging given that the recent riot and low-grade harassment/agitprop campaign has put the Bloodforged a bit on edge. On the other hand, a fresh riot could even things out by distracting the folks you are trying to fool.

It might be a good idea to have a plan B in pocket just in case the rolls suck and the guards call your bluff.

Once inside the keep, anything goes.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:06, Thu 14 July 2016.

Corros can cast Dissonant Whispers with his hands bound and that's it.  I'm hesitant to blow one of his two slots early in the game on a spell with a saving throw, but it could be done.

He can make a really convincing prisoner though.

Okay, just checking.  I'm thinking Nic (who can fake the accent and has a +8 Deception bonus) and Jenna (who will be armored up anyway) as our fake mercs, Corros as the "witness/VIP," and Gronk as the "prisoner."

I'm good with fake merc but Jenna has none of the required skills to bluff it so Nic will have to  be the face man.

How about if Jenna and Gronk swap roles? That way Jenna could still wear the Smoke armour.

Ok, it seems the consensus is infiltration by ruse. You'll need to acquire at least two Bloodforged kits before attempting that. Is it OK if we proceed to that point in the narrative- i.e. some sort of ambush? I'm thinking the team hangs out in some alley and waits to bushwhack a passing patrol. If you have a different tactic in mind, please let me know.

There are still a few things to discuss. This is a major mission with lots of possible outcomes. I need to have some idea of the following:

When (day and time of day) the attempt to infiltrate the keep is made. You'll probably want to think about exfil as well.

Diversion/s (who, what, when, & where).

Backup Plan/s, short and long term- You don't need one prepped before we begin (you can always just wing it, if you want) but it's something to be thinking about just in case the SHTF and the infiltration plan falls apart.

-

Is there anywhere we can steal them? A laundry place where they send them to get washed (am guessing they don't do it themselves). A brothel they frequent regularly where they might be....errrr...lying around? If so could we bribe someone to grab a few?

Cloaks you might be able to steal from a laundry/washer-woman, armor no- they take care of that themselves.

The brothel idea is quite clever and will probably work, however the working girls/madam/pimp will probably take the blame, which could result in arrest, a beating, or worse.

It's your call, though.

-

Yeah, we're going to need some cover for our daring escape.  Including transport - there's the possibility that our primary target won't be mobile.  Can we get someone (Fisherman's Alliance?) to stage a diversionary raid/strike on the Fire Watch Guardhouse in the Harbor Ward to draw off some strength?

There also are two other factions in the city whose leaders are being held in the keep.  Do we want to try to extract them too?  I'm referring to Kara Overmark (is that name intentional, Rae, or is #6 in the Allies thread a typo)? and Muzz Breakwater.

Rather than hitting a patrol in the brothel, I like the idea of picking our ground and setting an ambush on their way out of the brothel.  We can probably get intel on their movements pretty easily.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Fri 15 July 2016.

That's certainly possible but you don't currently have any contacts in the FA. Acquiring some will require some more talky-talky. If you're down for that, so am I.

Remember that you can still use the sewers to get out of the keep, even if you don't use them to get in. Getting down a privy shaft is also going to be significantly easier and less skill-dependent than getting up one.

To use Dave's Star Wars analogy, the privy-sewer combo is to the keep cell block as the garbage chute-trash compactor is to the Death Star cell block.



I'm a little unclear on what you're asking. Kara Overmark and Commander Overmark, commandant of the Fire Watch, are one in the same person. I checked and it's the same name in both the Personages notice and message #6 in the Adventurer's Journal. Muzz Breakwater is the FA leader so, if you agree to spring him too, the FA will probably help with a diversion and or transportation.

Keep in mind that the gangs are already on the job, as per your arrangement with Toesplitter. They are quite capable of creating diversions in various parts of the city, made to order. Just tell your gang contacts the time and place.



Stealing armor or ambushing a patrol are both viable options. What you don't need is mercs getting back to the keep with tales of being robbed or bounced. That'll pretty much scupper any chances of your ruse succeeding.

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Fri 15 July 2016.

Is Kara Overmark also President of the Fisherman's Alliance?

So the plan is to infiltrate the Keep in armor stolen from a waylaid patrol, that was incapacitated to prevent them from returning to spoil our plan, as mercenaries returning with a prisoner and witness to the crime during a riot that our gang allies initiate for chaos that will allow us to secure two prisoners and escape into the sewers via the poop chute?

To paraphrase my son Peter's favorite Ghostbuster: "This a great plan.  I'm excited to be a part of it!"

It all works for me!

I'm going camping with the family this weekend and will have sporadic access to the interwebs.  Just to give a heads up.

No, Muzz Breakwater is both president of the FA and Council rep from the Gate Ward. Overmark is just commander of the Fire Watch. Sorry that wasn't more clear.

-

Is there a specific time that Jurvis is aware of when they are likely to be less alert? e.g. approaching a meal time, changeover of shift, etc? If not then for no reason that I can put my finger on I'm tempted to say try and infiltrate just before dusk so that by the time we are leaving it will be dark. Given the prep still required, I am assuming that would have to be tomorrow in game at the earliest.


So we need somewhere to stash any prisoners. And ideally someone to guard them.

Good questions. Jurvis would tell you that between watch shifts is probably the best time. That's when boredom usually sets in and people get sloppy. Meals at the keep are timed so that the next watch eats right before setting out and the returning watch comes straight to the mess after finishing its shift.

The Bloodforged stationed at the Customs House and/or guarding the Mermaid's Tale don't usually return to the keep for meals.

-

Still thinking on this.

What do we know about the Fishermen's Alliance in terms of capabilities/resources they can bring to the table?

Just got back, I will be active tomorrow.  Thanks for the patience!

You don't know much first-hand, since you haven't had any direct interaction with the FA, but your local contacts can tell you the following:

The FA is one of the city's most influential factions. It's roughly equivalent to a RL labor union. Fishing is Balefyre's major industry. Fish is a huge part of the local diet and fish byproducts are used to fertilize the less-than-rich soil outside the city walls. The FA has around 300 members- from boys to old men- and nearly everyone in the city is related to or friends with a fisherman or three. These are tough, sea-salt-of-the-earth types who aren't afraid to test themselves in a street fight with merchant sailors. Their president has been jailed by the Bloodforged.

The FA doesn't have as much money as the ML, but it controls most of the city's food supply. The FA boasts a fleet of several dozen fishing smacks and thousands of square feet of fishing nets. Weaponry-wise, all FA members are proficient with knives and boathooks. Some are good with harpoons. Those with pirating experience have some experience with martial weapons.

What else would you like to know about them?

-
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:16, Mon 18 July 2016.

The Fisherman's Alliance strikes me as the kind of organization that I'd rather show up with their leader in hand with a "happy to help! we'll be in touch!" thing going on than with a "if you can help, we'll try to get your guy out."  Especially in light of the fact that we should probably try to keep the amount of organization we are putting on the street to a minimum.

I am intrigued with the idea of grabbing the delegation at the Mermaid's Tale as a next course of action or in the ensuing chaos just to further neuter that Bloodforged and mucking up negotiations for the city spectacularly.

Agreed on all counts.

So the plan is:

1.  Take down at least two Bloodforged and steal their gear.

2.  Costume Nic and Gronk as Bloodforged, with appropriate moulage.

3.  Have our allies start a "riot" and/or an attack on the harbor watch station to draw off patrols/QRFs.

4.  Bust into the citadel, claiming to be the survivors of a patrol that was ambushed in the "riot," with Jenna in tow as a "prisoner" and Corros being dragged along as a "witness" or "VIP."

5.  Apply speed, surprise, and violence to get to the prison cells and liberate Overmark and Breakwater.

6.  Escape out the front door if possible (leaving the sewer entrance unrevealed in case we need to get in again); if not, get out through the sewers.

Accurate summary?  Dave, your input?