[Game Thread] Dirty Hands

[Cancer]

Orange flames lick and twist in the air, casting a a harsh light across the wooden chairs and table. The shadows of the furniture waver as the flames dance in the light breeze that pulses through the window. Representative Wrathburn rests idol on the podium at the front of the room, still dressed in his suit. "Welcome to the the first official briefing. This will be the only briefing I will attend for the next few months because I have some business to tend to at the capitol. There are several bills being put forward by a liberal coalition of some lesser parties." The elf sighs, "Well let's get on with it." The old man reaches into the podium and pulls out a small disk. He waves his hand over it and mutters incoherent gibberish.

Soon an image of a bust of rugged looking man sprouted into existence. His hair was a greasy black and his eyes a piercing bluw. His look radiated a small amount of charisma. "Your first mission involves bringing this man into custody. His name is Talov Grinlock. A leader of the Coal and Iron Guild of South-Eastern Tyris. We have information that he is involved in some unsavoury activities in several small drug rings as well as plotting a small revolt in the region. He is a dangerous influence and needs to be removed from the equation." He looks over the group, "He has been evading us for some time now, but luckily one of our agents who infiltrated their ranks has found out where he is staying tonight." He looks down and pulls out a small piece of paper, "The agent reports the following : 'Grinlock is staying at a small apartment at 2677 Fallow Way. He is guarded by some hired thugs lightly armed with clubs and covered in leather armour.'" The elf looks up at the group. "Extract him from this apartment and bring him to custody at the Hollis Police Station. You must avoid detection at all cost and no one may be killed." He looks the group over once more, "Here is a map to his location and to the station, it will be about an hours ride by horse to him, and thirty minutes to the station." He places a map onto the table. "Once you have secured him and placed him in the custody of the officers, a Sergeant Luffy will inform you of the next steps to prevent the destabilisation of this region. You will have thirty minutes after this meeting to get your gear in order and be ready to depart. You have been granted full access to the non-magical armoury. Are there any questions?"

[aivanther]

Darian muses over the information for a while, while studying the bust. He asks, "Do we have any intelligence as to how many thugs there are? Also, what information do we have about Mr. Grinlock's capabilities?" After a moment he asks, "No one may be killed, how much unharmed are we desiring for Mr. Grinlock and his guards?"

Mentally he begins going through some scenarios and options, he also tries to think if he know: local

Dice Roll:

1d20+5

(11)+5

Total = 16

recalls any details about this man.

[Gaijin]

Anselm listened while the others asked questions, "I'm ready to go. I have no questions," He reflected on his

Dice Local:

1d20

6

knowledge of the town and tried to remember if he had dealt with this Grinlock before.

[Cancer]

The elf chortles lightly, "With their level of funding? Let me think for a moment." he muses for a few seconds, "I would guess from four to six guards at one time. By no one may be killed : No deaths can occur on this operation, none at all. However maiming can and could be used. I'd recommend against it, weapons and violence tend to leave trails."

[dragune185]

Donald listened intently and nodded. "That sounds fine with me, I have no questions," he said. Donald thought for a moment before sighing. He looked to the others and began to plan. "I can have my own small birdie scout ahead for us, surely a bird will fly faster than a horse can travel. I can see what the bird sees. It will give us definite numbers on the thugs before we actually get there. We also need to have a way to incapacitate people. Do we have access to poisons? I can handle them without any risk of hurting myself," he began. He directed his comments to his colleagues, and his questions to the Lord.

He didn't seem to be wearing a smile, but there was something playful in his voice. As if it was all a game to him. A game where he must win.

[Gaijin]

"Poisons may be a bit expensive for this mission. More subtle means might be more appropriate," Anselm turned toward Astrid, "I'm sure you have a bit of experience with weak willed men, perhaps you wouldn't mind serving as a distraction? I also have a flair for theatrics that might be useful for getting the rest of you closer to the target. A conveniently place performance and a beautiful woman in distress can be very effective at drawing attention."

[Cancer]

Representative Wrathburn smiles and leans onto the podium, "Yes, yes. Such ingenuity. Yes, many poisons call themselves home in these barracks. Though I'm not expert on them myself. As well, seduction is a valid technique. Just be sure not to leave much..." He pauses, "Evidence."

[dragune185]

Donald laughed, openly. "You haven't been around the government if you believe they are going to miss a couple hundred gold pieces. I mean, they are allowing us unrestricted access into the non-magical armory. I don't doubt our paychecks combined are but a portion of Lord Wrathburn's yearly paycheck," he added with a laugh. He sat straight up as continued talking easily, "And let's definitely speak of subtlety Anselm. Theatricality? A crying woman? Since when are either of those subtle? Dramatic? Sure, but not subtle. Slipping poison into their system and having them simply fall asleep is much simpler and much quieter. We come in, as quick and as silent as shadows, and overwhelm each of them with ease. I know we were prescribed away from violence because of a "trail" but I submit that we simply make the guards disappear as well. Maybe then we can use your theatricality to spin tales about a 'scared guild leader running away because of an assassination attempt and him taking his guards with him.'"

He paused as he considered the tale. And then shook his head.

"Do we know how busy the place is that we are trying to steal him from? Is it a place where a wagon or cart can move by unnoticed or is it in the middle of a forest or what?" he asked.

He smiled at Lord Wrathburn when he was told they were allowed to have access to poison. "Pleasing, indeed. I will not need much, just enough to cover several sets of blades," he said.

"Unless we have another plan that isn't knocking the guards out or having a potentially naked woman crying for help," he said. He looked at the woman as he said it. "Because that's the one of the few ways a dedicated set of guards will leave post. Even then I can't be sure I would leave," he said. Donald smiled, his eyes flickering as a smile played on his lips.

[thewattinator]

Listening intently to the briefing, Astrid almost breaks out into gleeful laughter as Wrathburn explains the mission. A few grimy thugs and an uncooperative source were right up her alley. Hell, she could probably do this mission by herself; having teammates only meant things would go quicker, and in theory smoother. We'll have this taken care of before nightfall.

Anselm states the obvious about her preferred means of entry, but her good humor overrides any "duh" moments she is feeling, and she shoots him a smile. It would be my pleasure, she replied. Unless Lord Wrathburn has any other information to hand out, I vote we set out. Maybe we can get this done before the sun goes down. She I have no skill I can roll here, and I completely expect her to fail, but in the case that she has heard of Talov through Devers, this is her finding out.wracks her brains for any knowledge of the target she has picked up while working for her former boss. A futile endeavor, since Devers worked strictly on a need to know basis, and she hadn't already run into him on one of her...errands. In any case, she gets to her feet, and looks around the room expectantly.

[Gaijin]

"Perhaps against common perception, I find a subtly in hiding in plain sight. If the guards are distracted by the on goings of a normal day it's far easier to ignore the next day than all of the thugs being poisoned," Anselm recognized the glaring difference in their approaches to stealth, and didn't feel Donald was capable of considering anyone's opinion other than his own, "If the goal is leaving no evidence, then both approaches can be successful as far as physical evidence is concerned, but obvious drug use will lead to questions. On the other hand theatrics may be ill advised if the setting isn't right. I'm unfamiliar with the area around the target, so I can't speak to whether it would be likely for there to be street performers in the area."

Thinking past the thugs to the end of the mission, "We'll need a way to transport him from his apartment to the station without on lookers getting wise, would it be possible to gain access to a cart and an appropriately sized simple wooden coffin within the next few minutes?"

[aivanther]

Darian shakes his head and says, "Poison may or may not be necessary, I did mention I was a beguiler. I know a couple of spells that can either incapacitate them or at the least make them very agreeable." He studies the map for a moment, then says, "My thought is, we leave three people out in the street to cover potential exits. The rest of us move in to incapacitate, hopefully I can put them to sleep. If we can gain access to the target without conflict: I charm him, inform him the government is out to get him and he'd better come with us for his safety as we're there to protect him. If that works, he should ride the horse himself to the police station. Simple plan, but would work. Question is, what contingencies do we put in place in case they don't call under the influence of my spells."

[dragune185]

Donald looked at Darian and smiled, "Of course, that's right." He smiled fondly and conintued, "Education does allow a person to apply their skills in a more...precise manner. Agreeable guards are always good. A possible contingency is poison or we have someone else who is capable of charming others," he said. "I am quite the charmer," he said smiling.

[aivanther]

Darian adds, "Another route we could potentially take would be to grab some alchemical items to make smoke, and force them to leave for fear of fire or have an excuse for entering by way of concern for fire."

[thewattinator]

Astrid did her best not to gag at the cocky binder. Beyond his...admittedly decent...looks, Astrid couldn't think what anyone could possibly see in his egomania. She bit down a barbed retort, preferring instead to roll her eyes and listen to Darian, who actually seemed to be the most reasonable out of the bunch. When he mentioned an ability to put him to sleep, an idea flickered in her mind, and she smoothly inserted herself into the conversation.

You can put him to sleep? she asked the beguiller. Well, if that's the case, we don't need to bother with a cart. We can take him at dark, and then once you put him out and we put some fake facial hair on him, the schoolboy can pretend to be the mark's drinking buddy, and stagger back here with him. No fires necessary. She glances over at the street performer and the dark skinned elf. Anslem and Cyrus? Cyfir? It's Cyfir, isn't it? The three of us will guard the entrances and do whatever is needed to distract the guards while Darian and Donald sneak in and bring out Talov. She eyed Donald distastefully. Though you might want to change first. Imperial Mages tend to stick out...

[Gaijin]

Anselm nodded in agreement with Astrid on both the plan and the comment about Donald changing, "I'm fine with that plan, let's take the poison with us in case things don't work out, but other then that we should be able to think on our feet."