Wilfer begins to circulate around the city in disguise, attempting to spread vague rumors of increases of generosity of Dron's chief underlings. Special payments for unexplained services, increases spending on art, other vague activities which might sound believable, but be unconfirmable.

Deception: 14 (If he has advantage from the disguises or anything: 13)

David said he wanted to come with us to look at the statue, but then there hasn't been a post for a while. Hopefully our tech also got a look at the thing and could have some opinion about bolts and pins. Pins Tug wonders Does that mean if the bolts are undone it could lift strait up but not slide? If the wagon was closer than my 30 foot limit, I might have some wiggle room to lift up and ove-ahh-aah-er he yawns at the last word. He's going to want a long rest before tomorrow evening, and says I guess at this point we're safer pretending nothing is up - sleep at home, to the point, rather than disappear and hide out. We go to the mattresses, as they say, only later?

The crew arrives the following night individually and via different methods. It isn't entirely suspicious on this second night but it would not take many more such nights to arouse the curiosity of someone paying close enough attention.

"I know a druid, Moonrunner, a tabaxi woman who lives in the forests outside of Foxshadow," Vansic says after everyone has arrived. "She is old and has lived in the woods for three generations. I have arranged teleportation between a large, unidentifiable pine tree just outside of town and this potted tree here."

The large, potted pine tree is hard to escape anyone's notice. Garrol continues, saying, "She can only cast this once per day. Some of you can pose as regulars, and some can be regulars of the brothel next door. We've arranged a door connecting our cellars, no questions asked...by either of us...for patrons of either establishment leaving via this discreet exit. Rixton promises he can arrive unseen most days, and I belong here, so my presence is expected. The six of you remaining, choose a method to come and go and we will look much less conspicuous when we gather.

"On to more pressing matters, though," the tiefling says with a twinkle in his eye. "Stealing the statue. The largest hurdle is obviously how it is secured to the base. We know there are at least 6 fixation points, possibly more, and most of which we cannot see directly. So we need another way to unfix the statue and I believe the way to do it is to have someone else do it. We know they have removed the statue in the past to engage in repairs. Presently there is nothing wrong with the statue and I don't wish to damage it. But we also know there is a slight gap where one can see one of the steel anchors.

"Cutting a single anchor won't matter, much less be noticed. So we instead need to draw as much attention as we can to the statue while also creating a need to remove it. And I figure, while we are creating a little spectacle, why not involve Curtis Dron?"

The bar-owner arches his fingers together, letting a smile loose as he lets his idea weight dramatically in the silence. "Dron has the power to move that statue and he just needs a reason to do it. So we will give him a reason. His current flame is one Isabenne Jostlyn. She is a dancer at The Treasure Room, which is located across the river from the Duskforge district in the far eastern side of the Pearlbridge district. Mr. Dron has given his new love a very expensive diamond necklace. It is his way of showing ownership over his latest woman. Ms. Jostlyn is very proud to show off this little trinket, though. Being Dron's prize is a big step up in social status for her, by all accounts.

"So the plan has two parts. The first is to publicly steal Isabenne Jostlyn's jewelry, be pursued to the statue, and appear to stash the necklace in the gap under the statue. We don't want Dron to be able to fish it out by any means other than by having the statue removed, so making this convincing but false is important. We can supplement the end of this part by riling up some public support for recovering the necklace. Curtis cannot say no to the public demanding he show his generous nature.

"Part two will come when Dron enacts his political pressure to have the statue removed in order to recover the necklace. We need to be there when this happens, obviously. While the statue is on the ground, we will make our move, switching it with a decoy. Ideally the statue is replaced on its pedestal before they realize it is a decoy but I will be satisfied if they just realize the statue has been pinched."

Vansic leans forward, lacing his fingers together. "So for part one, we need a pickpocket, a spectacle...I'm thinking a daytime foot chase through the city...and a rumor mill for the aftermath. For the second part we need to move the statue and replace it quickly, another spectacle...I'm thinking something involving the necklace again...and perhaps some magic to disguise our decoy until it is replaced. So...tell me how you imagine your part in this little venture?"

"Does the pickpocket need to be humanoid? Elysia could do it, and is faster on foot than most humanoids."

"No offense to Elysia, but picking pockets and running away is my specialty,  I will handle the day time spectacle." Sharvon goes through a few exaggerated leg stretches as he says this.

"So I am thinking I simply follow Mrs. Jostlyn, grab her necklace,  all while under a illusionary disguise, and just keep ahead of anyone chasing me. I'll get bear the statue, and use a minor illusion to appear to stuff the necklace into the statue, yell something about if I can't have it the the don can bust his back trying to get it back, then run into the river. I can swim and let the current take me under the bridge then under the shadow of the bridge I can teleport away. I'll need to hide some dry close and my fancy cloak some place close. Change real quick, and then drop my disguise and wonder what is going on like everyone else.

"Or maybe it you can get a covered wagon Tug, park it near the bridge, with in 60 feet and I can shadow step from the bridge shadow to the wagon,  and then change in the wagon? Like we did when you bailed me out of Lord Keswick's villa last fall, rember that Tug? Damn how many times do I owe you my life?" Sharvon laughs as he finishes his rant.

"You know maybe I could hand off the real necklace to Elysia, just use a illusion to keep them chasing me?" Sharvon asks the wizard.

Wilfer waits for Sharvon's rapid fire excitement to settle down before replying, "For starters, I think I'll start arriving via the brothel, no one will suspect a soldier being a regular and it will be a good place to spread gossip that most won't want to repeat from where they heard it. As for the necklace, I think Sharvon's base idea is a good one, have him swipe the necklace, run over there, toss it under the statue and jump into the river. Too many moving parts will just complicate things and I think it best if the necklace stays there until the statue is removed. I believe that the necklace being removed, and perhaps publicly presented back to the young woman might help draw eyes off of us to swap the statues, though we'll need to work on the details. I could shroud the area immediately around the statue in a darkness I can see through, not sure how much guidance you'd need to swap the statues though. It might even be possible to have Sharvon steal the necklace again in that moment in his same disguise to draw the crowd away long enough for us to make the switch. Does anyone else have anything to add?"

"As far as coming and going, the brothil won't work very well for me." Savra speaks up. "As a bard though, I could simply be entertainment here at the tavern." She shrugs.

"For the statue swap, I can run the rumor mill." She glances to their host. "What exactly do you want spread for rumors?"

Sharvon looks up quizicaly at Wilfer. "So I am putting the real necklace in the statue?" Sharvon tries to recall was there a part of the statue he could get the necklace that is so deep they will need to remove the statue to get it?

(I could be wrong, but I thought the DM's description was that there was room for it there. If there isn't actually room for it, would people really believe it was in there?)

There is room but it might not necessitate removing the statue to get to it. If the necklace is recovered without removing the statue, then it is back to square one.

Tug had a good sleep and worked a short shift at the docks So last things first, he says, I got no social standing to protect nor a secret identity, so the brothel is fine. B - on necklace day - waiting with a cart is fine, tho any one of us can do that. I could also throw a block or three behind the runner - Sharv you know the pick move right? Clumsy porter with a big load, an opportune shoulder, even psionicly lift a trip hazard into the path of the pursuit. And I think faking the drop is safer, just in case they could fish it out were it actually there.

Third, on statue day, I can still do the two required lifts. We need a cart that can hold two dinguses. The gimmick is there, I lift the real deal to the cart, then lift the gimmick into place. An illusion of the McCoy in place all along would help, and we need a cart driver and the spectacular distraction. But an advantage - if'n they're movin' the statue deliberate they'll be hiring muscle, and I'm in the pool of them that'll get the job. Rixton or Vansic jiggers things so that my number gets drawn, I'm on site legitimately. 

Also, figure out who that passing mason was Tug repeats the description Three two and even he gets the job, apprentice of Longtooth and all. We won't want him remembering us talking about the statue with any accuracy. The non-existing student Sharv was supposed to be could be a decent target of suspicion 

Wilfer nods, "You're right, I misunderstood the nature of the hollow. It also presents us with an easier distraction. When the statue is moved and the necklace is found not to be there, Sharvon can pop up a few streets over and wave the necklace shouting something along the lines of 'Looking for this', and everyone chases as he runs off again, perhaps we get someone to shout something about offering a reward or something to encourage people. Should give us a free hand to make the swap and get out. Again, I missed one thing, could have missed others, any other suggestions?"

"Nope Wilfer that sounds like a great plan. I especially like the part where I get to taunt the Don, and his boys. Figure he will be showing up to get his necklace back for his painted lady." Sharvon claps Wilfer on the shoulder.

Garrol rolls out a respectable map of Foxshadow on one of the tables where there is enough room for everyone to lean in. As he speaks, he marks the route of the possible chase (red), where he thinks the city watch may need to be entangled so as not to get too much in the way (orange) and places where others on the team may be useful for either handing off the necklace, interfering with the chase, or otherwise offering assistance.

"This route stays to the wide streets of Pearlbridge," Vansic says, "which makes it a very public chase. That's what we want. Ducking into an alley is always an option, of course."

Rixton points to a section of the route near the square with no green circles near it, the section that runs parallel and closest to the river. "This section will be dangerous. What alleys are there are all dead ends and the buildings otherwise leave no room for escape. If Sharvon encounters trouble in here, there is little help available."

"That's true," Vansic says. "It is the riskiest stretch of the chase. We should scout it to see what we can leave there or if there is a place to abandon the chase if things go south."

"Speaking of south," Rixton says. "You have no distraction of the watch south of the route. If the city watch are there, they will cross our path getting to our planned disturbances."

"Those planned disturbances will happen early. Once the city watch are engaged, then Sharvon will make his move," Vansic says. Rixton seems appeased by this, but the tiefling looks around at the others. "But we will want to have three of us near the beginning for any such mishaps. They can hop to these other spots by running parallel to the chase route." Vansic points to the eastern-most circles he has drawn on the map. "And we will want three more to end up in the square to make sure the finale of this little charade goes off smoothly. Maybe they start a little earlier in the route, just after the boxed-in section Rixton was talking about. Finally, we'll want one of us to help Sharvon escape. Those of us who are plants in the crowd can begin spreading the truthful tale of what happened to get the rumor mill going."

Garrol Vansic looks up, satisfied with his vision. "Any concerns?"

Rixton nods. "How will we manage the distractions for the city watch?"

Vansic nods thoughtfully. "I have a few ideas. One of us could start a brawl. We could pay a kid to smash a window. Maybe a controlled fire? I don't want to burn the district down, though. Something illusory, perhaps. Whatever it is, we have to instigate it and get to the escape route as soon as possible. Any thoughts on how to do this?"

Once we are done planning here is what Sharvon would like to.

Sharvon will want to walk the path he is going to take.

He will also visit a cheap tailor, under a illusionary disguise,  and purchase some loose fitting cheap clothing he can cut away easily once he gets wet. A decent pair of boots will be helpful for his run, but that don't stand out as being expensive. Also a cheap knife, and a scarf he can cover his face with.

He will use his disguise kit to hide his features by over doing the paint job as an amateur would do, useing more when less would work.

He will give most of  his gear to Tug to stuff in the wagon for him to change into once he shadow steps to the covered wagon, assuming that's the plan. Only gear he will have on him, is his ring of water walking,  but not on his finger, but on a cord around his neck, and his slippers of spider climbing tucked under his shirt, at his lower back. Going to tie them around his waist, so he can cut them free if need be, but unlikely to fall out of his shirt.

Wilfer nods, "As far as my role, I'd rather be involved in the more indirect parts, at least to start, so as not to draw too much attention to myself. But I can easily help with some of the distractions of the guard, but I'll need to look over the areas to determine how best to do so. I can also work to start laying down the ground work of the gossip campaign, once we decide on exactly what rumors we'd like to start spreading."

Investigation: 14
Perception: 8

Notwithstanding that time near Keswick's Tug says I'd rather be on the streets than with the wagon. I'm a physical kid (understatement of the day) and I'd not have Sharvon runnin' without bein' there to interfere. Wilfer, wantin' to be indirect, might be a good choice for the wagon; 'sides, his shadows and illusions and whatnot could be vital right there at the end.

If'n it's okay, I'll start at that Easternmost distraction site - something big and crashy will happen early enough - then I'd head to that last stretch before the square. I can move barriers so as to make sure Sharv leaves 'em behind but not too far behind. And emergency measures, I can lift Sharv himself 30 feet, or pull the necklace from him, or punch people if it comes to that. And move into the square at the end for the finale

David, the other big guy, I'd feel better if you covered the exit from the square - distractions if you can, fighting if we must - by that point Sharvon needs to really escape. Maybe after making some mess near the "B" in Pearlbridge