Gren shuffles some papers around, removing some unnecessary notes in the strange, glyphic language he prefers. Having cleared up some of the mess, the map appears at least somewhat legible.
"We can expect anywhere from 18 to over 30 guards, depending on the time of day. Next week the master of the house will be absent, and he will take a significant portion of his guard with him - it is hard to say how many will go. From what I have been able to gather, the guards are well armed and trained, employing a variety of crossbows, spears, swords, shields and the like. A few of them also appear to be minor magic users as well, though this is not commonly displayed. The basic layout of the building I have managed to acquire, though not the specific rotation of guards nor their general resting positions. I know that the vault is located behind a false bookshelf in the library, here on the second floor. What do you think?"
The simplest method of entry would be a rooftop insertion. From there we breach into the third floor, which should put us as close to the library as possible. This hinges on being able to neutralize the guards quickly and quietly; remaining undetected for as long as possible is paramount. Once we beach the vault, our options expand. We can choose to escape undetected, we can make a distraction and then slip away in the chaos, or we can make as flashy and exit as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in our wake that makes it difficult for the enemy to ascertain what our objective was.
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Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"Perhaps, perhaps. But how to get there? At least two guards patrol the terrace at all times, overlooking into the gardens and the wall beyond. I agree that it makes for a good point of entry, but achieving that vantage point is difficult. I have a few resources here that might help us - technological aids, that sort of thing. Nothing, though, that would immediately address this problem."
What of the surrounding area? Are there any points of sufficient height that we could maneuver from one to the rooftop in question? Two guards is insufficient to cover such an area, as there will be positions where one cannot see the other, making it simple to eliminate them.
The gently pulsing lights across Magnus' body speed up for a moment before returning to normal.
You have also made it seem that you are a magician of some sort. Have you no illusions that could aid us once we reach the terrace?
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Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"The building stands entirely alone, surrounded by a spacious garden, which is in turn enclosed by a low wall. The garden is usually patrolled, but not with significant intensity. I have the ability to cast some magic, however..." Gren grimaces for a moment, "my abilities are currently limited. Perhaps we may make an ascent here." Gren points to the Eastern side of the first floor. "Moving through the gardens at night, we might ascend to the terrace via the outer wall of the dining hall. With some preparation, I believe I could ready a spell that would allow us each to make the climb easily. However, it would remove most of my abilities for the remainder of the mission."
There will be no need for a spell to enable us to climb to the third floor, I am sufficient (Strength: 17, racial bonus: treat as 1 size larger when determining what I can carry).
What is the timetable for this operation? If there is not a crunch I would like to spend several days observing the manor from multiple points of view before deciding on a plan of attack.
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Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"Soon is my only recommendation. I was only able to purchase information on the Spencer family movements for the next month or so. Still, we time is not yet particularly pressing."
Over the next few days, with a few generous payments along the way, Gren acquires a two week long stay in a room on the second floor of an in across the street from the target manor. From this perspective, the terrace is in plain view, as well as two gate entrances into the well curated gardens within. The outer wall is in good repair, largely made of stone with a recently white washed finish, and nearly 12 feet high. Overlooking each gate is a single square guard tower, from which pennants of the Spencer house emblem cracking in the northerly breeze.
Gren, preferring his cluttered and dusty abode, remains in contact with Magnus via a small sphere of copper wires, thickly knotted into one another, that carries his voice across the mile and a half of bustling metropolis to the inn.
(Magnus takes up residence, Gren remains in the lab. If Magnus would like to do anything in particular other than observe and plan, feel free.)
Over the course of the next two nights, watching from the upper room window in the day and cautiously following the guards at night, Magnus learns that there are 17 guards on rotation between the house and the outer wall, as well as four more that are dedicated to the house defenses exclusively. At any given moment, six guards are resting, but available if an alarm sounds. The guards are well armed, spear, shield, and sword, with half carrying light crossbows as well. a group of three guards patrols the outside of the wall during the night, making a round every half hour. Within, the patterns are harder to distinguish, but it seems that they hold to the three-man squad format indoors, with two squads in the gardens on either side of the house rotating back into the house regularly. With sufficient stealth, Magnus determines that it might be possible to weave a course through the chain of guard changes, but that it would almost certainly be safer and more direct to, as he observed previously, climb the side of the building from the garden, and, quietly eliminating any threats on the terrace, proceed inside.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The town clock struck with two resounding pulses, and a slight mist taints the air with a promise of morning dew. Two figures steal through the shadows, encased in the darkness of the new moon above. Approaching the outer wall, the two figures pause for a moment. "Up and over, yes?" Gren asks, his gritty voice muffled by his hood.
Gren Stealth: 4
Two alleycats, disturbed by Gren's distinctly unstealthy approach, begin yammering their complaints in the alley behind them. A hundred paces away, a guard casually glances into the mist, his eyes searching and hoping to pierce the fog.
Guard perception: 22
Not seeing anything of note, he remains wary nonetheless.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
perception: 4
The guard turns, peering into the mist away from Gren and Magnus. The other two guards, seeing his attention, also focus their gazes away.
Gren nods to Magnus and, muttering slightly under his breath, touches both himself and the hulking warforged. A small glowing gem in his hand, infused during the careful nights of preparation before hand, suddenly becomes dull.
Gren casts Jump on himself and Magnus.
Gren squats slightly, and, without a word, leaps into the air in a gravity defying vertical arc over the wall.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The mists that shrouded the streets leading up to the outer walls are almost thicker within the confines of the garden, fortunately...
With hurried steps, not noticing any guards, Gren and Magnus hurry to the targeted wall. "We have only a moment left before my spell ends." Whispers Gren. "Jump, now!"
With another unnaturally smooth leap, Gren jumps onto the upper terrace
Barely clinging to the edge of the balcony, feet slipping on the edge, Gren's balance is stabilized by the aiding arm of Magnus. (The jump spell has now ended). Gren takes a moment to gasp, the sound seeming amplified alongside the scuffles of the climb. As Magnus immediately turns to detect the terrace guards, he is surprised to find no one on this upper level.
"Magnus." whispers Gren, his voice now more coarse than before, "You lead."
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Gren shuffles some papers around, removing some unnecessary notes in the strange, glyphic language he prefers. Having cleared up some of the mess, the map appears at least somewhat legible.
"We can expect anywhere from 18 to over 30 guards, depending on the time of day. Next week the master of the house will be absent, and he will take a significant portion of his guard with him - it is hard to say how many will go. From what I have been able to gather, the guards are well armed and trained, employing a variety of crossbows, spears, swords, shields and the like. A few of them also appear to be minor magic users as well, though this is not commonly displayed. The basic layout of the building I have managed to acquire, though not the specific rotation of guards nor their general resting positions. I know that the vault is located behind a false bookshelf in the library, here on the second floor. What do you think?"
The simplest method of entry would be a rooftop insertion. From there we breach into the third floor, which should put us as close to the library as possible. This hinges on being able to neutralize the guards quickly and quietly; remaining undetected for as long as possible is paramount. Once we beach the vault, our options expand. We can choose to escape undetected, we can make a distraction and then slip away in the chaos, or we can make as flashy and exit as possible, leaving a trail of destruction in our wake that makes it difficult for the enemy to ascertain what our objective was.
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"Perhaps, perhaps. But how to get there? At least two guards patrol the terrace at all times, overlooking into the gardens and the wall beyond. I agree that it makes for a good point of entry, but achieving that vantage point is difficult. I have a few resources here that might help us - technological aids, that sort of thing. Nothing, though, that would immediately address this problem."
What of the surrounding area? Are there any points of sufficient height that we could maneuver from one to the rooftop in question? Two guards is insufficient to cover such an area, as there will be positions where one cannot see the other, making it simple to eliminate them.
The gently pulsing lights across Magnus' body speed up for a moment before returning to normal.
You have also made it seem that you are a magician of some sort. Have you no illusions that could aid us once we reach the terrace?
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"The building stands entirely alone, surrounded by a spacious garden, which is in turn enclosed by a low wall. The garden is usually patrolled, but not with significant intensity. I have the ability to cast some magic, however..." Gren grimaces for a moment, "my abilities are currently limited. Perhaps we may make an ascent here." Gren points to the Eastern side of the first floor. "Moving through the gardens at night, we might ascend to the terrace via the outer wall of the dining hall. With some preparation, I believe I could ready a spell that would allow us each to make the climb easily. However, it would remove most of my abilities for the remainder of the mission."
There will be no need for a spell to enable us to climb to the third floor, I am sufficient (Strength: 17, racial bonus: treat as 1 size larger when determining what I can carry).
What is the timetable for this operation? If there is not a crunch I would like to spend several days observing the manor from multiple points of view before deciding on a plan of attack.
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
"Soon is my only recommendation. I was only able to purchase information on the Spencer family movements for the next month or so. Still, we time is not yet particularly pressing."
Over the next few days, with a few generous payments along the way, Gren acquires a two week long stay in a room on the second floor of an in across the street from the target manor. From this perspective, the terrace is in plain view, as well as two gate entrances into the well curated gardens within. The outer wall is in good repair, largely made of stone with a recently white washed finish, and nearly 12 feet high. Overlooking each gate is a single square guard tower, from which pennants of the Spencer house emblem cracking in the northerly breeze.
Gren, preferring his cluttered and dusty abode, remains in contact with Magnus via a small sphere of copper wires, thickly knotted into one another, that carries his voice across the mile and a half of bustling metropolis to the inn.
(Magnus takes up residence, Gren remains in the lab. If Magnus would like to do anything in particular other than observe and plan, feel free.)
Over the course of the next two nights, watching from the upper room window in the day and cautiously following the guards at night, Magnus learns that there are 17 guards on rotation between the house and the outer wall, as well as four more that are dedicated to the house defenses exclusively. At any given moment, six guards are resting, but available if an alarm sounds. The guards are well armed, spear, shield, and sword, with half carrying light crossbows as well. a group of three guards patrols the outside of the wall during the night, making a round every half hour. Within, the patterns are harder to distinguish, but it seems that they hold to the three-man squad format indoors, with two squads in the gardens on either side of the house rotating back into the house regularly. With sufficient stealth, Magnus determines that it might be possible to weave a course through the chain of guard changes, but that it would almost certainly be safer and more direct to, as he observed previously, climb the side of the building from the garden, and, quietly eliminating any threats on the terrace, proceed inside.
(Pick the night, and we will go from there.)
Nearest new moon.
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
The town clock struck with two resounding pulses, and a slight mist taints the air with a promise of morning dew. Two figures steal through the shadows, encased in the darkness of the new moon above. Approaching the outer wall, the two figures pause for a moment. "Up and over, yes?" Gren asks, his gritty voice muffled by his hood.
Gren Stealth: 4
Two alleycats, disturbed by Gren's distinctly unstealthy approach, begin yammering their complaints in the alley behind them. A hundred paces away, a guard casually glances into the mist, his eyes searching and hoping to pierce the fog.
Guard perception: 22
Not seeing anything of note, he remains wary nonetheless.
Magnus glances down, looking for a pebble or small rock.
11
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
You have 2 to choose from, all of comparable size.
Magnus bends over to snag the smallest one and, carefully moderating his strength, throws it over the guard's head, away from his and Gren's position.
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
perception: 4
The guard turns, peering into the mist away from Gren and Magnus. The other two guards, seeing his attention, also focus their gazes away.
Gren nods to Magnus and, muttering slightly under his breath, touches both himself and the hulking warforged. A small glowing gem in his hand, infused during the careful nights of preparation before hand, suddenly becomes dull.
Gren casts Jump on himself and Magnus.
Gren squats slightly, and, without a word, leaps into the air in a gravity defying vertical arc over the wall.
Magnus follows, handaxes at the ready.
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
Sailing over the low wall, the two prospective thieves are now in the gardens.
Stealth check for Gren: 7
Magnus immediately steps in front of Gren, shielding him with his bulk while scanning the garden.
Perception: 20
Stealth: 22
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
The mists that shrouded the streets leading up to the outer walls are almost thicker within the confines of the garden, fortunately...
With hurried steps, not noticing any guards, Gren and Magnus hurry to the targeted wall.
"We have only a moment left before my spell ends." Whispers Gren. "Jump, now!"
With another unnaturally smooth leap, Gren jumps onto the upper terrace
acrobatics: 19
Teetering on the edge, he begins to fall back...
Magnus leaps after him, reaching out in an effort to steady his companion.
Acrobatics: 20
Magnus M-019: Warforged Juggernaut Fighter, Level 1
Barely clinging to the edge of the balcony, feet slipping on the edge, Gren's balance is stabilized by the aiding arm of Magnus. (The jump spell has now ended). Gren takes a moment to gasp, the sound seeming amplified alongside the scuffles of the climb. As Magnus immediately turns to detect the terrace guards, he is surprised to find no one on this upper level.
"Magnus." whispers Gren, his voice now more coarse than before, "You lead."