The City of Amran

There's an expression somewhere between amusement and disapproval on Hilde's face.
She shrugs it off, and looks to the company.

"The getting in will be easy, it's the rest that sounds hard."

Hans rubs the back of his head.

"I'd rather come up from below, see if there's any sewer tunnels that pass by the well and possibly break through there, cut out the middle part, but it's unlikely."

He rubs his brow in thought.

"Is anyone staying at the royal apartment? How many guards? How many staff? When do they eat dinner, so that we can time for increased hall traffic? How many guards are positioned by the Vault at all times? You usually need a lot more information than this for a break-in"

He's obviously used to this.

"The easiest way to find that out is to ask. Or to watch."

"Mmmm."

He rubs the back of his head, eyes clouding in thought.

"I would propose watching, but... what does everyone else think?"

He's unsure. He doesn't know why but this just feels... off.

Citing the lack of reply, he sighs.

"I guess I have some digging to do then. If you'll excuse me..."

He gets up to leave, taking a bread roll with him.

"Wait, Hans- we have a team here, we should put that to best use." She stands, and looks along the benches. "What skills do we have at the table here? Cecil, I hear you have an eye for detail? Divah, what's your combat like? Gwen- did you want to help us?"

Sassa takes the lead - "mostly I'm hitting, I can use a shield, but its probably going to get in the way on a stealth mission."

Hans closes his eyes.

"That'll be useful if we have to take on guards. Divah's voiding powers won't be much help, guardsmen are very rarely mages, and as for Cecil... well, he'll make for a distraction I suppose, but otherwise, and no offense, I don't see what else he can do, I summoned people who I thought would be good for taking on a bunch of Necro-Mages, not Guards. Unless someone here is sneakier than me, or as good as, I don't know who else I can take in... I can at least unlock the doors. Hilde would be helpful, she knows how to use the shadows, but unless Gwen is a secret shadow-stalker, I don't know who's good at infiltration, unless you've got some hidden skills...?"

The question is pointed more toward Sassa, but it's relevant to everyone.

"I...I would like to help. You've done so much for me, and as you've said, they are only guards...not cultists- or zombies..." she shivers. And then glances guiltily at Cecil, before quickly turning away. She didn't want to ask, and there were more important things going on. Looking back up to Hans, she continues. "I don't really have any skills though. Certainly nothing that'd be useful to you. I'd only be a distraction." She sighs apologetically. Hilde cuts in, catching her eyes. "Distraction is not to be underestimated." Then more to everyone- "Especially on a no casualties run- which, make no mistake, this is. I will not have the Guardsmen harmed. No excuses."

"In that case, I may be... unsuited to this mission. I cannot guarantee the safety of the guards if I am involved in the actual break-in."

"Acceptable. Would you consider watching over one of the cult locations instead?"

"That would be do-able. With some shadows and cloaks I can remain undetected, even by their undead. Just try to keep me away from the fighting, unless absolutely necessary."

She nods. "Absolutely."

Hans looks a bit off by 'unharmed'

"If by unharmed you mean no confrontation altogether, that'll make things harder. If you mean not killing them, that I never would've allowed anyway."

He absent-mindedly puts a hand on Gwen's shoulder softly, attempting to bring her some ease.

"Working through the apartments will make it supremely difficult. If there's a staff entrance at the side, we could enter there and disguise ourselves as kitchen staff. No-one will look at us twice, and we can hide in plain sight. From that floor it's a straight shot to the Vault, which will be guarded, but if we bring them some wine tainted with Divah's nice little Sleeping Draught..."

He's planning on the fly again and it's working.

"Frankly I prefer that to having to get through the Royal Chambers and Guard Barracks as well. Plus if we do it right after shift change no-one will discover the sleeping men for at least another six hours. We'll have plenty of time to access the vault, hide the weapons on our persons, and leave. If we hit the bases within the six hours I'm assuming we'll have, we can quite easily sneak back in the same way, put the weapons back, and when the next shift finds the Guards they'll only get served a slight reprobate for falling asleep at their post, no harm done."

He stretches his free arm, cracking his back in the process.

"Does this work for everyone else?"

Sassa gives an approving nod "That sounds pretty good to me. Oh, and if it does come to a fight, I've got a couple of ways of taking care of stray guards non-lethally." she scrapes up the last of her porridge and stands up "so, do we need to prep or can we start?"

Hilde simply nods, satisfied.

Hans nods

"Cecil, you know how to hide, you can observe from the rooftop signal someone else for a distraction if something brews outside. I'm going in, alongside Hilde, as I know her skill-set somewhat and she can take down the Guards non-lethally should the eventuality arise. Divah, do you need to be the one to apply the potion? I'd rather not go in with more than two people. Sassa, frankly I've no idea of your skills so I'll leave your positioning up to you. Gwen..."

He shifts his eyes to her.

"Do you mind being used as an innocent distraction? Like Hilde said, they're near always useful..."

"I can wait with Gwen, be out of the way a bit. If we get the nod from Cecil, well - two can cause a more effective distraction than one..."

Gwen looks at Sassa for a moment, and then nods. "I'll be safe with Sassa. I can do this." she stands up, ready as she'll ever be.

He nods.

"Alright then, we've two hours to prepare, my Sassa's mark. Any last minute issues? I need to buy some powder for the attack later anyway. Anyone feel like joining me for a stroll to the market?"

This is aimed less at the heavily armed Sentinels before him, even less the rotting man, and more towards the Elf that might need ingredients for the draught and the girl who might like some form of weapon before the night begins.

"just tip the whole bottle in and don't sniff it too much, let's go buy some pretty things."

Divah stood up from the table, gently tossed the bottle at hans and made for the door, profusely apologising to the air in one location after appearing to have bumped into a spirit.

"Yes- I think I might need...something. For later I mean. Oh, I don't even know." She shakes her head, confused, her dark curls bounce with the movement. "What do I need?"

Hans catches the bottle, juggling it in his hands before finally getting a grip.

"Erm, a weapon, I suppose. A pair of leather boots that are better for running than the shoes you've got, maybe something a bit more concealing of your face..."

He shrugs

"Whatever looks helpful along the way, I suppose."

"I have- had- some things...in my room. If only I could remember where..."
Hilde starts towards the door. "I'll look into it. Two hours. Here?"