CLOSED | Rescue Planning Session

[faderifting]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: IDK, whoever posts first
RECIPIENT: Team 1: Benedict, Colin, Coupe, Malcolm, Nikos, Six, Yseult
WHAT: The team tasked with extracting the prisoners from Minrathous discusses how to do it
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: In the metaphysical ether
NOTES: You can do this as a single thread or break it up into several to discuss different aspects, whatever works best. We realize that an in-person meeting might make more sense for this, but we want to focus on the conversation and move it forward as quickly as possible while also allowing everyone a chance to weigh in and brainstorm ideas, so crystal > action.

This is the team that's been chosen to go into Minrathous to get the Inquisition captives back out. The questions that need to be answered are:

• how are they getting into Minrathous?
  
• how are they getting into the Archon's palace?
  
• how are they finding the prisoners within the palace?
  
• how are they getting the prisoners out of the palace?
  
• how are they getting everyone back out of Minrathous?

These questions need to be answered by end of day EST Thursday. If the team hasn't clearly agreed on a plan of action by then we'll either make Coupe decide, since she's ICly in charge, or take the main ideas from the post and create a quick poll.

Here are some key facts that they've gathered:

• the prisoners were taken to the palace (thanks to Max for passing that news along)
  
• there is a large, fancy court event being held to honor the new Archon and (rumor has it) to invest Calpernia with a new title
  
• the catacombs extend beneath much of the island, including the palace
  
• there are ground and water patrols guarding the bridge into Minrathous and the water approach to the island, but they can't be everywhere at all times
  
• the red lyrium dragon remains sat atop the palace when it's not flying off to burninate and devour the peasantry or whatever

Resources at their disposal:

• A team of additional mages and warriors who are more than ready to smash whatever needs smashing as loudly as possible
  
• Whatever transportation, disguises, and tools they need, within reason. I.e. it's fine to assume they can get their hands on things like some Venatori robes if they want them or some basic intel, but no concocting new magical artifacts that make everyone invisible and just happen to be forgotten in an archive somewhere, or suddenly recalling a new NPC agent in the city who's Head Whatever at the palace, etc.

We're including an OOC top-level below for questions related to this planning, just to keep everything consolidated in one post. Most things are flexible (to a point) based on what sounds most fun to the group, but if you need some feedback or confirmation about something, ask there.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[faderifting]

if you have any that require mod input, put em here

[tactical_alert]

Slipping between boats might be the better option than trying up above. Harder for eyes on the ground to discern that we aren't part of the water patrol, if they even notice us. Better still if a ruckus can be caused at the bridge to put all attention up there. From there, the catacombs would be the safest bet in. And I'd surely suggest we don Venatori robes.

We don't happen to know where in the palace our comrades are being held? Those of us who were there should remember what layout we can well enough, but that's still quite a bit of ground to cover in case they haven't been placed in more traditional cells.

[exsecutus]

[ugh not more boats]

I have three Venatori robes already. Convenient.

And we-- [the Inquisition, that is] --still have the original Archon. Have him tell us where more specialized prisoners are likely to be held.

[swordproof]

I aided those escaping Tevinter through the catacombs. I know a little of their layout, how they work. It is a good possible entrance point.

[ Six is obviously very keen and a touch on the edge of desperate, if only because her sister is a captive. ]

If he is willing to give us that information it would be useful. We should be as quiet as we can manage to be until we are sure we have the prisoners. Will we sneak them through the catacombs if there is a distraction?

[hassaran]

Agreed, we should save the distraction for our exit. If we cause a disturbance on the way in they may increase security and make it more difficult to get out again.

It would be best if we could get someone in to assess the condition of the prisoners along with the location and its security, rather than running in blind. I don't know that we have time to develop a contact, so we could arrange a capture and sneak in a crystal.

[swordproof]

[ Six, immediately - ]

I am willing to play captive, unless someone with magic is preferable.

[tactical_alert]

Sneak in a crystal and risk not only it being removed from our would-be captive, but also give our greatest enemy a way to listen in on everything the Inquisition does openly across it? That's a rather large risk to run there.

[exsecutus]

Before anyone suggests it: we should avoid infiltration of whatever is planned for the new Archon.

[hassaran]

Averesch, yes? Are you going to explain you reasoning?

[exsecutus]

[A grunt is his version of yes, Averesch. And trying to work out who she is, as he gives his response.]

Because I hate parties. And because it will prove a useful and secondary distraction of its own. Our attention is better focused elsewhere.

[hassaran]

You're far from home.

It can serve as a distraction even if we infiltrate it. But it's an obvious point of entry; if we can find an alternative way in that would be better. The party might be most useful as an exit.

[exsecutus]

I've been farther.

[And you? He bites back the urge to ask, chooses instead to move on.]

As an exit, how. Smuggle in spare party clothes?

[hassaran]

Maybe. The easiest way to walk out would be in a crowd that's rushing to exit. If we disturb the party somehow, force them to quickly empty the palace, we could slip in among them.

stuck this in the wrong place

[limier]

I have spoken with Radonis.

[ a man in a poor position to bargain, bargaining regardless. but the inquisition fares little better. ]

The dungeon is underground; a piece of the cave system. Portions flood entirely at high tide.

I imagine this to affect the guard rotation — which we will need intercept. Most prisoners are held in common cells, but there is a secondary section, reserved for long stays, and those of significant magic. We may not rule it out: the Venatori value anchors, and have indicated no rush to execution. Entry requires the cooperation of both heads of guard, one bearing a key; the other a lyrium tattoo.

Whether the enchantment will sustain itself upon dead tissue, I cannot say. As we’ve neither time nor means to test the matter, we must caution of their health. If we’ve an advantage, it is perhaps in the routine nature of such tasks.

There are passages in the palace, accessible only by the Archon’s blood. Radonis claims the passages, and the spells to alter their binding, known only to his personal confidantes. [ like the girl who'd stabbed him? ] I am skeptical. Regardless. We have been provided with a vial.

[ and after her last disastrous passage through the catacombs, after some mess about the boats, that’s all she’ll say of the promises attached to it — for now. an assassination of convenience is far from binding.

but there’s little convenient about it. amladaris will be protected. they picked a man of no consequence knowing that it would paint a target upon his back; the inquisition do not scheme alone. he might even serve for a means to draw out dissent.

to manage his murder is to throw their lot in with the old order. what will the death of a figurehead pave the way for? they know nothing of this calpernia, might crown her themselves tonight.

but her mind's set — else she’d have asked the counsel of leadership. if she expects little dissent now, neither will she make it a matter of discussion. ]

In sum, then: We will enter through the Catacombs. We may not count upon them going unguarded, between our flight and the risk of siege, they will be watched.

The second party will provide a distraction, drawing troops to the bridge. [ and hopefully not the dragon. ] Those retrieving prisoners will be accompanied by Serah Colin — however, your capture strikes me as ill-advised. You would neither stitch or mend a wound without magic and personal effects.

We will force a disturbance inside to evacuate the palace. I am inclined toward collapsing a portion of the structure. It is plausible, and less easily dealt with than a fire.

[ in a room full of mages who can put them out. but corypheus raised the palace quickly, and half the bloody city is built upon magic. there may be instabilities to exploit. ]

Artemaeus and another will have acquired the clothing of likely marks. We will exit through the front with the crowd.

Do I mistake your plans?

[keenly]

[A breath of relief. As long as he's there with the prisoners and not just creating noise somewhere else.]

No argument from me.

[hassaran]

I don't know that we have sufficient numbers or the necessary skills in this team to engineer the collapse. We might consider diverting the second team from the bridge to that task instead.

[limier]

Very well. They've mages among them capable.

[ in detail. ]

Timing will be key. A man to coordinate.

[ volunteers? beuller?? ]

[hassaran]

I will, unless you'd prefer otherwise. Do you plan to assign the other tasks, or may I make a suggestion?

[limier]

You are the expert, Madame.

[hassaran]

[ A quiet laugh, brief and rueful. ]

I'm used to working alone.

[ anyway ]

Given the event, the regular guard rotations are likely to be altered. We should be prepared to acquire the key and the hand rather than wait for them to appear in the dungeon on schedule. I'd suggest you or the Seeker take point on the mage, and I can handle the key.

[exsecutus]

[Fine, is the translation for the grunt of assent that Nikos makes. There's a lot to comb through in what Coupe has said. And maybe he's appreciate of the extra details.]

If we begin in the catacombs, we could begin the collapse from there. There's likely some part of the upper structure that is built atop some portion of the catacombs. If we do a good enough job, perhaps all of Minrathous will collapse.

[Wishful thinking.]

[limier]

[ she nods — realizes, after a moment, that nods aren't particularly audible. ]

I did not take you for an optimist. [ maybe it'd at least take some of the bloody supplies. ] We must be certain of our exits. Have we another route, should the crowd fail us?

[ the deep roads won't be opened to them twice. ]

[exsecutus]

I like to be surprising.

[Surprisingly optimistic, and very dry when confessing it.]

There's always leaping over the side of the bridge on the way out. Unless the Archon happened to mention any secret tunnels that led out. Or is that too much optimism.

[limier]

He was an Archon, not Andraste. [ they won't have any miracles. ] Can we all swim?

private;

[limier]

How discreet are your surprises?