GM commentary: Jeez, watching this is like watching a couple of socially-inept teenagers trying to fumble their way to second base...

Quote from: Dodger;540563GM commentary: Jeez, watching this is like watching a couple of socially-inept teenagers trying to fumble their way to second base...

Player commentary: You started the game in a tavern. You don't get to complain.

Dieter rises and says, "very well, we have work to do. I suggest we start by looking at this gentleman's house" *gives them the address Sly Rudi gave him* "and going down the way between this and the granaries, so we can scout the carriage's path for a good place to surprise our unsuspecting client." With that, he picks up the tab (his, Moibur's and Hugo's) and motions for them to follow as he leaves the inn.

I'll do exactly what Dieter said. I'll visit the address Rudi gave me, right now, in a manner as inconspicuous as possible (we'll probably spread around the area so as to draw less attention), and scout for a good place to ambush the merchant and his guards. If anyone else has any ideas as to how we might carry this out, I suppose now's the time to discuss it.

Outside, the sun has been shrouded by dark clouds approaching from the west.  Josef T's address is in the wealthy Kaufman district, in the north-east of the city. You leave Shantytown, pass through the Universität and approach the High Gate which pierces the wall that separates the Neuestadt, home to two-thirds of Nuln's population, from the more exclusive Altestadt.

Beyond the High Gate, you pass beneath the facade of the majestic temple of Verena. The streets here are noticeably cleaner and the buildings are far better maintained. Messengers hurry through the streets dodging horse-drawn cabs bearing nobles and wealthy merchants. Town watch patrols are more frequent than in the Neuestadt.

Josef Tödenhofer's lives in a three-storey house on a small estate on a street corner north of Banker's Row, surrounded by a nine-foot wall. The surrounding streets are residential with relatively little traffic.

Everyone make an Int test.

Quote from: Dodger;540710Everyone make an Int test.

Pass.

Once outside and on the streets with his new companions, Moibur tries to maintain a casual facade but remains alert for any nefarious shenanigans against himself.  

Spoiler

Pass with 1 success!

Quote from: Dodger;540710Everyone make an Int test.

Hugo's roll, his Int is 35.

For Dieter and Moibur only:

Spoiler

The route from Tödenhofer's estate and the Granaries passes through Banker's Row, a busy mercantile district, before joining wide, well-travelled thoroughfares on the way to the Granaries. The quietest part of the journey is likely to be the street right outside his estate. The problem is that watch patrols are more frequent here in the Altestadt. While there would be fewer witnesses to an ambush carried out here, there's a higher chance of encountering a watch patrol.

The bells toll four o'clock. As they do, you hear a distant, barely audible rumble of thunder from the west.

For Dirty Hugo only:

Spoiler

These city streets all look much of a same to you. You're distracted by a distant rumble of thunder from the west as the city bells toll 4 o'clock. There's a storm approaching.

It's four o'clock in the afternoon, right? Just checking.

Dieter curses. "We stand little chance of ambushing Herr Tödenhofer anywhere but here", he says, as he traverses the street right off the merchant's property. "But the damned watch patrols are far too frequent." Another curse follows the thunderclap. "Let's get back to the inn lest we get soaking wet."

Moibur nods in agreement and walks with his companions back to The Angry Shark tavern and takes a seat with them at a table.

"I don't like it," Moibur says in a hushed tone, "taking 'em in the street in daylight.  Like you said, Dieter, too many patrols- and watchmen.  Are there any specifics on how the job is done?  Why don't we just break into his house under the cover of night and tie them up and then leave after the appointed time?"

"Is there any chance we could delay them outside the city gates?"

Some scene-setting and orientation (that I should probably have done before now):

The gate you passed through en route to Tödenhofer's house was a gate in the internal Nuln wall, that separates the Altestadt from the Nuestadt.

Here is a (large, table-breaking) map:

Spoiler

• The Angry Shark tavern is on the edge of Shantytown, near location 20.
• Josef Tödenhofer's house is in the north-east of the city, north of Banker's Row (location 12).
• To get there (and back), you passed through the High Gate (location 4).
• The Granaries are at location 24.

The obvious and most direct route from Tödenhofer's house to the Granaries is south-west through the Kaufman District, through the High Gate, then turn right and follow the wide street between the Universität and the wall.

Feel free to ask questions relating to what you saw during your recce. I'm happy to rewind/ret-con out your return to the tavern if you want to.[/I]

I'll stay in the tavern debating a strategy for as long as it rains.

"Like I said before", Dieter explains over a mug of hot wine, "it is as simple as it gets. Tödenhofer has an appointment at half past nine in the next morning, by the granaries. Our job is merely to hold him so he's at least one hour late." He pauses, drinks and scowls. "Now, my usual approach to such things is to beat the mark senseless, but he's got bodyguards. And that's where the two of you come in. Unless either of you's got a better idea, I say we ambush him on the street by his estate, not so close that his household can help him out of the pickle, but before Bankers' Row where the City Watch might rush to assist him." Dieter looks at a window and sighs, frustrated, thinking that if the rain doesn't abate, Tödenhofer might send out a messenger to call off his rendezvous by the Granaries, leaving him and his associates with nothing to show for their troubles.

Isn't there a place by the walls where we could surprise Tödenhofer? How much movement does the High Gate see circa 9am?

Also, what does the street off his house look like? Are there alleys, chokepoints or other tactically relevant features we can exploit for an ambush?

Quote from: The Butcher;541287I'll stay in the tavern debating a strategy for as long as it rains.

It's not raining. Yet.

By the time you've returned to the Angry Shark (approx. 5pm - yes, this is the afternoon, not morning), a dark bank of cloud extends across the western sky but it is not yet overhead. Instead of cooling as the afternoon progresses, the air remains warm and close (i.e. kind of humid, with no fresh air).

QuoteIsn't there a place by the walls where we could surprise Tödenhofer?

Int test, please!

QuoteHow much movement does the High Gate see circa 9am?

The High Gate is busy from very early in the morning. Plus, it's manned by the Watch at all hours.

QuoteAlso, what does the street off his house look like? Are there alleys, chokepoints or other tactically relevant features we can exploit for an ambush?

There are alleys between the estates...

Further info dependent on the outcome of your Int test.

Quote from: The Butcher;541287"Like I said before", Dieter explains over a mug of hot wine, "it is as simple as it gets. Tödenhofer has an appointment at half past nine in the next morning, by the granaries. Our job is merely to hold him so he's at least one hour late." He pauses, drinks and scowls. "Now, my usual approach to such things is to beat the mark senseless, but he's got bodyguards. And that's where the two of you come in. Unless either of you's got a better idea, I say we ambush him on the street by his estate, not so close that his household can help him out of the pickle, but before Bankers' Row where the City Watch might rush to assist him." Dieter looks at a window and sighs, frustrated, thinking that if the rain doesn't abate, Tödenhofer might send out a messenger to call off his rendezvous by the Granaries, leaving him and his associates with nothing to show for their troubles.

Dirty Hugo turns to Dieter and says, "Oi, wouldn't an ambush be a bit too...direct?  Why play our hands or make ourselves obvious targets?  I say we consider a bit o' stratagem.  Is there someone we could take hostage that is dear to him that would have him chasing after them instead of making his appointment?  Or maybe we could find out where he lives and set it on fire...run up to him before he makes the appointment and tell him we've been sent to inform him that his home is ablaze...he's sure to go tend to that instead of meeting up with whoever, right?"

Moibur nods in agreement with Dirty Hugo, and says, "bushwhacking the mark in broad daylight on busy streets should be the fall back plan."

The dwarf turns to Dieter, "unless you know the watchmen patrol schedules?  I'm new to the city so I have no clue.  Are they at regular intervals?  Will we have enough time to do the job and scoot out?"