[WFRP] The Bloody Crown OOC XV

[LCP]

I mean if you ask real nice Cacophrax might waive the late fee.

[Destro_Yersul]

Maybe you can steal books from the library to supply the braziers. Gotta get those burnable books somewhere.

[LCP]

@rax - how about another charm test to get Roza to risk her neck for a guy she just met

[rax]

But he's so charming and manly!

(1d100)[53] vs. 68 (Fel 58, Charm +10)

FP re-roll if needed (1d100)[94]

[rax]

Well, he made it...just. Are there any house rules in play concerning Fortune Points? E.g. to an extra DoS? If so, could I spend it retroactively instead of using one for a re-roll?

[LCP]

Yes, we do do that. I should put it at the front of the OOC - thought it was already there but apparently not.

[-Sentinel-]

Thragka, I need to know if you're going to accept Elsa's mission.

I don't expect Urgrim to carry it out all by himself, because it's a big ask, especially if you want to keep a moderate level of activity in this game. But at the very least, I need Urgrim to deliver the message to those who can get those items to Elsa.

What we need:

• Master-crafted scissors with blades of obsidian. (I recommend starting early on this one, because you have to find the obsidian and get it to a master craftsman. The crafting might take a while.)
• Four tall brass braziers. (May need to have them custom-made, so as above, I recommend getting on it early. Also consider the logistics of getting them to Caerfort.)
• Enough coal to burn in the four braziers for several hours.
• As many books as you can scrounge up. (Can't say exactly how many without revealing ahead of time my estimate for the ritual's duration.)
• Fire lit from a volcano. (At this step, some redundancy is easy. Light 2-3 lanterns while you're there and keep them in separate locations.)
• A few pounds of finely-ground bones that have bleached in the sun for at least a year.
• A few pounds of salt.

Maybe we should divide them up between the PCs? That would clear things up, reduce duplication of effort and expenditure, and spur us into action.


Our allies with resources to help:

• The PCs (duh)
• Wadim
• Hieronymus and other clergy (incl. the Morrites)
• The Dwimmulsons
• The lords of the Reaches (Sforza, Carraciolo, Valdes, Sussman)
• Sandu, Suzanna, Filomena, and the guilds of Putbad (not involved in the war on Nahorek, but likely "know a guy who knows a guy")

[LCP]

As many books as you can scrounge up. (Can't say exactly how many without revealing ahead of time my estimate for the ritual's duration.)

I've recorded my estimates for the ritual numbers, you can reveal away.

Fire lit from a volcano. (At this step, some redundancy is easy. Light 2-3 lanterns while you're there and keep them in separate locations.)

Every lantern you want to maintain like this needs someone to refill its oil several times a day. Might be easiest (and cheapest) to do this as close to the time you're going to use it as possible.


Also, I understand that Elsa needs to stay behind to do her research, but that doesn't mean she can't get involved in the planning of where and how to acquire these things. The other PCs have a lot on their plate; if you're going to ask favours of them it helps to make those favours easy.

[-Sentinel-]

I've recorded my estimates for the ritual numbers, you can reveal away.

Honor system? Fine by me.

Magic: 3
XP: 300 (cost waived if you actually design the ritual)
Casting number: 24
Casting time: 6 hours

[LCP]

@rax:

Are the Tileans taking any meat as taxes or only live animals?

The stuff they take for taxes is stuff that can survive weeks/months of storage and transport. But they also source their own supplies in Morr’s Seat, and that includes any fresh food they can get.

If Bardhyl goes ahead with the food poisoning gambit, then he'd want her cooking or at least supervising the meal in question. Actually bringing in the meat could be handled by whoever's usually responsible for that, assuming they're vrani who'd be willing the help out.

Giving the garrison food poisoning could have consequences for her even if they didn't suspect it was intentional. She’ll need convincing.

[rax]

Righto, third time's the Charm...

(1d100)[54] vs. 68

Edit: You want me to write up an argument first, or do you want to go directly to Roza's reaction?

[LCP]

It'd be good to have something to go off IC, yes. I'm interested to hear the same thing as her!

[rax]

Right now, the argument is that Bardhyl's player is heading straight for a miserable man cold. If my brain hasn't been replaced by mush tomorrow, I'll get an IC post up then.

[rax]

Temporarily free of the brain fog, Bardhyl's player makes an attempt to convince an NPC he barely knows to do something dangerous for the greater good!

[TheSummoner]

I meant to roll this IC, but submitted my post without it. Perception vs 61 to make sure Sussman isn't watching (but probably still heard some of that)

(1d100)[34] vs 61
(1d100)[25] reroll

[LCP]

Edited in a reply to Bardhyl - sorry, was writing my post on the underground and you ninja'd me.

[RossN]

Sorry LeSwordfish I missed Ludo had already made contact with Jarla.

[TheSummoner]

Just to make sure I understand the situation, are the people around Sieghard preventing him from going about his business or just sorta watching? If it's the latter, he'd still want to see if Marien or Gerhardt are less suicidally determined to put themselves in front of the Iron Company. Most of what he'd say is likely to be a rehash of the conversation with Lottie, so that much can probably be abstracted.

[LCP]

"Morr save me! They know because they're already committed to the cause!" Bardhyl retorted, throwing up his hands in despair.

Want to check I understand what Bardhyl's saying before I respond for Roza - is he not planning to meet with the people he wants to take part in the attack before it kicks off?

[rax]

Oh he definitely needs to do that, no question.

However, I've gotten the impression from Wadim that there's solid support for doing something about the Tileans and that he's got several groups lined up and ready to act if Bardhyl can lay out a plan that seems likely to succeed. Based on this, I've assumed Bardhyl's first proper meeting with the other conspirators would be less about convincing people to ally with him than to lay out a plan and get people to agree to try it. I've also assumed that Wadim's work means that most or all of the people he's spoken to are aware of the others who are considering acting against the Tileans, but perhaps that's a misinterpretation on my part? In any case, this reasoning is why Bardhyl says the others are already committed to the cause, rather than a plan.

Does that clear things up?

[LCP]

I've also assumed that Wadim's work means that most or all of the people he's spoken to are aware of the others who are considering acting against the Tileans, but perhaps that's a misinterpretation on my part?

I think that's an extrapolation at least - I don't think Wadim has said anything to that effect.

To be clear about what Roza's asking, she is expecting there will be a meeting where you tell your (already committed) allies the plan of action. That's what she wants to be there for. Is that still a no?

[Thragka]

“Yes,” said Urgrim, “I agree with Elsa.”

Sorry for my inactivity this week; I’ve run up a lot of deadlines with regards to grading my students’ exams. I’ve submitted all the grades now, though, so I’ll be much more free from tomorrow.

[rax]

I think that's an extrapolation at least - I don't think Wadim has said anything to that effect.

Not outright, but I feel Bardhyl's been getting a whole lot of encouraging feedback from Wadim about the number of people who'd be prepared to fight. Assuming he's not just grandstanding, it seemed likely to me that he would have had to sell the idea to the various groups by telling them who else is prepared to take the risk.

To be clear about what Roza's asking, she is expecting there will be a meeting where you tell your (already committed) allies the plan of action. That's what she wants to be there for. Is that still a no?

No, that's more doable, but Bardhyl would still want to check in with the others before agreeing to bring her to such a meeting. The point is that he hasn't secured the assent of anyone else to reveal their participation to yet more people. He's not the unquestioned leader of the People's Front of the Raven Hills (yet), so my thinking is that in a clan-based society like the Vrani, making that decision without consultation could be considered a case of serious overreach. But maybe I'm overthinking things here?

Of course, there's also the matter of there not being a final plan of action to reveal until Bardhyl knows whether or not Roza is going to agree to do her part. Because if she isn't, he'll have to prepare a plan B for the meeting anyway.

[LCP]

I think both these things are about trust. Wadim is a religious leader; if he gives his word about something like this, people take that seriously (and if they didn't trust him, he could lie about a list of names just the same as anonymous numbers). What Roza is asking is to be trusted as much as any of these others you're planning to involve. Any of them could go to the Tileans. And if Bardhyl wants to lead, he's going to have to ask people to trust his decisions - including ones like whether he can trust Roza.

If you want me to reply to the IC as-is, let me know and I will - I'm just trying to make sure there's no misunderstanding before proceeding.

[rax]

Oh yes, it's certainly about trust. I've been working on the assumption that Wadim is trusted, but Bardhyl needs to earn his stripes, making it harder for him to assume any amount of agreement from anyone but his own men, old friends, and family. The point at which I envisioned asking people to directly trust his decisions is when he presents a plan for dealing with the Tileans and asks the others to put their faith in it.

While it's obviously also the case that anyone could betray the cause at any time, bringing Roza in and having her turn out to be a turncoat would be a direct result of Bardhyl's actions, so he's personally responsible for the consequences in that case.

Given that you've clarified what Roza is after at this point, I'll edit my last IC post a bit to reflect that, then we can move on.

Edit: IC edit complete.

[-Sentinel-]

I’ve submitted all the grades now, though, so I’ll be much more free from tomorrow.

That's great. I'm waiting for an IC response from Urgrim, by the way.

[rax]

@LCP

I'll put up an OOC post with Bardhyl's plans for the next few days tomorrow.

[rax]

Stuff for Bardhyl to do in the next few days:

1. Find out how the Iron Company patrols the town - how many in a single patrol and what routes and schedules they follow. Map that to any decent spots where they can be trapped and ambushed.

2. Find out how the patrols communicate with Orso in the hall. Do they send runners if there's trouble or do they signal with a horn or something similar?

3. Scout out the gate to see how and when it would be easiest to deal with the gate guard. Is there a good spot inside or outside the gate from which to shoot the guard full of arrows? Or would it be easiest to walk up to the guard and knife him/them?

4. Same thing with the guards standing guard at the hall during the night.

5. If possible, find out about the Company's meal times. How do they eat during the day - do they gather to eat in the hall or do they rotate in and out? I.e. is there something like stew on the fire at all times and the squads eat when they're able? (I imagine he could send word to Roza to ask about this one evening)

6. Let Wadim know what he found out from Roza and ask him to set up a meeting in a few days.

7. Ask Wadim to scrounge up some weapons for Bardhyl and his gang. Bows would be welcome, though Bardhyl and Grim prefer hand weapons and shields.

[Thragka]

Glædelig jul fra Danmark!

[rax]

And the same to you from across the Sound.