ORLAIS MOD PLOT ↠ ROUND TWO

[faderifting]

ORLAIS PART 2: SNATCH & GRAB

The Players

Beleth, Cassandra, Isabela, Rachette, Thranduil, Vivienne

The Plot

Inquisition agents have intercepted messages between Florianne de Chalons and contacts in Tevinter and the Anderfels which indicate that she is in league with the Venatori and assisting with the planning of some sort of major operation in Orlais. This fits with several odds and ends of evidence collected by agents during various operations over the last few months, but has also been convincingly corroborated through the extended interrogation of Baron Pierre-Henri Brunet, who was identified as a Venatori agent during a mission last month. The case against the Grand Duchess is compelling.

Attempts have been made to have agents infiltrate her household to surveil her until more is learned about her plans, but they have been unsuccessful. Her security is remarkably tight: she is herself a highly trained player of the Game, with keen powers of observation and a healthy paranoia, wealthy enough to surround herself with a private army of guards, and she operates essentially with impunity given her status and Gaspard's current power. One agent has already been killed for suspected spying and another narrowly escaped. More immediate measures must be taken.

Given that the Grand Duchess and her household are on high alert, there are very limited opportunities to move against her. She is presently spending almost all of her time in her nearly impregnable palace just outside Verchiel. Agents have managed to learn that she is currently attending a spa retreat hosted by Duchess Lynette Furneaux at the famed Bains-les-chers, on the coast near Lydes, across from Val Royeaux.

GOOD NEWS: The Grand Duchess still believes this trip to be secret, and while she travels in heavily-guarded style, relatively few guards will be accompanying her into the baths to avoid drawing questions or (more importantly) ruining the relaxing atmosphere. The baths themselves are much easier to get inside than her palace. The resort is also known for its discretion, and guests frequently attend anonymously to conceal health concerns or scandalous assignations, or simply to avoid each other.

BAD NEWS: The only discreet access is by sea, no one is allowed inside except in extremely skimpy costumes, and the baths are (officially) a silent retreat so any noise much above a whisper is likely to draw attention. It will be full of nobles, each of whom will have their own contingent of guards who will be unhappy at having to be nearly naked and mostly unarmed and so will probably take any opportunity to stab something and leave. This is in addition to the establishment's own guard force of implausibly beautiful oil-slicked people with impractically revealing armor but very sharp swords.

The Possibilities

They could try to march up to the gate and demand that Florianne be turned over to them for trial and judgment. But those familiar with Orlesian nobility have confidently said that this blunt approach is likely to lose the Inquisition a great deal of face, anger the nobles inside, and has a quite limited chance of succeeding. More likely they will simply keep the doors shut, forcing the Inquisition to lay siege to the place, which would basically doom their efforts in Orlais, as they would thereafter be seen as violent (and very uncouth) interlopers.

This leaves them with two options:

1. Impersonate a noble and his or her retinue.

2. Scale the wall on the sea-cliff side, discreetly take out some spa guards, and impersonate the guards instead.

Once inside, their orders from the advisors are to capture the Grand Duchess alive and return her to Skyhold for interrogation. If this proves impossible, her death is preferable to her escape.

How exactly they go about this is up to the team. They have three real options:

Diplomacy: Approach other nobles inside, make Florianne's crimes known, and enlist their help to bring her in peacefully.

Stealth: Stealthily drug Florianne and remove her without other nobles knowing they were ever there.

Force: Storm her location within the spa and drag her out, letting everyone see the power of the Inquisition.

Please use the comments on this post to discuss and pick which approaches you as a team prefer. You have until tomorrow night EST and then if there's a tie, we'll help break it. If you reach consensus sooner, we'll get the threads up sooner! In the meantime, we're putting up an initial thread for rping travel to the site HERE and you should feel free to discuss the possible approaches IC too if you'd like! The only definite orders coming from the advisors are to take her alive if at all possible, but definitely don't let her escape. The rest is up to you.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[faderifting]

Any questions you have about OOC logistics or IC intel!

[madame_de_fer]

I know the notes say that the case against Florianne is compelling. Is it sufficient that the nobles can be adequately swayed to turn her over if/when it's presented? (Is it enough that people can cluck at her for being sloppy?) Or is there potential for nobles to 'ehhhhhhh I dunno, maybe hrm' as a response?

[faderifting]

None of the three approaches are a guaranteed win or a guaranteed loss! It's a strong case; it wouldn't automatically convince everyone on its face.

[madame_de_fer]

Excellent and thankee much!

[stabsbooks]

Is there any danger of Vivienne and/or Cassandra being recognized and blowing everyone's cover?

[faderifting]

Yes, they're both likely to be recognized unless measures are taken to disguise them. Recognition will increase their chance of persuading nobles to their side should they choose that approach, but will also increase the chance that Florianne bolts before they can get near her.

[sistertohermen]

I assume that there must be some place for these nobles to store their clothes, jewelry, valuables... Like idk a guarded locker room or something. Yes/no? Is there a place that, with a little sneakery, or maybe get in there if they pose as guards, one might be able to pluck some items of worth?

Asking. For a friend. Who might hide things in boobs.

[faderifting]

The nobles each have private quarters, as described a little bit on the IC post here where they keep their possessions. Stealing from them would require breaking into those individual apartments, each of which is guarded and most of which are located on shared hallways within sight of each other. In short, it's not an easy grab. If it's something Rachette would pursue let us know!

[rowancrowned]

what shiny jewelry is there for thranduil to steal.

[faderifting]

It's a spa full of Orlesian nobles, there's a lot of shiny everything.

[rowancrowned]

8D

[arlathvhen]

re: the skimpy costumes, how skimpy is skimpy, and will they be selecting their own costumes within the designated amount of skimpy, or is there specific spa-wear, or a specific theme, etc.

basically how terrible are these outfits

[faderifting]

For visitors: There is a standard costume that is expected and wearing anything else--especially more--will draw attention and suspicion. Nobles who are frequent visitors will usually have their own versions made and bring them along, but there hasn't been time for that, so if they go the impersonation route they'll have to use those provided by the resort. The consist of short toga-like dresses or kilts, sheer robes, and sandals.

For guards: The guard uniform consists of a short, light skirt with a shiny belt and some armor pieces hanging off of it, and a shiny chest plate. For women this includes another band of fabric beneath, but for both men and women the abdomen is bare. Shiny shin guards and vambraces, shiny mask, strappy sandals. They are each allowed a single short sword or other weapon of comparable size.

All guards must wear a uniform whether they are the spa's own guards or visiting with the nobles. They will be issued uniforms on arrival and will not be allowed within in anything else. It serves to identify them, and to limit their willingness to fight by limiting their weapons and armor. Spa guards wear white cloth and gold metal. Visitors wear light blue cloth and silver metal.

[rowancrowned]

if they wear less, is that also odd?

[faderifting]

No, not if they're nobles or retainers. For guards, yes. A total absence of armor would be remarked upon and would probably lead others to believe they were a mage.

[rowancrowned]

psst, mods, i think we've decided.

https://www.plurk.com/p/lubi48

PLOTTING: ENTRY

[faderifting]

Discuss or vote here on whether your character would rather impersonate a noble and their retinue and walk right in the front door, or hop the fence and pose as the spa's own guards.

[sistertohermen]

Cassandra is already (hella distant) nobility and might be able to get away with getting in with her ~retinue~. Vivienne also has the air of nobility and could probably actually get away with posing as nobility better.

Chette of course would rather say fuck some of these guards, the fewer of them for us the better, and better able to get closer.

[madame_de_fer]

Oh pretty sure Madame de Fer would just walk right in and be there to enjoy the spa because her life is so hard and she desperately needs to be taking the waters after roughing it for so long in the Frostbacks.

I vote the impersonation route with maybe less impersonating and more Vivienne has bullied Cassandra into a spa day. Complete with little cheese wheels. XD

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra (surprise) votes impersonating guards. I am really hoping she gets overruled. please make her get a massage and sit in hot springs wearing far too little clothing.

[rowancrowned]

walking right in, with either cassandra or viv or both as the nobles

[arlathvhen]

beleth is gonna vote for impersonating a noble and their retinue, less fighting is probably a good thing, right?

[easternseaqueen]

Sea access and skimpy clothes, you say.

[arlathvhen]

just to clarify, do you want to scale the cliffside and pose as guards, or impersonate the nobles and their retinue?

PLOTTING: APPROACH

[faderifting]

Discuss and vote here for which of the three diplomatic, stealthy, or forceful options above your character would choose.

[sistertohermen]

stealth stealth stealth pose as guards get in close get a lil sleepy poison in her then somehow cart her out without anyone seeing/noticing h-haha that's the hard part....

Not opposed to force tbh but that's a lot of noble guards as well as spa guards so.

[easternseaqueen]

Pirate votes stealth too.

[madame_de_fer]

First choice would be the diplomatic approach. Mostly because outmaneuvering Florianne in the Game would fill Vivienne's heart with giddy glee, and I'd assume several of the nobles present would take pleasure in it as well. Orlais is still a delicate situation, they are talking about a member of the royal family, and she's cognizant that they still need Orlesian coin which will dry up if they go about things the wrong way.

She would not approve of the stealthy approach because there could be major issues with kidnapping the Grand Duchess, she might be Gaspard's sister, but she's still Celene's cousin and let's not push our luck.

Viv is also very much not a fan of the force approach. It's Orlais, let's not be brutes, please and thank you. Save that for doglords who will be impressed by bear wrestling or something.

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra the brute votes force, and also bear wrestling if possible.

[rowancrowned]

diplomacy, second intrigue, very much against force where they'd have to kill A Lot of people to get out.

[arlathvhen]

beleth personally would like to use stealth but she would agree with whatever thranduil said, especially since vivienne said it too.

so uh basically: diplomacy

[sistertohermen]

beleth no beleth why be a bro

[arlathvhen]

if you want to argue with vivienne go for it bruh

[sistertohermen]

Argue with a snooty human noble!!! SHE CAN DO THIS!!! (chette please child)

[rowancrowned]

elf buddies hi five

PLOTTING: OTHER

[faderifting]

For all other plotting needs.

[sistertohermen]

Someone help clean my poor dirt child such that she is Presentable. maybe dab a lil makeup on her brand. h elp.

[madame_de_fer]

I believe that can be arranged. ;)

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra is going to hate every minute of this. please make it as miserable as possible for her.