Session 06

Criminal Minds

Once Usul joins the rest of the AC in the hideout, info are exchanged and mulled over. Sanmeria pitches in with details [Recall Lore] about the inner workings and routines of typical noble-house bodyguards. The plan is to snatch Heleesa at the 12 Rows Inn during the gambling tournament, while somehow distracting Darren. To this end, they decide to go have a chat with Daisy.

Mice At Heart

Dayne and Usul go to the Tamed Filly.

There we see Dayne play the part of the good old usual customer (which he is) that introduces a new awkward customer to the establishment. Turns out he and the resident "protector" (the very same Don Biffero that was mentioned the last time! What a problematic coincidence!) do know each other and are able to easily smooth things out ... the Don was a bit reluctant to accept a jerboa mouse in his fine enterprise.

Usul plays dumb and angles to have a room with Daisy. Once alone, he drops the pretence ... and adopts a new one: a friend worried for Darren in light of recent developments. Thanks to his acute reading of the young lass [Read Someone] and to a sapient use of the personal info he uncovered during the raid in the guard's apartment [Sway] he managed to earn Daisy's trust.
Yes, they were more than client and patron.
Yes, they had plans to build a life together.
Yes, something changed a few months ago, when Darren suddenly cut all ties with her with no real explanation; there was a mention of "another woman" but it felt weird.
Yes, she still deeply cares for him.
Yes, if Darren needs help and something can be done about it she would like to participate.

Details

Back at the hideout the AC iron out the final elements of their plan and wait for the moment to set everything into motion, the next night.

In this time, Alyssa comes along informing them that a new caravan is about to depart for the DorsetShire region. Everyone is very worried about the situation with the infamous Southern Riders, as no one had time to do anything about it. Ben LeBrie keeps swearing to have everything under control, but none of the AC really trusts him.

The Heist

When the time comes, the AC take position.

Usul gets Daisy and brings her to the 12 Rows Inn, where she will find (and distract) Darren. Then he'll wait outside, on a carriage pulled by beetles.

Inside, Sanmeria is sitting in a dark corner, her hood pulled up, waiting for things to get in motion. Thanks to her unique skills [A Thousand Faces] she disguised herself to look like a very convincing copy of her sister Heleesa. She'll act in case Darren needs a more urgent reason to look away.

Cedrick and Dayne are also inside, among the rabble that follows the gambling competition.

When the final players take position, Dandelion very visible among them, Heleesa starts cheering him from the sidelines ... time to act!

Usul eases Daisy inside, where she quickly finds Darren and draws him away to have a private conversation. Being a good guard, he positions himself near the exit door, facing towards the center of the room and his ward.

This is were Cedrick starts to make a scene [Intervene] by drunkenly singing and pushing people and eventually starting a scuffle to break Darren's line of sight with Heleesa. Then Sanmeria acts quickly, behaving to make it look like as if Heleesa was running away from the commotion, past Darren, and out of the inn. Her diversion works [Take a Risk] but now she has the bodyguard at her heels, trying to protect her and enquiring about the reason of her sudden departure.

This allows Dayne to more easily get close to his target, push a knife at her back and command her to follow him [Threaten] ... which she rebels against, starting to protest and awkwardly fight back.