War table: Stop Red Lyrium Shipment in Rialto Bay

[gatheringstorm]

WHO: Korrin, Zevran, Pel and Anders (and 2-3 Inquisition redshirts to boss around/die for them)
WHAT: What the title says, stopping the red lyrium shipment. And maybe freeing some slaves in the process?
WHEN: Some vague period of time in the latter part of Kingsway, when other plots don't intersect. Don't think about it too much. /jazz hands
WHERE: Antiva, Rialto Bay
NOTES: Yeah, I put up a lot of threads but only play the parts you want. No pressure.

NPCs can be played by anyone! Content Warnings: Slavery, TBA

The plan starts simple enough: interrupt the red lyrium shipment to the Tom's Mum, a small ship moored off the coast, by taking the place of the contacts meant to arrive. As the ship is here ahead of schedule, they luckily have a buffer, a small window of time before the real contacts appear for their goods. The plan is set for an evening meeting; early enough for 'legitimate' business meetings, and late enough to provide some cover for those who must focus on stealth. With any luck, they'll be in and out before anyone realizes what just happened. If not, between them, they have a spirit healer, an assassin, a knight-enchanter and a shapeshifter. If they keep their wits about them, they can hold their own.

Intelligence revealing the presence of slaves in addition to the mercenaries alters the plan somewhat. Naturally, no one wants to depart without freeing the slaves as well, so the mission evolves to accommodate this. It's time to split the team in half. Korrin and Anders will assume the roles as contacts or, more plausibly, Anders with a presumed mercenary bodyguard. As long as they can keep attention centered on them, Pel and Zevran sneak in or board with the slaves, Pel taking the assassin's lead. A few Inquisition agents stand ready to assist as needed. Everything hinges on the teamwork of both parties, and how quickly they can accomplish their dual purpose of stopping the shipment (as well as preventing said shipment from being dropped into the water) and freeing the slaves before becoming overwhelmed by its crew.

Can they pull it off? It's time to find out.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

"You know," he says in an attempt to be conversational, "I know the sort of people who sell blue lyrium. It's a dangerous substance, yes. It could poison if used wrong. It could kill if touched by someone not a Dwarf. But they're not bad people, the smugglers. On the other hand, who smuggles red lyrium? Who... Who can hear the stories, see the results, and still be fine with it? At least blue can be used safely, and for important things."

If this doesn't work, he may try 99 Caskfuls of Ale on the Wall. Anything to distract him from how he's getting a cramp in his leg from these stirrups that he can't seem to shake off.

[ombranera]

"Greed is a powerful motivator, my friend." And Zevran would know, seeing as it motivates a great many assassinations. It does not sit well with him, this smuggling so close to their shores, the supply lines that need to be cut. As much good as this does- if they are not thorough? More smugglers will pop up.

They need to be swift, decisive, and make a lesson of this to all that might attempt the same.

[gatheringstorm]

"It could be greed...or they could have been lied to, like the junior Templars at Therinfal Redoubt. Not a lot of people in the north have seen it for themselves, truly know what it does. Even if they'd read Varric's book, many could just assume he exaggerated for the sake of a story." That's what he does, right? If Korrin hadn't seen the awful result of the Temple of Sacred Ashes for herself, if she hadn't come south, she might have been one of them.

[justice_is_blond]

"Mm." He considers both, looking at their surroundings. "The buyers may have been lied to, certainly. The smugglers, the sellers... they have to harvest it. They have to have seen its effects, as not even Dwarves are immune to the red. I'd certainly lean toward greed."

A beat.

"Which means we all need to be doubly careful. If any gets on you, say something right away. I've dealt with its effects before, but time will be of the essence. No 'it was just a speck, I can walk it off.'"

[ombranera]

"Gloves, leathers, there is a reason I am actually wearing trousers despite the heat." Instead of the usual leathers where it is but the boots and the smalls and the skirt. "I am in no hurry to find myself made a monster."

And he is terribly done with all of this already. Would smugglers never learn? "Oh this is a dangerous product that is likely evil in some way. Let us ship it in barrels like pickles!"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin adds to that with a disgusted noise which would do Cassandra proud. "The world never runs out of complete idiots, that's for sure. Especially the greedy sort. And yeah, I'll be pretty well covered."

It was tempting to wear an antaam-saar or would have been under normal circumstances, but that's far more exposure than she's willing to risk. So, dragon armor and vitaar, it is.

[justice_is_blond]

Zevran gets a very amused glance. They really do treat dangerous things like nothing, though he's benefited from that before, with blue lyrium.

"It's a shame the ever-present greedy sort never content themselves with pickles. Imagine how many parts of the world would be better served by people focused on profits with pickles rather than things that hurt." But pickles don't carry risks, and anyone can make them. Therefore, no profit.

"At least we'll be covered. Clothing-wise. Not with a great deal of backup... but I believe we'll be fine."

[ombranera]

"Anders, I am almost insulted. We have a war machine of a mage, your own skills, a Dalish First, and a legendary assassin." Really. Not overselling them or preening or anything. He may be down an eye but he has long since adjusted for the difference. "I feel sorry for the poor bastards on the ship more than I do for us."

[gatheringstorm]

"As you should." Korrin smirks, more than ready to unleash hell the moment it's needed. And it will be needed, because since when does everything ever go according to plan? Almost never, but she's not about to drown herself in worrying. Zevran's right, they have the skills and power needed to pull this off.

[justice_is_blond]

They're taking it a lot easier than him... but it's not really a surprise. They hadn't been to Fromage, and he's letting that linger on his shoulders. Dwelling is an problem he has and he knows it. Anders takes a breath and tries to let their good moods and the amused look on his face sink in. It helps.

"They chose to deal in red lyrium. I can't say I feel sorry for us happening to them." It all comes down to choices. "I can almost guarantee they won't see this coming, though."

[mythalenaste]

Pel has been quiet up to this point, sitting hunched in her seat with her arms crossed over her belly. She finally speaks up now.

"It's the slaves getting caught in the middle."

[gatheringstorm]

"...yeah." Korrin's smirk fades, growing solemn upon mention of those who had no choice but to be involved. "We'll protect them as best we can; that's all we can do, really." No matter how much they plan, there are too many variables to factor in. They won't be able to predict everything.

[ombranera]

"Taking care of matters or their betters before they have a chance to be caught in the crossfire- that will be tricky. Doable, but tricky." He wishes he had the rest of his Kestrels with him- but light and tight is the order of the day. They will manage.

[justice_is_blond]

"A tricky that's worth making the effort for. We've several people, and if Korrin and I can draw off most of them that will make it even easier." He doesn't like when people with sharp, stabby implements are focused on him, but the cause matters. They need to get red lyrium out of circulation as much as possible, and slaves deserve to be freed.

"Where's the legendary assassin confidence that was there a few moments ago?"

[mythalenaste]

"Yeah, Zevran, where's your assassin confidence?" Pel picks up a stick to start poking at the fire. Burning the end is fun.

"It's all on you two, though. You have to keep their attention while we get them out. Three mages and a lot of slaves against a few mercenaries shouldn't be much of a problem, once we're in position."

[gatheringstorm]

"So, no pressure." Korrin smiles wryly, opening her flask, which at this point is just filled with water. It takes a lot to compromise her sobriety, but she isn't taking chances right now. "Just remember that we have our sending crystals. If it goes tits-up on that end, pass on the word if you've a chance. We'll do the same."

[ombranera]

"Infiltration and killing is simple enough- herding a bunch of frightened slaves out of the way? It is like trying to wrangle a dozen drunk, greased nugs. Impossible, frustrating, noisy, and messy." Especially when the loyalty of the slaves is very well in question and unknown to them.

[justice_is_blond]

He frowns at Zevran, but not out of upset. Fear does make people more unpredictable.

"Pel, can you cast sleep?" He can't. Creation and Entropy are opposites, and he has an overwhelming inborn ability in one which leaves him unable to wield the other. "They can't struggle, then, but then we have to make sure the ship stays intact."

To make them sleep and then let the boat sink would be beyond cruel.