A plan is formed

[Roll: 17]

"So your next targets are Count Hines and the Golden Gavel," Patience said mostly to herself, now sitting in her private office with Runa. "I approve of your logic: the theft of such an important artifact would harm the legitimacy of the queen and one of her key allies. And doing so in the wake of a controversial judgement like that damned pardon would bring attention back to that decision." After taking a moment to consider, she said, "I agree that that is a suitable target, and will lend you whatever you need to conduct this theft."

Runa sighed with relief, laying back in the chair across from Patience. She'd watched the other woman's reactions as she explained her next target, carefully gauging how receptive the noblewoman was. But both her words and her facial expressions had conveyed support for the plan. "Whatever I need, huh?" Runa wondered aloud. This was the first time she'd explicitly received such words. There were people who vocally supported her actions and had said they wanted to help her, but none of them had said so knowing her true identity, nor knowing what form that request for help would take. Runa had acted alone, and all her plans had reflected that.

"Let me think about it for a moment," she said to Patience. "There would be three stages if I were to target exclusively the gavel. The first would be infiltration, getting onto the property and into the gallery. The second would be retrieval, getting through the various defenses around the gavel without alerting security. And third would be my retreat, getting off of the property with the gavel." She continued. "What I would need for the latter stages will depend on what I decide to do for the earlier stages. If I found a way to retrieve the gavel without notice, I could simply slip out without needing anything else. But if I were spotted during the retrieval, I would want some form of distraction or means of escape."

Patience nodded along.

"If I had a better idea of what kind of security he had, beyond what was apparent during the tour..." Runa said aloud, more to herself than to Patience.

But the noblewoman picked up on those words. "I may be able to help with that. What would you say to being my guest at an upcoming dinner hosted by Count Hines? At a minimum, you could get information on his security measures that wouldn't normally be accessible to you. And it could prove a chance for you to make your move."

"That's perfect!"

With that, the two women began to plan for the first (and possibly last) stage of their first caper together.