--- Kat ---
The young-looking elf that took their order had the air or soone who was closer to fifty and sort of done with stupid custors. Being an elf, it was quite possible that was closer to her actual age. Still, everyone had ordered and now it was ti to wait for the als. "So, how many people are we likely dealing with?" asked Kat.
Steel shrugged "We’re not sure. Based on the evidence we have, it’s either one person, or a small group that have all been trained the sa way. There was no evidence of extra fighting styles or weapons. The attackers always use either hand to hand, or random things in the environnt for a bit of extra weight. The current guess is that it’s one or two people at most, plus the ward expert. There are probably others that help deal with the haul, but that’s more of a guess on my part."
Kat nodded, "Makes sense. Should we try to catch both? And then prioritise seeing both faces or would capturing one be good enough?"
Steel paused before his answer as the waitress ca back and delivered four drinks. She did give Kat a bit of a strange look for ordering two drinks... but Lily was perfectly capable of using a straw. Steel had chosen so orange juice mix, Hedera had gotten li water, Kat herself had picked so strange spice blend mix and Lily just had normal water.
Once the waitress had left, Steel said "Use your best judgent if there are multiple assailants and you cannot capture both of them. Theoretically we can get information from the first thief, but it’s far more likely that we can just work out who they’re associated with by asking around and figuring it out that way. A lot more reliable too."
Steel paused to take a quick sip. In doing so, they finally flicked up their helt, only to pause and realise what they were doing. So they flipped it back down and took the helt off. Kat was sowhat surprised to see a young looking but heavily scarred face. They were an elf, but their ears were a lot smaller than normal so perhaps they were a half elf? Or just unlucky? Their ears were also flat against the side of their head so they could wear a normal helt without issues unlike Hedera.
Steel had one scar going across his eye, though luckily not damaging it. He also looked to be missing a chunk from his right cheek and there was another thin line running along the left side of his neck and up towards his ear just missing it... which was good because he was missing a chunk of it already and didn’t need more damage to add to that.
"Sorry, I sort of just wear a helt all the ti because of... all of this," admitted Steel as he gestured to his face. "Most of this scar are from before I was adopted, and the rest of my body isn’t much better... still, it’s rude to be eating with a helt on so I hope you don’t mind,"
"It’s fine," said Kat and Hedera at the sa ti.
Steel nodded, "Alright where was I... we were talking about if there’s multiple? Yes don’t feel you need to go for the capture... and it is probably best if you don’t give up a capture just for a chance to look at one of the other’s face. Though I will make an exception for if you can spot the enchanter.
"If there are multiple thieves the enchanter is the most important, and even if there isn’t forcing the enchanter to show us how they’re so easily able to bypass the wards would be a major boon. Though once again, capturing any of them would be good so don’t take too many risks about it,"
Kat nodded, "Alright, what can you tell us about the area?"
"A few things," admitted Steel. "So the big thing that recharges the orbs is the do above us magnifying the light in specific areas for the recharge. Now, the orbs specifically react to sunlight and not anything else, so this light you’re seeing outside right now? Not sunlight. Instead, the sunlight is taken in and absorbed in a few key areas and then concentrated at the recharging platforms.
"The way we do this, is by having the sunlight shine up from underneath the orbs on a pedestal. It’s a big bowl but part of the enchantnts on it is ensuring that the light is shared evenly so you need at least a certain number of orbs in their to prevent them from exploding and damaging the enchantnts and the bowl itself.
"The main recharge station is under a gazebo and the block it’s on is more or less a garden you can hang around in during the day. Officially, things close at five but we don’t forcibly kick anyone out until closer to six. Once things are locked down, the enchantnts activate and cover the area in an impenetrable bubble... theoretically anyway.
There is usually four guards, one at each of the corners and they idea is that they cover for each other. It’s more of a deterrent the a way to catch thieves. Especially as they don’t normally need to look inside. The area is fairly open with a few trees bushes and benches, along with the recharge station of course. Enough places to hide if you’re good, but not an endless amount.
"We tried to station a few people inside of the wards to check on them... but everyone, inside and outside, were knocked out an in so cases injured sowhat severely each ti we tried that," explained Steel.
"So... where do you think it would be best to hide out? A neighbouring building or inside the warded area?" asked Kat.
Steel rubbed his chin, "You’d likely be able to spot them if you were hanging out on nearby rooftops. Not sothing the guards can really do with armour and there are legal complications if we try that anyway. The issue I see... is that if part of what lets them bypass the enchantnt is say... a brooch or so other small item you might not be able to follow them through the wards.
"Of course, the obvious weakness of being inside is not having too many places to hide from the thieves and potentially missing them sneaking through the area. So I can’t say what you’d find better,"
"I think we should split up then," stated Hedera. "Ideally we’d have two people at opposite ends of the diagonals, assuming the area is roughly squarish?" Steel nodded. "Right so two people on the roofs, and one person inside. Probably either you or Lily,"
Kat nodded slowly. *What do you think?*
[I think it’ll be sowhat awkward. I should probably hide inside because I’m smaller and even if they spot they might not even consider worth noticing if I’m just sleeping in a tree. IJ don’t trust myself to stay awake and on watch all night. Sure you can wake up and I can be quickly ready for action if I stay in mphis form, but that’s not the sa as actually being on guard. Plus, if you catch Hedera sending a signal she saw sothing you can tell , whereas if you were hiding sowhere you couldn’t see her, and I fell asleep we could miss them.]
*You make so good points... though are you going to be ok sleeping on the ground or so random tree branch?*
[It’s not like it’s going to give back problems. Bit dirty sure, but I’m not worried enough to risk snagging a blanket or sothing. I’ll deal with it.]
*Ok.* "Sounds good Hedera. Lily will probably be the one inside. She’s smaller, and also possible not sothing they’ll see imdiately as a threat even if they do spot her in her hiding spot. She... will also probably be asleep for a lot of it so no need to fake not paying attention to them," explained Kat.
Hedera nodded, "As long as we have a plan. That one sounds good to ," Hedera then turned to Steel. "Is there anything else we have to worry about? How large are the buildings near the recharge station?"
Steel made a so-so gesture. "A bit of a mix? Mostly one story buildings but there are a few two story ones and I think a single three story building nearby. It’s not a particularly built up area."
Which was sothing Kat had noticed on their way over. To make the most of their space, many hos had two or more stories. Plenty of those floors had clearly been added later as well. The city allegedly wasn’t running out of space... but with the do above them they could only go so high. Still, they had ti before that beca an issue and if the trick with the castle was replicable perhaps they would be fine.
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