Most of them are closed. The wealthy like their privacy and they prefer to be protected from the weather.

Moibur sat and drank his Red with thoughtful draughts as he tried to puzzle out a viable plan for their prospective job.  He listened to the conversations going on around him in the Angry Shark between the quite moments with Hugo and Dieter.  

"Well, boyos," Moibur said finally, "either we hit and delay the mark at its starting location, or we hit the mark while it's on the move and delay it on the streets.  If the mark has a large household, the former will be more difficult.  If there are only a few servants, then it might be a viable option.  If we hit the mark in the street, then we must make sure that we control the cab in which the mark enters.  Perhaps we can borrow a cab or two, and have one drive the mark and use the other to divert and delay the mark?"

After mulling it over some more, Moibur downs the rest of his ale and says, "I guess the best course will be to follow him to see which carriage he enters and then hit it hard and fast."

Guys, sorry for the delay. I've been hit real bad by real life the past few days and I'm not sure I'll be able to continue. But I'll try...

"We get up at first light and hit the small square by northern Banker's Row." Dieter drinks from his mug. "I'm sure we can persuade one of the drivers to join in with our little scheme, or better still, to part with his bread-winner for an hour or so for a nice amount."

Incidentally, how much does a hackney driver make in an hour, on average? More specifically, how much do we have to offer him to have a good chance of persuading him to join our little scheme?

"We might want to be discrete about it, though. Not like our driver will want to advertise about this sort of... business opportunity."

Moibur nodded his head thoughtfully, and finally said while absently stroking his beard with his fingers, "aye, but you or Hugo should do the talking to the driver.  I'll hang back and watch from a short distance in case things don't go down smoothly, then I can come in thumping if needed."

Quote from: The Butcher;545769Incidentally, how much does a hackney driver make in an hour, on average? More specifically, how much do we have to offer him to have a good chance of persuading him to join our little scheme?

A driver will make somewhere between four and 12 shillings (silver pieces) per hour, depending on demand.

However, their willingness to get involved in nefarious activities shouldn't be taken for granted. Neither should their willingness to voluntarily turn their carriage and horses over to some ne'er-do-wells, even if they are promising "We'll bring it back in an hour. Honest!"

Incidentally, can everyone describe their living arrangements? I assume Moibur is staying with his family but what about the rest of ye?

PS: By the way, I'm looking to you guys to let me know when you want to press the "fast forward" button to progress things. You're very much in the driving seat.

Seeing that they were not much more for strategy, Moibur said to his companions, "well then, let's meet near the carriage stand on Banker's Row as the cock crows and see how the day pans out."

Dirty Hugo nods in agreement, "Aye, let's try our luck on the morrow."

As you leave the Angry Shark, the storm clouds are mustering over Nuln. The weather breaks later that evening, after dark, and the city is lashed by a heavy thunderstorm.The storm passes during the wee hours and the following day bring blue skies.

You rise early and make your way through the streets, stepping over puddles and, occasionally detouring around small floods, to Bankers Row, where you congregate as the bells ring half past seven. Already, the streets are growing busy and there's a queue of four carriages waiting in the square at the top of Bankers Row. The drivers are hanging around in a group, gossiping as they wait for customers.

Moibur pulled the cowl of woolen cloak tighter to his face and blew into his hands to warm his fingers from the early morning chill in the air.  He stamped his feet as well as he watched the carriage stand with his companions from a distance.

Turning to Dirty Hugo, the dwarf said, "we only have a few hours before we need to hit the mark.  Perhaps you can talk one of the drivers into renting the carriage for a few hours and have him wait for the mark closer to his estate so that he picks our carriage?"

"I like Moibur's idea. Hugo, can you do this? I don't think I look a lot like the sort who rents carriages for a leisurely stroll, and neither does our proud soldier friend here. No offense, meister Wolfhame." Dieter is a big hulking fellow who looks like trouble from head to toe, and he knows it, even though he does keep his leather jack and his weapons hidden under a big cloak.

"I suggest Hugo approach the driver, and move the carriage to the corner of Bankers' Row and the street closest to the mark's house. Assuming of course that this is the safest route for the mark or a servant to take, to pick up a hackney."

Simple curiosity here, does anyone in this group has the Drive skill?

Moibur nods his head in agreement with Dieter's plan, and adds, "perhaps you could pose as one of the mark's servants who is just making sure that a carriage is available for his master when his master is ready to leave his house for his appointment."

Spoiler

Nope, Moibur doesn't have the Drive skill.

"Aye," says a muffled Dirty Hugo, "I'll try and talk one of the coachmen and talk him into moving his transport closer to the mark."

--> looking at the coaches, would there be anyplace a halfling could grab onto the back and go unnoticed?  Like could I stow away and conveniently shatter a wheel at some pre-determined ambush spot?

Quote from: misterguignol;549390--> looking at the coaches, would there be anyplace a halfling could grab onto the back and go unnoticed?  Like could I stow away and conveniently shatter a wheel at some pre-determined ambush spot?

Well, this is the sort of thing we're talking about:


You could grab on the back if you were quick/nimble enough and hang on, out of the driver's (and any passengers') sight. However, you would be visible to everyone else on the street. However, it's not uncommon for children to do this sort of thing for fun.

Moibur was starting to fidget about, and finally says to Hugo, "alright, go on already.  Let's do this!"