Immersive Ink

Goldwen nods in agreement at Thanis's suggestion. "This sounds like a strong plan and... it's worked so far."

Stern caresses his sword and wryly replies, "I've got your 'commotion' right here!"

Stern agrees, "That would certainly get their attention. They wouldn't want to watch their hard work go up in smoke." (grinning down at the hobbit hobbet) "Tass, can you make it look like an accident?"

We will probably need a fair amount of oil to get something going that will be hard to put out. We also need to figure out where we want to get to and target something away from there. In the scouting Tass weaved his way through some ruins and scaffolding and other piles of stuff. So we will put it to the DM

Is there a likely pile of wood or junk that should be flammable with some pyromaniacal help? Does it give us enough room to move around the inner compound in the commotion?

Stern and Garamon pause in their tracks a moment as this new plan is being hatched, half a dozen strides from the hiding place...

Yes... the cathedral is a building site, and Tass passed through the supplies yard on his way in and out. There were perhaps a dozen hobbet-height piles of lumber, stone, and other building supplies there. One (or several) of the lumber piles would make a great pyre if they could be ignited. It has been raining on and off, so the ground and the wood on top is wet. But, it's prolly dry somewhere within the stacks.

The supplies yard is conveniently close to the cathedral, perhaps as near as 20 yards. But it also occupies a large area, so the farthest parts might be 40-50 yards away. The whole area is to one flank of the cathedral. There is a good chance a well-positioned fire would pull the bulk of the workforce away from the entry, enabling the party to nip inside unchallenged, if not unseen. I'd have to dice for that...

Will the perimeter guard spot Stern and Garamon (i.e., the promised random encounter check)? 1d6=1! So, not yet.