Fenris blinked in disbelief at what Asleod was proposing.<em>Bring down the ruling class?  Is he serious?</em>This was big.  Far bigger than he even thought within the realm of possibility.<em>The plan thus far is a start, but it isn't enough on its own.</em><br/><br/>The Ranger scoffed at Daniel's points.  "You nobles put such a high value on magic, as though nothing can be done without it."  He shook his head as though he was disappointed with that fact.  "It is that false confidence that makes them weak.  They're no less mortal than the rest of us and a well placed arrow will drop them just as quickly as the next person.  How many of them actually got their hands dirty with physical labor?  How many of them faced their enemy face to face wielding cold steel rather than killing them with diplomacy and blackmail?  Even veteran soldiers are capable of getting rattled in the heat of combat when going up against an army that outnumbers them two to one.  Green soldiers are likely to shit themselves against those odds.  The nobles are no different, they are as capable of fearing death as those they rule over.  And the ruling class makes up, what?  Two percent of the population tops?  Even if the generals serve their masters from loyalty alone, they're only as powerful as the army at their command.  Take away the army and they are nothing more than another soldier with fancier armor.  If we can pull this off, they would be lucky to be going up against a force four times their size at least.  In all likelihood, it'll be closer to a ten to one ratio if we get the public on our side."<br/><br/>"They like to think they know war, but they do little more than push figurines around on a table.  Without formal discipline, training, or experience all the tactical savvy in the world won't save you when somebody is swinging a blade aiming to take your head off.  When they experience combat up close for the first time, it's likely they'll either freeze in fear, act recklessly, or get lucky and defend themselves.  Luck is a fickle thing and it's only a matter of time before it runs out."<br/><br/>He took in a breath and got settled further back into his seat, folding his arms over his chest.  "Even if they took hostages, there isn't enough manpower in the world to take as many as needed.  Once the general public catches wind of that atrocity, we won't have to worry about funding an army, the entire town very likely take up arms.  You can't honestly expect something like that to go without some sort of response.  Thus far the nobility haven't been doing much more than kicking dirt at us.  If they do something as foolish as targeting innocent bystanders, they'll learn just how hard the common person can shove back when they have something to precious defend.  They'd just be making a generation of martyrs, providing a solid foundation for a revolution stronger than any bank account."<br/><br/>"Sure, it won't be a walk in the park and people<em>will</em>die, but nothing worth doing comes without sacrifice."<br/><br/>Fenris then addressed Asleod directly.  "Assuming we do somehow manage to steal an unheard of amount of money from the nobles, that alone wouldn't be enough to ruin those houses.  One of the major reasons they are in that position is because the general population follows them.  At most, we'd be weakening them, but it<em>has</em>to be the collective peoples who will deliver the killing blow.  To do that, they need a purpose.  A reason to do so.  Honestly, I don't think things are quite bad enough for that yet; if it were, rioting would be more commonplace.  So far, the lower class have been laying down and taking it.  If that doesn't change, then we'd be walking away rich beyond reason, but ultimately nothing would change."<br/><br/>"Even if we did gain control of their armies, it would be foolish to march them against the city.  That'd make us an invading force.  The enemy.  Once that's been established, the nobility would have no problem rallying the people to their side, reinforcing their position as rulers for the people.  If that happens, then we could never win.  Even if we killed them to the last man, the public will view them as heroes who died doing all they could to save the city and its people.  It'd be impossible to have a stable government for the next several years and the city will be thrown into chaos.  I'm one for a bit of anarchy, but it'll be the innocent bystanders who will suffer in the end."<br/><br/>"What I'm saying is that if we're going to go through with this, we better make damn sure that we end up with the people on our side.  Genuinely and without question.  No fabrication of information or lying to them.  Gaining their support that way would make us no better than those we wish to overthrow.  We shouldn't only go after their riches, we need to also target evidence of their corruption so that we can bring it into the light.  It's the only way we'd stand a chance of pulling this off."