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City of Naralona, Grisalesca (otherwise known as the Greybourne Republic)
932 A.R.
The sun shone brightly over the port of Naralona, located in a republic once known to the neighboring Elynsorians as the Greybourne Empire. While the seats of power from those days of old were long gone, reminders of its glory still stood tall and proud in the city's distinctive architecture, which was known mainly for its use of bright, earthen colors, repeating horse-shoe arches that lined practically every veranda, and far-reaching sculpted brick embellishments made to induce wonder in both visitor and native alike. High above the common buildings, of which there were many, were the towers of privately-owned inns and other rich establishments. Some were torn down by the Kingdom of Elynsor in the aftermath of the last great war, but quite a few of the impressive structures still remained. Once home to elite officials appointed by the last Emperor, these luxurious spires now sheltered new members of the oligarchy, those who possessed enough money to afford such lavish quarters. In this free city, there was much to be made for individuals with the means--and the wits--to acquire such wealth, and in turn, much to be lost for those who lacked the ability to keep it. There were the victims, and then there were the opportunists.
Ichimi was a member of the latter category. Besides possessing the physical gifts to grab, run, and get away with it, circumstances never allowed her the ability to afford being the victim. She just couldn't, especially not as one of the few 'free' subhumans--those who weren't kept as slaves or exotic pets for the more eccentric elite, who were often seeking to add more to their collection. For that reason, she wore a hooded cloak when out in the city at all times. Even today, when the sun was not terribly far from its highest point in the sky, she wore her trademark article, which did its job in obscuring two feline ears atop her head. This habit kept her safe from the prying eyes of the public around her, which in turn allowed her to safely look upon her victim for the day from the shadows of a nearby alley. She didn't work alone, not anymore anyway. Five others, all of whom she knew and trusted, also set their eyes upon the same mark arriving in town that morning. This was not a simple snatch-and-grab; this was an operation planned by the leader of the catgirl's crew, a charismatic conman named Cedrian. A gambler who always made his own luck, he was never without a quote for any given situation.
There is a common saying, one not exclusive to Naralona: that "a fool is born every minute". Thieves in the city live by this creed, and as such, target selection plays no small part in their methods. Tourists and visitors, primarily those from other countries, are often easy marks for even the simplest schemes, as their relative unfamiliarity with this Grisalescan settlement and its customs was seen to be a weakness ripe for exploitation. If it wasn't easy enough for a foreign traveler to spend their coin on the various attractions about the city, such as the gambling houses, brothels and other entertainment centers, then there were often plenty of opportunistic thieves looking to make purses lighter in one way or another. Fools with money never kept it long here, and those who did manage to keep their assets and remain on top were often amongst the most careful and discerning folks around. They flanked themselves with trustworthy advisors and guards, ensuring that the pickpockets who were foolish enough to try stealing from them would be met with appropriate punishments. Other times, they were just lucky--but more often than not, there was a solid reason behind their continued success.
But for Cedrian, such a saying was considered terribly outdated. He would always say that 'fools are made, not born'. In other words, even the most vigilant of individuals can be robbed dry when exposed to the right circumstances. And today's target was no exception. The mark, arriving by one of the ships freshly docked on the port side of town, was a man who went by the name of Rodrigo Fortaleza the Third. A stout, ash-bearded gent dressed in fine fabrics and flashy, heavy jewelry, he was a member of the merchant elite, and he had no reservations in letting others know through his manner and attire. What he may have lacked in modesty or common sense, he made up for with money--lots of it--and a talent for crunching numbers that helped bring him to where he was in the hierarchy. If nothing else, he did have enough sense to hire an advisor; an apt, bespectacled young man named Beliano who remained nearby at all times, keen to spot any problems. On his other side was his bodyguard, a hulk of a man called Donato who was certainly not known to be the most business-savvy nor the most talkative of individuals. But he was large, and certainly strong enough to dissuade any attempts to strong-arm his lord. These two Rodrigo could trust, and were perhaps the biggest obstacles to Ichimi's main goal; the veinsteel medallion slung around his neck, shamelessly encrusted with various jewels.
It was worth at least 10,000 rezetas; perhaps enough to sustain Ichimi and her cohorts for at least a month or so. Still, with as much wealth as they gained, it was never quite that easy for them to just walk away from it all. Not when they've gotten so damn good at what they did, and when the city itself was quick to claim coin even in the simple act of spending. Whether one was rich or poor, it didn't discriminate.
Rodrigo stepped off the boat onto the wooden pier, taking in a deep breath of the afternoon air. Originally from the capital, Relego, he was said to have taken a trip to the Talean Islands for 'business reasons', and returned to port in Naralona with the hopes of getting in some well-earned relaxation. With arrangements made to rent a room in one of the towers for the next few nights, he first sought to leave his luggage at the luxurious Montcoba Hotel before taking a night out on the town, no doubt in a session of drunken debauchery, which the city was always ready to provide.
Accompanied by his advisor and bodyguard as always, the rotund merchant looked around for his welcoming party, a group of three employees from the Montcoba, who would escort him to the tower and give him a quick tour as part of their introductory services. It wasn't long before he found them.
Two men, dressed in crimson and gold uniforms, waited not too far from the docks with an open air coach, holding up a sign with his name on it. Ichimi spotted the pair from her spot in a nearby alleyway, knowing that they weren't actually employed by the hotel like Rodrigo expected them to be. These two were members of her band of thieves and part of the larger plan to relieve the merchant of his ill-gained riches. One of them was Augusto, an unassuming ex-clergyman and the primary 'actor' of the crew. The other Ichimi would recognize as Josias, an inventor and alchemist who often supplied her with various potions. While playing roles wasn't his specialty, today he didn't have a choice.
"Would you be Rodrigo Fortaleza the Third, sir?" greeted Augusto.
"That I am," replied the stout businessman, adjusting his clothing so as to look more proper. It was something of a wasted effort, as his bulging belly almost stood out more than his flashy clothing.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance! I am Estevan, and this is Diego, from the Montcoba Hotel," said Augusto graciously, first motioning to himself, then to Josias, who nodded his head in turn. Naturally, an alias--a different one used every time--was appropriate for any convincing disguise, so as to avoid past incidents catching up with the group. Augusto was normally light-haired and had only somewhat tanned skin, with Josias possessing crimson hair and a darker complexion. Today, both of them adjusted their looks just enough so that they wouldn't easily be recognizable on the streets. The uniforms they wore, with their stiff red caps and straight crisp jackets, helped hide distinguishing features, but it didn't hurt to go the extra mile in ensuring that this heist would not come back to bite them later on.
"We're sure you're quite tired from your journey, so allow us to handle the rest," the former priest added without a single trace of hesitation or uneasiness in his tone. He had practiced this ruse many times before. While others might have stuttered or botched their lines under pressure, Augusto was too used to this by now.
"May I take your bags?" Josias chimed in, the green-eyed accomplice offering a gracious smile as he motioned to relieve the wealthy man of his heavy luggage.
"Yes, yes, thank you! Please do," replied Rodrigo cheerfully, stroking his graying beard with delight. There was no reason not to trust these men; after all, they were dressed in the proper attire of the hotel he meant to stay in, which was not easy to duplicate by any means. And should they attempt to simply take off for any reason, the giant Donato was deceivingly fast, enough so to catch up with a racing coach if he really tried. Like a bear, the bodyguard's size betrayed his deceptively high speed at a full sprint, and his client Rodrigo knew this well. It gave the finely dressed businessman peace of mind around almost any group of strangers, for anyone who dared try to snatch anything off him likely wouldn't get far. He handed three large leather bags full of his personal effects to Josias, who loaded them one at a time into secure compartments on the back of the carriage. Afterwards, the doors to said cubicles were closed, securing the luggage for the time being.
"Aaaah," said the merchant, nodding towards his hosts and taking a moment to stretch his arms. "Not even a few days separated from the islands and already I miss the touch of a Talean courtesan. I trust that you can provide recommendations for the best brothels around Naralona? I'm in the mood for a very... exotic kind of woman, hohohoh. If you know what I mean!"
"Of course," said Augusto with a gracious smile, easily managing to hide any disgust that would normally result from mental images of the fat businessman in the act of 'enjoying' a prostitute's services. "We know of quite a few places around the area that you will definitely find to your liking!"
That was where Ichimi's part came in. From her spot in a nearby alleyway, she could see her mark clearly, as well as her primary objective: the large, somewhat heavy-looking medallion slung loosely around his neck. She knew that Augusto and Josias would only make meager attempts to stop her, if only for the sake of appearances, and the thin, bespectacled advisor didn't look to be of any immediate threat. While stout, Rodrigo was also of little concern, or so she could sense. The main problem was dealing with this 'Donato' if he did happen to notice. But either way, she had to make this natural. No need to snatch and grab, or cause a big scene--the merchant was ready for that. All she needed to do was bump into him, somehow get the piece of jewelry from around his neck in the process, perhaps issue a brief apology and then continue on her way as if nothing happened. This was but one step in a much larger plan, Ichimi knew, but a very important one nonetheless.
932 A.R.
The sun shone brightly over the port of Naralona, located in a republic once known to the neighboring Elynsorians as the Greybourne Empire. While the seats of power from those days of old were long gone, reminders of its glory still stood tall and proud in the city's distinctive architecture, which was known mainly for its use of bright, earthen colors, repeating horse-shoe arches that lined practically every veranda, and far-reaching sculpted brick embellishments made to induce wonder in both visitor and native alike. High above the common buildings, of which there were many, were the towers of privately-owned inns and other rich establishments. Some were torn down by the Kingdom of Elynsor in the aftermath of the last great war, but quite a few of the impressive structures still remained. Once home to elite officials appointed by the last Emperor, these luxurious spires now sheltered new members of the oligarchy, those who possessed enough money to afford such lavish quarters. In this free city, there was much to be made for individuals with the means--and the wits--to acquire such wealth, and in turn, much to be lost for those who lacked the ability to keep it. There were the victims, and then there were the opportunists.
Ichimi was a member of the latter category. Besides possessing the physical gifts to grab, run, and get away with it, circumstances never allowed her the ability to afford being the victim. She just couldn't, especially not as one of the few 'free' subhumans--those who weren't kept as slaves or exotic pets for the more eccentric elite, who were often seeking to add more to their collection. For that reason, she wore a hooded cloak when out in the city at all times. Even today, when the sun was not terribly far from its highest point in the sky, she wore her trademark article, which did its job in obscuring two feline ears atop her head. This habit kept her safe from the prying eyes of the public around her, which in turn allowed her to safely look upon her victim for the day from the shadows of a nearby alley. She didn't work alone, not anymore anyway. Five others, all of whom she knew and trusted, also set their eyes upon the same mark arriving in town that morning. This was not a simple snatch-and-grab; this was an operation planned by the leader of the catgirl's crew, a charismatic conman named Cedrian. A gambler who always made his own luck, he was never without a quote for any given situation.
There is a common saying, one not exclusive to Naralona: that "a fool is born every minute". Thieves in the city live by this creed, and as such, target selection plays no small part in their methods. Tourists and visitors, primarily those from other countries, are often easy marks for even the simplest schemes, as their relative unfamiliarity with this Grisalescan settlement and its customs was seen to be a weakness ripe for exploitation. If it wasn't easy enough for a foreign traveler to spend their coin on the various attractions about the city, such as the gambling houses, brothels and other entertainment centers, then there were often plenty of opportunistic thieves looking to make purses lighter in one way or another. Fools with money never kept it long here, and those who did manage to keep their assets and remain on top were often amongst the most careful and discerning folks around. They flanked themselves with trustworthy advisors and guards, ensuring that the pickpockets who were foolish enough to try stealing from them would be met with appropriate punishments. Other times, they were just lucky--but more often than not, there was a solid reason behind their continued success.
But for Cedrian, such a saying was considered terribly outdated. He would always say that 'fools are made, not born'. In other words, even the most vigilant of individuals can be robbed dry when exposed to the right circumstances. And today's target was no exception. The mark, arriving by one of the ships freshly docked on the port side of town, was a man who went by the name of Rodrigo Fortaleza the Third. A stout, ash-bearded gent dressed in fine fabrics and flashy, heavy jewelry, he was a member of the merchant elite, and he had no reservations in letting others know through his manner and attire. What he may have lacked in modesty or common sense, he made up for with money--lots of it--and a talent for crunching numbers that helped bring him to where he was in the hierarchy. If nothing else, he did have enough sense to hire an advisor; an apt, bespectacled young man named Beliano who remained nearby at all times, keen to spot any problems. On his other side was his bodyguard, a hulk of a man called Donato who was certainly not known to be the most business-savvy nor the most talkative of individuals. But he was large, and certainly strong enough to dissuade any attempts to strong-arm his lord. These two Rodrigo could trust, and were perhaps the biggest obstacles to Ichimi's main goal; the veinsteel medallion slung around his neck, shamelessly encrusted with various jewels.
It was worth at least 10,000 rezetas; perhaps enough to sustain Ichimi and her cohorts for at least a month or so. Still, with as much wealth as they gained, it was never quite that easy for them to just walk away from it all. Not when they've gotten so damn good at what they did, and when the city itself was quick to claim coin even in the simple act of spending. Whether one was rich or poor, it didn't discriminate.
Rodrigo stepped off the boat onto the wooden pier, taking in a deep breath of the afternoon air. Originally from the capital, Relego, he was said to have taken a trip to the Talean Islands for 'business reasons', and returned to port in Naralona with the hopes of getting in some well-earned relaxation. With arrangements made to rent a room in one of the towers for the next few nights, he first sought to leave his luggage at the luxurious Montcoba Hotel before taking a night out on the town, no doubt in a session of drunken debauchery, which the city was always ready to provide.
Accompanied by his advisor and bodyguard as always, the rotund merchant looked around for his welcoming party, a group of three employees from the Montcoba, who would escort him to the tower and give him a quick tour as part of their introductory services. It wasn't long before he found them.
Two men, dressed in crimson and gold uniforms, waited not too far from the docks with an open air coach, holding up a sign with his name on it. Ichimi spotted the pair from her spot in a nearby alleyway, knowing that they weren't actually employed by the hotel like Rodrigo expected them to be. These two were members of her band of thieves and part of the larger plan to relieve the merchant of his ill-gained riches. One of them was Augusto, an unassuming ex-clergyman and the primary 'actor' of the crew. The other Ichimi would recognize as Josias, an inventor and alchemist who often supplied her with various potions. While playing roles wasn't his specialty, today he didn't have a choice.
"Would you be Rodrigo Fortaleza the Third, sir?" greeted Augusto.
"That I am," replied the stout businessman, adjusting his clothing so as to look more proper. It was something of a wasted effort, as his bulging belly almost stood out more than his flashy clothing.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance! I am Estevan, and this is Diego, from the Montcoba Hotel," said Augusto graciously, first motioning to himself, then to Josias, who nodded his head in turn. Naturally, an alias--a different one used every time--was appropriate for any convincing disguise, so as to avoid past incidents catching up with the group. Augusto was normally light-haired and had only somewhat tanned skin, with Josias possessing crimson hair and a darker complexion. Today, both of them adjusted their looks just enough so that they wouldn't easily be recognizable on the streets. The uniforms they wore, with their stiff red caps and straight crisp jackets, helped hide distinguishing features, but it didn't hurt to go the extra mile in ensuring that this heist would not come back to bite them later on.
"We're sure you're quite tired from your journey, so allow us to handle the rest," the former priest added without a single trace of hesitation or uneasiness in his tone. He had practiced this ruse many times before. While others might have stuttered or botched their lines under pressure, Augusto was too used to this by now.
"May I take your bags?" Josias chimed in, the green-eyed accomplice offering a gracious smile as he motioned to relieve the wealthy man of his heavy luggage.
"Yes, yes, thank you! Please do," replied Rodrigo cheerfully, stroking his graying beard with delight. There was no reason not to trust these men; after all, they were dressed in the proper attire of the hotel he meant to stay in, which was not easy to duplicate by any means. And should they attempt to simply take off for any reason, the giant Donato was deceivingly fast, enough so to catch up with a racing coach if he really tried. Like a bear, the bodyguard's size betrayed his deceptively high speed at a full sprint, and his client Rodrigo knew this well. It gave the finely dressed businessman peace of mind around almost any group of strangers, for anyone who dared try to snatch anything off him likely wouldn't get far. He handed three large leather bags full of his personal effects to Josias, who loaded them one at a time into secure compartments on the back of the carriage. Afterwards, the doors to said cubicles were closed, securing the luggage for the time being.
"Aaaah," said the merchant, nodding towards his hosts and taking a moment to stretch his arms. "Not even a few days separated from the islands and already I miss the touch of a Talean courtesan. I trust that you can provide recommendations for the best brothels around Naralona? I'm in the mood for a very... exotic kind of woman, hohohoh. If you know what I mean!"
"Of course," said Augusto with a gracious smile, easily managing to hide any disgust that would normally result from mental images of the fat businessman in the act of 'enjoying' a prostitute's services. "We know of quite a few places around the area that you will definitely find to your liking!"
That was where Ichimi's part came in. From her spot in a nearby alleyway, she could see her mark clearly, as well as her primary objective: the large, somewhat heavy-looking medallion slung loosely around his neck. She knew that Augusto and Josias would only make meager attempts to stop her, if only for the sake of appearances, and the thin, bespectacled advisor didn't look to be of any immediate threat. While stout, Rodrigo was also of little concern, or so she could sense. The main problem was dealing with this 'Donato' if he did happen to notice. But either way, she had to make this natural. No need to snatch and grab, or cause a big scene--the merchant was ready for that. All she needed to do was bump into him, somehow get the piece of jewelry from around his neck in the process, perhaps issue a brief apology and then continue on her way as if nothing happened. This was but one step in a much larger plan, Ichimi knew, but a very important one nonetheless.