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| Food for thought.; Open, 1-2 people. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:36 am (838 Views) | |
| Marissa Skeates | Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:36 am Post #1 |
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A purse is a lot like a drawer or cupboard in a house: it can hold anything; you don't always know what's in it; and if no one's looking in the right spot, no one will know that something's missing until they open the damned thing. Of course, the general populace tends to overstate or exaggerate or spread rumors about how picking one is actually done. They're wrong. Sure, it's an art - any thief can tell you that - but there's a lot more to it than just cutting the strings and slipping it into your vest when no one's looking. Cutting someone's purse strings is actually far more likely to get you caught than just reaching in and pulling something out in the blink of an eye. And of course, distraction is everything. Well, sleight of hand helps, too. Who'll think to check their purse if a stone of the same shape and weight has replaced the object taken? No one, that's who - because, if done quickly enough, there's no difference in how the purse feels upon your hip. The biggest problem with picking a purse, though, is how best to distract someone. A carefully-timed fire must be noticeable and easily put out, or at least stopped in its tracks, but not so easily that people return to their business before your business is done. For example, a seemingly accidental lantern knocked over next to a bowl of grease to be used for cooking could provide just the distraction one needs to get quite a haul. Of course, Cascadia wasn't a village; it was a city. Most people did their cooking indoors, making such a distraction difficult to pull off. Dumping a bucket of water on someone's horse from a rooftop, however, made for a very interesting and useful distraction indeed. It was particularly useful when the rotund owner of a food stall got all upset over it and wandered off to his car to see why it appeared to be raining on his horse alone. The distraction also drew the eyes of others, and so no one noticed the skinny shadow dropping down the side of a building into an alleyway near the stall. No one noticed a crouched figure dart behind the stall and fill her vest pockets with grapes or shove a couple of cantaloupes under her arm. No one noticed an apple in the mouth of an almost invisible girl sneaking away from the scene of the crime. That's why Marissa was able to get so far away before the stall owner realized food was missing. It was her greatest idea yet. She couldn't use it again, though - not on the same stall owner; it was too risky. She'd come up with something else tomorrow. But for the time being - two bunches of grapes, an apple, and most of a cantaloupe later - Marissa was only concerned with the suddenly diminished feeling of hunger in the pit of her gut. Of course, it was no twelve-course meal complete with red wine and a massive bird or beast, but it was one hell of a meal compared to her usual breakfast. The early-morning dew was just burning off as the sun soared high above even the cloud-high city of Cascadia. One melon gone and another for later, Marissa was once more a commoner amongst commoners - even if her clothes weren't as colorful or outlandish as some of the other Cascadian natives. A lot of the other Cascadians, actually, seemed to be obsessed with bright reds and oranges and yellows and light blues and shimmering greens and more jewelry than Marissa would've known what to do with. Marissa, however, was no commoner; she was, quite simply, a thief. A street rat. A starving kid looking for her big break. Amid a crowd, few distractions were ever really needed in order to pick a pocket or a purse. There were so many people making so much noise and doing so many different things all at once that most people just focused on themselves; if someone bumped you, who cared? That's what happened in the busy streets of a large city like Cascadia. And maybe you forgot to pour your gold into your purse this morning, or you just miscounted; it was unfortunate, but what could you do? Nothing, that's what - except let Marissa get away with a few shining pieces of your hard-earned wages. The problem was that Marissa had grown up dirt-poor and it hadn't been long before she'd had to hit the streets. No one would hire a kid, especially one they didn't know, and she'd had no real family. So, she'd turned to thievery. And after so long on the streets, no one would've trusted her as far as they could've thrown her; and so, she was bound by the life fate had forced down her empty throat. As she looted a purse here and a pocket there, slipping through the crowd like water through a sieve, she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't getting much today. It was getting into the latter half of the month, she knew, and most of the commoners had spent what they had for what they needed already. She did pick up a few coins, however, and a couple of not-so-fancy rings to boot. Tossing her melon from one hand to the next as she rounded a corner, heading for the square in the center of the city, she saw the crowds start to thin. That wasn't too unexpected, though she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Still, she couldn't just stand in one place; she'd be noticed, and that would end her looting right then and there. She was thus a bit more careful now, only picking a pocket or purse every fourth or fifth mark, and only the ones she saw were distracted - easy marks, if you will - and in a group of at least three. Contrary to popular belief, it was easier to loot the treasures and coin of a talking group than it was to steal the gold of a loner focused on his destination. Ah, the toils and troubles of a thief... |
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Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:23 am Post #2 |
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Kaess flew into the city earlier that day. He was there to pick up more supplies for his monastery. It was surprising how much work it was to keep it going. Still it was a well worth the effort and it allowed him to still travel a bit. He didn’t really miss his old days of aimless wandering, but there was certain comfort to traveling the lands. He had collected several different things that day and was looking for a place to stay for the night. Traveling in the dark was never a safe thing, especially in the air. Even though it had been a long day he wasn’t too tired. This was mainly thanks to his training and exercise regimen. He saw a stand that showed items that might look nice on Shalia. He then shook his head as he knew that she would never accept a gift like that. He was about to turn away when he saw a short figure move near a group of people. For some reason he continued to look at the short figure. To others it probably looked as if he was still looking at the shop. Mostly due to luck, he saw the person reaching for a purse and he decided to act. He moved at his fastest and reached out to grab Marissa’s hand. His fastest speed was impressive as it was enhanced with magic to the point where his image blurred as he moved. Kaess had a strong grip too so if he did catch the hand he doubted she would escape. Still it was possible that she would escape him to so he readied himself to chase down this thief. He wanted to have a long talk with this person and try to straiten her out. Meanwhile, he thought to himself. ‘Sigh why must there be thieves when there is so much work to be done in this world.’ Edited by redfiver, Fri Dec 17, 2010 6:24 am.
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| Marissa Skeates | Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:25 am Post #3 |
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The only real problem with living on the streets is that you didn't get to bathe very often. Fortunately, there were enough fountains in the city that Marissa didn't usually have too much of a problem. Of course, soap was hard to come by and she didn't like the cold water, so she only did this about once a week (if she could bring herself to do it that often; she couldn't always). At the moment, she hadn't bathed in about eight days. Thankfully, the myriad smells this close to the marketplace meant that most people didn't notice. Few noticed a hand streaking out like the blur of an arrow, either, or the flash of steel when light suddenly reflected off of a dull blade. Said blade was out quicker than most people could blink, though the halfling had been surprised to be caught so quickly and deftly. The purse she'd been about to pick was no more than that of a commoner, but it was a fat purse that probably held more than a few coins. The man was much like others who came to Cascadia for tourism: lazy, stupid, and ignorant regarding the nature of places such as this - places so crowded that there wasn't enough space for the people who actually lived there to...well, to live. No one would give the halfling a job because of the way she smelled - she'd asked around once - so she did what she had to survive. That meant carrying around a dagger and looting whatever she could, be it food or coins. Unfortunately, it seemed that it also meant facing off against...whatever...it was that had now grabbed her. She saw the bulge of wings behind the odd-looking fellow, but her mind didn't have time to register it. She'd reacted with lightning speed, but was it enough? Was she about to lose a hand - or worse, her life - just for trying to get enough for a decent meal? The inns were always full and few residents of Cascadia would want someone smelling as Marissa did in their homes, but at least she'd have enough to eat tonight (if she kept going). But now, some self-righteous idiot had decided she didn't really need to eat, and so she had to defend herself. That's why her dagger sped toward his mortal flesh so deftly as the halfling painfully tried to wrench her wrist free of the iron grip that held it. She refused to rot in a cell! The food was worse than having none at all, and the water was more stale than that bread she'd eaten three days ago! That was assuming the guards even remembered that you were there long enough to feed and water you. It could be she'd just end up rotting in some iron box with a skeleton for company and a few rats for good times. She refused to experience that! It was one thing she could honestly say she did not want to know about, and she wasn't going to if she had anything to say about it. With any luck, she would. |
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Sat Dec 18, 2010 8:31 pm Post #4 |
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Kaess sighed as he spotted the flash of metal. He had been in too many fights over the years to not notice it. As an unarmed specialist he was used to having to disarm people and with practiced skill he moved his other hand to intercept the blade. He attempted to grab the other arm and twist it so that the knife would pop out of her hand. Still if nothing else he could deflect it so it glanced off his hard scales. “Really now no need for weapons. I believe on hearing people out so if you will just come with me we can have a little civilized chat about things you shouldn’t do. You still appear young enough to change your ways.” Not sure if that was enough he decided to add an incentive to come with him more peacefully. Plus from the smell this one needed a good bath. “I will throw in a good meal, a chance to clean yourself up, which you really need mind you, and a chance to sleep in an actual bed.” He held on until she stopped struggling and waited for her answer. He really hoped she would agree to the peaceful method. He never liked having to take a person to the law unless they truly deserved it. Plus this one looked so young to him and the young often only needed guidance. He noted a few people had seen him, but most seemed to be backing off away from the pair. Many didn’t really want to deal with his kind, especially after his last display. If this young thief didn’t make up her mind fast they might have to deal with the city guard. |
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| Marissa Skeates | Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:19 am Post #5 |
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At this point, the city guard might've actually helped the halfling for once. They would've provided a welcome distraction that would've allowed Marissa to get away from the winged freak of nature. With any luck, she might have even gotten a few purses along the way (though that wasn't likely, as she'd have been running and trying to hide at the time). As it was, there wasn't a guard in sight. Perfect. Just absolutely perfect. They seemed to swarm through the streets whenever the halfling decided to get some breakfast, as she had just an hour ago, but they never seemed to show up when they might've actually been useful - such as, perhaps, getting rid of an apparently monstrous humanoid assailant picking on a poor, near-defenseless halfling lass. Not that she was completely defenseless, of course. The dagger was ample proof that she most definitely was not defenseless, and she knew how to use the thing well enough to be considered dangerous by anyone that didn't have wings and...were those scales? Whatever they were, Marissa didn't bother trying to find out, nor was she listening to whatever it was the thing trying to kidnap her had to say. Her dagger glanced off of the thing's arm like a sword bouncing off of a guard's armor, and she still couldn't get her arm free. "LET GO OF ME, YOU EGG-SUCKING MOTHER-BEATING DIRTY OLD PIG-KISSER!" Marissa screamed at the top of her lungs, half in fear of prison (or whatever else this thing might want to do to her) and half out of rage focused around the idea that she couldn't seem to get away from...it. More than a few people winced at the foul language of the halfling, but not one stepped in to help. Was no one in this damned city going to lend a hand to a girl assaulted by some winged, lizard-like monster? Thankfully, though it hurt, Marissa's struggles finally allowed her wrist to shift within the thing's steely grasp. She wrenched her wrist free at last and fell flat on her buttocks. She was just as quickly on her bare feet once more, however, and a rather large (and hairy) half-orc even smellier than the halfling stepped up to offer his assistance. He towered over most of the others in the crowd, and they shied away from him even more quickly than they had the thing that had tried to attack Marissa. The half-orcs in this city were hardly benevolent, however, and Marissa wasn't about to find out what the idiot was about to do; she had a very good idea, actually. The Red-Arms were a gang of half-orcs devoted to controlling travel along what had once been the main river leading out of Cascadia and into the beautiful Memphian Falls. They charged tolls, they handled monsters (though that wasn't as much of a problem now that Cascadia was in the air), they made sure people didn't take too much fish from the river or dump their garbage in it...basically, they kept the area clean and safe. In return, the rest of Cascadia gave them a wide birth and let them do whatever they wanted within 'their territory'. Whatever aid they offered usually came with a price, however, and Marissa wasn't about to stick around to pay that price. So she ran. She turned and shoved her way through the crowd as best she could, an act made difficult by the people hurrying away from the scene of the conflict. Whatever that half-orc planned on doing to the other thing, Marissa could care less. She wasn't about to get involved with either one. |
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Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:42 am Post #6 |
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Kaess had actually let go a bit as the girl nearly broke her own wrist trying to escape. ‘And it was such a generous offer too. Oh well I guess it will be the hard way.’ He was about to try reasoning with this thief again, when a large half-orc got in his way. He let out a sigh as this new comer was clearly a thug. Though part of an organization of some sort by the way people moved away. ‘Just my luck, I run into the local mob.’ The half-orc raised a well-used club in its hands with the clear intention of bashing his skull in. “Now can’t we talk about this? You clearly don’t know what you are getting into. I seriously meant no harm to the….” Swish went the club as Kaess dodged to the half-orc’s side almost effortlessly. In response Kaess ignited a fist and brushed it against his opponents fist with his own burning one. With a yelp the half-orc dropped his club. Kaess then spun to the half-orc’s back and kicked the knee joint out. At the same time he spoke to the half-orc. “You brought this on yourself you know.” As the half-orc fell to his knees, Kaess chopped him in the neck. Soon there was a half-orc on the ground and not moving. The half-orc wasn’t dead, but he wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. Many people gasped or started running in fear from someone who could dispatch such a person in only a few brief moments. Kaess had seen the thief disappear into the crowd and he ran after her for a bit before moving into the sky. His speed still blurred his image making him hard to follow. From the sky he tried to follow the thief. It was hard, but his eyes were good and he could keep track of the thief for the most part. He wondered if she would spot him up in the sky. Most people didn’t think to look to the skies. Then again flying creatures were more common in this city so she might. Regardless he would be ready for whatever she decided to do. |
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| Marissa Skeates | Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:45 am Post #7 |
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The crowd was extremely friendly to someone who wanted to hide, assuming one knew how to hide in a crowd. A lot of people tried to 'act naturally' - which only worked until they saw anyone in any kind of position of authority. Then they lost their cool. When hiding, it is best to find a place where you will fit in rather than trying to fit into a place wherein the people look and act nothing like you. Unfortunately, the places where thieves and outlaws usually camped out weren't the types of places that a lot of people liked to frequent. That's why those who could spent their times in busy taverns, inns, and marketplaces of low repute or quality - places such as the Sixth Street to Mainburg market, where a lot of harvested farmers' goods were sold. Fruits and veggies were a mainstay, but things like wool and raw cow hides were also sold at certain stalls. Ninth Street was just a block away from the three-way Mainburg Road, the busiest intersection of the city; it was pretty busy even right here, and that was exactly what the halfling was counting on. Here, she could move about without much being seen unless she wanted to be; the people here ranged from peasants to commoners and everything in between made a home here as well. Vagrants were more than merely common in connecting alleyways and back-streets and the occasional gutter, and it was there that the halfling fit in best. It wasn't hard to pick pockets in the cleaner parts of this particular marketplace, but then Ninth-and-Melonburg alley was both broad and busy. Homeless were strewn throughout, garbage was dumped from second- and third-story windows into the gutters below, and more than a few broken-down wagons, empty barrels, and rotting horse troughs littered the packed-dirt road. In short, it was home. One more ragged cloak or barefoot midget wasn't anything to mock. It was hard to find a rat amongst rats. That was exactly what Marissa was counting on. She blended right in, keeping her head down and her hood up. She moved no faster than a bum hobbling along toward whatever doorstop she called home, and it helped that she looked like a boy - not a girl - with her hair and clothes the way they were. Only the thing chasing her would know that she was a lass garbed in breeches rather than a dress, but no one would be able to tell one piece of riff raff from another here. Sometimes, it was good to be a thief. |
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Mon Dec 27, 2010 10:46 pm Post #8 |
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Kaess kept watch on the thief until she had turned into one of the less reputable sections of the city. He still kept a decent eye on her seeing her pull up her cloak and hood and enter an ally way. She was no longer hurrying and he knew that if he waited too long she would disappear in that area. It would be too easy to lose her in such a place. Thus he circled down and landing as close as he could to her or at least the figure he believed to be her. It was possible that he had already lost track of his target. He doubted it, but it was still a possibility. He didn’t aim to land behind her, but in front of her. Just so that he could make sure it was her. A person couldn’t change their face after all. If he didn’t find her on landing he could always hunt her down. He may not have been the best at spotting people, but he knew how to see a person’s unique body movements. Something gained from his experience as a master of unarmed fighting. He was sure he could find her before dark. He didn’t even care if she had allies here. He was sure he could handle any sort of surprises. His entrance caused a bit more commotion than he had thought. He supposed that a half dragon landing in such a place was a not a common occurrence. He didn’t look like he had much on him, but some of the stupider people might try something. If only thinking that his scales might be actual gold. It had happened before and such people quickly learned their lesson. In order to keep away the stupid ones, he gave a piercing glare at all around him that made it clear he meant business. Those with a sense for danger knew it would be a bad thing to cross him at this moment. At the same time he despaired at the sight of so much poverty. ‘Why does the city allow such numbers to go on like this? I know there is work people can do. Well at least I can try to fix at least one person’s path today. ‘ |
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| Marissa Skeates | Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:41 am Post #9 |
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It really is amazing what you can accomplish with something as simple as a cantaloupe. For example, paying someone similarly garbed was the perfect kind of diversion for someone being chased - especially if the diversion was smart enough not to let his face get seen. This one apparently was just smart enough to duck into a doorless sandstone structure burned out long ago. He knew the half-dragon would soon be chasing him, and so he used the obstacles and people inside to get to the other end of the building. From there, he'd duck out and meet up with his temporary employer - assuming he'd lost his pursuer. More than a few people noticed the odd arrival; a couple even ran away. Most, though, were either too scared or not in the mood to move. So, they didn't. They just watched as the stranger landed before them. All eyes were on the half-dragon as the pursuit began, the cloaked figure quickly forgotten in lieu of the gold-winged flying creature now making his way into their home. More than a few wondered what kind of money he might have on him, and several moved in the shadows as though to do more than try to sell the half-dragon something. The place was noisy, just like the rest of the city, but the goods here were hardly of the same quality as in the rest of the city. Outsiders might think that thievery came easily here, but the reality was that most stall owners and shop keepers were so used to the conditions that stealing from them was almost impossible. It's not like they often had much anyone would want anyway, but hard-as-rock bread and partially (or sometimes completely) spoiled fruits and vegetables were sometimes considered the cream of the crop by those who had something to trade for them. Yes, the neighborhood was poverty-stricken, but a few of the long-term residents had something a lot of people didn't: a sense of family. Not everyone got along and a lot of people were completely self-serving, but sometimes even those who hated each other the most were willing to help one another out as though they were siblings. And one was to hurt said siblings...well, let's just say it wouldn't be good for the one who hurt them. |
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Sat Jan 8, 2011 4:10 am Post #10 |
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Kaess started after the first one he spotted, but soon he realized that the person didn’t move the same way as his target. Within a moment he stopped and let himself fall back into the alley way. He realized his target had hidden well. She was probably well away from his landing spot. Still it wouldn’t hurt to look around. After knocking one person, who had attempted to steal from, out cold him he found that others were less willing to try and assault him. He folded his wings and let his cloak cover them for the most part. He wasn’t much less noticeable, but it was the best he could do for now. He started smoothly walking down the alley ways looking for the thief. Thinking to himself, ‘Sigh she was quicker than I thought. Well I suppose a few more minutes here won’t hurt. Though if I don’t find her soon I will have to leave the matter be. A waste of talent really. Such a person could become a strong martial artist. Still the heart is important too and I fear that may be lost. ’ While he thought he searched the faces he could see and watched for unusual movements too, especially at the corners of his eyes. He also kept an awareness of his surroundings, expecting at any moment for someone to try something stupid. The awareness was from countless numbers of fights and it saved him from many a tough situation. It seemed that most of the inhabitants here just wanted to get out of his way. Kaess was about to give up when he then saw something interesting. It was the same person who had lead him on a false trail. The fellow seemed to be looking for someone and more importantly hadn't spotted Kaess yet. ‘Perhaps I was too hasty in dropping the chase on that one.’ With a little effort Kaess flipped himself on to a low roof and followed the boy. With any luck he would have two youngsters to lecture to this night. OOC: Well my muse seems to have come back so go where you will with this. |
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| Marissa Skeates | Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:58 am Post #11 |
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The boy was one of the few who actually gave a damn about someone other than himself in what was almost affectionately termed 'the pit', so named for apparently being a place where the only thing that kept you alive was a dagger for a friend and poison for a brother. It was a free-for-all and people left the thieves, murderers, and other societal rejects in this place alone. Amid the shadows, however, the boy moved not nearly as well as the hafling he'd been helping. He was only human, after all, and thus taller (and not quite as quiet) as Marissa. But he'd done his job well enough; he even noticed that he was still being followed, a reflection in a dingy piece of broken glass giving away his pursuer. He didn't look back or give any indication that he knew he was being followed, however. He simply continued darting through buildings and down alleyways, deeper and deeper into the tangled nest of people society had given up on. Ironically, it was society as a whole that had put these people here in the first place. Eventually, he came to a small hole of sorts and left the cloak there, only to dart off in another direction. From within the darkness of the hole, a small hand reached out quickly and snatched the cloak inside. The halfling to which the hand was attached could be seen by those with discerning eyes darting through the shadows and out into another alleyway nearby. The halfing's friend had done his work for today, so he'd get part of whatever Marissa next stole. But the halfling's work was not done. She was a careful halfling, as careful as anyone else here, and she had a few tricks up her sleeve yet. A recent bit of plunder that she hadn't yet managed to look inside lay within the hole, and she opened it now. She'd heard it was some kind of crown that made people jump higher, or something. Opening up the small, starry box, she saw that it was indeed a crown - a rather fancy-looking one. Ha! Those stupid nobles, always leaving things around for just anyone to steal. She placed it on her head; it fit, likely designed for a child's skull, but it was the halfling's now. She closed up the box and tucked it away, barely glancing at the card in the bottom. The box and her cloak now securely in place once more, she moved about the alleyway again. She was sure that damned...whatever he was had to still be following her. So she leaped, testing the rumor she'd heard - and it worked! Oh, wow, did it work! She winced as her hands quickly grabbed onto a ledge, but she just as quickly scrambled up onto the ledge. She couldn't believe it had actually worked! She must be...a good twenty feet up now! Ha! Oh, wow, could she use this! Grinning like a maniac, she leaped again - this time, to the rooftop of a nearby building. She might be obvious now, but no one down there could get anywhere near her and she knew where the rooftop openings were. She avoided them like the plague now as she ran, a halfling shadowed by the sun as she darted toward the central-most part of the pit... |
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Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:47 am Post #12 |
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Kaess was following the boy. He was happy that the boy did indeed lead him to his target. Before he had chance to jump down and grab her, she had again disappeared into the alleyways. He followed the best he could, but was almost sure he had lost her again. As he watched for signs of his quarry and was surprised by a glint of metal and a leaping halfling. She reached a higher roof than the one he was on. When he looked closely he recognized the crown sitting on her head. ‘Didn’t I find one of those recently in my treasure pile? Yeah I did. Helped with jumping, I think. Well might as well try mine out.’ He dug in his bag of never ending space briefly and placed an identical crown on his head. He then leaped after his target. Marissa may have had a bit of a start on him, but he was faster and more skilled at moving through rough terrain. True it was usually in the mountains, but old buildings were similar enough. He didn’t have much trouble with landings and his balance was excellent. He was sure that he would close on Marissa shortly. ‘Now I shall catch that little thief and we can have that nice long talk. It was a mistake to come out of hiding like that. She had a better chance in that mob of people. Is she leading me into a trap… no she should know that won’t work? I don’t think there is a fighter of a high enough caliber anywhere in this area. Still might want to stay on my guard.’ After thinking that last bit he kept a wary look out for anything that could be a trap. He expected he could still catch her before she could spring any trap anyways. |
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| Marissa Skeates | Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:35 pm Post #13 |
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Deftly did the little halfling dart this way and that, crossing one rooftop after another in her flight from her assailant. Across the city did she fly, like a monkey swinging through her jungle home. She leaped over a crumbling pillar upon one building, dashed between the double-chimneys of another, darted around the corner of an open-windowed attic, and swung herself around a small flag pole adorned by a tattered flag of Imythess to turn from one street to another. One thing was clear about the agile dame: this was more than just her home; it was her playground, her place to master what she could and could not do with her short body. Stature being what it was, she had nonetheless perfected the art of moving swiftly across just about any terrain simply by using what was already there as her method of travel. Fast and strong though the thing behind her might be, however adept he was at trekking through rugged areas, he couldn't have known this place the way Marissa did, and that gave Marissa all the advantage she needed. As she passed across a peculiarly flat rooftop, her lips issued forth a shrill call much like the high-pitched twittering of some morning songbird. From somewhere amid the streets far below came a similar call, but much deeper and longer. A short response, and one of the many shadows rushed off. Marissa knew she couldn't outfight her pursuer, it would be safe to assume that no one here could, and that she couldn't run from this thing forever. She was already starting to grow winded from her flight; she might be fast and have good constitution, but this wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Then again, a simple walk in the wrong park could get you killed - or worse. But, traps didn't always have to consist of a bunch of morons compensating for little swords with big ones. A couple of bows might or might not set the one chasing her straight, but add a couple of well-made traps in just the right places and this fellow would have quite a day ahead of him. Already, the mid-morning sun was climbing steadily toward its typical noonday height; it had warmed up quite a bit, but it wouldn't get much warmer than this (thankfully). Still, the halfling could benefit from a little rest - and the veritable nest of rooftops coming up would provide more than enough of that - and more than enough cover for the halfling to find out why this thing was still chasing her. No one tried this hard just to stop one little thief, and the people she was stealing from had so much anyway. Why couldn't she have a little piece of the societal pie? Why must she suffer while the rest of Cascadia went on about their business, ignoring the people they had crushed into the dirt only to walk on them as though they were paving stones? No...she wasn't bitter...of course not. Not at all... |
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Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:16 am Post #14 |
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Kaess was getting tired of this chase. He was closing the gap, but not fast enough it seemed. She would surely have some escape route or delaying traps ahead soon. Still he was determined to have a talking with this one, especially after a good chase like this. She showed talent and it was being wasted in this place. So many people wasted their skills here. He understood that it happened that way with cities, but he still couldn’t help himself to try and change the situation for even one person. When she had started across a new roof she let out a call of some sort. He didn’t have to wonder long as a wave of birds swarmed up from all over the place. It didn’t faze him very long though and even gave him a small idea. He leaped into the air allowing the birds to cover his assent. With the power of the crown he got up quite high. Once clear of the birds he let his wings out and moved into a swift dive. The dive increased his speed quite a bit and he expected he would either catch her in the dive or even cut her off from her current destination. Either way the move might surprise her a bit and give him the edge he needed to catch her. He still wondered what sort of traps were ahead, but hopefully he would stop her before she could spring any surprises. He was sure that she would be able to evade him for a very long time if he let her out of his sights again. If that happened he would have to give up and live with an annoying waste of time. Still mistakes were made when they were made and the chase wasn’t over yet. |
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| Marissa Skeates | Wed Feb 2, 2011 6:58 am Post #15 |
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Ah, but the little halfling was almost to her destination and full of surprises besides. She couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath as she caught a glimpse of the thing...it reminded her of the stories she'd heard as a child about great winged lizards, huge and magnificent, soaring through the sky more powerfully than a herd of raging bulls and more gracefully than a perfectly choreographed v-formation of gulls flying south for the winter. But this thing was human-esque, seemingly bearing small versions of those legendary wings and a reptilian appearance that could not have been easy to hide. She'd thought the man was odd-looking, but now she knew why. It was as though he were half-human, half-dragon. It would certainly explain why he did not seem tired from the chase, at least by the halfling's keen eyes (though they were perhaps not as keen as an elf's, they were certainly keener than those of any human). But it did not explain why the dragon-man-thing was still chasing her. Marissa had yet to steal from him, although by the crown he was wearing, she might just do that after sticking him with a blade when all this was through. If I'm going to put in this much work, I might as well get something out of it, Marissa thought to herself wryly. Her eyes returning to the rooftops, it didn't take their search long to reveal a means by which to evade the dragon-man-thing's dive. Leaping two more rooftops and using her momentum to slide across a half-finished third, she latched onto a clothesline and ripped it from its post. She quickly began throwing clothes aside and tying it into a loop as she slid, and it wasn't long before she had the other end in her hand. She wrapped that end around her fist and tossed the other end around a passing chimney before deftly leaping between two rooftops. Half-terrified, half-exhilarated, she flew through the air like a trapeze artist. The string broke under her weight (light though it was, mind you!), but it had held long enough. She landed feet-first in a pile of hay, quickly leaped across a cart of fruit to the shouts of its owner as apples and oranges and other such things rolled across the ground, and grasped a bit of ivy growing along the side of a building. She rushed up it like a child sliding down a banister and darted into the rooftops she had sought, finally getting into a place that would take forever to move through - but would also allow her to hide. The dense forest of chimneys, rooftop shacks, storage sheds, tents, campfires, and the occasional lean-to or canopy made the perfect hiding place for one such as Marissa. Sounds seemed amplified here as the echoed off of make-shift walls and through wind tunnels with no ceilings. She had a feeling the...half-dragon? Whatever he was. She had a feeling that he would follow her into the place. Perhaps he would quickly lose patience, but she was not here to completely elude him. She was here to conceal exact location as she spoke, giving her an edge that might give her enough time to escape once she had her answers. The countless nigh invisible traps and occasional footpad didn't hurt, either. |
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8:23 AM Jul 11

