Leaping at Shadows {Thief Role-play}

[Stoakly Centurio]

*Stoakly stands in the shadows of the Village Square, eyes flickering from left to right. He scans the building for any glimpse of a silhouette moving about the homes of Terralux.* Where are you, thief? *The ferret clenches his teeth, waiting for a sign, a clue, or anyone who wants to lend a helping paw. He purposely left his blade, badge, and distinguishable dark coat at home, lest the thief know him to be Stoakly, the Terraluxian Captain. Hidden under his pale cream shirt, covering his light chainmail armor, is a small blade. The thief is hopefully an outsider to Terralux, and won't recognize him to be a Captain; the more nonchalant he seems, the better chance he has at capturing the shadows. The reports were sketchy, so there is a lingering doubt in his mind that there is no thief at all, but if there is, he is bound by duty to check. Looking at the Village clock, he realizes it is soon to strike ten o'clock, and anyone with information will soon be reaching him. The ferret steps out into the light of the Square, acting as if he is waiting to meet a friend. Part of his job is making sure all crime in the Village is stopped; he can't afford for this mysterious "Chiv" to continue his business.*

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Greater disguises have been worn, but with the dark collar of her cloak turned up and a hat pulled low above her eyes, it's difficult to identify the approaching squirrel as Terragon 'Scrufftail' Canopy.*
*A brown tunic, a loose black skirt that she regrets wearing as it rustles quietly in the breeze, a dark pair of trousers beneath it, the squirrel's made some attempt at camoflauging herself against the night sky. Ring, necklace and two bracelets removed and a small kitchen knife hidden in her cloak, nothing except her brown eyes shines in the light from the windows in the Square. She approaches Stoakly quickly, asking a little uncertainly,* Is that you?

[Stoakly Centurio]

*Stoakly's eyes immediately avert to the strange figure before him. He squints, as if it will help him to determine who it is. Finally, he recognizes the voice of Terragon. With a sigh of relief, the ferret steps into the light a little more.* Aye, it's Stoakly. Now, what do we know about our little thief, besides the fact that he seems to find Terraluxian commoners as hot targets?

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*The ferret having confirmed himself as Stoakly Centurio, Terragon breathes a sigh of relief and gives a frustrated frown at the question.* Not much, *She mutters.* Whoever they are, they're good at what they do: hardly a trace left behind to say they'd been there each break-in. Except... *She stops and her frown deepens, furrowing her brow until she looks a great deal older than her mere twenty years.* Sometimes things of no value at all were taken too. A worn dibbun's toy, an embroidered blanket, a wooden spoon with a name carved in it. Things which couldn't easily be sold on. *Terragon's expression changes, something of a hunter's spirit arising.* But that makes our theif easier to identify. Those items are pretty unique and some of the things he - or she, who says it couldn't be a her? - has been taking wouldn't allow them to get far on the road. They're still close by, likely as not.
*This words seemed to send a chill through the squirrel as she suddenly glances around the darkened Square, as though the thief may be lurking in the shadows beyond the fountain.*

[Oakfang]

**Oakfang wandered round Terralux, quietly and slowly.her red eyes glinting in the moonlight. she is wearing some loose fitting black trousers,Black shirt,coat,gloves and cap. She hears some talking a short distance away, and readies her sword. she peeks round the corner. seeing it is terraluxians, she walks casually round the corner. she speaks to you quietly, and says** Greetings, are you also looking for the thieves?

[Stoakly Centurio]

OOC: Oakfang - Please remember to use proper grammar. Capitalize the first letter of each sentence, put spaces between a comma and the next word, etc. Thanks! ^^
BIC:

*Stoakly ponders the information given to him from Terragon. Silently, he begins to work out the information in his head and tries to piece it all together. Then, a voice breaks the silence and his head immediately turns suspiciously. Reassured that it is only Oakfang, the ferret nods to her and smiles.* Yes, we are, and we could use the help. Okay, so he, or she, has taken common items that wouldn't sell to any black market of some sort, as well as items that could be sold. He, or she, is most likely weighed down, so there may be a base or a house with all of the hoarded items. Do we know of any abandoned homes? Ah, how blind am I! I never returned to Leafback House-Fort; Silas and Lyman haven't been there, either. *The ferret sinks back in the darkness and heads to an alley behind the homes, motioning for them to follow.* I know of a shortcut I used to use when I needed to get there quickly; come with me.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Terragon smiles at Oakfang and beckons her to follow Stoakly, though the darkness makes it hard to see. The squirrel hurries after the ferret, running on her toes, trying to make as little noise as possible. Soon, the quiet din of the tavern and the square is left behind and only the glow of the treehouses ahead keep them from the night's complete blackness.* Stoakly? *She whispers hoarsely.* Remind me; is there a walkway connecting Leafback to any other treehouses, or a back door or window? Perhaps it would be best if we weren't seen entering by anybeast, friend or foe.

[Stoakly Centurio]

*As Stoakly reaches his old home, he heads around to the back of the tree trunk, almost as if to answer Terragon's question.* There's a window up there, but it'll be quite a climb. Terragon, you're a squirrel. Would you like to climb up there while we fetch some rope? You could tie it to a branch next to the window and then we get up there? It leads into my old room, so there may be some rope already up there, anyway. You could just get in and throw it down to us; I've got plentiful tools lying around that place.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Terragon nods. She cannot scale the tree wearing the skirt but is wearing the trousers underneath, so can slip the garment off and begin the climb. She spits on both paws and takes a firm grip on the bark. Using her tail for balance, the squirrel goes paw over paw. Months of using rope ladders and having little time to leave the settlement has left Terragon lazy and out of practise and she swears as she glances down at the other two, a wave of vertigo sweeps over her. She gulps. Luckily the night conceals her fear and the full height of the drop below and she continues, the bitter air biting at her paws.*
*It seems an age before she reaches the platform above and hits her elbow on one of the mock battlements as she hauls herself over the edge. Cursing silently as utter quietness is required now, Terragon makes her way to the window and searches along the frame for the center. Sliding her claws in, she pulls. Though unlocked, the window has been shut for many months and the rain has seeped into the wood. It gives a low squeak as the two halves of the frame rub together. Finally. it opens and Terragon climbs into the room...*

OOC: Could one of you RP the room? I'm feeling incredibly lazy. Apologies.

[Oakfang]

**Oakfangs mind wanders to Pablo as she watches Terragon climb. Last time she saw him, he had wet fur round his eyes from crying. He was so distraught his only childhood toy had been taken by the thief. Before she left, she had put her toy next to his head and given him a kiss on the forehead. all of a sudden she is braught back to earth, as the rope hits her in the face.** ow, darn and sod and blast! **she curses as quietly as possible** sorry **she whispers** I wasn't paying attention. ** she begins to climb the rope, and nearly sliding off, dig her claws into the tree. She gets back on track, and, reaching the top, climb into the room.**

((OOC:the post is fixed))

[Stoakly Centurio]

OOC: Those are questions for PMs, Oakfang. And yes, I do have a plan for the outcome, as well as a set criminal. I'm not spoiling anything, however. Make the used toy whatever you like. And, Oakfang - curses that aren't from Redwall besides "hell" are discouraged and against the rules. Your character saying d*mn is not in the Redwall verse, nor is it even in the right time period in history. It doesn't matter if it's a curse in England, America, or China - a curse is a curse. You can say your character curses, as Terragon does, but there's no reason to actually write it out in dialouge.
BIC:

*Stoakly tears off a piece of cloth from his tunic and wraps it around his paws to avoid from being burned by the rope on the climb. Pulling on the rope to make sure it is taut and has been tied to a secure place, the ferret begins to hoist himself up. He remembers doing something very similar long ago, trying to find his weapon as quickly as possible with Quickpaw before a fight. Throwing the memories away as soon as they arrive, he is aware that they have business to do and there is no time to waste. The ferret steps over the battlements and pushes the window slightly with his paw, making sure as to not make noise. He steps through the window and into the room, finding it filled with hoarded treasures. The place is ransacked; all of Stoakly's real possessions are on the floor, while the stolen goods are in his chests and trunks. Cursing silently to himself, he makes his way through the oval-shaped room. There is a small bed to his side that is stripped of its sheets, and the place where his old Centurio dagger hung over the wall is blank. He stole his old, family dagger! Stoakly looks and arounds and analyzes the rest of the items, nodding.* Based on these items, and what he, or she, took from me, I believe that what we have here is some type of vermin stealing items to bring back to his band. And look, there's a letter on my old desk. *Stoakly scans the parchment and scowls.* He's taking the goods to Fort Tatterack, where Adoni used to live. It's north of here, if we can head over there soon, we can catch up with him before he leaves the woodlands. Are y'all in?

[Terragon Scrufftail]

OOC: 'Hell's Teeth' is a good alternative.

BIC: Yes, *Terragon agrees uneasily.* But, Stoakly, why did the thief take all the personal belongings? The ones of little value? Why would a creature just looking to make profit take a dibbun's toy, or a... *She stops suddenly.* Starsett Hollow, *The squirrel whispers.* I left some jewelry there tonight. We haven't been burgled yet and I'm certain that's where the thief will strike tonight, his last stop before he returns to Tatterack. *Terragon looks at the other two excitedly.* We might not even need to leave the village... not unless he gives us the slip. But he won't, *She adds determinedly, but more for her own reassurance than that of Stoakly and Oakfang.* There's three of us and one of him. What d'you think?

[Oakfang]

**Oakfang holds out her hand for a musketeers shake, and says vehemently** he or she will pay for stealing Flopsy Muffet! **despite the ridiculous name, tears come to her eyes, only to be blinked away.** Come on guys, I'll wake up Pablo, and that makes us four! **she grins with her sharp vixen teeth, excitement and mischief sparkling in her eyes.**

((OOC: For oakfang, her eyes are like the gateway to her soul. also, why do people at terralux tell me questions are for PM? I'm not used to it, but I'll try my best ))

[Stoakly Centurio]

We can't afford to waste any time, Oakfang. Pablo will have to stay where he is. However, if we're going to do this, we must have some sort of sneaky plan; this thief is very talented at his profession, and he, or she, is most likely very capable of escaping from our grasp. We must go about this quickly, sure, but we must travel carefully. *Stoakly steps out of the window and grasps the rope, hosting himself over the battlements and slides down the rope, making sure he's wearing his makeshift gloves. The ferret hurriedly steps with silent paws around the back alleys of Terralux until he finally approaches the back of Starsett Hollow. He turns to the otter and the squirrel, crouching in the shadows.* Okay, I have a plan. It's risky, but it just might work. Terragon, the thief most likely knows that you live in this Hollow; the thief has been around Terralux for quite a while and knows what is what. We need you to enter the Hollow from the front side, as if you were simply coming home; Oakfang and I will climb up the back to a window that he's probably going to use as his escape. If we're lucky, he'll run directly at us, and we can use whatever methods we can to stop him. If he's armed, don't worry; we'll be behind him. I know it's risky. What do you think?

[Oakfang]

((OOC: my reformed char is a fox ))

**Oakfang nods to Stoakly, and begins to climb down the rope. she slips and gains a few rope burns, and contains a curse. as stoakly lays out the plan, she nods slowly, and says** that sounds like a good idea to me stoakly, what about you terragon? **Oakfang turns to Terragon, eyes serious and shining dimly**