Ratte habitually made rounds to several taverns every night unless she was otherwise occupied. She kept herself hidden by hiding in plain sight. Her dark and slight nature was easily missed when she set her gait straight and kept her pace just a tad slower than everyone else. She ducked around drunken men and women without causing a fuss and slunk into corners with her drinks or food to avoid anyone's attention. She kept her hood down, keeping people's curiosity at bay and never made eye contact unless she wanted to.

Her scuttling had offered her many opportunities to plunder the pockets of the drunkards that she came across. But tonight was different.

In the back of her head, Ratte could see the glistening pile of gold that she had stashed. It was, frankly, more gold than she had ever seen in her life. Of course, she didn't want it. She would send it away, piece by piece. It was her insurance, should anything happen to her and a good load off her mind, but it was so distracting. She had taken a small amount for herself and the remains of that almost stung in her pocket. She didn't need to steal tonight, but it felt as though she already had. She sat herself down in a regular tavern of hers and blew a strand of hair from her face. She ought to get it cut soon, it was starting to get too shaggy. She leaned against the bar and pulled out a gold coin and then passed it to the bartender, "My tab for the night," she said, "I'll have an ale to begin."

She turned to look across the bar, scouting out any familiar faces. Things had been quiet since her escapades with the heist team and she found herself thinking of them, wondering where they were. She had been terrible at it, but working in a team had been an interesting experience that, the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to try again.

@KatherinWinter@King Tai@Sleeth@Raptra[GingerBoi123]

Word had hit the streets of some sort of heist that was carried out by some thieves. No one knew who they were, but Arin Mosovich had no doubt that this was the work of the group he had been trying to find for some time. Finally, a group of people he could run with, and maybe even have a way to use his talents in a suitable way rather than just coin. Although, coin sure did help and was a nice thing to have. His journey had brought him to a tavern. He was hoping to use thieves cant to try and get more information about the heist and who perpetrated the crime.

Walking into the bar, a raven-haired woman caught his eye, the glint of a gold coin catching his attention. It was either someone who wanted to lay low and spend some cash or someone who's come across a pretty penny or two. He smirked as he got close, wearing his usual shirtless attire and knocked on the table twice. Both as a way to get the bartender and catch the attention of the woman. "Did you hear? Some Divers managed to Hoist some Bits and Stuffing." He asked in thieves cant. It would translate to 'Did you hear? Some thieves managed to steal some gold and loot.' He turned to the woman to see if she caught on it.

@FalkiThomas

Blood. Death. Chaos. The teenage boy barely had time to process all that was going on around him. All he could do was run, hide and run more as his crew collapsed in defeat one after another. What was the captain thinking? He had literally sent them to their deaths, and there was no going back. Kai ducked behind a stack of crates and stayed there, frozen in fear as he watched the mayhem through a small gap, knowing that it was the end for him and his crew. Suddenly, the appearance of a menacing eye looking at him through the gap snapped the boy out of his frozen state...

... as well as out of his sleep. Kai bolted up, thrashing about in panic for a second before he tumbled off of his makeshift bed.

"Oww..." groaned the teenager, after hitting the cold, hard floor of the tavern basement.

Still in pain from the fall, he slowly sat up and looked around the hideout as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He then leaned back against the bed frame while popping a comfit into his mouth. Sweets always made him feel better, to some extent anyway. So, he was still troubled by these nightmares about his old crew. How would he deal with anything happening to this current group of people? Roxy had already been gone for days, and he had been trying not to think of the worst. Was the only solution to detach himself from everyone he knows? This group, they we all simply making use of one another, were they not?

It would be hard, but should he even try? These were the kind of things he would think about at his favorite spot in Luthias, but currently, he just did not feel like stepping out. He did not even feel fully awake, but he did not want to go back to sleep, at least not for the next couple of hours.

@KatherinWinter @Sleeth @FalkiThomas @King Tai @GingerBoi123

Ratte didn't recognize the man that sat beside her, so when he started talking to her, she started a little and snapped her head to him. For a moment, she thought that he was another horny male, seeking attention but then she heard him. Thieve's cant was something that she thought had died out years ago, like an old fad. She hadn't learnt it specifically, but she had been around groups of thieves that much that she had picked up the words and phrases enough to understand.

She smirked softly to herself and leaned back against the bar, watching him, "Mmm, I heard that too. I heard the mob got a tall man's yellow tin, but my question to you, good sir, is why are you spouting such flash lingo in the presence of a lady?" she raised an eyebrow.
(Mm, I heard that too. I heard that the thieves got a lot of gold, but my question to you, good sir, is why are you using thieve's cant in my presence?)

She quickly scoured the tavern with her dark eyes, looking for the tell-tale signs of the law. She was fully aware that some of the guard had learnt thieve's cant and used it to find and infiltrate gangs. She wasn't worried about being recognized - her posters had covered the city walls before - she simply wanted to know what this man's goals were. Especially since he was talking about what a group of them had done. With Roxy still missing and not having seen the rest of the gang since they had split up with their treasure, something in Ratte's gut was telling her to watch her tongue, rather than gloat for the safety of the others. Particularly the kid.

@KatherinWinter @Sleeth @King Tai @GingerBoi123 @Raptra

@FalkiThomas

---

Arin smirks. Seems this was his quarry. Or at least, part of them. He decided to drop the bullshit now he's identified a fellow thief. He leans close and flashes five gold coins, seemingly out of nowhere and held together between his fingers. "Alright, I'ma level with ya..." he says in a hushed whisper, the accent of sailors and dockworkers have clearly rubbed off on him and the cool, calculated visage had completely disappeared. "I'm just looking for the people that pulled that job off. I want to join them. I just need to know where they are. Five pieces for anything you can give me." Mosovich offers, using their bodies to hide the bribe from prying eyes. "I'm Pirate."

After a week have passed and hearing from Saba that she couldn't find their team leader, Isago gave up on finding her. He refused to believe she was caught or killed and felt that she only hid herself away and would come back to them when she saw fit. Since then, after Isago and his associates split up, he spent most of his time figuring out what he wanted to do. Possibly become a merchant himself or perhaps, use that money to win more money in those wagering games that are held by a shady business man who makes money in the underground.

Isago have met with an old acquaintance from back when he was doing the pirate and bandit gig. Abasi, someone Isago once considered as a brother and also a small time business man with the human trafficking and money he makes while he makes his wagers. Abasi was arguing with Isago about the money he borrowed and wanted payback from last time. Isago...I know you had something to do with that big
heist, I know it, I know you did. People talk. No one can't forget your dark ass. I want my damn money. I was smiling at first feeling you were going to pay me but you're messing with me now.


Isago had to calm him down. "Abasi...calm down, old friend, calm down. You're so fidgety and excited....like a virgin boy who just had his first taste of vagina. I'm gonna pay you but...I just need some information, okay man?" Abasi just stared on with a stern expression. Okay...what do you want? "I need to find out where Remme is..." Abasi stared into Isago's eyes. I'm not going to do that. I just want my money. "Abasi...really...I want you to find out about Remme..." You crazy man? I'm not about to poke around for you to look for a lunatic. "Hey, after what he did-" I know what he did to you...but that man very dangerous. You better be happy you are alive and in one piece. You pursue him, you're dead. And with you owin' me money...I don't need you dead. Just get my money and we go our separate ways.

"I'm not giving money until you tell me that you'll look into it..." Abasi stared off and took a deep breath. I want double of what you owe me...I'll see what I can find out...meet me here tomorrow... "Thanks brother..." Oh...and if you fail to bring that money...I'm cutting your balls off personally for compensation...

Isago smirked and gave a nod before sneaking back off to make his next few rounds into taverns.

@GingerBoi123@FalkiThomas@Raptra@Sleeth@KatherinWinter

Rumors started in the slums. There was talk that someone had taken the Black Widow out. Someone who had proof. No one was name names yet. But it was clear that people feared this new person. No one knew who the Black Widow was. They only knew her reputation. She was a respected assassin. Well as respected as assassins could be. SHe had a reputations for only those who deserved to be killed. Most knew her requirements to agree to kill someone. No one hired her. No one knew how to contact her. But she reached out to those who she felt would benefit them. If they wanted her help she named a fee. The fee was always well within the persons means no matter how little they had. If they didn't she disappeared. Take out someone who was practically a shadow wasn't easy so who ever had taken the Black Widow out had to be seriously dangerous to those not as skilled at hiding themselves.

Ratte's eyes fell onto the gold like magnets out of old habit. The niggling voice that told her to use what she had to take it from him started worrying at the back of her mind, but this time it was drowned out. She had a much larger voice now showing her the mountain of gold that she had stashed and it reassured her that she had no reason to accept this man's offers. She had enough money.

Instead, her mind took a new turn. It was something that she wasn't used to thinking about and it caught her off guard; fear for others. The man wasn't familiar to her and he was looking for information about her, Roxy, Kai, Eryx and Isago. What if he wasn't trying to join them, but hunt them? Her guards went up and she flicked her dark eyes up to the so-called 'pirate'.

"That's a big chunk of gold you're waving around there, an awful lot more than I'd have expected you to start with for information," she glanced around the bar, looking for anyone suspicious, and laid a hand across her thighs. She leaned forward and stroked the hilt of the dagger strapped to her leg there. It would be awkward to pull it out sat here at the bar, but its presence reassured her. "See, normally I'd expect to bargain up to that amount. What are you really after?" she asked, eyes back on him. She had been hearing whispers recently, that someone had taken out the Black Widow. Having met and been particularly impressed by Roxy herself, Ratte imagined it had been a rough fight and this man looked like he could fight dirty. What if this was the killer?

@KatherinWinter@King Tai@GingerBoi123@Raptra@sleeth

@FalkiThomas

Arin chuckled a little. "I REALLY want to meet this crew. That's how much this is worth for me. You don't start this high unless you really want it." He explained. Also a perceptive one, he also took a quick look around. Something about the Black Widow had come about. It wasn't his blade that did it, but some people might think it was him if he had that kind or reputation, which Arin didn't think he did. However, he also looked the woman up and down. Half checking her out, half looking for details. Sure enough, he spotted the hand brushing against the hilt of a dagger that Mosovich really didn't want sticking out of him in the next few moments. He stacked the five coins on top of each other and slid over the pile towards the woman.

"I'll say it again. Five gold for any information you have about that Guild. And maybe an introduction to who you might be." Arin smirked.

Eryx was likely the most frustrating convict of all time. As a man consistently all in white, he was never hard to find by guards. The process was usually simple, two patrolling guards would see him and ask for reinforcements, but he'd be gone by the time they came.

The slums became a popular area for him, after their event of a man in white riding through, having money thrown from the carriage, he just road that rumor without denying it. He didn't like change much, and instead, the number of people wearing white, or at least just a white cloak to cover them, increased. He did small jobs, not pickpocketing necessarily but rather stealing a crate of food now and again.

Robinhood? Unlikely, but he had enough of a small following that it was a problem for guards to assume he was the right person in white now. "Loyalty lays not with the people you give coin, but the ones you return to life." He mutters to himself. Without making it a proper organization, nobody could actually flip on anybody. The guard he kicked off the horse must be having fun.

He turned to duck into a tavern, not-so-subtly removing a wanted ppster of himself and Isago- Not that it'd be hard to remember either of them. The little woman that ran off during that job was at the bar, with another shifty looking fellow, but shifty was in the trade. He merely sat down at the table nearest to the door and gestured to the barkeep with two fingers. He kept his head down some, listening closely to the various conversations.

The niggling was back in the back of Ratte’s mind. Her eyes were magnetised to the gold the pirate was offering and she sighed heavily, picking up her glass and downing the shot left in the bottom. She knew the feeling well - the sense that she could solve her problems with gold, the sense that she wouldn’t get hurt because she could leave town and she didn’t care all that much for those she was ratting out because she didn’t know them so well. It wasn’t so different this time. She barely knew any of the guild and she hadn’t seen them since they had parted ways. She had assumed that they had disbanded.

She sighed and slowly extended her hand, “Ratte. It’s your pleasure.” She said, “and I heard they disbanded. The only thing I know is that their hideout was down by the docks but.. that’s only what I heard from the mouths of fishermen and,” she grimaced, “you can’t trust anyone that spends that long out at sea..” She trailed off, catching white in the corner of her eye. She followed the man and felt the pit of her stomach drop. So much for not seeing any of the guild in weeks.
@Sleeth@GingerBoi123

@FalkiThomas@Sleeth@GingerBoi123@King Tai@Raptra
A new noble moving into the city stirred a lot of interest. The man who bought one of the biggest house in the noble district. There was alot of mystery around his arrival. It was strange how little was know about him. But since none of his family lived in the city people figured it would only be a matter of time before they knew as much about him as they did everyone else.

Although rumors had it that the Black Widow had been taken out there was no confirmation of the kill. No one was taking credit. Was it possible that she had started to rumor to get the captain of the city guards off her trail. Most agreed that didn't seem her style. If someone else had killed her why weren't they taking the credit it? A kill like that would boost anyone reputation. So most thought it was a lie. But no one could agree on why.

@FalkiThomas@Sleeth

"Indeed." Arin smiled at Ratte. "And indeed, the pleasure is mine." He added before sighing. Was this really all he could get out of her? Perhaps the promise of more reward would be a good way to go, but you can't promise a non-existent reward. He followed Ratte's eyes. They seemed to notice something. He turned over his shoulder and saw the man she glanced at. Maybe he had something to offer. Well, if he was important, he would join soon enough.

Arin sighed as he drummed his fingers against the table before standing up. "Well, thank you for the information. I can't promise you anything more, but if you'd be willing, I could do with being pointed in the right direction. Maybe you could show me if you're able to?"

After speaking to Abasi, Isago found himself visiting other little spots to get settle for a moment and relax. He wasn't hungry...well for food that is. he was hungry for vengeance. He had plenty of gold now. And with that, he could use what he has to get the information he wanted on this individual named 'Remme'. A bit of history these two had and quite a rocky one. Isago was nearly killed by this man when he was betrayed by him. A pillage gone gone so good that it went wrong....for Isago that is. he felt good about his ability to fight and his fortune. it's been about 10 years since he's seen this man an there have been rumors that he's been around lately.

There was also a rumor going around that Black Widow was killed. Something that Isago refused to believe. Yeah...they barely knew each other but if she did get killed, the other person should have been injured pretty badly too but the weird thing about this claim...there were no solid credibility. Could it have been Remme? Maybe...but Remme liked having a solid reputation to be known. he was known to be one of the few most dangerous men in the lands and sea so obviously, Isago saw him as a suspect.

The only thing though...whoever went after Black Widow...were they coming for him and his crew? Did the other's hear this news? Isago will meet with Abasi tomorrow but he needed to make his way to the tavern to see if any of his partners were there to speak to them about this. They have become somewhat popular for their hijacking and challenging the guards. Not that everyone knew what the whole group looked like but their reputation have become apparent. "Ratte, Kai, Eryx...if you guys are still around...we may have some shit coming our way...and I don't like this feeling...." He said with his African sounding accent and headed for their familiar tavern to hopefully find any of them there.

@KatherinWinter@FalkiThomas@Sleeth@GingerBoi123@Raptra

Despite being alone in the basement, the boy was having difficulty getting back to sleep. The tavern seemed busier than usual, with the voices of its patrons echoing down into the hideout and reaching Kai's ears. Knowing that the noise was not going to allow him to return to his dreams, he decided to make his way up the stairs leading to the door that separated the basement from the bar. Out of curiosity, he pushed the door open ever so slightly to take a peek at the activity in the place.

Past the flustered servers who were scurrying around to attend to customers, Kai spotted a patron he knew. Like Roxy, Ratte had been gone a long time, but at least he now knew that she was safe and well. The person she was speaking to looked familiar, though, Kai initially had trouble remembering where he had seen him before. The teen had to stare at the man for a few more moments before he suddenly connected him to the nightmare which was still fresh in his mind.

No... he was on that ship, and part of that crew that...

He immediately shut the door before collapsing onto the top stairs, not moving for a good couple of minutes. He thought that it had all been over long ago, and that he could move forward. It was bad enough that he still had to occasionally relive the traumatizing, life-changing event in his sleep, but how could he deal with having someone from the past be part of his present? At least that was a possibility which he had to consider, seeing as how this man was getting friendly with someone he had just recently worked with.

Kai most definitely had to get some fresh air now. Managing to get to his feet, he went back down the stairs and up the ladder which led to the trapdoor behind the tavern. After shutting it carefully, he stood and made his way around to pass the entrance, where he just happened to run into another familiar face. Isago probably knew where he was heading off to, though, it was unusual for Kai to be stepping out this late.

"Oh, uh... good evening..." he blurted out, attempting to hide his agitation. "I just, have to take a walk."

@King Tai @GingerBoi123 @KatherinWinter @FalkiThomas @Sleeth

Kill the assassin? Some random person, who didn't take the credit? Eryx probably couldn't kill her, let alone some nameless rumor. Bullshit. He leans back, in his chair, looking around. A familiar looking figure entering the place.

An arm raises, clad in white up to the steel reinforced black gloves, waving to a man who had entered. "Isago!" He calls with a grin, gesturing to the man. For a moment Eryx is quiet, looking over his face. "The nose, it's always the nose they mess up." He unfolds one of the wanted posters to look back and forth between them, careful to keep it facing the wall so nobody else would see it.

Isago looked like he was on a mission to find his comrades after their split up with their earnings. This was urgent. He felt that all of their lives were possibly on the line now and they were already wanted by the military...but now, this...

Isago continued forth before running into the familiar young face and stopping before staring into the boy's eyes. "This should be your bedtime, boy....can't be walking at this time of night..." Isago said with a straight face before smiling and laughing out, giving the kid a strong forceful hug. "Haha! It's good to see you again, Kai!" He said to him "But you look like you're in a rush to sneak away somewhere. Look...I was actually on my way to find you and the others. I have a matter I need to speak to you and the others about." He told him.

"Not out here though...let's go in where we can talk." Pulling Kai by the collar into the tavern. He spoke up once more. "So child, I-" Before Isago could say anything else, he turned to hear his name called and notices.....'The White Boy'. Isago gave a smirk towards Eryx but on the inside, Isago wish he had not called out his name for the fact that there could be people listening out and willing to challenge him. Isago looked at Kai. "I guess finding you all will be much easier than I thought." Isago waved to Eryx. He needed to speak to him as well. All that was left was to look for Ratte.

@KatherinWinter@Raptra@Sleeth@FalkiThomas@GingerBoi123

Griffin walked through the city taking in the people. He was a mercenary who had been hired by the king to deal with the new threat that was rumored to be in the area. The rumors just started a few days ago but already the nobles were nervous. Crime wasn't unheard of in the city. All cities had it to some extent. But the city guards usually kept it semi under control. But the almost successful heist someone had planned on the treasury had the nobles demanding action.

He didn't see anything that stood out to him. Criminals didn't last long if they weren't smart and learned to blend in. This group could cause the city alot of problems if they chose to work together often. But that didn't seem to be as much of a concern as this now guy. Someone who was said to be bringing in a group of his own. It would lead to a territory war. With alot of innocents caught in the middle. He was here to do what he could for the innocents.

Ratte sighed and downed the last of her drink. She looked to Arin, but found herself distracted once again by yet another familiar face entering, nay two. She raised an eyebrow and followed Isago and Kai through the door with her eyes before shaking her head and looking to her new pirate friend. She patted him on the knee and leaned forward, wishing for that moment that she had a more enticing figure rather than that of a teenage boy who's growth had been somewhat stunted. She recalled some of the things that she herself found most enticing and bit her lip, curling her mouth into a small smile. "I can show you some things.. come on with me then."

Ratte was aware of two things - one, that she was a terrible flirt and two, that she still had a little common sense. She knew that if the group was meeting up it was only a matter of time before Arin started putting two and two together or at least recognised one of them from their wanted posters. She started to stand, meaning to lead Arin out of the tavern - hoping to lose him in an alley somewhere - when she felt her whole body wince as Isago called out to Eryx. She couldn't help but look over, doing all she could to not look disapproving as she tried to remember whether or not their wanted posters had displayed their names or not. She hoped it hadn't.

@KatherinWinter@King Tai@Sleeth@Raptra@GingerBoi123

Kai shifted uncomfortably as the the older man started with what sounded like it was going to be a lecture. "Oh, believe me, I've been trying so hard to- oof!"

The boy did not expect the sudden tight hug. He had to admit though, it made him feel slightly better, but what the dark man had to say next turned him apprehensive once again. This 'matter' sounded rather grave, and if it concerned all of them, it probably had something to do with the heist that they pulled off days back, or that mysterious individual rumored to have taken Roxy out. He did not have much time to think about it, however, for Isago next mentioned entering the establishment, reminding Kai about why he had decided to step out in the first place.

"W- Wait, no! You don't understand, Sir, I can't been seen by-" The child's protests while he was literally being dragged through the entrance were then interrupted by a shout of Isago's name.

So, Eryx was here too. Kai glanced around anxiously, wishing that he had not caused the possibility of attention being drawn to them. He caught sight of Ratte once again, observing that she had noticed all of them. She appeared to be leaving with the other pirate. Kai had no idea what her plan was, but he could only hope the man with her did not see or recognize him, though, it might not even matter, for it all depended on how he would deal with the situation himself.

@FalkiThomas @KatherinWinter @King Tai @Sleeth @GingerBoi123