Post by Neko on Mar 14, 2013 13:42:53 GMT -5
The Orphans
The Orphans are a group of cutthroats, spies and thieves that prowl the streets of Wistvale. They are comprised mostly of young children and teenagers, with very few living to reach their late teens. Any member that does reach the grand old age of twenty is exceedingly rare and near idolized by the rest for their survival. Their ranks are filled with the cast-offs from society; the eponymous, the poor, the down trodden, that have no where else to turn but to crime, and in some cases; budding rogues or assassins.
The Orphans break themselves down into groups, with names to denote their jobs. This does not mean that is the only thing they are capable of, but simply their main focus. Mice can spy, Birds can guard, etc...
Rats - The muscle of the group, they are the assassins and guards. This crew takes on the more physical jobs and the more physical risks. Their weapons are homemade, or taken up off of those that have fallen in their path. Their style of fighting is quick and dirty, picked up from their time on the streets. They also set up elaborate ambushes to trap unwary travelers. If it needs to be done brutally quick the Rats will see it through or die trying.
Mice - They make up the majority of the thieves in the group, covering a plethora of crime, beginning with breaking and entering to pickpocketing and all those things in between. They have the swiftness of Rats and the knowledge of Birds. Their training makes them more fit to flee than fight when faced with conflict. They do not have the death toll suffered by the muscle and spy crews due to that. Mice are legendary when it comes to finding bolt holes. But, while their modus operandi is to flee, cornered Mice do have poisonous teeth.
Hares/Rabbits - The messengers of the organization, they are mostly used to deliver letters and information from one party to another. This is where the majority of new recruits begin and this is where every member learns the birdcalls the Orphans use to communicate with each other. They rarely encounter conflict and for a Hare silence is a virtue. Typically, their delivered messages are just for members of the Orphans, but occasionally they are used to convey messages to those the Orphans wish to contact outside the organization.
Birds - These are the spies. Seemingly everywhere, they watch and report back to the group on everything they see. Like the messengers and thieves, they are much more prone to flee than fight. Though, if endangered they are more than capable with small ranged weapons like slings and slingshots. Most will use rocks snatched from the ground, but the well paid among them have purchased a few metal balls for shot. Still, Birds have a high death toll. Their freedom flights are a hundred times more hazardous than any other, and they have often been victims of "friendly fire".
Leader and Life
Very little is known of the leadership of this not-so-merry band of cutthroats, spies, and thieves other than mention of a man they call Macavity. Considered a myth by some within the organization itself, he has never been seen by anyone who lives to pass on the tale. As such, the face of authority is Piper. A redheaded Cathian in his mid-twenties, and if those reaching such an age are idolized, Piper might be a deity. It is a fact that his name is spoken with reverence by all who call the Orphans home.
It is believed the Orphans make that home in crumbling buildings, abandoned houses and the sewers. Although the second may be a way for the Rats, Mice and Hares to move about unseen. If a place can keep their head and feet dry plus provide a bit of warmth, its a surety the Orphans have used it.
The day to day life of an Orphan is, as you might suspect, a meager existence. They have a place to sleep, they have food to eat, and they might even have friends. For most that is better than the life they had before. The Orphans live in today with the golden carousel ring always just out of their grasp. The past is something to forget and tomorrow is a broken vision of lost fantasy and dreams. That is the true horror of their lives. Childhood should be all about fantasy and dreams. There are no children left in the group known as The Orphans.