Once an isolated and dying township, an influx of academics, adventurers and thrill seekers have made Scalvoris Town their home. From scholars' tea shops to a new satellite campus for Viden Academy, this is an exciting place to visit or make your home!
If there was one thing that could be said about Scalvoris Town in the last arc, it was that the city had become increasingly beautiful. The influx of people from foreign ports had bought a wealth of art and culture from all across Idalos, not to mention the literal wealth from the increase in trade, and with all the money and skill coming in extraordinary new buildings were being built in every style imaginable.
It was hard not notice that beauty sometimes, and every now and again Tio liked to sit back and admire the view of the people around city centre going about their lives. It was as he was just sitting down at a bench to do just that today when he felt something strange; a slight pull coming from his trouser pocket. His head snapped around to see what it was, and to his surprise Tio found a young boy, around the age of ten by the looks of him, trying to sneakily steal the coin purse out of his pocket.
The boy had yet to notice that he'd seen him, and so Tio cleared his throat to catch his attention. Instantly the boy jumped and looked up at him, his face mortified at being caught, and after a seconds hesitation made to bolt. But in that seconds hesitation Tio had seen the decision to run being made in his eyes, and clamped a hand down around his wrist before he could flee.
“Just what were you trying to do there boy? Steal from me?” He growled.
“I- I didn't- No sir!” The boy stammered out fearfully.
“I should hope not! I mean to call that stealing! You went about it in the completely wrong way!”
“I-... erm, what?” The boy replied, now just as confused as he was afraid.
“Your pickpocketing technique! It was completely wrong!” Tio continued. “It was sloppy! Unplanned! I mean if you're going to rob a man at least do him the common courtesy of putting some effort into it!”
The boy stared back at him in bewilderment, clearly utterly confused as to what was happening. With a sigh Tio released his arm and stood up, gesturing to his pocket.
“People aren't stupid you know. Unless you're really skilled or they're otherwise distracted they're going to feel the movement in their pocket. You waited until I was sitting down to attempt your theft, but that was a mistake! Because I was sitting down with nothing to draw my attention I was able to notice the movement in my pocket easily.”
“So… when should I have done it?” The boy asked, his fear gradually melding into curiosity.
“How about the moment I was sitting down? Or when I made to stand up? The movement of my own legs would have masked the feeling of my coin purse slipping out my wallet. Better yet why not manufacture your own distraction? You could have bumped into me as I stood up and played it off as an accident, but taken my money whilst I was distracted by the jarring motion.”
From the look on his face the kid still didn't get it, so Tio gestured for him to follow and began walking towards the packed crowds of people mingling about the city centre. “Come on kid, you clearly need to get some practice in. If you're going to turn to a life of crime then the least I can do is make sure you do it right; we don't need any more of you unskilled rookies giving us honest crooks a bad reputation.”
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word count: 614
Fast Facts
Noticeable quirks your character can see when threading with Tio.
Floats
Tio floats in the air, usually just a foot off the ground.
Explodeibur
Tio wears a scary looking gauntlet on his right hand that is clearly magical. It creates explosions.
Tio and the kid, who after a short while had revealed his name to be Donny, stood against the walls of a thin side alley watching the assorted groups of people in the Scalvoris Town shopping district passing by. As Donny was completely new to the art of pickpocketing and Tio couldn't claim to be an expert himself the two had settled for waiting for easy targets to come their way, and so kept as keen an eye as they could for anyone who looked vulnerable without making it obvious that they were going so.
“Why him? Because he's fat?” Tio replied, glancing over to the portly man in a an expensive but gaudy looking jacket who Donny had gestured to. “It's true that he wouldn't be able to catch us if we pulled a snatch-and-run, but we're here so that you can practice your finesse remember! Look as how tight those trousers he's buttered himself into are squeezed around his legs: if you stick your fingers in his pockets I think they're likely to be crushed.”
Donny giggled at his joke, but quickly pulled himself together as his eyes caught someone else. “How about that grumpy looking gentleman in the top hat?”
Tio looked over to the chosen mark and nodded in approval. “Yep, he should do nicely. Now remember what I told you: approach casually, have your stealing hand in his pocket at exactly the moment you bump into him, and draw it out with his money smoothly. If you don't time the removal with the flow of your body pulling away from him he'll notice.”
With a quick nod Donny stepped out from the alley and casually walked over to the target. The kid seemed to be a natural actor and made a good job of looking surprised as he bumped into the elderly man, but he was still too quick and jarring as he tried to pull out the coin purse. Tio could almost pinpoint the moment when the mark realized what was happening by the look of fury that stormed over his face, and cringed as he immediately grasped the collar of Donny’s shirt and began yelling at him.
“Ah Donny! What were you thinking!” He yelled as he jogged over to the two of them, acting like a disappointed parent and cutting of the mark’s rant just as it began. “Do you not listen to me?! I must have told you a hundred times by now…”
The mark took a step back with a small smirk on his face, clearly prepared to enjoy himself watching a kid getting chewed out in public.
“... to be smooth in you execution! Bump into him, pull away, and withdraw your hand smoothly! It's all about timing.” He snatched the stolen purse out of Donny’s hands and handed it back over to the elderly man, feigning ignorance at his confused look. “I'm so sorry about him, it's his first day. Still picking up the tricks of the trade, you know what I mean? I promise you won't even notice him next time. Have a lovely day sir.”
He quickly grabbed Donny and bolted before the mark could wrap his mind around what just happened. They speed walked away from the area as fast as they could, determined to put some distance between them and the crime scene.
“Oh no! What do we do! He's gonna call the guards!” Donny panicked, constantly looking back behind them in fear of seeing soldiers hot on their heels.
“And tell them what; that someone stole their purse but gave it back because it was their first day on the job?” Tio replied with clear amusement. “Relax kiddo, nothing's illegal unless they can prove you did it. Make a scene out of your problems, throw a little confusion into the mix, and you can get away with anything. Now come on, let's give it another shot.”
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word count: 678
Fast Facts
Noticeable quirks your character can see when threading with Tio.
Floats
Tio floats in the air, usually just a foot off the ground.
Explodeibur
Tio wears a scary looking gauntlet on his right hand that is clearly magical. It creates explosions.
“Okay, this time you've got it in the bag! I'm sure of it! Now go on, get out there and nab that guy's hard earned cash!”
After their previous failure Tio and Donny had continued to watch out for easy targets to practice pickpocketing on, but so far had failed to lift anything. Donny was clearly getting frustrated at his repeated failures, but with each failure he made Tio could see the boy's technique getting better and better. It wouldn't be long before be was successful, that much he was certain of, but he needed to keep him motivated long enough for that time to arrive.
With a nod Donny stepped out from the empty cart they were hidden behind and nonchalantly followed his newest mark, a pompous looking man who was swaggering around town as if he owned the place. He approached gradually, looking up towards the sky as if distracted by something as he got closer, and then with a sudden lurch as if he'd stumbled over his own feet bumped into the mark.
“Hey! Watch where you're going brat!” The mark growled, pushing Donny off of him like he was some mongrel dog.
“I’m so sorry sir!” Donny replied, backing away timidly. After shooting him a dirty glare the mark huffed and stormed off, never noticing the sly smirk that crept up on the boy's face as he left. Once he was out of sight Donny turned around and headed back to the cart, clutching a very full coin purse in his hand.
Tio’s face lit up in a grin at the sight of him. “See! What did I tell you! With a bit of patience and luck they'll never realise a thing!”
“I know right!” Donny replied, an equally bright grin emerging on his face as well. “I wish I could see the look on his face when he realises it's gone! That guy totally deserved it.”
“Indeed he did, and believe me it feels all the sweeter stealing from people who probably deserve it. There's a lovely sense of poetic justice to it.” Tio said sagely. He ruffled Donny’s hair. “Well kiddo that's my lesson over, you're a fully fledged crook in your own right now. You take care of yourself now okay?”
He turned to leave, but stopped as Donny surprised him with a sudden hug. After a couple of seconds he broke away and smiled sincerely up at Tio. “I will! Thank you mister, I won't forget what you taught me!”
But despite his apparent sincerity Tio merely shot him a wry smile and held out his hand. “Top marks for effort kiddo, you almost had me going. Now give me my money back.”
Donny laughed sheepishly, and then gave the purse he'd just lifted out of Tio’s pocket back. “You can't blame a kid for trying right?”
With that Donny left, bounding off into the streets to wherever it was that the boy called home. The kid was a good thief for his age, perhaps a little too good, and as he watched him leave the thought occurred to Tio that if his purse ended up mysteriously disappearing in the future he might know exactly where to find it.
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word count: 558
Fast Facts
Noticeable quirks your character can see when threading with Tio.
Floats
Tio floats in the air, usually just a foot off the ground.
Explodeibur
Tio wears a scary looking gauntlet on his right hand that is clearly magical. It creates explosions.
This is my first Tio Silver thread I've ever read, but I've heard a few things about you recently (eating gold, much?). I enjoyed this a lot, and Tio's snarky and yet amusing approach to life is very fun to read. It's a shame it's gotten him into so much trouble recently, or that our PCs are on opposite sides of Delroth's favor now. I would enjoy writing with you in the future. As always, keep up the great work and I apologize for not responding to this sooner. Sometimes I forget I have put up review placeholders. Just poke me if it ever takes more than a day again. :)
Also, for solos, the standard is only 6 skill knowledge unless you surpass the first page. I've added the first set you wanted, but if you'd rather have teaching skills than pickpocketing, let me know.
XP
10 XP
These points may NOT be used for magic.
Skill Knowledge
Pickpocketing: Be smooth
Pickpocketing: Wait for an opportunity
Pickpocketing: Cause your own distraction
Pickpocketing: Pick your targets carefully
Teaching: Believe in your student
Teaching: Repetition is key Teaching: Don't let your student give up
Teaching: Congratulate good work
Non-Skill Knowledge
You sure you don't want anything about Location: Scalvoris, or...?
Other
Loot: N/A
Fame: -3 Promoting A Life of Crime
Injuries/Overstepping: N/A
word count: 235
"At last. It has been too long since I have walked the face of this world. Too long have I been locked there, awaiting my champion to release me. My champion... This is you, daughter of Audrae. You have, whether knowingly or not, released me from my self imprisonment, and are here to fulfill the destiny I have seen written in the tapestry of nature. You, daughter of Audrae's daughter, will be my foothold in this world." - Belaera to The Nightingale, after the 600 arc imprisonment
