Lacey Larcoga meet Flora Jezelbit

Life, Organisation Association

She approached the large gate and peered through to the yard beyond. Suddenly she heard approaching footsteps, a guard patrolling the homes outer walls. Quickly, she scampered up to the top of the houses outer wall. Rolling on to her back and laying flat against the cold stone bricks. She covered herself with her dark cloak and held her breathe, hoping the guard would pass without noticing her.

One night, caused by a bout of frustration and hunger, Lacey found herself sneaking over the tall walls of the Iona district, a gated community where only the affluent live. She was sick of eating scraps and wearing the discarded clothes of beggars left in the streets. She planned to sneak through Iona, find the largest house with the richest occupant and steal what she could from them. She needed to make just enough to get back on her feet, these snobs won't even notice a missing piece of jewellery or two.   Soon she stumbled across a gigantic house, a mansion really, it had a large meticulously manicured lawn, huge steel gates, and lavishly adorned stone sculptures. It was dark, she made sure to wait until well past nightfall, she hoped the residents had long past went to bed.   She approached the large gate and peered through to the yard beyond. Suddenly she heard approaching footsteps, a guard patrolling the homes outer walls. Quickly, she scampered up to the top of the houses outer wall. Rolling on to her back and laying flat against the cold stone bricks. She covered herself with her dark cloak and held her breathe, hoping the guard would pass without noticing her.   She heard the footsteps of the guard slowly approaching and then stop at the gate just beneath her. The guard sighed, Lacey heard him rustling around in his pockets, and a few moments later the of a match and the smell of smoke. She couldn't wait much longer and risk being seen. She quietly fished out a coin from her pocket and tossed it past the guard. It clinked loudly several feet away.   "Hmm?" the guard looked up, the cigarette still hanging from his mouth. "Anyone there?" he asked, walking towards the sound.   Quickly, Lacey took her chance and rolled off the top of the wall and into the front yard. From here, she could see more of the sprawling manor. A second-floor balcony on the side of the house. Perfect, she thought, easy entry point.   She moved across the yard, as quietly as she could, moving as close to the shadows of the outer wall as she could. The grass beneath her feet was cut so short that it barely made a sound underneath her. Finally, she made it to the side of the house, she stood underneath the balcony. It's only about ten or fifteen feet, shouldn't be too bad I hope, she thought.   Lacey moved her cloak aside revealing a thick length of rope tied around her waist, she had pilfered it from the back of a shop in the Market District a few nights ago. She left the one end tied to her waist, the other she wrapped around a small rusty iron hook that she had found outside a shuttered blacksmith's shop. Twirling the rope she carefully took aim at the railing of the balcony. After a moment of nerves, she let the hook fly. She watched anxiously as it sailed skywards towards the balcony. It flew past the balcony and slowed, hook turning earthbound. She watched the hook slam into the balcony with a thud. She cringed at the noise, hopefully, they are heavy sleepers.   She secured the hook on the edge of the railing, testing to make sure it held her weight. Luckily, she was a light individual and it held fine. She could see the guard at the outer wall was returning, she needed to be quick. She began climbing up the wall, the rope assisting her with her climb. With some effort, she made it to the balcony edge. She hauled herself over, thankful that her feet were on solid footing again. She collected her rope, wrapping back around herself. She suddenly realized she had nothing to defend herself with if something went wrong so she decided to keep the hook in her grasp.   On the balcony was a small ornate table, an empty goblet sat on its surface with two ornate chairs tucked underneath. A large wooden door to the manor was a couple feet away. She stepped forward and reached for the door. She stopped suddenly, a hair's width from the doorknob. She felt like something was off, she crouched down leaning towards the door frame. At the bottom strung across the width of the door was a small stretch of wire.   She stood and reached for the doorknob, careful not to step onto the wire. The door opened into a dark room, she couldn't see anything. She slowly stepped over the wire into the room. And heard a click as her heel touched the floor.   The next moments were a sudden blur of movement and disorientation, she had been flung off of her feet by something. She realized she wasn't touching the ground anymore. Before she could fully comprehend her situation the room was illuminated by a candle.   "Good evening friend, thought we'd attempt a break in this evening?" said the elderly lady, who was now sitting next to the candle.   Lacey realized she was hanging upside down, her feet tied with rope. Below her the pressure plate she had stepped on. "Who are you?" she asked, blood quickly rushing to her head.   "Well now that is your first mistake dear, you should always know the name of your targets" the woman laughed under her breath.   "That is just sloppy work! But I suppose you did get farther than most dear Lacey." she smiled.   "Wait, how do you know my name, we've never met before!" Lacey said, struggling to reach her tied up feet.   "Now now Lacey, calm down. As a matriarch of this city, I need to know about of persons of interest coming into her." the elder stood and walked towards her, grabbing a dagger from the table as she went.   She winced as the woman approached, the elder raised the dagger. Lacey closed her eyes, after a moment she felt a thudding pain as she slammed into the ground. Her eyes opened, the elderly woman had cut her down, why?   "My name is Flora Jezelbit, I am one of the richest and most influential women in Roseport, and don't look so confused. It's unbecoming of a lady, " Flora said.   "I'm also the matriarch of the Roseport Thieves Guild, and you're my newest recruit, get up, we have work to do!" she said with a smirk turning towards the door to the rest of the manor.   "Umm, ok?" Lacey studdered as she stood. She followed Flora Jezelbit, leader of the Roseport Thieves Guild through the door. Not realizing this was the beginning of the rest of her life.