Took me long enough, I guess. I blame Rico for this, it was his idea (as well as original concept).
It doesn't look like much at the moment, it's a work in progress... literally. It's a story that borrows some elements from two old RPs also started by Rico.First one is linked here, the second right here. Both are worth taking a look at, although they were never completed. However, the older RP does have some general universe information. Plotwise, I'll try to explain things as I go along. All the other stuff... you'll have to ask Rico. I'm useless. XD
IC:
"Change is coming."
That was the message messily scrawled on walls all around the city. No one knows who did it. No one knows what it means.
Crimes against the Rodent population, or "buckteeth," have all but skyrocketed in recent years. At first it was the occasional mugging, but then it escalated into armed robbery, kidnapping, even murder. The war only made matters worse. Enforcers had their hands full with riots, looting, and unsolved cases.
The only thing known for sure is that someone or something is behind this. Some say it's all gang related. Others think it's some underground extremist group engaging in mass genocide, or probably seeking revenge because of an incident that took place more than a century ago; a botched assassination attempt that resulted in the death of a noblewoman and placed the blame on the family's former housekeeper. Even though her innocence was ultimately proved by one of the family's children, the damage was already done.
However, back then, just like now, no one is claiming responsibility for these crimes…
---
"So… you've heard goin' round town today? Spreadin' like wildfire, it is."
Several figures sat at a roundtable in the darkest corner of a tavern, whispering amongst themselves so as not to be heard.
"No. Why should I care?"
"Well, they say the daughter of House Sonata's returned. And she's got the kid with her."
A moment of silenced passed. One of the figures coughed. "You call that news?"
"Don't be hasty. I heard there's more to it than that; apparently rumors are spreadin' around sayin' she kidnapped the boy."
"Kidnapping? That ain't nothin' new. Lotsa noble kids've disappeared from 'round here during the war..."
"You say it like it's already over. Times like this is what the media likes to call a 'cease-fire.'" A soft chuckle echoed throughout the tavern. "Besides, it's not like anyone's gonna target the kid, he ain't got nothin' special about him. Anyway, they say the timing kinda suspicious. When she took off, it was allegedly 'round the time the ban went into effect. Now the ban's been recently lifted, and here she arrives on the first ship coming in."
"What does that prove?"
"Well, another rumor says that some things went missing from the Sonata Manor around that time. One of those things happens to be the last will and testament of Mrs. Darlena Sonata, who was murdered the day the boy was born. No one except for the family members knows what's in that will, and that along with the boy was in the middle of one of the ugliest family feuds this side of the city."
A smaller figure shifted uncomfortably. "That ain't possible; I mean it's just a rumor, ain't it?"
A taller one grunted. "I'll take it wit' a grain of salt. That Sonata woman ain't that kind of person."
The first one chuckled again, "Hehe, it seems you don't know a lot about nobles, do you?"
---
-Somewhere in the Kyzarie City-
Two teenage youths charged through the streets, barely avoiding passers-by and knocking over merchant stands.
"All this just for taking some old hag's purse? Boss, this isn't worth it!" one of the boys, a gray fox, complained.
"Shut up," the bulldog ahead of him snapped. "I told you, I ain't getting caught by nobody no-how!"
"But why are we running? We're only bein' chased by a bucktooth girl." The fox looked back for a brief moment. "B-b-BOSS! She's gainin' on us!!"
A short distance away from the two boys and quickly closing the gap between them was the girl the fox mentioned, a rabbit wearing a long hooded tank top, fingerless gloves, black shorts and sneakers running as fast as her powerful legs could propel her. Her bright green eyes were alight with anger and locked onto the thieving duo as she effortlessly leapt over a fallen pile of fruits and vegetables.
"GIVE THAT BACK," she was shouting at them, "OR YOU'RE IN FOR THE BEATING OF YOUR LIFE!!"
Bystanders either quickly sidestepped out the way or shouted at the thieves and their pursuer, adding to the commotion. No one was really paying attention to the real victim, an old gray hare who was hobbling along the dirt path with her cane, calling after the girl.
"Aria? Aria! Oh dear, what am I going to do with that child?"
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OOC: This should be good place to start. Just dive in and have a bit of fun with it. Follow-up post coming soon.
