All that is Gold does not Glitter (Discontinued)

[VikingWitch]

There is a belief among the forest folk that nature is the true equalizer of men. Though they distance themselves with their modern conveniences and studied magics, they can't escape what lurked around the corner and what gnawed at them at every nervous or admiring glance they cast toward the woods just beyond their town walls. Even if they wished otherwise, the people of Hollowmond couldn't avoid the influence of nature. The small town was surrounded by the emerald foliage of Fairlocke Wood. The woods extended for miles and were larger than most large cities throughout the realm. It was the perfect environment to breed monsters, house nomadic tribes of various peoples, and, worse still, thieves. Few roads led in and out of Hollowmond and were ripe for highwaymen and bandits to pick on unsuspecting carriages.

Also, a new legend appeared in the last several years. A dark figure stalked through the shadowy canopy of the trees. That creature haunting the roads made it unsafe for nobility and gentry to travel, although they didn't get hurt except for a couple of bruises and scratches, they did get lippy with their captors. The Blackbird and their flock of thieves didn't desire bloodshed, only the gold decorating their bodies and piled in the back of their carriages. What they did with the gold, they could only imagine the cruel and depraved activities paid for with it. But the working folk of Hollowmond knew, and they could never overstate their gratitude. Their pockets were finally full enough to keep food on the table and roofs over their heads, thanks to the Blackbird's endless generosity.

No one knew the when, what, who, how, why, and where of the Blackbird, only that they had no desire to kill anyone, and they disappeared into Fairlocke Wood whenever there was no need of them. Most people believed the thieves hid their hideout deep in the forest, and only invited guests could find it. People didn't know who or what the Blackbird was, but they were humanoid, standing at almost six feet tall and covered in dark clothes, blending in with their surroundings in blacks and dark greens. They always wore a half mask that covered their face from the nose down and a hood that covered their hair and shaded their eyes. They always painted their eyes with black face paint, extending it across from one temple to the next. The only color to them were their eyes, crystal clear blue. People called them the Blackbird because of the strange cloak they wore. It was so frayed it looked like bird wings gliding down as they jumped down from the branches. No one could distinguish their voice as either male or female when they spoke, and their figure could be interpreted as belonging to either gender. At least they were spiritual, as one rumor told it, the Blackbird had a strap of leather around their chest that held wooden carvings of the gods of nature.

The people of Hollowmond knew all this, and they spread the word far and wide to any traveler through Fairlocke Wood. A small caravan of carriages slowly made its way along the road to its destination. It carried the usual goods and an unexpected guest. Perhaps the young man who stared out into the endless forest thought of the legendary thief, maybe he thought of the old friend from his childhood who had disappeared years ago along with her family, maybe he thought of nothing at all except for the dark cloud of responsibility that hung over his head. Either way, the jolting carriage ripped him from his thoughts as the driver cried out in confused outrage.

A dead tree had so conveniently fallen over at just the right time to stop the caravan in its tracks. Now all they had to do was wait for confusion to further set in and have all the people disperse to see what the commotion was about and they would strike.

Edited July 19 by VikingWitch