20th of Spring, 511 AV, Nyka
They'd been drinking. It was always how these things went. And The Gods knew the Monks of Nyka weren't saints. Shade wasn't one either, though for the most part he tended to think himself having more common sense than naught. And though their duties were long and often times fraught with danger, the Monks weren't opposed to having a little fun. Shadekas, currently, was the center of the fun it seemed. Being called prude never bothered him, but to be outright insulted and accused of having no debase morals at all was offensive as hell.
"I can too steal. I have just never had cause to do it. Why should I? We're fed, clothed, and given work that's satisfying. I've not need for anything!" He exclaimed, laughing despite feeling the sting of the accusations of him being too straight laced.
A Xannos monk called from across the room. "Yea Shadekas, keep on telling yourself that. Ain't none of us here not stolen for a living at one time or another, even as adults. You, on the other hand, couldn't take candy from a baby. You're too soft hearted, Shadekas. Too soft by far!" A chorus of shouts in agreement filled the room. Shade felt his cheeks flush and knew the pressure was going to get to him. He was too old for these games, or to cow down to the wishes of other monks. But there was only so much bruising a man could take to his ego before a challenge needed to be accepted.
"I can steal anything I want. Anything." He explained, knowing the minute he'd said it, that it was a mistake. More guffaws followed. There was a multitude of suggestions thrown out from eligible comely little city lasses to Xannos' own jewels. Shade just laughed. Feeling nervous but trying to conceal it, Shadekas thought long and hard. It was obvious he was going to have to steal something to save face, but his morals left him very little options in terms of what hes could do and still live with himself. He wasn't a thief, in that much they were right, but he also wasn't going to let the lot of them label him as straight-laced either. That would mean more battles, a reputation with other district monks he didn't want, and a loss of merit to his own kin.
Plus, he was slightly drunk and not thinking straight. So as he cast his mind around ways, he lit on an idea that would perhaps provide enough entertainment to the crowd and save face all at once.
"Nyka has formidable defenders, but she has formidable enemies too." Shadekas said, then found his status as standing flat-footed on the ground ill-conceived for the speech he was about to give. "Sometimes those two things are one and the same! No...." He said as he crawled first up on a chair then hopped up top a table in the nondescript tavern and continued. "I'm not talking about us Monks. Oh no. That'd be too easy. I'm talking about...." And here he paused for dramatic effect.
"The cliff ravens."
There were mutters around the room. Everyone had at one time or another had something stolen from them via a raven. "Flying rats is what they are. Nothing but rats, but fierce nonetheless. They'll more likely peck out your eye when you're not paying attention as to allow you to shoo them off. Very dangerous, and yet... very clever. I've seen them, while I've been up on watch, puzzle through a problem like getting a window latch open with the keenest of intellect. And what's more, they steal and spread chaos and yet they're beautiful. One of the pairs that live just outside of the wall hatched themselves a bunch of chicks. Do you know the one, that pair that has itself a white male? Nasty vicious creatures, but good parents. They hatched three this year I believe. I often stop to watch them. They've been hatched no more than a fortnight now, so they're prime to steal one and tame. One's white like the father. I'll steal that white one." He claimed, raising his tankard in the air.
"And raise it as my own. Taking my life in my hands, scaling the tree to its nest... I'll do it. Then none of you can't claim I'm not brave and not a thief. I'll have something to show for it! Who's with me? Shall we go steal a raven chick?" He asked looking around.
AS for the rest of the monks, laughter filled the establishment. Whether or not Shadekas could do what he claimed was one thing, but the fact that he was piss drunk and willing to try was a setup for a whole new set of entertainment for the group. As one they bellowed encouragement, and in a typical mob fashion, headed out the door, someone plucking Shadekas off the table and setting him on his feet as they went. They spilled out onto the street, about twelve in all, and ushered the bold soon-to-be thief down the street and towards the wall leading to the gate where the tall timber grew that the ravens in question were nesting in.
Shadekas was all for the idea until about halfway there when he realized he was the one going to be doing the stealing to maintain and or salvage his reputation. Those two adult ravens weren't going to let him get near the nest, especially climbing the tree, not without him risking serious bodily harm. Fiercely he regretted his rash proclamation and knew there was no way out of it now that the task was well underway.
They deposited him at the base of the tree - a big one at that - and left him to stare upwards, knowing that barely visible from this angle (though eye level with someone guarding the wall) in the tangle of branches overhead was the nest and its three chicks, one of which was the white one Shadekas had already laid claim too.
He stood staring up, pondering his next move, cursing himself for a fool.
