The great hall of the Bog Burglars; it sat high on the mountain side of the middle island. Finding the way to the main village was difficult enough; one would have to navigate through thick forests and steep paths. Once you managed your way into the village the paths seem to clear slightly leaving enough spaces between the trees for clay stoned homes with wood thatched roofs. Pens for larger live stock were scattered here and there where the room would allow it, and dirt paths would connect buildings. The paths would continue to wind their way up through the woods, each layer having another home or building. The main island, the middle one had a few large homes, but mostly shops and trades were practice here. The main market place for the islands was here as well.

The great hall was a sight to see, it being a large stone building built right into to the mountain side. Large wooden doors with cast iron inlays decorate the door. The clan’s crest of three Changewings in a circle is the first thing you see when approaching the grand oak doors. Opening the doors long tables with long wooden benches line the floor of the great room. A large fire pit lay in the middle of the room in between the rows of tables. There were six long tables on either side of the room; enough room to fit the entire clan. Which it often did for grand feasts.

Towards the back of the room on a pier sat another long table overlooking the rest; this was the clan leaders table. Large candelabras sat on the long table; with only a few place settings, all fine silver, with sturdy chairs beside them. In the middle of the sturdy chairs was a large throne, lined with black bear fur. This was the clan leader’s place of honor; and there sat the clan leader herself, looking down at her people and smiling.

The leader herself wasn't what you would expect, she was small in stature….a delicate looking thing. She looked odd sitting upon the large throne that had been built for a much larger person. She was pale with a stubborn chin and rosy cheeks. Her eyes were the blue of the warmer seas; stunning behind thick black eyelashes. A wild mane of garnet colored hair tumbled down around her; it was decorated on one side with small braids with cold beads and small sapphires hidden throughout the waves of red. This gold was one of the only other things besides a large red stone amulet around her neck that was present. Odd for a Bog Burglar; whom were known to be decked out in finery. Her clothes were a simple brown corset over a white tunic, and dark brown pants with knee high leather boots. A thick brown belt lined with throwing daggers hung around her waist, and another set crisscrossed across her chest; also lined with a few daggers and a couple of small pouches sewn right into the thick studded leather. There was also another dagger strapped to the top of her right thigh. All knew she had deadly accuracy when it came to throwing these things; however her real weapon of choice sat upon her back. It was a large long sword made out of a strange light metal.

All in all despite her small petite size; she posed an intimidating sight. The most striking sight about this young leader was the large flame like scar that blazed across her otherwise stunning features. She bore the scar with pride; even if the site did make people wince every now and then.

walking into the great hall, Ryth felt awe and shame at the same time. he felt awe at the greatness of the hall but was ashamed to know he wasn't good enough to truly belong there yet. he strolled up to one of the empty tables that weren't filled by other vikings and started going over notes for his fighting style.

The man now called Rivers struts into the hall with little sense of respect of reverence. "Well, certainly is a fancy building." He admits as he seamlessly grabs a piece of bread out of someone else's pack and walks around the room for a bit. "Hmm..."

Rivers raises his hand to his chin and surveys the room while leaning up against a fairly empty table. His long brown coat sways slightly and the twin katana, swords not from these isles, connected by a silver chain sit on his hip. As he looks around the room he notices the boy behind him and peeks over with interest. "Combat notes? I had assumed most of these fellows were more the sneak up and stab you in the back type." Rivers says to the man who was examining the papers.

Rivers was the newest Bog...whatever, well sort of anyways, the terms were vague. "So...who are you anyways?" he asks curiously, taking a seat without bothering to ask.

staring at his notes carefully he makes a few changes to flaws he could see before he was startled by the new intruder. "sorry, I'm actually not the type to go steal. I care too much about others to feel god stealing. I want to fight to defend my clan though." he shuffles his notes back in his bag. "who are you?"

Her bright blue green eyes locked on to a young male who had just entered the great hall; she recognized him quickly. Well she mostly heard of him rather than seen him. He was one of the ones who failed the tests when it came to there right of passage….and he failed quite recently into her reign as well. After all it had only been a year or two since she officially took over the Bog Burglar clan. A Bog Burglar who was intent not to steal; an odd mismatch…shame really by what she heard he had the potential to make a good bulldog. She sat there for a while just observing him; he seemed to her like a mouse in a lion’s den.

Arias scrutinizing gaze shifted from the boy to Rivers as he strolled in…he certainly was in a chipper mood. A smile spread across her face as he made his way over to the self-isolating boy. She was curious to how the interaction would go; so for now she was content to sit and watch from her seat. In the meantime though she kept an eye on the rest of the inhabitants of the great hall.

Rivers looks at the new guy quizically, well everyone was new to him...or perhaps he was new to them? Well something to think about later. Leans forward and looks at the papers, though the boy quickly shuffles them into the bag. "Hey now, no need to go hiding them, I happen to also be learning how to use a twin set of swords." He says indicating the unique swords at his waist. "Though I've always been more of a knife or avoid combat altogether kinda guy." He admits with a smile.

"I wonder why people seem to enjoy fighting so much, people could get hurt. Seems like inviting them in and having a drink is a far more valuable use of time." Rivers points out, though when the boy mentions he doesn't steal for moral reasons he laughs. "Kid, if you can say that then you've clearly never been starving on the street. People do a lot of things for survival, that being said I'll admit an organization around thievery does seem to lose a bit of the spirit."

Rivers rests his cheek on his hand. "What's your name anyways, mine's Rivers, don't have a last one."

Ryth looks at the man quizzically as he speaks. "I'm ryth and I don't like fighting that much it is the only way I can serve my clan since I don't feel right taking things from others that I don't need." a he shoots a glare behind him which unless you inspected closely you would not see the boy hiding there as the boy failing in his task ran off. "I'm sort of an outcast here since I do not steal unless necessary."

"Ryth huh? I think there are a lot of ways to serve one's clan. Though I suppose there need to be those who are willing to bleed and be hurt." He admits as he leans back a bit looking up at the ceiling. "But listen, do you believe everyone who is stolen from needs what is stolen more than someone else?"

Rivers smiles billows his coat slightly. "Let me tell you Ryth, there are many stories of noble thieves who steal from the cruel, wasteful and opulent and give what they have obtained to the needy and helpless. Those in power often like to use it to oppress others, do you think it is wrong to steal and return to people what unjust lords have stolen from them? For me at least that sounds more heroic than evil."

listening to rivers explanation put a new spin on thievery and he realised that he could become a traditional part of the clan and still not feel horrible for stealing. "Thank you for that revelation. now that I know that I can become an official member of this clan and hopefully be accepted." after that he got his sword-fighting notes out and started looking at them again. "what's your combat style?"

As the boy seems to have a revelation Rivers can't help but chuckle a bit. "Well it is my pleasure to lend words of wisdom. All I ask in return is you tell me the tales of your successes, for I am a seeker of stories and in you I see several good ones waiting to happen." He praises as he spins around and leans back on the table.

"Though the path of a noble thief is hard, but if you keep in mind the people who you interact with your should be fine." He assures the boy though as he takes out his notes and asks Rivers about his combat style Rivers shrugs helplessly. "Would if I could remember. I have lost most of my memories about my personal history, I seem to be skilled with knives and I own this pair of twin blades, but beyond that I know little. However, while I might be capable of fighting, I generally would prefer to drink and tell stories. People die when they fight and I happen to enjoy living, I would rather not toss the dice with my life as a wager unless I absolutely must."

smiling at his notes, Ryth wished he could have a peaceful life, but no matter what he would be in danger. "We can't all have a peaceful life. why don't you drink my share and live the peaceful life you believe I should have. as for stories, I'd love to tell you any memorable ones if you ever come by again." he starts looking over his notes again.

Aria sat still listening to the exchange going on with her temporary member; and the odd sheep out. Her good natured smile slowly falling from her features as she listened. Yes; she had known that he disapproved of the act of stealing…and that was at least something that he had stuck to. Frankly that was likely to put him at odds for being any use to the clan; after all how could one comfortably work with people who stood for something they were completely against? They couldn’t, either they would refuse to participate or they would tell said target to ease their conscience. Either way it was a danger to the team and the clan. But despite all that, she respected the face he had morals and he had stuck to them all these years…but now with a few flowery words he suddenly was fine with it?

Aria pushed herself from her chair and walked over, her eyes cold as she stood and looked down at the two sitting men, her arms crossed over her chest; and one delicate brow arched in a disapproving gaze.

”Stepping back in the conversation boys; but Ryth I couldn’t help but noticed after a few flowery words and grandiose ideas of being a noble thief your suddenly changing the beat of the drum that you walk to.”

She looked back at Rivers.

”Honorable thieves only exist in stories; stories often omit the emotional struggle and the dishonorable things that one has to do to get to that point. Someone good always gets hurt; it’s just the way of life. Hero’s only serve to get others killed or hurt; one may steal from the rich and give to the poor but someone always has to take the blame. We may not see the aftermath but it is there.”

Unfolding her arms she went and sat beside Rivers her head resting one her hand which was propped up by her elbow on the table.

”However I am not one to say those stories aren’t interesting in their own right; so let’s hear a tale of this mysterious noble thief”

looking at his clan head he steeled his face as she insulted his thought process. "I never said that finding something like that would be easy. I just said that is the only reason that I would steal." he glared at her venomously. "I never chose to hurt when I cause those who don't deserve it pain. I am just working around my faults and trying to be as useful to my clan as possible." he shuffles his notes back in his notepad. "If people truly collected their wealth from the pain of those close to them I will have no Qualms in taking their wealth off them but if you cannot see that I am trying my best to stand firm in who I am yet still be a part of your clan then I am just going to be a nuisance to you." he prepared to leave the great hall. as his statement would likely get him kicked out of his clan.

As Aria enters into the conversation Rivers shrugs and sighs in an overly dramatic fashion. "Listen boss, you might call them flowery words, but in the end everything is about perceptive. There is always an argument made that even villains have families, but there are cases where there really are reprehensible people who take advantage of their power. If you are not stealing from them then you are missing out on a very lucrative opportunity and if stealing from only those who oppress or bring pain helps this boy's conscience then let him do that. At least then it's work he believes in."

As she declares there is no honor among thieves Rivers gets to his feet, standing ontop of the chair he had been sitting in making him tower over those in the hall. "No no no Boss." He tells her in an almost admonishing gesture. "You've got it wrong, what makes a thief noble is not the means through which they steal, but the reason that they do it."

"If one must take from someone who has more than they need in order to save the life of their dying child is that not a noble act? It harms the corpulent little and saves the life of a child. Of course if the thief is not skilled enough then those he helps will also suffer, but is that not the case with normal thieving anyways?" He asks rhetorically.

"In the end what matters is skill the greatest thieves get to have their stories whether they are noble or scoundrels is up to their own intentions and the painting of the teller. But if this is truly such a dirty and terrible art Boss tell me why you steal." He requests with a keen look in his eyes.

”Wipe that look off your face boy”

She wasn’t going to tolerate disrespect.

”You’re a nuisance when you act like a hormonal teenage girl and jump to being pissy the first time your questioned….and frankly for your disrespect just then you get an afternoon of kennel duty”

The kennel was the common term for the jail of the islands; kennel duty included feeding the inmate and cleaning the cells…it wasn’t a pleasant job but it needed to be done. Frankly she was being light on him; because one really did not address a clan leader in that fashion. Aria tapped her nails along the table in thought.

”Everyone has their reasons for being a part of this clan; frankly it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. You’ve taken it upon yourself to judge before knowing each and everyone’s stories. Frankly in this job you’re not always going to get to pick and choose what your jobs are. Our clan is hired to do dirty things by dirty people, it’s how it is. Can you really be comfortable with that? As a member of the clan I may give you an order that will seemingly go completely against your ideals; would you be able to go through with it? If the answer your answer is yes, then think further to the question of whether you would be able to live with yourself after that.”

Aria paused for a moment; letting him think over the question.

”I do not believe you are ready to join the clan officially; you may have the skills but mentally you are not ready yet.”

Aria turned back to Rivers and shook her head.

”I am not saying there aren’t people who deserve it; there are plenty who do. But from experience I can tell you when you steal from those people; innocent heads will roll because of it. The people you’re describing don’t care who they punish as long as someone does. As his Elder it would be irresponsible for me to set him up with shiny eyed ideals; even the best of intentions can have grisly consequences in our business. They are almost guaranteed when you target the large baddies like your indicating; if your not ready for some eye openers you may find yourself on a ship to the Hysterics. Our clan has quite a few ex members over there now”

As Rivers continued she nodded; that was a point she somewhat agreed on that and he rounded back to the original point she had been trying to make. A devious smile spread across her features when she was asked the reason for why she stole.

”I do not have just one reason; but if I was to pick one I find I like the challenge. I see it as a fun game….however I am more a lover of information then jewels and finery.”

It was a vague answer that gave very little detail of why she truly stole; or really ran this whole operation.