FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

‘The year is 1446, a year of peace and prosperity in the Calderan empire with people making good money through trade and commerce and earning the crown millions. From down here these last 4 years haven’t changed anything, cept the conscription posters have been painted over with royal propaganda. It’s been 2 years since the end of the war of the 3 leagues. The Empire won against their rebellious crown lands who sought to reduce the emperor’s growing power, but only managed a stalemate against the kingdom of Aquitain in the west and the Albyn Clanns from their islands in the northwestern sea. I’m currently laying low, fallout from the big job in Caldera, it was a shit show. So now I’m going through the motions of life on the run, always moving on to the next place, keeping people at arm's length and seeing a lot of shitty old towns. I was in the Riverside town of cobas, just south of imperial territory, in the Elban kingdom. Lying in someone’s barn, I was hungry but had no money and I looked like a bum, I’d be grabbed by the guards if I walked through the street now. The cold morning air of spring cut right through my faded and ripped tunic, my legs shook slightly, the thin wool leggings I wore were covered In rips and cuts, my coat was still holding together it was meant for some less... emaciated I’d modified it slightly, to shorten the arms and shoulders it looked terrible, a patch work of amateur sowing. I should probably get moving, see if I can steal some clothes or food, then heed south along the Braden River.’

The grey fox with old clothes and dirty and faded fur got up and looked through the door of the barn, the coast was clear. He walked out and across the quiet field, ‘hopefully there were no wanted posters down here’ looking north he saw the large cluster of houses and buildings making up the village. He walked cautiously into town trying not to seem suspicious, Furs were beginning their work as people began exiting houses and going to market stalls. Blacksmiths and bakeries. He thought guards had seen him, so he switched to back alleys, hopefully someone had an unlocked door and a full pantry around here. Just as he entered the next alley a dead-end, the smell of fresh bread came from a door on his left, it was probably a bakery, and he heard no sounds of life in there. He looked through his surroundings, a final check that he was alone. He pulled out his knife and attempted to unlock the door, hopefully it was a simple latch and could unhooked by running his knife through the gap.

*Click*

Bingo, he opened the door slowly and stepped into the bakery. There was a table with dough and an oven in the corner. There his quarry, a small bag of bread sitting on the ground next to Another door. He grabbed two loafs, not being greedy and he would be long gone before the baker realized a thing. He took the loafs and returned out the back door, taking a few tries to get the latch with his knife. Happy with his prize, he walked out of the back alley, he’d find a tree to lie against and finally eat, he’d been running off willpower since crossing the border. As he retraced his steps through town, he spotted a tavern by the church and nearly tripped over a beggar.

“Sorry, didn’t see you down there” the wolf said, The beggar was an old otter his right arm looked weak, and he was wearing a dirty old robe, previously elegant but worn down by mud and age.

“Sorry for getting in your way, but could you spare some change? I’m old and can’t work, hopefully there’s kindness in your heart? To help an old mage who’s lost his skills”

“Mage? I thought they were all rich and powerful?” The wolf had never seen a mage in person, unless he was lying which was likely.

“If you serve the guild or royal court, I was just a wanderer offering my services to whomever I met.” The otter seemed old with stress and age, a hard and long life.

“I’m in a similar predicament wandering and getting into trouble along the way.”

“Take my advice sir. Settle down somewhere, walking around the world doesn’t keep you fed!”

“I’ll try” the wolf replied adjusting the bread in his hands, hidden under his cloak

“So, care to give any change?”

“Afraid I’m about as rich as you are”

“Well maybe you should sit down here!” The wolf chuckled, it was nice to see this old otter still had wisdom in his head and humor on his tongue.

“Here take this it’s fresh bread” he dropped a loaf onto the beggar's lap.

“oh, great thanks to you sir!” the otter replied grabbing and smelling the bread. The wolf just walked off towards the forest, ‘that was terrifying it's been so long since I talked with someone who wasn’t a thief or victim of it. He sat down on the wet grass laying his back against the tree. He began eating his first loaf of bread, going slowly so as to not vomit. It tasted great as he slowly chewed and swallowed chunks of bread, he wondered about his next move. Would he he’d back into town to look for a job? Or keep moving south?

He was going to heed the beggar's advice and settle here, at least until the law Caught up. After finishing one loaf of bread and leaving the rest for later, he decided to he’d to the tavern, hopefully grab some coin from a drunkard with a heavy purse or find someone who wanted something stolen. As he walked back through the village he saw lots of traffic, he wouldn’t try pick pocketing, it was unpredictable at the best of times. He passed by the bakery no guards, it seems no one even knew they were robbed.

He walked onto the main square, the church and tavern on one side and a large wooden shed on the other side. An Armory? Or maybe a trading post. He saw the tavern’s name “Hobart’s rest” the symbol illustrating a tall and handsome cat with brown and cream fur holding a mug. ‘I assume that’s Hobart’ he opened the door entering the bar, it was mostly empty with 4 guards in uniform at one table laughing as they took shots an older looking orange vixen sitting at the bar with a glass of whiskey and a deer reading quietly and nursing a glass of ale in the corner at a table for two. But two patrons caught his eye, a pair of adventurers or mercenaries, one a rat wearing light leather Armour over a tunic and pants, he had a bow and quiver on his back, and short sword at his hip. The other one was a large cream furred rabbit lady, who was wearing heavy chain-mail and a chest plate, but her arms were bare showing off large muscles and her pants were simple leather. He wandered over to the pair not yet sure if he was going to try pick pocketing or appeal for donations.

“Hello, you two are adventures I presume?” the wolf asked his mind blank of options

“yep” the bunny replied bringing her broad sword into view “we just got done clearing a nest of natters”

“What do ya need mister?” the rat interjected

“Well, I was hoping you could be charitable and give me a few coins, just for a room?” The wolf asked, feeling like a failure begging for help like this, he’d had quite a few lows in life, but this may have crossed the line.

The rat gave his long-eared comrade a look, but the rabbit either didn’t notice or care, digging into her pocket and giving the dirty wolf 14 silver coins.

“Thank you” the wolf showed his gratitude, despite his wounded pride, began walking away.

“Your welcome!” The rabbit said waving as the rat face palmed, the wolf slinked out the pub his head low and tail dragging through the mud. He’d find a inn or lodge to stay the night and look for a score, just enough to get back on his feet. Hopefully small and quiet to not draw attention, he still had a price on his head. He wandered through the streets clutching his coins in his pocket, passing a blacksmith and spotting the “young duck inn” sign and hoping they had a room, the darkness signaling guards beginning their night patrol, he didn’t want to catch their attention for anything he might do. He heard a bell ring as he passed through the door, waiting at the counter the place was modest with light furnishings a few paintings hung on the walls, and a staircase to rooms was to the left of the counter up some stairs, to the right it looks to be a toilet and bathroom. A wolf appeared from the stairs dressed in a thin shirt and pants, he had brown fur and emerald, green eyes.

“Here for a room mister?” he said with a calming and low voice

“yes how much for a night?” the wolf replied

“6 coins mister. Are you sure you can afford that?” he asked laying his hands on the counter, the dirt covered thief just dropped the coins onto the counter.

“Okay here’s your Room key, number 3 got it”

“Yep, thanks” he slowly walked up the stairs into the 3rd bedroom, there was a bed, bedside table and cabinet. The room was small, the bed taking up one side of it the window stood above it, the door sitting opposite the bed where his head would be. The cabinet was chest height with mirror on top, to the left of the door in the corner. “it’s been real long...” The wolf mused aloud, he almost lay down on it but decided to take his clothes off, to somewhat reduce the dirt that would cover it. He didn’t fancy spending money on a bath that could go towards food or equipment. He pulled his cloak off, folding it and placing it on the bedside cabinet, then his tunic and after emptying his pockets into the drawer he pulled off his mud covered and rain-soaked leather pants. He looked at himself in the mirror. His fur was grey but had been through a lot of trauma, looking rough and dirty, the fur on his face was growing into a small beard, and his chest scrawny. Nothing but skin and bones. He had several scars, a dagger cut near his heart, where he was sliced in the stomach with a saber, and his right shoulder with damage from when he was kicked by a knight's strider when he 19. It was nice looking over all his body had gone through without giving up, but he was bothered that he looked so much older than he was, he looked in his late 30s but was only 24. He decided to just get some sleep now, he hadn’t slept in a bed like this in about 5 months. Not since that night, before it all went to hell.

Caldari, 1445, November 4th It had been planned well, the Garavelli bank was about to lose a lot of gold.

“Hey Max!” the White cat Andrew smacked him on the shoulder,

“yes” The grey wolf, Max Ferrer turned to face the cat

“you were day dreaming again” the cat pulled ahead, he was wearing light plate armor and had a torch in one hand and sword in the other.

“sorry, I’m not used to working as a team, that’s all” max stumbled through the catacombs keeping pace with Andrew, as his torch illuminated skulls and bone that lined the walls and floors.

“well just work as a team this one time, and you’ll never need to work again!” they continued onward.

“you remember the plan Max?” Andrew asked as they turned left and continued walking.

“yes” he was annoyed that Andrew seemed to love getting under his skin.

“Tell me then”

“we open a small hole from the tunnel into the bank, I sneak through with Alyssa, find the manger key to open the vault and then you idiots down here and those on the street burst in and clear the vault and control the crowd before soldiers or guards arrive” Max hoped this was the final stretch, after this he’d take his cut and live his remaining years wealthy.

“hey there, boys” that was Alyssa the serval, who was an expert in staying undetected and was also dating the heist’s main muscle, Brodie who was a 7,0 tall monster of a wolf, apparently he could take sword swings to the chest like nothing.

“you ready to get this over with?” Max asked inspecting her outfit it was a skin tight suit that was made of silk but had leather armor at key points along the body: shoulders, chest, knees and elbows. It was superior to Max’s outfit which was leather armor over regular clothes and a cloak with a hood, all made darker and harder to see.

“yep in 30 minutes Julie, Sam and drake will burst through the front door. So let’s get this done quickly please?” She said jokingly as she checked her gear, Alyssa then moved towards Brodie who leaned down letting her plant a kiss on his cheek “love ya big guy” Alyssa said softly into his ear.

“you too A” Brodie replied his voice soft and sensitive, in contrast to his physical stature.

Max and Alyssa loosened the roof stones of the catacomb and removed wooden floor of the bank. Pulling himself up, he surveyed the area spotting no one in the small break room only a few tables and chairs. “come on the door to the left will take us out into a corridor, then should be a straight shot to managers office” Alyssa said pulling herself up. Getting into position she began to slowly open the door, watching carefully for anyone who could raise the alarm. “clear, let’s move” Alyssa walked slowly out staying close to the wall, Max followed keeping close and quiet they passed up a staircase coming to rows of open offices for accountants. “there’s maybe 7-10 guys there sneaking along cubicle to cubicle one at a time is our best bet.” Alyssa explained.

“okay I’ll keep a look out here” Max said crouching down against the wall, Alyssa began to sneak past the cubicle grid a few workers were in their cubicles working hard to write records and bank statements, she crouched down below the glass panes that provided those in the cubicle with a view outside. She moved past 2 stopping as she heard footsteps, “you got the numbers for Andreas?” one voice said

Another replied “yep, take them to the manager, he’ll be pissed if he can’t look it over for issues”

“alright” the voice drawing closer to where Alyssa was crouched, before she could move back, the accountant walked into view. But instead of noticing Alyssa he turned left and continued towards the managers behind the door on the far side, his eyes focused on a last-minute check of papers. Beckoning the mangy grey wolf to follow, she followed the oblivious worker, a short raccoon after passing by 4 more cubicles, he reached the door to the manager's office, after a few seconds she entered a small waiting room with a door to a bathroom, she slipped inside, it stunk and was cramped but was preferable to being caught, she heard the voices in the manager's office and soft footsteps on the waiting rooms carpet. Max inspected the room, a window out towards the river with a bench opposite, and a desk for a secretary, where the managers, “money” waited for appointments and meetings with the man himself. Hearing footsteps from inside the manager's office approaching, he ducked into the small bathroom, which caused him to knock into the serval. “Watch it!” she said in a angry whisper, stopping Max from knocking her over. Max reoriented himself and closed the door shut. They stood motionless in the bathroom, Max his hand on the door and Alyssa with her elbows propped against the windowsill behind her, to stop her falling down. The footsteps drew closer, stopping in the toilet they braced for discovery, but after a very long second the footsteps faded as he moved back to work. They both let out a sigh, Alyssa pulled her arms from the windowsill and stood straight, massaging her strained elbows. “Ready to go?” Max asked in a cheerful tone.

“Be careful next time. let me take the lead and stay close” Alyssa said sternly

Max countered “what happened to the cheery demeanor?”

“I don’t like getting caught, because of other's mistakes” Alyssa replied, opening the door and brushing past max. They moved silently out the bathroom, heading towards the manager's office. “let's move quickly get the key and open the vault, Max”

“Alright, let’s say hi to the boss” Max whispered to himself

She opened the door quickly, a large office with expensive wood paneling, walls lined with bookshelves and a large expensive desk, a large fox in fancy, lords with grayish fur and a pair of small glasses. He was writing something, but his head lifted towards the open door. “What... who are you?” he asked, Alyssa moved towards him and his beautifully crafted chair, Max pushed a chair aside standing in front of the manager's desk.

“We, represent some concerned citizens, Mr. Garavelli we are here for everything in this banks vault, and we will get everything in the vault.” Alyssa said putting her hand towards her scabbard on her hip.

“Or what? I will not give away people’s life saving’s to criminals and thieves!” he said, looking at Alyssa angrily

“this knife, could be worked along your hands, 10 fingers, 10 chances to give us what we want or maybe we slice your tendons and throat, you’d be left on the floor to choke on your blood, tell us where the key is, remain quiet and no one will be hurt” Alyssa wasn’t here to negotiate, she was hoping that he was selfish or cowardly enough that he’d give up and keep his life.

“come on Mr Garavelli, you maybe willing to gamble with your own life? But what about everyone else in the building’s?” Max added hoping he’d see reason. The manager sat still thinking through his options.

“Fine, hurt no one just take the money, but if you walk out now, I assure you both on my honor I will forget this occurrence” he said, pulling the key out of a drawer placing it upon the table. Max picked up the key tucking it into his pocket. *slice* Alyssa didn’t want the manager to talk, his throat cut he gurgled blood and grasped for air, She planted the knife into his heart, Max saw pain in the managers eyes, Alyssa then pulled the knife out killing him. He lay in his chair his clothes covered in blood, Alyssa used his over shirts arm to wipe the blood from her blade. Max looked at Alyssa with disgust, the manager agreed to submit but was killed anyway, the murder was without reason.

“what are you staring at?, let’s get to the vault” Alyssa said heading towards the door, Max reluctantly followed, counting the lives he could of saved, but had convinced himself he couldn’t. They went back through the waiting room and moved quickly past the cubicles and workers distracted with transaction logs and cheques. Before they went to the vault, they went into their entrance. “we’ve got the vault key, get ready to deal with the 10 workers up stairs” Max said trying to bury what happened.

“alright you two move quickly you’ve got 5 and a half minutes left until those three idiots burst in” Andrew replied from down in the hole holding a ladder to help transport loot, the plan was a nearby galley owned by the jobs financiers would leave in 9 hours out of the Augustinian sea into towards the town longbrook on the north coast, with cargo marked as iron and copper ore which should allow the loot to remain undetected during the voyage.

“Me and Max will work fast and hopefully you will moving the loot” a hole in the catacombs took them right where the galley moored, if all went well a potion would deal with the bystander’s and then spend four hours loading the ship.

“well get a move on then! I’m getting bored waiting down here for you to finish” Andrew replied. The moved down the corridor on the right was the banks entrance, filled with customers and employees serving them. On the left a door to the vault entrance, right below the managers office it seemed. They entered the vault room, large stone walls reinforced with steel beams, only a master of magic could hope to open it without a key. Max stepped towards the large double doors and inserted the key *click*, *click*, *click* the doors unlocked. “this is it four million in coins and who knows how much in treasure.” Max said aloud impressed he’d made it here.

“Max, door to the lobby” Alyssa said pulling her knife out again, and heading out the door

“Got it” max said pulling his own knife, and stood against the wall, behind the teller door, waiting for some sorry sap to try and run. Alyssa dipped towards the catacombs entrance, a scream echoed from upstairs ‘at least someone is appreciating my work with the managers’ she thought.

Max heard screams and yelling from the second floor, but those were drowned out by the arrival of the three idiots. Max opened the door with his knife in hand, two workers crouched behind the desk held their hands up towards them, the rest of their crew had the crowd in place, only 4 furs, an old wolf, two rich looking foxes brothers and a tall ferret woman wearing a tight corset and exuberant dress, with a large ruff surrounding her neck. They were standing with hands in the air and fear in their eyes, “Lets make this clear, were here for the banks money, there’s no reason for you to die for it? So please sit quietly and don’t move a muscle.” Julie said as she pushed the two workers by Max to the crowd. Sam and drake were Keeping an eye on everyone. They both wore full plate armor, Sam had a crossbow he was an average build, half wolf and fox not that anyone could tell he only had orange and black fur to distinguish himself. meanwhile drake armed with a sword and shield, was stocky possum with short curly hair and a nice smile. “good to see you alive” Julie said as she followed max towards the vault.

“I know the general part of the plan, but how do we carry the loot? It would take a crew of 20 to clean it out” Max asked

Julie the cat, with orange fur and black spots, she wore tight wizard robes mixed with leather straps and pouches. Which accentuated her chunkiness, her cleavage always visible. She pulled out two pearlescent potions, “we use these, potions of jumping” she began pouring it onto the boxes of coins and stacks of gold bars.

“jumping?” Max replied knowing there’d be a good explanation from Julie.

“jumping potions don’t actually make you jump better. They just make you lighter, so we can use that on the heavy coins and gold. Now it weighs an eighth of what it did.” She explained tossing the glass bottles out the vault door. Max walked out the door seeing Andrew leading those cubicle accountants out to the rest of their guests. After everything was in position they began moving the loot, after 30 minutes they were a quarter of a way done. Max was moving wooden crates filled with coins, when it all came crashing down.

*boom* the building shook, He dropped the box and ran from the corridor to the lobby. “shit We’ve got forty plus soldiers outside!” Drake yelled pushing furniture against the door, Sam was shooting out the right window with his crossbow, the crowd huddled in the corner praying for safety. “what was the explosion?” Max asked rushing to help Drake shore up their barricade, As the soldiers looked to be moving in a makeshift phalanx towards the door. “A fucken mage, I think! No clue how we were spotted” Sam loaded another bolt, and crouched down.

“were fucked, is what he’s trying to say” Drake said reading his sword and shield for combat. The soldiers stopped for a second, a second explosion rocked the building, blowing through the barricaded door. Max was knocked against the desk, he saw Sam, pulling himself to his feet and limping towards the door behind the desk. Max saw Drake he’d taken most of the blast, shielding the huddled innocents and his comrades, His armor was scorched and burned, his body charred and lifeless.

“COME ON! WE GOTTA GO MAX!” Sam yelled pulling the wolf to his feet, The half-fox, half- wolf ran through the door. Max saw soldiers rushing into the bank armed with swords, crossbows and heavy shields. Max stumbled through the corridor turning right and then trying to open the door to their tunnel, it was sealed. “sorry! we’ve got no choice!” the voice of Julie, and a final omen. He pulled himself up the stairs hearing soldiers yelling at him, he broke into a desperate sprint, a final rage against what life he’d been given. He ran through the cubicle room seeing an arrow plant into the door In-front of him, he entered the waiting room spying the river view, ‘A nice view to stare at dying? NO, a very painful exit’ he jumped through the window cutting himself on the broken glass as he plummeted into the abyss.