The Tashi is a group of kats of any color, breed, or gender, all
with one purpose - to wreak havoc on Alcaine. They deal with
anything from stealing ale and selling it on the street to
robbing houses to prostitution. The group was formed about
140 years before the present by an overweight, pink Mountain
named Braster Cath - or just Cath.
The group seems to be mainly populated by Valley Kats, who enjoy
mischief-making more than most of the other breeds combined.
Unfortunately for those in charge - Cath, especially - these
newer thieves have very little respect for authority. This
certainly hasn't hindered the workings of the Tashi, however...
by now, it's too big and too successful for some Valleys to
mess it up.
The main headquarters of the Tashi - where Cath and other
high-ranking criminals can usually be found - is found behind a
large pawn shop in the center of Alcaine. Not only can they make
money off of their stolen goods there, but the Guards have
no proof that they're the ones responsible for stealing if it
shows up in a pawn shop.
Ah, the Guards... the only thing the Tashi has to worry about.
They're so careful regarding the Guards that if a kat is captured
for stealing and gets his ears cut off, they kill him. He's
obviously not fit to be in the organization, and if they just
let him go he would know where the headquarters are, so... get
caught and you're dead. As you can see, the punishment for
stealing is not nearly as harsh as the punishment for getting
caught.
There are several different jobs within the Tashi: younger members
are usually simple pickpockets, while smaller kats are usually
trusted with stealthy burglaries. The older and more experienced
kats get, however, they move on to bigger jobs - loud robberies
of stores. Naturally, not everyone is a thief; as mentioned
before, there's quite a population of prostitutes, pimps, hitmen,
bodyguards, and, of course, accountants to manage the money.
The oldest of the Tashi - rarely referred to as elders, as that
makes them feel like old, incompetent farts - have retired to
being con artists instead of more strenuous thieving.
Nearly any kat is accepted into the Tashi if they know who to ask.
They aren't called the Family in Old Tongue for nothing; even the
kats that aren't cut out for any of the jobs mentioned above are
accepted as messengers, hunters, traders, or cooks. Mundanes are
respected just as much as normal kats, and only if a kat has had
its ears or tail cut off that they're refused membership. Of
course, since the Tashi has been going on for over 100 years,
many of the newest members were born into it. Few kats are ever
turned away... it truly is one big happy family.
Unless you screw up, that is.
Contributed by Cheshire
