diff --git a/commands/default_cmdsets.py b/commands/default_cmdsets.py
index f17f3be..457529d 100644
--- a/commands/default_cmdsets.py
+++ b/commands/default_cmdsets.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ own cmdsets by inheriting from them or directly from `evennia.CmdSet`.
 from evennia import default_cmds
 from evennia.contrib.grid import extended_room
 from commands.sittables import CmdNoSitStand
+from commands.take import CmdTake
 
 class CharacterCmdSet(default_cmds.CharacterCmdSet):
     """
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ class CharacterCmdSet(default_cmds.CharacterCmdSet):
         """
         super().at_cmdset_creation()
         self.add(CmdNoSitStand)
+        self.add(CmdTake())
         self.add(extended_room.ExtendedRoomCmdSet)
         #
         # any commands you add below will overload the default ones.
diff --git a/commands/take.py b/commands/take.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c28589a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/take.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+from commands.command import Command
+from evennia import CmdSet
+from evennia.utils import logger
+
+class CmdTake(Command):
+    """
+    Steals an object from another.
+    Added to the default_cmdsets.
+    """
+    key = "take"
+    aliases = ["get", "remove"]
+    # only allow this command if command.obj is carried by caller.
+    # locks = "cmd:holds()"
+
+    def func(self):
+        """
+        Implements the take command. Since this command is designed
+        to work on the object, we operate only on self.obj.
+        """
+        logger.log_info(f"Dealing with {self.caller.key}")
+        self.caller.do_take(self.args)
diff --git a/typeclasses/characters.py b/typeclasses/characters.py
index 9b0e200..bc9a461 100644
--- a/typeclasses/characters.py
+++ b/typeclasses/characters.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ creation commands.
 
 from evennia.objects.objects import DefaultCharacter
 
+from utils.word_list import Token, routput
 from .objects import ObjectParent
 
 
@@ -22,6 +23,32 @@ class Character(ObjectParent, DefaultCharacter):
     properties and methods available on all Object child classes like this.
 
     """
+    def do_take(self, args):
+        """
+        A character has a _steal_command. What are the limitations?
+        """
+        args = Token(args)
+        if args.empty():
+            self.msg("What do you want to take?")
+        elif len(args.words) == 1:
+            self.msg(f"You want to take {args.words[0]}, but from whom?")
+        else:
+            to_take = args.words[0]
+            from_whom = args.words[-1]
+            victim = self.search(from_whom)
+            if victim:
+                thing = victim.has(to_take)
+                if thing:
+                    self.msg(f"You take {thing.key} from {victim.key}.")
+                    self.location.msg_contents(
+                        f"{self.key} takes {thing.key} from {victim.key}!",
+                        exclude=self)
+                    thing.move_to(self, quiet=True, use_destination=True)
+                    return
+
+                self.msg(f"{victim.key} doesn't have a {to_take}.")
+            # else:
+            #     self.msg(f"You don't see a {from_whom}.")
 
     def at_pre_move(self, destination, **kwargs):
        """
diff --git a/typeclasses/drinkables.py b/typeclasses/drinkables.py
index 8f25559..3203895 100755
--- a/typeclasses/drinkables.py
+++ b/typeclasses/drinkables.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from typeclasses.objects import Object
 from commands.drinkables import CmdSetTeapot, CmdSetTeacup
-from utils.word_list import routput, character_has, Token
+from utils.word_list import routput, Token
 
 import random
 
@@ -110,6 +110,6 @@ class Teapot(Object):
         self.location.msg_contents(f"{drinker.name} makes a pot of tea.", exclude=drinker)
 
     def do_fill(self, drinker):
-        teacup = character_has(drinker, "teacup")
+        teacup = drinker.has("teacup")
         if teacup:
            teacup.do_fill(drinker, self.db.tea_type, TEA_TYPES[self.db.tea_type])
diff --git a/typeclasses/objects.py b/typeclasses/objects.py
index 1cff532..662276c 100644
--- a/typeclasses/objects.py
+++ b/typeclasses/objects.py
@@ -215,8 +215,21 @@ class Object(ObjectParent, DefaultObject):
      at_desc(looker=None)
 
     """
+    def has(self, item):
+        """
+        Return true if object has an item.
+        Where item is probably a string name to match an item's key.
+        It can also be a type, for instance:
 
-    pass
+        character.has(typeclasses.drinkables.TeaCup)
+        """
+        for i in self.contents:
+            if isinstance(item, str) and (i.key == item or i.aliases.get(item)):
+                return i
+            elif type(i) == item:
+                return i
+            elif i == item:
+                return i
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------
 #
diff --git a/typeclasses/rooms.py b/typeclasses/rooms.py
index ab4d39e..a386f22 100644
--- a/typeclasses/rooms.py
+++ b/typeclasses/rooms.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from .objects import LightSource
 from .drinkables import TEACUP_DESCS
 from .pets import Hunger
 from commands.drinkables import CmdSetTrolley
-from utils.word_list import routput, character_has, Token
+from utils.word_list import routput, Token
 
 import random
 
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ class DabblersRoom(Room):
         self.cmdset.add_default(CmdSetTrolley, persistent=True)
 
     def produce_teacup(self, caller):
-        if character_has(caller, "teacup"):
+        if caller.has("teacup"):
             caller.msg("You already have a teacup.")
         else:
             cuptype = self.teacup_prototype
diff --git a/typeclasses/things.py b/typeclasses/things.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..de93515
--- /dev/null
+++ b/typeclasses/things.py
@@ -0,0 +1,250 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""
+Knocker
+
+The Object is the class for gatekeepers between rooms.
+
+Use the ObjectParent class to implement common features for *all* entities
+with a location in the game world (like Characters, Rooms, Exits).
+
+"""
+
+from evennia.utils import logger
+
+from .objects import Object
+from .characters import Character
+from utils.word_list import routput
+
+from random import choice, random
+import re
+
+
+class Returnable(Object):
+    """
+    This object can't go far from one or two locations.
+
+    """
+    pass
+
+class Knocker(Object):
+    """
+    Special object that listens to what is said in the room, and
+    attempts to a _real_ NPC.
+
+    """
+    muffled_responses = [
+        "Mmmuufffmm",
+        "Mmmf?",
+        "Mummffmmph",
+        "Umfmuummmfff",
+        "Umf! Umfmmmf mmm mmmuufffmm mff mmuuummph.",
+    ]
+
+    # Note that the responses are ordered from most specific to least.
+    all_responses = [
+        # The password must be the first entry here, as we "act" on it:
+        ["whiske?y", [
+            "Alright, I'll open the door for yah.",
+            "I heard my favorite, let's get this door unlocked.",
+        ]],
+        [r"knocker|goblin", [
+            "[Sorry.|What was that?|Did you say something?] I'm hard of hearing on account of the brass ears.",
+            "Yes, I suppose I'm this amazing puzzle you get to in Chapter Three. Wait, does that mean I'm just an NPC?",
+            "Who me? I thought you were talking to the goblin in the bushes."
+            "Why yes, I am hard of hearing.",
+        ]],
+        ["password", [
+            "Of course this door is protected by a super complicated encrypted password.",
+            "If I tell you, it wouldn't be a secret now.",
+            "The password? You just have to guess.",
+            "Well, I suppose I could give you a hint."
+        ]],
+        ["hint", [
+            "A hint does sound fair. [Should I|I should] come up with a |briddle|n[|, huh]?"
+        ]],
+        ["riddle", [
+            "Aged in barrels, smooth and neat, in a glass by the fire, I'm a treat.",
+            "A scent of oak, a whiff of grain, a drop of expertise from the cask remains.",
+            """
+            In oaken halls, I sleep and bide,
+            till I'm called to warm your insides...
+            hrm, that's a little vague, but kinda nice.
+            """,
+            """
+            Alright, alright, the riddle should be clever.
+            It should refer to its golden hue, and I should make it obvious
+            that it isn't gold, and adding a reference to quest of the Argonauts
+            would be a complete red herring, and quite a mean thing to do,
+            so I shouldn't add that,
+            but what about barrels? Yeah, need to include barrels, but not the
+            way Bilbo road barrels, for that was definitely intended as a misleading
+            riddle for Smaug, but of course, a smart dragon would always figure such
+            things out, wait, where was I?
+            """
+        ]],
+        ["hello|greet", [
+            "How's it going?",
+            "How's it?",
+            "'Sup.",
+            "How are you?",
+        ]],
+        [r"\bass\b", [
+            "Why yes, I am made of brass."
+        ]],
+        [r"\block", [
+            "Yes, I'm familiar with the door and the fact that it is locked.",
+            "This locked door is to protect the theft of Dabbler's scones.",
+        ]],
+        [r"\bdoor\b", [
+            "What door? I don't see a door. Ha!",
+            "That's right, I am the clever puzzle hanging on a door.",
+            "I'm hanging on a door? Really? Let's see, can I roll my eyes?",
+            "Just to let you know, the door is locked.",
+            """
+            I shouldn['t|be quiet, and not] be telling you this,
+            but I like the cut of your [suit|cloak|jib].
+            So, you see, if you speak the |bpassword|n, wait, I've said too much.
+            """
+        ]],
+        ["\byes|yeah|yah\b", [
+            "Really? You agree?",
+            "Excellent",
+        ]],
+        ["\bno|nope\b", [
+            "Well, it's true. Just ask the [raven|trees|gnome].",
+        ]],
+        ["\?$", [
+            "What about [me|it|'im]?",
+            "I dunno...",
+        ]],
+    ]
+
+    after_unlocked_responses = [
+        """
+        We could [feign|pretend|play make-believe] and
+        [carry on|continue|persist] this [conversation|charade],
+        but we both know that |byou|n know the [password|secret|secret word|magic],
+        and can go through the |bdoor|n now.
+        """,
+        """
+        [Sure|Why not|Why yes], let's [feign|pretend|play make-believe that] you
+        don't know the [password|secret|secret word|magic], and
+        [carry on|continue|persist] this conversation.
+        """,
+    ]
+
+    cant_hear_responses = [
+        "[Sorry.|What was that?|Did you say something?] I'm hard of hearing on account of the brass ears.",
+        "Brass ears. Yeah, not the best at hearing.",
+        "Yeah, These brass ears don't hear much except for the |b[secret|magic|] password|n.",
+    ]
+
+    unknown_responses = [
+        "Are you talking to me or the goblin [in the bushes|up the tree|behind the rock]?",
+        "Knock, knock.",
+        "What do you mean?",
+        "Of course I like [hard candy|squirrels|apples]. Who [doesn't|wouldn't|do you know that doesn't]?",
+        "No thank you, I can't eat [apples|kumquats|figs], what with the brass teeth and a lack of guts.",
+        "Tea? While that would be [nice|sweet] of you, I can't really hold a cup.",
+        "I'm fine, thanks. How are you?",
+        "I'll say, [we have had|that is] a spell of weather.",
+    ]
+
+    def at_heard_say(self, message, from_obj):
+        """
+        A simple listener and response. This makes it easy to change for
+        subclasses of NPCs reacting differently to says.
+
+        """
+        # message will be on the form `<Person> says, "say_text"`
+        # we want to get only say_text without the quotes and any spaces
+        message = message.split('says, ')[1].strip(' "')
+
+        # Let's see if a keyword gives a good response:
+        for idx, [regex, responses] in enumerate(self.all_responses):
+            if re.match(r".*" + regex + r".*", message):
+                # The first match is the password, so we set a tag on
+                # the character, so that they can go through the door:
+                if idx == 0:
+                    from_obj.tags.add("open_red_door", category="mp")
+
+                # If we have the ring in our mouth, we are muffled:
+                if self.has("brass ring"):
+                    return choice(self.muffled_responses)
+                else:
+                    return routput(choice(responses))
+
+        # We can not do a random response. Of course, we are
+        # pretending we are hard of hearing, so we don't spam the room
+        # _every_ time:
+        if random() * 100 < 45:
+            if self.has("brass ring"):
+                return choice(self.muffled_responses)
+
+            # If a keyword was not spoken, we want to emphasize that
+            # we are hard of hearing, and mention that every other
+            # time, so we store in the database a setting to keep
+            # track and alternate the responses:
+            elif self.db.hard:
+                self.db.hard = False;
+                if from_obj.tags.get(key="open_red_door", category="mp"):
+                    return routput(choice(self.after_unlocked_responses))
+                else:
+                    return routput(choice(self.unknown_responses))
+            else:
+                self.db.hard = True;
+                return routput(choice(self.cant_hear_responses))
+
+    def get_display_desc(self, looker, **kwargs):
+        # Use this for random information instead of self.db.desc
+        response = "In a shape of a bald goblin, the brass door knocker in the center of the red door"
+        if self.has("brass ring"):
+          response += " holds a ring in its mouth. "
+          response += "[You think it|You are sure it|You could've sworn it|It] [just|] winked at you."
+        else:
+          response += " [smiles|looks] at you expectantly. "
+
+        return routput(response)
+
+    def at_desc(self, looker):
+        return "what" # self.get_display_desc(looker)
+
+    def get_display_things(self, looker):
+        return ""
+
+
+    def msg(self, text=None, from_obj=None, **kwargs):
+        "Custom msg() method reacting to say."
+        if from_obj != self:
+            # make sure to not repeat what we ourselves said or we'll create a loop
+            is_say = False
+            is_whisper = False
+
+            try:
+                # debug(f"text[0]: {text[0]}, text[1]: {text[1]}")
+                # if text comes from a say, `text` is `('say_text', {'type': 'say'})`
+                say_text, is_say = text[0], text[1]['type'] == 'say'
+                is_whisper = text[1]['type'] == 'whisper'
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+
+            if is_whisper:
+                self.at_say("I'm a little hard of hearing, can you speak up?")
+            elif is_say:
+                # First get the response (if any)
+                response = self.at_heard_say(say_text, from_obj)
+                # If there is a response
+                if response != None:
+                    self.at_say(response)
+
+        # this is needed if anyone ever puppets this NPC - without it you would never
+        # get any feedback from the server (not even the results of look)
+        super().msg(text=text, from_obj=from_obj, **kwargs)
+
+    def at_object_leave(self, obj, target_location, **kwargs):
+        if obj.key == "brass ring" and target_location != self:
+            self.at_say("Oh my, that feels better.")
+        else:
+            self.at_say("Umph")
+        return True
diff --git a/utils/__init__.py b/utils/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/utils/support.py b/utils/support.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..b1cdd1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/support.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+from typeclasses.characters import Character
+
+def character_has(holder, item):
+    """
+    Return true if character, holder, has an item.
+    Where item is probably a string name to match an item's key.
+    It can also be a type, for instance:
+
+    character_has(character, typeclasses.drinkables.TeaCup)
+    """
+    for i in holder.contents:
+        if isinstance(item, str) and i.key == item:
+            return i
+        elif i.key == item:
+            return i
+        elif type(i) == item:
+            return i
+        elif i == item:
+            return i
+
+def debug(msg, sender=None, location=None):
+    dabbler = Character.objects.search_object("Dabbler")[0]
+    full_msg = "DEBUG:"
+    if sender:
+        full_msg += f" (from {sender})"
+    if location:
+        full_msg += f" (at {location})"
+    full_msg += f" {msg}"
+    dabbler.msg(full_msg)
diff --git a/utils/word_list.py b/utils/word_list.py
index e7faa5c..3214b15 100755
--- a/utils/word_list.py
+++ b/utils/word_list.py
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ import re
 import string
 
 class Token():
-    def __init__(self, string):
-        cleaned_words = re.sub(r"[\.,\?!'\"=:;#\&\*\(\)\[\]\{\}]*", "", string)
-        self.words = cleaned_words.split()
+    def __init__(self, s):
+        # cleaned_words = re.sub(r"%s" % string.punctuation, "", s)
+        cleaned_words = re.sub(r"[\.,\?!'\":;^`\|%#\&\*<=>\(\)\[\]\{\}\+\/_-]*", "", s)
+        self.words = [word for word in cleaned_words.split() if word not in ["the", "a", "an"]]
 
     def empty(self):
         if len(self.words) == 0:
@@ -19,27 +20,11 @@ class Token():
             if len(result) > 0:
                 return result[0]
 
-def character_has(holder, item):
-    """
-    Return true if character, holder, has an item.
-    Where item is probably a string name to match an item's key.
-    It can also be a type, for instance:
-
-    character_has(character, typeclasses.drinkables.TeaCup)
-    """
-    for i in holder.contents:
-        if isinstance(item, str) and i.key == item:
-            return i
-        elif type(i) == item:
-            return i
-        elif i == item:
-            return i
-
 def squish(text):
     "Remove series of spaces from the text."
     return re.sub('[ \n\t]+', ' ', text).strip()
 
-def routput(string):
+def routput(text):
     """
     Return string with internal word choices replaced randomly.
     For instance, the string:
@@ -52,9 +37,8 @@ def routput(string):
     'This feels cozy.'
     'This feels very comfortable.'
     """
-    # string =
     acc = []
-    for s in string.split("["):
+    for s in text.split("["):
         choices, *rest = s.split("]")
         choice = random.choice(choices.split('|'))
         acc = acc + [choice] + rest