A Lesson in Burglary

[Tio Silver]

Yaralon
78th Ashan, 719

"Come on guys, turn out your pockets. Let's see what this morning's haul looks like."

Life was difficult when you were a street kid, especially in a city like Yaralon that practically built its culture around the concept of 'survival of the fittest'. Earning a living through petty crime was difficult enough on its own, but in a country where everybody was armed to the teeth and more than willing to resort to violence it was nigh-impossible. If you were too slow there was a very real chance you could be maimed, maybe even killed. The only way to survive was to have someone watching your back, someone you could be absolutely sure wouldn't plant a shiv in your back while you slept and run off with whatever little food you had.

Juan liked to think that his little gang was doing better than most. The eight of them were not the biggest gang on the streets, nor the strongest, but he could at least say that he trusted each and everyone of them to be there for him when he needed them. They'd all been the children of members of a mercenary company that hadn't come back from a job one day, and with nowhere else to go the octet had been driven to a life on the streets. Being the oldest at the time, an impressive ten arcs old, the mantle of leadership had fallen on Juan, and his guidance had at least gotten them all through the past couple of arcs. Sure they went to sleep hungry most nights, but at least they were alive.

Mick, the second oldest and de facto right hand man, eyed the little pile of trinkets the gang placed down on the floor of the back-alley they were huddle in with disappointment. Pick-pocketing was the only way they knew how to earn money, but in order to stay safe the only people they targeted were those who didn't seem strong enough to be able to chase them down. Such people were few and far between in Yaralon. "A dozen or so silver nel... an old pocketwatch... a ring... I don't think this is enough guys. We could get some bread, but that's about it."

"Wow. You guys suck as this don't you."

The gang scattered backwards in fright like pigeons before a mad tiger as a voice rang out from... somewhere! Juan's eyes darted around desperately, searching for the origin, but there was nothing but thin air all around them.

"Helllooo! I'm up here!"

Juan looked upwards to spot a man sitting on the roof of the building next to them, his legs dangling over the side as he looked down at them with one amused eye. He was dressed in a horrifyingly garish jacket without a shirt, leaving the silver circle mark on the right side of his neck clearly exposed, and wore a smooth, plain white mask on his face that seemed to be made of bone. Even with his face covered it was clear from his tone that the man was laughing at them.

The man pushed off from his ledge, and Juan's eyes widened as the winds sprang forth and swirled around him to slow his fall and place him gently down on the ground. A magician! Mages were well regarded for their power in Yaralon, but everyone knew to be cautious about putting your trust in one. Many of them were crazier than they seemed, and this guy looked pretty damn crazy to begin with.

The others had instinctively sought shelter behind him, and Juan spread his arms out to form himself into a wall between them and the strange man. "Who are you? What do you want?" He asked distrustfully.

"Me?" The man pointed to himself dramatically. "Why, I'm your fairy godmother of course! Come to grant your wish. You can call me Tio."

"...But you're a man."

"It's a figure of speech. Don't be such a stick in the mud." Tio waved his hand dismissively. "The fact is that I'm here to show you kids the way to a better life."

"Are you going to teach us magic!" Anna, the youngest and most innocent of the group, asked excitedly.

"I am! But not just any old magic. I'm going to teach you the greatest magic of all! I'm going to teach you a spell called-..." Tio flourished his hand and pointed into the sky. "Burglary!"

Silence hung in the air like a guy an awkward guy at a party who can't read the subtle hints that it's time to leave. Juan looked at him with an completely deadpan expression. "Are you being serious?"

Tio nodded, either oblivious to the mood or deliberately ignoring it. "Of course."

"But we're kids."

"Yes, that hadn't escaped my notice."

"You can't teach kids how to commit crimes!"

Tio shrugged. "Why not? I mean you lot are already pickpockets, even if you aren't very good ones. If you're going to be criminals then you might as well be good criminals, otherwise you'll give the rest of us a bad name. Think of it as... career guidance."

Juan looked at his gang, unsure as to what they thought. They were wary, but the promise of a better life had at least caught their attention. Sensing the hesitation Tio pressed his arguement. "It would be the end of your days going to bed hungry, and a lot safer than robbing armed people right in front of their faces if done properly. Why not give it a try, and if it doesn't work out that'll be the end of it?"

Juan mulled the idea over in his head. On the one hand trusting in a madman clearly asking for trouble, but on the other it was hard to argue with an empty stomach.

"Well... it can't hurt to try..." He began hesitantly, half expecting a trap. "Alright then. We'll do it once."

Tio's eye gleamed back at him with glee. "Excellent! Follow me."

[Tio Silver]

“Step one! Gather information.”

The tavern Tio had led to group to was definitely not an appropriate place for minors. The furniture was worn and dirty, the customers tough and mean-looking, and the smell of smoke with perhaps just a hint of blood mixed in all came together to create an image that was decidedly not child-friendly. Yet if the bartender had any qualms about having kids in his establishment he didn't show it, for the man did not so much as bat an eye at them as they took a table tucked away in a far corner.

“Only amateurs try to rob somewhere without doing their research first.” Tio continued, adopting his teacher voice as he lectured the crowd. “It only takes one mistake to get caught, and in a city like this being caught is often soon followed with death. A professional leaves as little to chance as possible, and to do that it's important that they learn everything they need to know about their target before the heist. Who lives in the house? When are they not in? Where are they going? What security measures do they have in place? How can you get in and out without being seen? And, most importantly…” He leaned in forward over the table to catch and hold his temporary student's eye contact. “Is the take worth the risk? There's no point in working your ass off to pull a proper heist if your only reward is a handful of chump change and some silverware. You need to be pretty sure, if not certain, that what you steal will be enough to at least support you for a season while you start researching the next mark. And in order to do that, you need to know how to read people.”

The gang looked confused as to what he meant, and so Tio turned his head to look out at the dozen or so other people littered about the tavern. “Let's play a game shall we? In this room there is one person who might make a good mark. Whoever is the first to identify them, and the reason why, will win themselves this pretty penny.” As he said that he reached into his pocket and took out a golden nel. At the sight of it the kid's eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

“How about… him!” Anna said first, pointing to a muscular man in well-made leather armour. “He looks like a mercenary. That means he should have money earned from contracts stashed somewhere, and that he'll be leaving for a long time on a mission eventually, leaving his house unguarded.”

Tio nodded in approval “Impressive reasoning kiddo. That was well thought out. However there's something you missed. See that ring on his finger?”

Anna looked over to her target, noticing that there was indeed a plain band of gold around his ring finger. “He's married?”

“That's right, and someone who can fight well enough to marry a career mercenary is not someone we want to risk running into. Not to mention that we don't want to have a mercenary company sniffing around for us looking for payback. Always avoid stealing from members of dangerous groups unless you're sure you can get away with it. Now who wants to go next?”

Another member of the gang, a little mousey boy who was unsuitably called Wolfe, put his hand up. “Umm… what about that man drinking by the bar counter over there?”

The man in question did not look like much, dressed as he was in unassuming brown clothing and with no signs of jewellery on him. The other kids looked doubtful, but Tio's eye glinted in delight. “Interesting choice. Tell me Wolfy, why him?”

“Because… well…” Wolfe looked away shyly.

“It's alright kid. Give it a go. There's no shame in trying so long as you gave it your best shot.”

“He's… too clean. Most people here look a lot scruffier, but he's clean shaven and washed. And while his clothes are low-quality they aren't dirty or ripped. It's like he's…”

Tio's face didn't need to be seen to know he was smiling. The air around him seemed to hum with pride. “Go on.”

“... In disguise. But why would someone want to disguise themselves to come here?”

“Why indeed. Almost makes you think he's up to no good doesn't it? And where there's someone up to no good there's normally a chance to make a quick bit of cash.” Tio flicked the gold nel over into Wolfe's hand. “Good spot kid. Now we just wait and see what this guy's up to.”

They waited for a few minutes for the target to do something, passing the time with discussions on theoretical problems a thief might encounter. It wasn't long before another man entered the tavern, glanced quickly over at the target, and then made far too much of an effort trying to look nonchalant as he walked up the stairs to one of the rentable rooms. Not a few seconds later the target got up and walked up the stairs as well.

“Alright, now which of you is the quietest?” Tio asked, and watched in bemusement as Anna struck her arm up like lightning. He plucked an empty glass from the table next to them and gave it to her. “Well Anna here's a task for you then. Follow them up there and put this glass to the door of their room, then your ear to the glass. It will help you listen in on their conversation. The rest of you go play distraction if anyone tries to go upstairs.”

With a quick nod Anna bolted off to do her job, and the rest of the gang made themselves busy distracting the other customers so that none of them noticed her. A dozen or so minutes later Anna skipped back happily, a toothy smile stretched wide across her face.

“They were talking about a scam.” She declared. “The man in disguise works for a merchant empress, and the other man is a forger. There's a painting the empress has ordered which will be arriving at the docks tomorrow. The disguised man will take it to the forger, who will duplicate it. Then he'll sell the fake painting to the empress, and sell the real one to a smuggler who can sell it abroad.”

“Which means…” Tio began slyly. “That at some point soon there's going to be a very valuable painting left unguarded at the forger’s office. But if that painting just happened to get stolen then there wouldn't be much heat on it, since our little pair of crooks can't afford to do anything that'll tip their empress off to their trick. In short it's easy pickings with next to no risk: exactly what we're looking for. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a target!”

[Tio Silver]

The blanket of night lay across the sky of Yaralon, washing the land bellow in gentle darkness. In one small corner of the city stood a plain, unassuming building; one so completely bland that it almost seemed designed to not draw the eye. Inside the building was a workshop scattered about with painting and other art tools, the office of a professional forger. With the owner gone the office was as quiet as the grave...

Until the lock began to click.

"That's it... Push down a little more gently... And-...." There was a louder click, and the door swung open. "Good job Terrance! You're a deft hand with those lock picks! We'll make a burglar out of you yet!" Tio strolled causally into the workshop, ushering the kids in behind him. "Now look around for a painting that looks valuable; something that looks ready to give away in a few trials."

"What about this one here?"

Tio looked over to where the voice had come from. Juan stood before an easel, where an incredibly vivid painting of an impossibly beautiful young woman holding a golden apple stood. Beside it was another easel where a very similar but not yet complete copy was being made, the fresh smell of paint clinging to it betraying how new it was.

"Well spotted kiddo. Would you like to do the honours?" Tio waltzed over to Juan and pulled a thin razor out of his pocket, which he passed over to the orphan boy. Juan ran the blade along the frame of the real painting, neatly cutting the canvas just at the corners and setting it free. As he rolled it up like a scroll an impossibly wide grin spread across his face; one born of pure, raw excitement.

"We're going to be rich! With the money we make from this we'll be able to buy a place to live, and food for arcs!"

Tio shrugged halfheartedly, thinking of a way to tell him the truth without ruining his mood. "Well... kind of... Look, don't get your expectations up too high. Stolen items have a lot of what we call 'heat' on them, referring to the risk of getting into trouble with the law or other criminals a buyer will take on when they purchase the item. There isn't going to be much heat on this item so long as this forgery is accepted by the merchant empress, but even a little heat cuts a large chunk off the price. Fortunately for you however there's another item of just as much value in here."

He led the way over to a desk cover in messy piles of paperwork and began rummaging through it. "Even criminals need to do their paperwork. It's important to keep records and stay organized for any business, even the illegal ones. Which means-... Aha!"

He held aloft a small, tattered pocketbook as if it was the holy grail. Inside, written in scribbled handwriting, was a list of items and numbers. Seeing Juan's confused face, Tio explained. "It's the forger's ledger: a record of every forgery he made, who he sold it to and how much for. With this information you know who else has been pulling these little tricks on their employers, and therefore where to go to find even more valuable items." He passed the ledger over to Juan. "Information is key my little friend. Whenever you find yourself breaking into a business spare some time to look around for records like these, for they are the key to finding scores in the future."

Juan looked at the ledger as if it were made of solid gold. He seemed to realize the gravity of what he was holding, and behind his mask Tio smiled. This was the moment he had been building up to. "And I'll tell you what, I'll even sweeten the deal. Every piece of information you find you share with me, and I'll pay you nicely for it. That's the beauty of information you see: you can sell it without loosing it for yourself. You get more money, and I get intelligence on the dealings going on in the criminal underworld. I'll even come and help you out if you make a mistake and get into trouble with any unsavoury characters. Sound like a deal?"

Juan nodded eagerly, as Tio had known he would. He was offering this gang, who didn't have a copper nel to their name, a future of prosperity. How could they say no to that? "Alright we'll do it. You've got a deal."

"A wise choice." Tio replied, offering his hand for Juan to shake. Juan took it, and as he shook it the rest of his gang looked at him in a new light; the way they looked at a leader. It occurred to Tio that, given the right guidance, Juan had the potential to grow up into a proper little thief prince. "Now then, why don't we go get this painting sold? Afterwards I know of the perfect little apartment an aspiring band of thieves such as yourselves could make use out of..."

[Nursia]

Tio, the patron saint of urchins and larceny. I like how he was able to keep up a cheery disposition, despite literally committing a tier of crime that would get everyone involved's hands cut off. There's something strangely... Giddy, about your style of writing that I can't quite put my finger on. It's almost like I'm reading a comedy, rather than a grown man teaching starving children the basics of criminality.

All in all though, I enjoyed it pretty thoroughly. You deserve your rewards.
Tio

Rewards

Knowledges:
Intelligence: Criminal contacts
Intelligence: A network of spy kids
Intelligence: Always look for business ledgers
Teaching: Teaching children to commit burglary
Teaching: Teaching children to pick locks
Teaching: Teaching children to identify marks
Wealth:
NA
Renown:
NA per request
EXP:
+10

Feedback

Understand that all criticisms are done in good faith. It would be a greater disrespect to not say anything in the face of problems. Please contact me through this account's inbox if you wish to further communicate on the matter of improvement, or if you feel as though anything is unduly harsh.

Player #2

Rewards

Knowledges:
Wealth:
Renown:
EXP:

Feedback

Understand that all criticisms are done in good faith. It would be a greater disrespect to not say anything in the face of problems. Please contact me through this account's inbox if you wish to further communicate on the matter of improvement, or if you feel as though anything is unduly harsh.