The Art of Purse Snatching/Text

First of all, I'm going to keep this short. I'm a thief, not a writer. You're a thief, not a scholar. You want to know these things so that you can spend less time hiding from the guards and reading books, and more time out on the streets making yourself a fortune.

Second, remember that there is no certainity and safety in our life styles. Even a master rogue is at risk every time she prowls the streets.

Third, once you're done with this book, trash it. Sell it back to the guild. But *don't* let it fall into the hands of the guards or anyone outside the guild with ideas. Ideas are good if they're guild, bad if they're not.

Last, if you're one of the people with ideas that isn't guild and you're reading this, stop right now. The guild doesn't like competition.

`Picking a victim`

You can't just select anyone on the street, waltz up to them, and relieve them of their purse. You can try, sure, but it's more than likely you will end up dead in a gutter with a guard's sword through your back. Pick your targets according to your skill. If a fellow looks big, mean and experienced, it's likely they will be watching you carefully. The bigger and meaner, the smaller chance you have of making it away with their things. On the other hand, big and mean tends to translate to fat purses. Weigh the risk versus the winnings. When you've selected your target, take it slow. Stay stealthy, stay sneaking, stay behind them. That way, if you don't get their purse on the first try, there's a chance they won't notice your bumbling. Always stay behind your target and always sneak. Doesn't cost you a thing, and it just may save your hide.

Fences`Stay on good terms with your fence. You get anything they want, bring it to them instead of trying to sell it off yourself. Your fence won't want pocket change and rations, but jewelry, coin purses, lockets, those kind of things will fetch you more if you take them to the fence, and it keeps your fence happy. Always keep your fence happy.

`Heat`

Heat is our word for attention you draw from the law. Someone catches you with their hand in your purse? You're going to draw heat. There's witnesses, too? You'll draw even more heat. The guards or some 'vigilant' citizens catch you and rough you up after you're caught? You'll draw enough heat to boil an egg on. Make sure you do a clean getaway when someone notices you stealing, DON'T get caught. If you want to avoid heat, steal from your targets when they're alone. You get caught stealing in the middle of a bar crowd, and the guards will know your face and come chasing after you when they see it. If that happens, skip it back to the guild, or head outside the city walls. Spend some time away from illegal activities, and the guards will eventually call it off. Furthermore, the more heat you've drawn, the harder it's going to be to steal from someone - they will be suspicious of you. Bottom line, heat is bad for you and bad for the guild.

`Breaking and Entering`

Purse snatching is well and good, but truthfully, the real money lies in people's homes. When the good citizens of Dalaya go to sleep at night, they tend to leave all kinds of valuables sitting on tables, in chests, hanging on their walls. All that's standing between you and those valuables is a nimble hand and some lockpicks. There's really only a few tricks to burglary: Do it at night, when people are asleep, don't let anyone see you picking a lock, and always stay hidden. You're not gonna be able to grab the silverware if you have its owner chasing you around with a sword screaming for your hide. As with pickpocketing, the best way to turn a profit is to make sure everything you get from the insides of a house goes through your fence. Good for them. Good for you. Good for everyone.