"Men are simply the victims of their environment. Hate not the poor brutes for likely they had no choice."

- Captain of the Nodvulk City Guard, Dressmas Couler

"If you had the choice between rags and poverty or riches and nobility, it's obvious your choice."

- Unknown

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The cobblestone streets were aflame with life and movement. Merchants shouted out various goods hoping to entice the ever bustling crowd of men and women going to and fro in the marketplace. In the dark of the alley's however, there was nothing but despair. Hungry eyes of beggars and orphans stared out in the dark of the pathways while many more lined those very cobblestone streets, hands out for just a little hope to survive the day. For the most part, they were ignored with occasional glances of scorn and generally ostracized by the 'people' of this city. Guards would routinely come around shooing them away like animals, further reinforcing their status, only for them to soon return, desperate as always.

Sitting in an alleyway just outside of the market sat a woman smoking cheap cannabis. Grimy hair matted on her face as the scraps of cloth covering her bosom seemingly drenched dust onto her surroundings. Her eyes were no better than dead as her chapped lips shaped around the wrap of smoke.

She watched and hearkened to her surroundings. She heard of the plans of housewives, the whisper of conspiring nobility. She heard the laughter of innocent children and the moaning of a prostitute coming from some home nearby. After listening for a long time the woman rose solemnly before moving debris and filth next to her, exposing a gap in which she climbed down into, the smell of sewer clogging her nostrils. She walked down the twisting labyrinth as rats squeaked and ran into the chink and cracks of the aged walls.

Minutes passed as dim light covered the edge of a corner, hushed whispers grew audible as she turned. Eyes bore down on her, silence over the crowd for a moment before turning away, having recognized the new appearance. The woman walked to a makeshift chair and sat down, a bartender approach. Silent nods were given, and the woman leaned over to his ear, wretched teeth of black and yellow into a smile as she shared gathered messages and information for use.

"The guild thanks you Jiber." the tender covertly handed a small dirty pouch of coin to the woman through a crack in the bar.

Jiber nodded and got up, walking to the end of the room, opening a door and shutting it behind her. More tunnels of the sewer she traversed through, before coming to a wall and knocking thrice with a second interval between each. Clicking was heard as the stone seemingly folded away, revealing a burly man covered in scars and grime.

"Welcome home, Jiber." he moved to the side motioning her back into the thieves guild, her only true 'home'.

The room was circular, in one section were dummies to practice combat and archery, in another sat a couple rows of beds, some filled with tenants. A woman approached Jiber, black leather adorning the form of the rather shapely girl. Jiber gave a nod and a wire smile "Boss."

"Follow me Jiber, we got work." Silence came as the two walked to an additional door, disappearing inside of it.

Candles lit the room with decrepit banners of guild adorning the walls. The boss sat behind a desk, pulling out a packet, sealed with wax. "Your next job, Jiber."

Jiber reached for the file, staring at the waxed insignia and opened it, revealing its contents.