"It'll be like taking candy from a baby..."

It was the fourth night Mania had been secretly staking out the Museum and it's daily routines. So far the young rogue had ascertained a lot gleaned from his observations. The gig should go smoothly he thought as he watched the front doors being locked and the last of the guests departing from around the shadowed corner. Mania would pull the beret down over his head and burrow his hands deep within the pockets of his long, brown coat. As Mania made his way down the dark alleyway, he would go over the operations plan inside his head.

"The job should be simple. My contact tells me there are rare, precious stones being held in the basement of the museum. Security on the inside is pretty lax from what I've scoped out. I can make my way through the back entrance and force myself inside. Since these stones have magical properties I should be able to navigate pretty quickly towards its location. I just need to make sure not to raise any alarms."

Drawing in a deep, long, silent breath Mania would steady himself.

"It's now or never for my performance."

Fetching a flask from the inner pocket of his coat Mania would take a swig, swishing it inside his mouth before spraying the back of his hands a few times to make himself have the stench of a drunkard. With his preparations complete Mania stumbled out the other side of the alley that lead to the back entrance where two guards were posted. "I-I jjjust waannta haava gud tyme yasee." Mania would grab the attention of the guards as he purposely slurred his speech and stumbled clumsily towards them. "Hey!" One of the guards shouted as they both drew closer to Mania. "Get from back here now ya bum!" Mania kept up his ruse, falling over forward he would grab onto one of the two guards before he would be shoved down. "Gods, you smell like a keg! Get on now!" Trying to climb to a standing position Mania would press the issue by grabbing onto the guard again. "Yyyou lisstenn hhearnnowya I-II paay taxess-." Before Mania could continue the gaurd he had latched onto had grabbed him by the collar of his coat, yanking him off the ground.

"I warned you ya drunkard!"

Mania would gasp as he was punched square in the stomach, he hunched over and played the part of a hurt drunk man as the other guard decided to join in and kick Mania into the stone wall. As Mania clutched his stomach they approached, snickering smiles melded with detest and reproach. It sickened Mania to the pit of his stomach. He had no qualms about hurting people like them, who abused their power and were morally corrupt. Yet it was the system that protected them. "I didn't quite catch that sir?!" Both guards would raise a brow as Mania spoke, clear as day, the tone in his voice eerily detached. "What in the hell?" Before they could form a complete thought Mania had snapped his finger.

"Shadow Magic: Close Curtains!" Mania's shadow would glow a haunting dark purple, like thick ooze as the pages within his floating grimoire flipped. The shadow at his feet would outstretch and both guard would be placed within an illusion where they would see nothing but impenetrable darkness. "Sorry, but imma need yer to be predisposed for a bit. Don't say I didn't warn ya pal!" The best part about this spell was his targets could still very well hear him while they sunk into darkness. When a person couldn't see their sense of balance was easily manipulated. Mania would get to work before they could cry out. Extending his leg Mania swept the first guard off his feet, his head would hit the ground with a sickening thud like a sack of potatoes. Following that action Mania would stomp his foot onto the base of his head just to be sure he was out cold. Next was the other guard, Mania kicked him in the gut before rotating behind and chocking him out.

"What did I say? Easy like taking candy from a baby"

Mania said as he searched the guard for the keys to the back entrance. Sure enough one of them was carrying a set. Since Mania had staked this place out, he had already visited the inside a few times, noting where the basement entrance was and places the guards were likely to be stationed. Hopefully, the key would also get him into wherever else he needed. Using the keys Mania would silently slip into the museum under the cover of night and begin to make his way towards the basement. There were several magic signatures, some more faint than others, but he only had to zero in on the one closest to the basements location. Lucky for him it was the only magic item down there being safe kept it seemed. Lady luck was smiling upon he today he thought as he lithely moved throughout the darkened corridors and avoided the guards line of sight.

Stealthily Mania slipped past another guard and tried the keys to the entrance. A twist of the doorknob confirmed it in fact worked. This was by far too easy, it felt almost sinful to rob this museum, but a job was a job - one that Mania would see to its end. Down the stairs Mania descended until he came to an almost vault like room. There was different pieces of art works, but the magic stones in a velvet sack inside the glass case stood out, even if you weren't feeling for magic in the room. Grabbing them, Mania would pocket the stones and make for the exit. He was a like a ghost - never there.

-- sometime later into the night

His contact was at a fairly active pub, sitting alone. Mania would casually approach him and take a seat, slipping the velvet pouch of goods to his contact discreetly. He'd return the gesture by palming a pouch full of Yul towards Mania who would claim it and pocket it in a single motion. Mania would stand up, taking one of the shots of Brandy before heading out the door. A job well done if he said so himself. A happy client and a little more Yul to line his pockets. It was a good night Mania mused as he made his way back to his room at the local inn.

TWC: 1091