Thief Skills:

Thieving is the skill of those who practice the art of a thief. It represents their willingness and ability to perform the skills of a thief or assassin. Those who wish to be thieves must practice the art as if it were their religion. And in many ways it is. Only through dedication of spirit and willingness to hone his skills does one prove to be a formidable thief.

Those with a high score in Thieving have dedicated great effort to study and practice of their skills. A thief with a high score in Thieving would, for instance, be able to dodge her opponents more easily (if she had such a skill), than a thief with a lower score and the same skill. The thief with a lower Thieving would, however, have many more skills at her disposal than one with a higher concentration in her Thieving.

Thief Spheres:

Each sphere is associated with different abilities. Some have been coded (indicated in blue), and may be learned and used within the coded game system. Others are examples of what may be role-played if you wish to role-play combat or using other abilities. Remember, however, that chance is capricious at times and that some abilities may backlash or fail to do as you wish, even in role-play. This can lead to some marvelous fun.

Thief is the sphere for thief-like activities. Pickpocketing, burglary, and other forms of stealing all fall under the domain of the thief. One who masters the art of the thief is said to be able to steal the very coat from a man's back, and take his longbow as well, though this may be an exaggeration.

• Thief 1: Pickpocket. The ability to pickpocket small objects such as coins and crystals from a victim, hopefully without getting caught.
  A thief whose skills rate only at level 1 is little more than a pickpocket or street urchin. She is unable to earn a living from such petty thievery, but might be able to supplement her income with what little she can pilfer.
  
• Thief 2: Plant. The ability to plant small objects (coins, crystals, notes, mysteriously missing jewellery, and the like) on another person.
  Cant. Thieves' Cant is a sign language adapted to the needs of the thieving world. It allows thieves to communicate silently and with great accuracy, preventing the risk of revealing their intentions—or in certain situations, their own hidden position.
  A second level thief finds herself within the domain of the small-time crook and con artist. Fast hands and quick wit allow her to do more than those with lesser skill, but she is still limited in what she knows. A thief of this level has better luck and more cunning than a first level thief, but still lacks the training needed to be truly good.
• Thief 3: Hide . The thief can meld into her surroundings, hiding herself from the view of others.
  Only by reaching this level of talent and practice can a thief truly be considered worthy of the name by his peers. Many of the skills, contacts, and decorum of all other thieves have been learned and practiced to an acceptable level. This level of mastery is required for membership in most respectable Guilds.
  
• Thief 4: Steal. The ability to steal larger useful things such as potions, small weapons, keys. (Note: For balance purposes, this skill is codedly limited to such things as potions or other non-unique items. However, if one wishes the theft of other items may be role-played at the discretion of all players involved.)
  A thief of this caliber is well learned in the ways of burglary and theft. Cat burglars and expert thieves fall into this category: those who have made the connections not only to steal worthwhile objects, but to fence them for a profit. A thief who masters Thief 4 is thought of often by his peers as one to go to for help…and just as often as competition to eliminate.
• Thief 5: Dodge. The ability of a thief to tumble and turn and avoid attack so well that armor is merely an impediment to her. Thieves who have mastered Thief 5 are better served by their own skill at dodging attacks than by wearing such clumsy protection.
  Those who attain such a rank and skill are often considered masters by their peers, and many seek to learn from them and their ways. Within their own circles they are usually well-known, sometimes even finding it difficult to keep a low profile. They know where to find the information and help they need to pull off many different types of jobs, including those that no one would expect possible. Even the most skilled of thieves may be limited, however, by his own overconfidence. Many a master thief has fallen because he believed himself so capable they made a novice's mistake.

Assassin is the sphere of those willing to kill to make a living. Combat and killing is sometimes the simplest way to complete a job, whether by bringing back one's own reward or expecting payment for finishing off a target. However, despite the deadly implications, most thieves recognize the need for at least some of the skills of the assassin, using them to improve their abilities and make them better thieves overall.

• Assassin 1: Backstab. An assassin with patience and cunning can strike at an unaware opponent, hitting a critical area for massive damage. As the name implies, this strike most often comes from behind, it being difficult to truly catch one's target unaware if he has any hint of an impending attack.
  Perhaps a better name for a level 1 assassin might be "mugger", for there is little else that they're good for. Learned somewhat in attacking critical areas, and with some skill at unorthodox and underhanded fighting techniques, they have strong potential, but produce mixed results. They must seek more training in the arts of the assassin before they can truly be considered deadly.
  
• Assassin 2: Sneak. This ability allows the Assassin to pass through areas without being noticed, her entrance and exit gone unnoticed as she creeps about.
  An assassin of this skill is much improved over those below her, but she still has much to learn. She has spent much time in practise, and often has completed several successful jobs, learning to stalk and better attack her prey. This level of skill is often where a thief who doesn't wish to follow the assassin's path ends his practice…knowing all he wishes to about even darker arts than his own.
  
• Assassin 3: Disguise. This ability allows the Assassin to impersonate another person, using makeup, clothing and acting skills. There is still the strong danger of being caught, especially if trying to impersonate an individual well known by those you're interacting with.
  Similar to the progression of Thief skills, this is the level that an assassin must achieve before others who follow the same path would recognize her as an assassin of any skill. Not only has she survived many successful jobs, but more importantly she's survived more than one job gone wrong. She has great skill and mastery of her weaponry and confidence in her ability to overcome any obstacle and survive against all odds. This skill and recognition comes at cost however, for it's not always good to gain the attention of other assassins.
  
• Assassin 4: Deadly Fists. An Assassin with this skill is able to deal deadly damage barehanded, applying her knowledge of critical areas to deal damaging blows.
  An assassin of this ability has not only mastered her weaponry but has practically become one with it, choosing and using the right type of weapon for the situation almost before she thinks about it. Hers are the skills often most sought after, for she has the best balance of skill and affordability, almost certain to get the job done—yet not so well known that she will demand a higher price.
  
• Assassin 5: Poison. The assassin can poison a blade, making it deal poison damage to its target upon successful delivery of the poison. Where to find the poisons? A well-played assassin would know such things.
  One of this skill level is known by most as a legend—difficult to hire, and usually even more difficult to find. A master assassin is a potent and deadly force, able to make his strikes in deadly and subtle ways. Assassination, after all, is a capital offence. Many assassins of this skill level often hide their ability—after all, what better way to prove your own worth as a killer than to assassinate those who are the best?
  

Meta is the sphere of mind and awareness, the thief's ability to tune herself into the world and the people around her. More perceptive of her personal situation as well as the world in general, a thief who gains such abilities sees things as more than they might first appear to be.

• Meta 1: +2 Perception. The thief has an increased awareness of the world around herself.
  The thief with Meta 1 has a heightened perception of things about her. She is more likely to notice hidden things, catch the flaws in disguises, or see the slight irregularity of a hidden door. While she is far from infallible, this extra awareness is a great advantage to a thief who does not wish to miss an important detail.
• Meta 2: +1 Armour . Watching her opponents' moves as well as anticipating their attacks allows the thief to dodge attacks more easily, making her more difficult to hit.
  The thief with this level of skill seems to have a 'sixth sense.' She seems to notice things before others do, see more keenly than those about her, and react almost before she notices a danger. This ability seems, to most, to be somewhat supernatural, well above the average individual's ability.
• Meta 3: Agility. The thief can improve her Dexterity by 4, but at the expense of draining her essence quickly.
  The thief's awareness of the world about her has expanded to such a point that she recognizes the essence within herself. With practice she learns to concentrate those energies to move more gracefully or quickly, allowing her to be a more efficient thief. However she quickly learns the downside of such a power, her loss of essence often leaving her drained or even exhausted if the strain is too much.
  
• Meta 4: Not yet Coded. No ability has been coded for this level.
  This sphere has not yet been fully described.
• Meta 5: Not yet Coded. No ability has been coded for this level.
  This sphere has not yet been fully described.