Men of Industry

As I have said, thieves are men of industry, and opportunity, and working in concert with another not so good type, coffers can be filled until they are overflowing. On one such occassion, I was playing Finneas, a magicker and sneak thief, of the fey persuasion, and I was fortunate enough to have Mark playing the charismatic gnomish thief, Widget Nigle. Mark had so many aliases for this character it was nigh impossible to remember them all, each as silly as the rest.

We were in a small town, a hamlet if you will, and we were in need of money, as we are usually careless with our coin, so Widget's mind began to work on an economic strategy. We started off by selling pies made of mud, and with prestidigitaion adding robust flavor, and a little garnish, we were making some coppers with little start-up costs, mud being free as it were.

I had some gems secreted away, and cast an enlarge on one said gem to increase its value, and it being a podunk town, I had little fear of the local magic-wielding magistrate bringing the law.
We had closed shop long before the effects wore off the rock just in case. Scams are relatively easy if they are a short term con.

In a larger city, I believe Riverside, Finneas and Widgett teamed again for some quick coin.
Rope Trick is great for all types of tom-thievery especially in a town setting. The duration is great for being cloistered away, waiting for closing time, or as a safe haven if the law is closing in.
It's like an invisible Trojan horse. Most scams usually work in smaller locales that are not overburdened with magickers with an over developed sense of morality. Most of Widget's "undertakings" were usually non life threatening and great fun.

Once we were working down dockside, a magicker from a window, and Widgett and I from the street. We tried not to work near money lenders and such for they were too well guarded, and having too many wizard types under their employ. We would work near brothels, higher end, and try to get customers coming to rather than going, more coin that way.

We would hope for two or so, and cast multiple hold persons to insure their "cooperation". Finneas too could spell a spell, if the unseen wizard's attempt failed. Widget would rob purses, giggling with glee, then depants them and run like Forrest. Widget did have a manga opus, but that is another story for another time.