[i]The next day...[/i] 

Outside of Nuln, the place was called the richest, more cultured city in the Empire by man. Those who lived there, however, knew just how degenerate and dangerous it could be. Knife fights in the alleyways, merchants squeezing someone for every penny they're worth, and suspicious authorities arresting anything they might deem heretical or even in bad taste. There were very few times when the streets were entirely safe and the city came together with little fear of grievances or reprisals. It just so happened, Black Powder Week was just such a time. 

As the sun lifted again to awaken the world, the clouds still covered the horizon and made sure to keep the city under sunless gloom. Despite that fact, even from the tower Neil and Emmaline could feel the energy in the air. Thru traffic on the island across the two bridges was bustling as boats began to flood the Reik, large yachts to smaller dingies floating along the ever flowing river. The two would-be gold thieves ate a small breakfast, not taking too long to sit down and chat. They had found two cloaks in a room upstairs and a few workman's clothes. Impressively Emmaline had scrounged up some breeches and a top that fit her snugly, and she surprised him with a couple of boots they could wear. 

"You're a lifesaver," he said, slipping on the boots , half a banana in his mouth like a dog and its toy. Swiftly he devoured the rest of it and over the next hour they snuck out of the tower where no one could see them, idly stepping out of the untended bushes as a cast clip clopped past them. They simply looked like two off-duty masons or laborers. One or two glanced Emmaline's way, but no one stopped them or even muttered to someone else as they passed. 

Eventually they made it to the little skiff, Emmaline hopping in and Neil sliding the boat in and leaping on, making short work for the first few hundred yards rowing. Soon they were passing through a piece of the river that had at least thirty smaller boats and three larger ones, likely owned by members of the merchant's council. There didn't seem to be any indicator on where they were going as the water lapped at the edges of their small dingy, but Neil treated it like a railway, knowing just where to go. At his feet was a small grappling hook attached to a thick, sturdy length of rope. 

"Ok so, this should be pretty simple. We climb up the rope, grab what we can and get out. Even a handful of gold is a good haul." He reminded her. "If we run into any guards, you try and distract them while I grab what I can." 

"Albrecht always made me the distraction," she remarked without much enthusiasm. 

"It's not by choice, do you really think I would make as good of a distraction?" He asked. 

She shook her head, thoughtful. "No, I guess not..." Emmaline admitted. 

"Yeah exa-..." Neil began, but halted and pointed at his face, offended. "Hey, I'm good looking!"