For once, I'm almost having fun. Delvin's right arm is hooked to my left while Sapphire's left arm is hooked to my right. To us it means putting aside our differences for one day to celebrate with one another. To everyone else it looks like three drunk, hatted fools stumbling around the festival and taking up far more space than what's required. Honestly, it's probably closer to being the latter. Sapphire and Delvin aren't my first choice for companionship, but Brynjolf told everyone we needed to work together to steal as much as possible during the celebration. I fail to see how sticking together gets us more loot; however, I don't question Brynjolf since he seemed to feel strongly about us all banding together.
Thus, I'm stuck stumbling around with Delvin and Sapphire with all three of us stuck in ridiculous outfits to blend with the crowd: Delvin has dressed in commoner's drab, brown unadorned clothing and a low-brimmed sunhat to conceal his face; Sapphire is wearing a noble's robe made of the richest purple with a tall, feathered hat covering her features; and I'm dressed in a brightly colored motley made of a thousand patches along with a traditional fool's hat adorned with bells to hide my own face. The fact we're all stumbling around drunk and laughing at a joke Delvin made an hour ago, shockingly, doesn't make us stand out given the atmosphere of the carnival around us.
Dazzling, tremendous banners are hanging all around the city; performers dressed in light colors are running around the streets and shoving through celebrators; the celebrators themselves are dressed in all sorts of clothing with a few even wearing masks; and stands and wagons are set up all along the city with merchants hawking their wears. The Black-Briar emblem is stamped on everything with, occasionally, the symbol of the Order of the Knights of the Nine appearing. This celebration is meant for every citizen in Riften to enjoy because they've recently come under the "merciful" rule of Maven Black-Briar. The Order of the Knight of the Nine is apparently here with the intent of getting a foothold in Skyrim using Riften. As always, Maven has her own reasons for throwing the celebration.
Brynjolf assured us this was all some ploy to let the Thieves Guild steal as much as possible; however, I also personally think that this is an attempt to get the citizens of Riften to quietly accept her rule instead of raising any physical or verbal resistance while showing she has the backing of a religious group of holy knights who aren't afraid to chop a sinner's head off. Thankfully, my job isn't to sit around and think deeply about what Maven Black-Briar is doing or why. My job is to find things to steal. My stomach and head are both a bit warm and fuzzy from the drinks I've been snatching from passing people for the last few hours, though that won't stop me from doing my job right.
I keep leading my chain of temporary friends through the city while bumping into people, knocking over displays, and shoving aside merchants. Usually, our actions would draw attention, but today there are so many people acting rowdy that everyone just watches us pass before cleaning up whatever we've destroyed. Thankfully, in the midst of our destruction I see the perfect target. A fat, robed man who screams of wealth. All of his clothing is purple and adorned with what appears to be golden thread. Oblivion, the tremendous faux crown atop his head appears to have gold leaf around the edges.
Definitely a rich man and, from the way he's stumbling and screaming some song only he knows, drunk beyond his senses. The cherry on top is the dark, secluded alley beside the entrance to Riften where he's standing. There's a hundred people around us; though, the crowd means everyone's less likely to actually pay attention or stop any crime they see. Those reasons are why I pull Delvin and Sapphire in close to whisper in their ears.
"See the fat, purple guy over there? Let's get 'em.". Both of my friends frantically nod and all three of us begin working in tandem to make our way over to the singing man. The bright, thick crowd takes a few minutes to bump through before we're standing in front of the drunken man dressed in deep violet. Delvin and Sapphire both wait for me to make the move since I've unofficially become the head of the monstrosity we make all chained together. I try to do my best to lure the man into the alley without using force. Hopefully, my plan will work out.
"Friend!". He looks at me with the biggest smile imaginable. Then, he slurs out something encouraging.
"Friend! How long it's been! How's your mother?". I'm not sure who he's mistaken me for, but I go with it. It's better if he believes me an old acquaintance rather than a random person who happens to be friendly.
"She's wonderful as always. Now, I must fear I have to talk to you about business. I have a barrel of wine of the finest make, but the taste is off to me. I brought it for the carnival to celebrate, though, when I tasted it I stowed it away in the alley behind you until I could find someone cultured enough to tell me if it's good enough to serve.". I jerk my arms to draw his attention to both Delvin and Sapphire. Already, the man's eyes are wide and he's licking his lips at the mere idea of an entire barrel of fine wine.
"I've gotten these two good fellows to agree to taste the wine with me. Please, move aside so I might find out if I've been swindled or not.". The man swallows the bait and doesn't move. Instead, he does exactly what I want.
"My friend, don't be rash! Let me accompany you and taste your wine for myself. I'm sure I can tell you more than either of these supposed experts can.". I pretend to chew the idea over for a minute. All the while, the man before me looks at me with begging eyes and obvious desire written across his face. I nod and fake relenting to the idea of him coming with us.
"Very well. I suppose no harm could come from having one more tongue taste my bargain. Come, let us all go and sample my stash.". The man flips around on his heel and disappears into the darkness of the alley. Instantly, Delvin and Sapphire both chuckle. Although, I'm not sure it they're laughing at our target's gullibility or the fake "regal" tone I took on to fool the man into doing as I wished. Either way, all three of us pursue the man into the alley. As we walk, we drop our arms and reach for our weapons. Delvin pulls a small dagger from his boot, Sapphire takes a spiked mace from her robes, and I take out my misericorde from a pocket in my hat.
The drunken man is at the end of the alley looking around with a puzzled look on his face. Subtly, all three of us pull out hats down just a tiny bit lower to hide our identities better. Hopefully, things will all go as planned. We'll show our weapons, bare our teeth, and disappear into the crowd with the man's gold safely in our pockets. Not terribly subtle, but we're aiming to rob as many people and that means getting it done clean and quick without any craftsmanship behind our ploys. Finally, when we're only a foot or two behind the man in the darkened alleyway he turns around. His eyes don't widen and his face doesn't pale. Instead, he puffs himself up and acts offended.
"What's the meaning of this?! You call me all the way back here and there's nothing!". Suddenly, his face falls and he takes a step towards us. All three of us remain silent, but share glances. I imagine my face mirrors the confusion both Delvin and Sapphire are feeling. We've never had a target act like this.
"Tell me, did someone steal your barrel?". I shake my head and take a step forward. I hold my weapon high and snarl at him.
"Turn out your pockets and give us everything you have, or else you'll end up regretting it.". The Guild doesn't kill, but that doesn't mean we can't beat the shit out of him. Or, preferably, threaten to kill him with our rather intimidating weapons to get him to fork over his gold without a fight. The man, however, doesn't seem to get that he's being robbed. Instead, he begins storming towards us while tossing his head back to look down his nose at us.
"If you won't tell me what happened to the wine, then I'll go find something else to placate my palate.". He moves to push Delvin and I away from each other. My friend and I move as one and grab the man's arms, then use all of our strength to shove him back. The royal stumbles back a few feet before, barely, managing to steady himself. His crown is pushed slightly to the side to show greasy, dark hair and his clothes are slightly ruffled. The man's red face tightens into a frown and his eyebrows descend until they're barley above his eyes. His yellow teeth reveal themselves as he snarls. The man once again tries to ford his way past Delvin and I. My companion and I force our shoulders together to form a human wall. The man frown deepens even further and he attempts to go through Sapphire and I.
My female comrade isn't as easily swayed as Delvin and I. Instead of shoving, she slashes her mace at him and manages to rip open the front of his robes. A drab, grey undershirt is revealed as his purple robe dangles from his waist to his chest down to his knees. The snob grapples at his gut and sputters while stepping backwards. All three of us begin moving forward. The sound of boots behind us send all of us on edge. Nobody's coming for us, but activity around the lip of the alley is beginning to kick up. We're taking far too long to get this man's gold. I look at both my companions and nod. As one, we all charge the finely dressed man. He lets out a squeal like a pig as we fall upon him. Delvin slams his right arm against the wall behind him while Sapphire does the same to his left.
I begin patting him down and feel a large sack of gold inside his left pocket. The man opens his jaw to scream, but Delvin shoves his fist inside his maw. I pocket his gold, then go about stripping him of his jewelry. Footsteps are picking up behind us. Obviously, someone knows something is happening down here. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to scale the short outer wall of the city to our right to escape. I pick up the pace just to be safe. I'm taking a necklace off of his neck when it happens. He manages to break free of Sapphire's grip and swings for me. His hand was in no danger of hitting me.
That doesn't stop Sapphire from cracking him over the skull with her mace in an attempt to subdue him. Usually, a hit like that wouldn't kill him. Usually. Somehow Sapphire has enough strength that she's literally crushed his faux crown into his skull. Now thick, scarlet blood is pouring down his head and face as his eyes roll around in his skull. He's not dead, but he's dying quickly and already sliding to the ground as my fellows step back from him.
Shit.
I put the last of his items inside the sack I have in my hand and turn to tell Sapphire how badly she's fucked up. The empty space that greets me causes me to flip in a full circle. I stop when I see Sapphire and Delvin sitting on the wall I'd already planned on escaping over.
"Sapphire! Delvin!". I hiss at them as footsteps begin to move towards us. I begin trying to climb up to them. I reach the top before they both shove me off. I can only curse as they disappear over the wall and the lone guard who came to investigate finds me on my back and clutching a sack of gold with a dead body not two feet away from me.