A Halfling Cat Burglar
Cat Burglars see themselves as a cut above the common thieves and footpads. They leave the slitting of both purses and throats to the gutter scum, preferring to steal with more finesse. The Cat Burglar's art requires observation, planning, and impeccable timing. A well-executed theft may not even be detected for months, by which time the Cat Burglar is far away. Most Cat Burglars are members of a Thieves' Guild, though some defy the odds and go it alone. Such lone wolves must elude both the law and the guild; a dangerous game to be sure.[1a]
Little Known Facts[]
Cat burglars get their name from Ranald's totemic animal, for their methods epitomise the trickster god's Night Prowler aspect. Cat burglars usually pray at one of Ranald's secret shrines before each mission, and several unlucky burglars have been caught this way.[2a]
However, the Cult of Ranald receives generous donations following successful burglaries, so it takes a powerful enemy (or an irresistible bounty) to make Ranald's brethren betray a cat burglar. Retired cat burglars often become lay priests of Ranald, serving their god in spirit when the body is no longer able.[2a]
The close connection between the Cult of Ranald and the Thieves' Guilds makes it dangerous for cat burglars to anger either group. Cat burglars who dare to operate outside the Thieves' Guild are usually specialists in rare artwork, jewellery, or relics. Those few conventional cat burglars who remain independent of a thieves' guild – and manage to evade its thugs – are highly favoured by Ranald.[2a]
Most priests of Ranald face a difficult choice at least once during their careers: betray a maverick cat burglar who's blessed by Ranald, or lose favour with the Thieves' Guild.[2a]