"My girl, you're so full of life!" An older, rotund man of maybe fifty years spoke gently to a young maiden with alabaster skin and flaming auburn hair. Delicate fingers glided another slice of exotic melon into the waiting mouth of the plump noble.<br/><br/>"I'm amazed that you're a minister... you're so young." A thunderous guffaw echoed through the room.<br/><br/>"Your words are more candied than these glazed fruits, my dear." the minister took a deep breath, chewing and swallowing the remainder of the sweets before speaking again. "I have a gift for just someone so lovely!" With much effort the minister stood, making his way to a vanity not far from the four-poster bed. "Where the devil is that BLASTED thing?" He searched for a moment, ruffling through powders and perfumes until finding a velvet box, "AHA!" He fiddled with a silver clasp on the front before turning to reveal a silver and sapphire necklace.<br/><br/>"Minister!" The maiden gasped, "It's so beautiful!" She sat up, trying to look modest.<br/><br/>"It belonged to a eorl's wife, when she was executed, though, my dear, it became another in the Tiberian coffer. That is until I liberated it." He chuckled, cuing a coughing fit. "It deserves to be worn by someone as beautiful as the gems within it." A wry smile played across the minister's pudgy features.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Down the hall a regimen of guards gossiped about the maiden, who was apparently a courtesan of lower standing, trying to sleep her way to nobility. A loud thud and a scream interrupted speculation as the guards leaped to attention, rushing down the hall to the minister's private quarters, where an auburn haired maiden burst from the room, wearing little more than a look of fear and a silk sheet, "Someone! Please! The minister!" She turned, crying, facing away from the guards.<br/><br/>The scene in the bedroom was as horrific as it was confusing. The minister's dead, gluttonous form lay at the foot of the bed, in a pool of blood, while the auburn haired-courtesan lay, covered in blood on the bed, jade eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.<br/><br/>"Oh gods." The guard captain spoke, looking from one body to the other. "THE GIRL!" He shouted, turning to see the living version of the courtesan had fled the scene. "The whore! Go catch her, she's killed the minister!"<br/><br/>"Sir?"<br/><br/>After a few shouted words all but a single guard were left to hunt down the courtesan... not an easy feat as she seemed to be quite nimble. The scene in the minister's quarters caused the guard to gag and shudder, so he stood, staring down the hall waiting for the others to catch the murderess. The captain and squad of five guards scoured hallway after hallway, busting in doors on the hunt for this auburn courtier who seemed to have simply vanished.<br/><br/>"You were all supposed to leave... damn." The guard turned to see the butchered maiden standing before him. The hilt of a dagger collided with the guard's head, silencing what little yelp tried to escape. Crawling skin and creaking bones shifted to reveal a man with dark skin and black hair. He glanced down, in his hand was the necklace to be given to the courtesan.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">---- 2 weeks later ----</div><br/><br/><br/>"Thank you... " A noble, young, maybe late teens or early twenties accepted a pouch containing shimmering necklace. "It was my mother's." He spoke gently, sadness welling, staring longingly at the necklace. "Did you have to kill the minister, though?"<br/><br/>"I never told you how to rob your citizens, grant me the same kindness."<br/><br/>"Please... I'll remember this favor once my family has their land returned."<br/><br/>"As likely as I'm sure that is under Tiberian rule, I prefer to be<span style="font-weight: bold">paid</span>for my services."<br/><br/>"Oh... of course." The young man held out a small bag of coins, which was eagerly taken by the thief. "If... if you'll excuse my curiosity... why help me?"<br/><br/>"Honestly?" White eyes stared at the youth, who meekly nodded. "Never expect honesty from someone like me, love... I have my reasons." With the same simplicity as the thief was known for, they turned to leave.<br/><br/>"Wait!" The noble nervously stepped forward. "If you have an agenda against Tiberia, I may be able to help."<br/><br/>A wicked smile played across the indistinguishable features of the changeling. "Why help me, dear?"<br/><br/>"Honestly?" The noble chuckled slightly.<br/><br/>"You're sweet, kid..." The changeling turned to face the noble, white eyes meeting icy blues, a gloved hand reached up, gently stroking the blushing cheek of the youthful would-be Eorl. Pulling down the scarf that hid the bottom half of their face, the changeling revealed a lack of nose and thin, wispy lips that delivered a kiss gently on free cheek. "Stay sweet, love."<br/><br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">---- 1 month later ----</div><br/><br/><br/>Maako made their way to the mill the noble had told them of, if it was a trap, it was an unnecessarily long-winded one. White hair hidden under cloak's hood, features hidden behind their typical scarf, the changeling traced their path through the roads oft forgotten. A sigh escaped as they came upon the building housing the Universus. Maako approached the door, "Dear gods let this place be better than it looks." They mumbled before knocking. Maako had decided on a more straight-forward approach, believing that while it may showcase hard-won abilities to sneak in, it may not sit well amongst a group looking to eradicate crime in Danelagh. A course of action Maako hoped to not regret.<br/><br/>"I am Maako..." A name that only carried weight in criminal organizations, amongst the guard and as rumor. "I believe I can help." It was hard for many to believe that crimes were committed by a gray-skinned shape-shifter capable of surviving leaps from fifth and sixth floor balconies; and so 'Maako' became a joke, lampooning the guard's ineptitude.