With her quick fingers Valna is easily able to nab a quick prize on her way out, carefully plucking an expensive, though comparatively less flashy item who's absence likely wouldn't be immediately noticed amongst all the more extravagant artifacts. The<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">dagger</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://i.imgur.com/kc6QdyA.jpg)</div></div>that Valna managed to snatch is quite the interesting oddity. On first look it appears to simply be a normal dagger with a fancily engraved hilt, with a trio of tiny rubies inlayed. However upon closer inspection it appears she can undo a tiny latch and cause the handle and blades to split open, creating a functioning pair of scissors. Quite the novelty indeed, no doubt something that could fetch a pretty penny for it's uniqueness alone. However despite the exquisite level of polish and sheen the blade is clearly steel, not silver, and aside from the extra utility, it is still just a normal dagger. She could certainly use it in battle, but it would provide no better service than the blades she already wielded. And fighting with it would of course also risk lowering the value with wear.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/dUkRf5E.jpg)<br/>(https://i.imgur.com/gSzLL6R.jpg)</div>The route to the Countess's manor leads the group out of the city's western gate. The path is part of a popular trade route that connects to a neighboring kingdom, and as such the road is well paved and usually sees a high amount of traffic. However being so close to noon, most people are settling down for lunch, and so fellow passerby are a bit more sparse. Those they do encounter either pass them by or just give the usual pleasantries. A "good day" or a "nice weather", but none are interested in a stop-and-talk. About an hour out from the city they also notice that the guard posts start to get spaced further and further apart, the dangers of which become apparent as they crest over a hill and spot a quartet of figures down the way. And as they draw closer they can see it is some kind of merchant being shoved around by a trio of sack-headed thugs.<br/><br/>"Ack! Unhand me you flour-faced ruffians!" he shouted, putting up a feeble resistance as they pushed him back and forth between them, "Ha! flour-face! This guy thinks we're plants!" one of them exclaims with a mocking laugh, "Well he's right about one thing, we are ruffians. And we'll get a lot more ruff if you don't lay down that pack of goods!" the biggest one said with a heartier chuckle, "No way! I'd never hand over my wares to simple bandits!" the merchant refused, earning himself a stiff punch that dropped him to the floor, a series of crunches and shatters ringing out from his pack, "Bandits!? Now that's an insult we won't take! We're merchants just like you. Here's a trade offer..." the big one said, kneeling down and drawing out his dagger "we receive: all your stuff, you receive: your life"