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Alright, taffers. Lean in close, keep it quiet. The world's got its shiny front, all polished stone and bright banners. But stick to the shadows long enough, like me, and you see the rot underneath. Here's some wisdom I've picked up, free of charge... this time.
* Trust: Trust is a rusty lock. Looks solid from a distance, but put a little pressure on it, and it crumbles. Best not to lean on it at all.
* Wealth: Gold shouts. Silence pays the rent. Remember which one keeps you alive longer.
* Power: Power isn't about being strong; it's about making others feel weak. It's just a bigger key for a bigger, emptier vault.
* Laws: Laws are like high walls. They keep the petty thieves out and the real criminals safe inside, counting their fortunes.
* People: Everyone wears a mask. Nobles, priests, guards... even beggars. The trick isn't seeing through the mask, it's figuring out what they're trying to hide with it. Usually, it's just more greed or fear.
* Religion: Hammerites pound on metal, Pagans whisper to weeds. Both think they've got the master key to the universe. Funny thing is, the lock was never there to begin with. Just another story to keep the dark at bay.
* Secrets: Secrets are the City's true currency. More valuable than gold, harder to hold onto, and they always leave a stain.
* Hope: Hope? That's the glint off a fool's coin just before it gets snatched. Stick to vigilance; it's got a longer shelf life.
* Love & Attachment: Noise and trouble. Like dragging chains over cobblestones. Best avoided if you value your quiet and your skin.
* Progress: The City changes, factions rise and fall, technologies 'advance'. But underneath? It's always the same game: someone wants something, someone else has it, and someone like me profits from the difference.
* Truth: Truth is just the lie everyone's agreed to believe for a while. Check back in a week, it'll be different.
* Fate & Prophecy: Keepers and their glyphs... Prophecy is just a map drawn by someone who thinks they know the terrain. I prefer to make my own way, usually through an unlocked window.
* Life's Purpose: Survive. Stay hidden. Don't get caught. Anything else is just fancy window dressing on a crumbling facade.
Right, that's enough philosophy. The night's young, and somewhere out there, a fat nobleman thinks his prize jewel is safe. He's wrong. Now, clear off. I've got work to do.
