Sneaky, silent, sticky-fingered, and sought-after, you are an expert in getting things out of other people's houses, hands, safes, and drawers whenever you feel like it. You pay attention the the intricacies of the buildings and outdoors around you, mentally taking notes of escape routes and hiding places. The value of items and how to take them is always on your mind, and you've had enough practice at it that people hire your professionally to "retrieve" their missing goods. Or, you are particularly talented at getting into hard-to-reach places to help others and do good in the world. Whatever you use your talent for, there is very little you aren't capable of thinking up a solution around and executing to perfection.
Cat burglars aren't necessarily rogues, either; you can have a main gig as someone who steals things, or be a local handyman with the flexibility and brains enough to see a problem from a new perspective. Alternatively, you could be a performer that specializes in contortionism or dance that requires them to be agile and adaptable, or even a specialized knight or soldier trained for infiltration or a particular form of combat. The essence of a cat burglar is quick, efficient, and clean jobs from a work-smart point of view.
- Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Stealth, and Sleight of Hand.
- Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' Tools.
- Equipment: A dagger, a crowbar, a mask, and a coin pouch containing 10 GP.
Cat burglars go after all sorts of targets - some can recognize the quality of jewels at a glance, other know the smell of incredibly valuable poison just under their noses. However, just as each artist has a style, each burglar has an M.O., and tends to stick to it. This can be methods of the job, what they do in the job, who they work for and who they work against, and as specific or vague throughout all three as well.
| d8 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Art Thief |
| 2 | Jeweler |
| 3 | Bookkeeper |
| 4 | Secret Finder |
| 5 | Money, money, money. |
| 6 | Retriever |
| 7 | Information Broker |
| 8 | Kidnapper |
You know generally the layout of many buildings and systems, and all the passageways and the things you'd need to get in and out quickly, taking whatever you need out with you. If you don't recognize a building or setup, you often know where to find that information.
Spell List
| Spell Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| Cantrip | mage hand |
| 1st | disguise self |
| 2nd | darkvision, locate object |
Suggested Characteristics
Cat burglars are like onions - they often smell bad and make people cry. No, seriously though, can burglars are in this trade for a variety of reasons - desperate for money, working as a recovery agent, they just find it fun, or are after something with a vengeance. They can be mischievous and fun, or silent and stoic as they do their jobs, having to don many different faces to adapt to their job.
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have backup plans for my backup plans - and when even those fail, I have a backup plan. |
| 2 | I see the rush of the steal and sneak as more of an art form than a job. |
| 3 | I have a real appreciation for the finer things in life - and who should have them. |
| 4 | I often put up a flirtatious, enigmatic character that talks a lot and says little to disguise my true intentions. |
| 5 | I'm always focused on the job, and tend to not care or talk to anyone who isn't part of it. |
| 6 | I hate work of any kind, so I take the easy way out every time. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | I believe that money should be distributed evenly instead of hoarded by a few. (Good) |
| 2 | I steal only from the rich, and don't mess with those who can't afford to lose some. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Money makes the world go round, and everyone needs it, and I will give or take as I see fit. (Neutral) |
| 4 | Challenge. The world is an open coffer, and the more something is protected, the more I want to steal it. The challenge of the heist thrills me. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Greed. I see it, I want it. I want it all. They say material items can't buy you happiness - I disagree. (Evil) |
| 6 | Curiosity. I don't really intend to take or give things, my hands just get rather sticky when I find something I'm curious about. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I've been forced to work for an employer that has collateral on me, and aim to free myself from their grip. |
| 2 | I'm currently working undercover on a job for an employer who desires a particularly uncommon item. |
| 3 | I aim to complete my collection of particular types of items, and am in pursuit of the next one I'm missing. |
| 4 | I've been wronged by the rich and aim to put a little justice in the world. |
| 5 | I use my ability to get into tight places and retrieve otherwise lost items to return them to their rightful owners. |
| 6 | I'm employed as a reconnaissance agent in the local military on a mission to recover important information. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can't help but take almost everything in sight, whether I actually want it or not. |
| 2 | I show off my acrobatic and contortionistic ability more than I should, and raise eyebrows when I shouldn't. |
| 3 | At the first sign of danger, I am gone. |
| 4 | People tend to assume the worst about my intentions because of my abilities - and usually, they're right (take this last part out if you're playing a good Cat Burglar). |
| 5 | I talk and finesse my way into places, and rarely have something to offer in they way of steadfast morals. |
| 6 | I see the world as a challenge, and take almost everything said about me personally. |
A cat burglar with a penchant for people, the kidnapper may sound bad, and yes, most of the time, their work is illegal. But, you have excellent methods of escorting people (willing or unwilling) to where you need them to be. It's quite possible that you are on a stealth mission for the local government, working as a rescue agent, or trying to recover a party member from the clutches of an evil cult organization. Or you just steal people to collect their bounties.
People can be noisy and unpredictable - your two worst enemies on a job. More often than not, your employer wants you to rescue your target alive, so killing them is not an option to keep them quiet. Instead, you have many surefire ways to keep your target quiet as you escort them to the rendezvous point, whether that be with persuasion, intimidation, physical restraint, or knocking them out cold. While not in combat and in stealth, you can attempt any method of quieting your target with advantage.
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