Lord Randall has had his precious vase collection stolen, which is annoying because you wanted it. You've heard that it was the work of the Downwind Thieves, and that their leaders are arguing over the centrepiece of the collection, a priceless sapphire vase. This is a good opportunity to get it yourself. The Thieves' Guild is buried under a gambling hole, which is in turn hidden under a restaurant. You're going to have to hunt for your prize.

Objectives:

• Get into the Downwind Thieves' Guild through the Overlord's Fancy.
• Nab the sapphire vase.
• Also get (Normal) 1000, (Hard) 1500, or (Expert) 2000 loot for your troubles.
• (Hard/Expert) Randall's bracelet was also taken by the Downwinders. Take that, too.
• (Hard/Expert) Usual killing rules apply.
• Escape.

Take a look at your map. It's a bit big, but don't let that put you off. The majority of this mission will be spent in sewers and underground corridors, with very little time spent sneaking around mansions and avoiding guards. Unfortunately, there are a lot more guards than in previous missions, and there are many difficult encounters and hairy bits that will test your patience and quickload key. Your major problem will probably be reaching your loot limit, especially on Expert. There's around 2800 available in total, but it's very thinly spread out and a lot of it is hidden in secret holes. Make sure you search high and low and collect every pile of coins you see, because every little counts.

Maps: Overlord's Fancy, Sewers, Middle Sewer, Upper Sewer, Reuben's, Lower Sewer, Donal's.

Wait around for the guards to leave, then head down the darkened alley. Hide in the doorway for a moment, because there's a guard approaching. Head through the town to the locked back door, and enter that way. The kitchen has a servant and a regularly patrolling guard, so make it quick when you remove the serv. The area next to the fire allows you to remain hidden, by the way. The entrance foyer also has a patrolling guard, and another fireplace hiding area. Continuing, collect the meagre 25 loot and the very handy restaurant key from the table. Use the key on the door and climb the stairs. There's another servant and a sleeping thief here, so keep quiet and retrieve the goodies. Note the hole; fire a moss arrow to soften the metal flooring and then use a rope arrow on the ceiling to climb down safely to the Overlord's Fancy.

Enter through the doorway on the right, and quench the torch. The tables are watched over by a guard in a small room, so head to the corner of his room and grab the cash from there. Take a moment to lean in through the northern window and remove the casino key from his possession. Head to the corridor to the south and use the casino key to unlock the staircase leading back to the surface. It'll come in handy later, no doubt. Open the guard's door and you can put him to sleep without difficulty. Head behind the bar and silence the guard that patrols there. Quench all four torches around its perimeter and you can hide there in safety. There are a few extra water arrows on the northern side of the bar. Look to the northwest corner, near the torch, and you'll clearly see the "secret" door. Quench that torch for good measure, then sneak over there. Spinning the roulette wheel opens the door, but the path beyond is well lit. Open it, run in, turn around, and pull the lever to close it again. Neither guard nor patron should notice you.

Hang around in the next room and you'll overhear that Reuben has the key to the vase. When the guards split up, one will come right through that door so stay hidden. When it's safe, leave and hide in the dark corner to the left. This makes a good stashing area, so you can get rid of those pesky thieves. Take the north exit, up the ramp, and prepare to meet two guards patrolling a rectangular area. Hide in the dark corner and you can dispose of the sword guard easily, but the bow guard will be a bit trickier. Head north, to the middle sewer. There's a light stash of goodies here, as well as a servant and two guards talking about your Bafford job. Wait for them to go, then enter. Either door in this room will lead you to the upper sewers, but the western one takes you through a guardpost, whereas the eastern one doesn't. The guardpost can be navigated with systematic quenching and blackjacking, and there are some nice goodies to be had in there. When you get to the second T-junction in the sewers, head north to knock out an annoying guard, then take the second door. You'll be staring at the back of a thief, but the room is nice and carpeted so feel free to do the honours. The fireplace conceals Lord Randall's bracelet. Opening the next door will let you silence another if you want. Surprise, surprise, the key isn't where it should be... or is it? Check the bookcase, then go back out and up the ramp. The next room is guarded and patrolled, but the patroller shouldn't pose a problem. Keeping your distance, sneak around behind the other guard, then you can carefully creep up out of his line of sight and WHAM, you're in Reuben's.

The basement is watched over by two servants, so they won't pose much of a problem. Three guards patrol the upper level, and can be avoided with a little timing. If you're after case, the northern rooms contain pots, and then there's a door to the southeast that leads into a courtyard. Take the southern door back into the complex, and then go through the door on the right into a living room-type area. Leave and head up the ramp. Among the bookshelves up there, you can find the location of the safe key. Timing is crucial next, as you need to make your way to the other end of the building, past patrolling guards. Make sure you take one of their keys as you go. Reuben's room is next along, and contains the safe key and lots of money. Returning is easier because you can essentially follow the route the guards take, which also lets you improve your gold collection. Return the the living room, and put out the fire to discover a secret passage that will take you back to the basement and the sewers beyond.

As you pass through the middle sewer, head west and find a control room. Pull the third switch to unlock a door that will make your escape that much easier. Head south, all the way to the lower sewer. Go through and up the ramp, then drop into the muddy area and take to the tunnels. Head right, and you'll climb up a ladder into a watery bit. Swim through the piping and flick the switches in the next room, then return to the ladder. Cross the plank and jump through the small window, and you'll eventually come out in Donal's basement. Make your way to the top floor, and take one of the keys as you go. There's a room of tapestries and paintings - this is what you want. The safe is hidden behind the large blue one, and the sapphire vase (worth 500 loot) is inside. To escape, simply return to the casino (the path should be clear by now) and leave the same way you went in. There are numerous secret passages and alternative routes around this map, so keep your eyes peeled for short-cuts.