The Theives District

A life on the street can cause ones moral compass to waver and change ones path for the darker, on this path one might stumble and go astray completely, or walk the fine line of what should be done. It's up to ones self.
Any good rogue knows their way around a lock, but only the best don't assume room temperature when a lock begins rotating with glowing symbols and spews acid while triggering an alarm even though the lock was, supposedly, successfully picked. Learning of the different magical and mechanical Locks of Alera is one of the reasons why only the best shadows stay moving.
Another might be the backing of one of the greater Guilds of Alera. However, one must keep in mind that everything has a price in the shadows of Alera, friendship most of all.
Most of all is the talk of the streets, if you can't understand the flow of the pits, you might as well be another piece of stranded driftwood on its way to the furnace. Learn what you can and what you Cant, and do so quickly.
Acquiring wealth can be a slow and tedious process, however, it can be sped up greatly if one was to inadvertently procure a deed or similar document from an unknown relative, who definitely owned the proprietary rights to the property that just shot up in value next door.