You can buy rings or amulets with a bonus to Pickpocket, but if you don't want to join the thieves' guild just skip the quests that required access (Corinna's summoning, holy items). If you have not joined the guild, how do you know there is no key there?
I really believe there must be an *alternate* way to do this - since the whole of Verdistis sewers opens into various buildings. For example:
I was able to free the little girl's cat
before joining the Merchant's Guild (contrary to Val's Quest Guide) by entering the guild basement through the sewers.
I know there is no key because I can enter the first room of the thief basement through the Inn's trapdoor.
So: I am quite sure there must be another way to free Penumbra - some of us want nothing to do with the Thief's guild and I find it hard to believe the Larians haven't thought of that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />
