It's frustrating to have to perform tedious odd jobs in order to gain the cooperation of the local populace ("Oh, I'd be happy to give you the herbs required to cure the bishop's illness. Would you mind grabbing me a sandwich first? And run get me some stamps?"), so I've decided to start helping myself to whatever items happen to be lying around. Fortunately the townspeople here don't even bother to lock their doors, making it as easy as can be to walk in and steal everything I can get my hands on. I suppose the residents don't worry about locking their doors because they've cleverly hidden most of their valuables in crates and barrels. Too bad for them I just looted an Axe of Crate Smashing +1 from a giant otter I slaughtered in the woods.