Watch as Amulette shape-shifts into Mertz

"Stand back, squire. Witness my wiles, my skills as a shapeshifting spy now to center stage!" Amulette announced, releasing a black mist from around her body that began to encircle her slender body. The smoky veil snaked around her arms, her abdomen, her neck, legs, and face, until she was completely obscured, then expanded, before dispersing entirely. In her place was the disagreeable Guard Captain, Mertz, who you all had shared a disagreeable run-in with earlier. "Hm hm hm... Uncanny resemblance, eh?"{if Helmid = True}

"I'd have been happy never to see his face again," Helmid responded, then covered her mouth with one hand. "My word, though. You truly are his spitting image. The magic of a demon spy... Excuse me, ex-spy. I'd never seen it up close."{endif}{if Rosary = True}

"Dear Geod in heaven! To think that demons have such sorcery available to them," Sister Rosary shuddered. "Oh, pardon! I mean no offense. I-I am truly happy you are on our side, Amulette.{endif}{if Bangaal = True}

"Oh, amusing, truly amusing! Your demon magic is a worthy rival to Bangaal's chaos magic!" Bangaal's voice giggled from somewhere nearby, praising Amulette.{endif}{if Liens = True}

"Demon magic. Useful. I have no objections. It's perfect. Flawless, even. Hmm. Gives me an idea. An illusion. Full-body illusion. Veil? Trick of the light? What do I call it? Needs more work," Liens muttered under her breath. "Artificial shape-shifting. Good idea. Need to make a note of it. Notepad? No notepad. Fuck it."{endif}

"Praise me more," the false guard captain snickered. The voice was also Mertz's, thankfully, and Amulette even seemed to have dialed back her usual whimsical speech pattern. "Now, follow me."

Amulette might be a lot less fun to look at in this form, but she was plenty effective. As long as you and the other saintess stood relatively out of sight, she was free to walk ahead and give the all-clear without other guards giving so much as a second glance. If one did happen to wander too close, she simply diverted them with an authoritative bark. It almost seemed too good to be true.

Of course, all abilities have their limits. You finally located Mertz's office and a new problem immediately became evident. The door was locked tightly with a padlock, the key to which was not in your possession. Amulette was about to dismiss the heavy-set guard in front of the door, until she noticed the keyring hanging from his hip. She cleared her throat. "You there. I seem to have lost my key. Probably some cut-purse out front, you know how those penniless schemers are. Unlock the door for me."

The guard nodded, then opened up the door and stood to one side.

"Good. Now, you did hear me say that thieves had made off with my key, did you not?" the makeshift Mertz continued, crossing his arms behind his back and narrowing his back. "I want them found. And until you find some thief skulking about with my key, you shall not return here. Understood?" he ordered.

"But uh... boss, what do they even look like?"

"If I knew that, they'd be in stocks, not running around with my key, you blithering idiot!" Amulette snapped back in a perfect recreation of the captain. "Now get lost!"

The guard saluted, then ran by in a hurry, unsure of how to execute the order but eager not to incur the captain's wrath any further. The false Mertz gave an uncharacteristic giggle, before suddenly poofing back into the form of a slender, gray-skinned girl.

You emerged from hiding and asked Amulette if it was wise to uncloak so soon.

"Ah, you underestimate the toll taxing tricks like those take upon us tricksters. Even I quickly encounter the inevitable end of such enviable effects I employ."

It sounded like she was saying the magic was hard to keep up. At any rate, you were thankful to her for using it. You all had snuck into the office quite easily.