1
00:00:00,539 --> 00:00:03,039
(mysterious music plays) The Thieves Guild,

2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:05,799
by Jake Kerr.

3
00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:14,579
Episode 115:

4
00:00:17,180 --> 00:00:18,540
The Outer Fields.

5
00:00:24,059 --> 00:00:29,020
Rodgers and Velo had walked in silence for quite
some time, time that

6
00:00:29,079 --> 00:00:33,759
Rodgers spent considering not just what was
happening to Ness, but what

7
00:00:33,779 --> 00:00:38,319
role he had to play in it, or more specifically,
what his immediate

8
00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:39,199
plans were.

9
00:00:39,959 --> 00:00:44,060
Rodgers considered fleeing when they finally
arrived at the Outer Fields.

10
00:00:44,219 --> 00:00:49,020
He was exposed, and the risk of Velo revealing
that Rodgers was a thief

11
00:00:49,299 --> 00:00:53,259
was not a small one. It was perhaps the wisest
path.

12
00:00:53,659 --> 00:00:56,819
He would slip off the horse and disappear in a
crowd.

13
00:00:57,279 --> 00:01:00,719
The thieves had safe houses in the farms of the
Outer Fields.

14
00:01:01,119 --> 00:01:05,859
It wouldn't be hard to escape, but something kept
drawing him back to that

15
00:01:05,919 --> 00:01:10,399
unanswered question, why did Quinto want Rodgers
to accompany the

16
00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:10,999
message?

17
00:01:11,619 --> 00:01:16,359
With nothing really to lose, Rodgers decided to
ask Velo directly.

18
00:01:17,139 --> 00:01:21,259
Breaking the silence only exacerbated the
bluntness of the question.

19
00:01:21,259 --> 00:01:25,319
"Quinto knows I'm a thief, yet I'm accompanying
you on this mission.

20
00:01:26,099 --> 00:01:26,539
Why?"

21
00:01:27,239 --> 00:01:30,859
Without even looking over at Rodgers, Velo
replied...

22
00:01:30,859 --> 00:01:33,999
"You risked your life to assist the Harvest Guild.

23
00:01:34,499 --> 00:01:39,479
Perhaps Quinto felt that you deserved the honor of
delivering this message to Polo."

24
00:01:39,799 --> 00:01:44,519
It didn't feel entirely honest, but it had at
least a shred of sincerity to

25
00:01:44,519 --> 00:01:49,259
it. Still, Rodgers had questions, and he was about
to ask

26
00:01:49,259 --> 00:01:50,859
them when Velo spoke up.

27
00:01:50,859 --> 00:01:53,879
"Tell me about your guild. You seem honorable.

28
00:01:54,359 --> 00:01:55,319
You guard the wall,

29
00:01:56,039 --> 00:01:59,299
something that very few people know, including in
my own guild.

30
00:01:59,879 --> 00:02:02,999
You say that you take so you can give. What does
that mean?"

31
00:02:03,739 --> 00:02:08,299
As they continued to progress across the scrub and
plains, Rodgers found

32
00:02:08,299 --> 00:02:13,259
himself filled with pride as he opened up about
his own secretive guild.

33
00:02:13,779 --> 00:02:18,639
They were exposed now, of course, so there was
nothing to lose and a lot to

34
00:02:18,659 --> 00:02:20,939
gain by sharing what they did.

35
00:02:21,559 --> 00:02:26,479
There was good in it, there was honor in it, and
there was, perhaps more than

36
00:02:26,499 --> 00:02:28,319
anything, a need for it.

37
00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:33,379
As Rodgers spoke, Velo kept mostly quiet, only

38
00:02:33,379 --> 00:02:38,359
responding by shaking his head in presumed
disbelief, or sometimes

39
00:02:38,659 --> 00:02:41,559
expressing himself with a grunt or a sigh.

40
00:02:41,559 --> 00:02:45,899
"And those that live in the old quarter, they're
ignored by their guilds?"

41
00:02:45,899 --> 00:02:46,919
"They are."

42
00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:51,619
"Do they not realize the pain and suffering they
do to their own guild mates?"

43
00:02:51,619 --> 00:02:56,299
Velo sounded genuinely shocked at how the
merchants treated their

44
00:02:56,379 --> 00:03:00,459
collectors, or how the Craft Guild treated the
sewer cleaners.

45
00:03:01,079 --> 00:03:05,539
Rodgers thought how best to respond, but finally
just shrugged.

46
00:03:05,539 --> 00:03:07,159
"You'll have to ask them."

47
00:03:07,939 --> 00:03:12,419
With the gentle clip-clop of the horses
accompanying him, Rodgers

48
00:03:12,499 --> 00:03:16,059
continued to outline how the thieves took care of
others.

49
00:03:16,679 --> 00:03:21,579
He made sure not to reveal any important secrets,
but he was open about the

50
00:03:21,659 --> 00:03:26,639
nature of the guild. The shadowy and hidden paths
used to

51
00:03:26,719 --> 00:03:31,619
transport goods, the infiltration of the guild
into important positions

52
00:03:31,859 --> 00:03:36,839
that allowed stolen goods to flow, the defensive
mechanisms used to keep

53
00:03:36,979 --> 00:03:41,739
everything quiet, including the many legends of
ghosts,

54
00:03:41,979 --> 00:03:46,699
spectral wizards, and frightening monsters that
lived in the Wretched

55
00:03:46,799 --> 00:03:50,519
Quarter and manned the walls south of the Great
Gate.

56
00:03:50,939 --> 00:03:51,899
Velo nodded.

57
00:03:51,899 --> 00:03:56,439
"Most of the rangers see the Black Guards on the
wall and consider them undead.

58
00:03:57,039 --> 00:03:58,699
The captains like it that way, as

59
00:03:59,319 --> 00:04:02,539
it avoids political problems with our friends in
the Knight Guild."

60
00:04:02,539 --> 00:04:05,259
"As in, why don't they patrol those walls?"

61
00:04:05,259 --> 00:04:10,139
"Yes. We could push the knights to patrol the
south wall, but the walls are guarded, and

62
00:04:10,139 --> 00:04:10,659
we have

63
00:04:11,459 --> 00:04:13,579
other issues with our brothers and sisters in
white."

64
00:04:13,579 --> 00:04:18,259
They were climbing a ridge, and Rodgers used the
height to once

65
00:04:18,299 --> 00:04:23,119
again look around. There was the mighty Wall of
Ness, and

66
00:04:23,199 --> 00:04:27,979
there was the magnificent mountains, but
everything else was scrub brush

67
00:04:27,999 --> 00:04:32,399
and seeming desert. He was about to ask whether
the Outer Fields

68
00:04:32,499 --> 00:04:35,739
actually existed when they crested the hill.

69
00:04:36,499 --> 00:04:41,399
In the distance, for miles and miles, seemingly
all the way to the base

70
00:04:41,419 --> 00:04:45,959
of the mountains, were fields of wheat, corn, and
other grains.

71
00:04:46,239 --> 00:04:49,359
Trees full of fruit stood in orchards in the
distance.

72
00:04:49,779 --> 00:04:54,679
The color was stunning, and the panorama was vast,
and full of

73
00:04:54,739 --> 00:04:58,319
life-giving trees, plants, and grasses.

74
00:04:59,359 --> 00:05:02,479
Reining in his horse, Rodgers just stared.

75
00:05:02,479 --> 00:05:05,439
"Welcome to the Outer Fields, my friend.

76
00:05:05,759 --> 00:05:09,259
Defended by river and mountain, and nurtured by
water from both.

77
00:05:09,799 --> 00:05:14,079
You are looking at what gives Ness life, and what
the outlanders desire the most."

78
00:05:14,079 --> 00:05:16,639
"This is amazing."

79
00:05:16,639 --> 00:05:18,079
"Indeed, it is.

80
00:05:18,899 --> 00:05:23,839
You cannot see it, but far beyond the Nightwatch,
and nearer the mountain is the

81
00:05:23,919 --> 00:05:24,599
South Fork.

82
00:05:25,299 --> 00:05:30,159
The food is loaded from warehouses there, and
delivered via the fork to

83
00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,899
the Silo District, where it is loaded on boats and
delivered throughout the city."

84
00:05:33,899 --> 00:05:37,619
"How do you know all this? You don't even operate
within the city."

85
00:05:37,619 --> 00:05:42,039
"We are close to the Harvest Guild, protecting
them and sometimes assisting them.

86
00:05:42,259 --> 00:05:45,899
They also send us supplies, and those also come
down the Great River."

87
00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:51,599
Velo pointed off to the Nightwatch, the large
tower manned by the Knight

88
00:05:51,679 --> 00:05:56,239
Guild at the end of the wall, overlooking the
Inner and Outer Fields.

89
00:05:56,239 --> 00:05:58,879
"Harvest House stands behind the Nightwatch.

90
00:05:58,919 --> 00:06:02,999
We should improve our pace if we are to meet with
Polo before sunset."

91
00:06:02,999 --> 00:06:07,899
The conversation ended, but the wonder continued
as Rodgers

92
00:06:07,899 --> 00:06:12,537
took in every part of the dramatic landscape
before him.What struck him the

93
00:06:12,617 --> 00:06:15,418
most were the natural and pastel colors.

94
00:06:15,797 --> 00:06:20,638
With its color-based guilds, Ness was, by its
nature, a colorful

95
00:06:20,757 --> 00:06:25,497
city, but the colors before him were more varied,
more subtle,

96
00:06:25,777 --> 00:06:30,758
and more beautiful. They reached a small road near
the Nightwatch, and guild

97
00:06:30,797 --> 00:06:35,778
members in green became more plentiful. The
uniformity was striking.

98
00:06:36,717 --> 00:06:41,258
They reached a small road near the Nightwatch, and
guild members in green

99
00:06:41,317 --> 00:06:45,198
became more plentiful. The uniformity was
striking.

100
00:06:45,618 --> 00:06:50,297
The Lower Quarter had large throngs of citizens in
all the major guilds,

101
00:06:50,697 --> 00:06:53,577
and every street was practically a rainbow.

102
00:06:54,098 --> 00:06:58,717
Here in the Outer Fields, however, practically
everyone wore

103
00:06:58,877 --> 00:06:59,478
green.

104
00:07:00,357 --> 00:07:05,157
A sharp turn to the right put them on a major
thoroughfare, Harvest

105
00:07:05,217 --> 00:07:10,017
Road, which led from the Nightwatch and down to
the South Fork, and then

106
00:07:10,037 --> 00:07:14,637
along the rivers. It marked the southern border of
the Upper Triangle.

107
00:07:15,477 --> 00:07:20,057
The large houses and mansions of the Upper
Triangle towered into the

108
00:07:20,117 --> 00:07:23,517
distance. To their right was the Nightwatch.

109
00:07:24,417 --> 00:07:29,337
Rogers looked at it closely. It was a massive
stone tower built

110
00:07:29,377 --> 00:07:33,697
right into the end of the Great Wall. It
overlooked both the Upper

111
00:07:33,777 --> 00:07:37,937
Triangle, Harvest House, and the Inner and Outer
Fields.

112
00:07:38,377 --> 00:07:43,137
Rogers shook his head. Taking that with an army of
Rangers and Harvest

113
00:07:43,197 --> 00:07:45,037
Guards would be very bloody.

114
00:07:45,837 --> 00:07:50,677
A much better plan would be to take the wall from
the other side of the Great River, and then march

115
00:07:50,717 --> 00:07:55,097
north and east along it until they could take the
Nightwatch from its lightly

116
00:07:55,157 --> 00:08:00,037
defended wall side. There was only one problem
with that plan for the Rangers and

117
00:08:00,077 --> 00:08:04,917
Harvest Guild members. The other end of the wall
was controlled by the thieves.

118
00:08:05,417 --> 00:08:08,777
Vilo reined in his horse, and Rogers followed
suit.

119
00:08:08,777 --> 00:08:13,377
"Yonder is Harvest House. It appears modest, but
it is dangerous.

120
00:08:13,637 --> 00:08:17,517
There are rumors that the walls and floors are
alive and will defend the guild master."

121
00:08:17,517 --> 00:08:22,057
Rogers nodded, thinking of Mayla's mission to warn
Polo.

122
00:08:22,477 --> 00:08:27,077
He assumed she was long dead, perhaps crushed by a
living wall or

123
00:08:27,177 --> 00:08:28,857
tossed from a writhing gutter.

124
00:08:28,857 --> 00:08:31,457
"We will meet with Esma, Polo's deputy.

125
00:08:31,957 --> 00:08:36,937
It is unlikely he will take me to see Polo, let
alone you with me, so our

126
00:08:36,957 --> 00:08:38,457
mission will end there."

127
00:08:38,457 --> 00:08:40,137
"And after that?"

128
00:08:40,137 --> 00:08:41,917
"We shall see,"

129
00:08:41,917 --> 00:08:44,457
... was Vilo's cryptic reply.

130
00:08:45,057 --> 00:08:49,797
Two heavily armed guards immediately intercepted
them as their horses came

131
00:08:49,797 --> 00:08:52,337
within shouting distance of Harvest House.

132
00:08:53,037 --> 00:08:58,017
Rogers looked around, and there were many people
closer, some on horses.

133
00:08:58,017 --> 00:08:59,157
"Hail Ranger,"

134
00:08:59,157 --> 00:09:02,537
... one of the guards said. "Ah," thought Rogers.

135
00:09:02,537 --> 00:09:03,857
"That explains it."

136
00:09:04,537 --> 00:09:06,457
The same guard nodded to Rogers.

137
00:09:06,457 --> 00:09:07,497
"Guildmate."

138
00:09:08,137 --> 00:09:10,897
Turning back to Vilo, the guard continued.

139
00:09:10,897 --> 00:09:14,717
"What is your business?" "I come from Guildmaster
Quinto.

140
00:09:15,157 --> 00:09:17,957
Uh, I was entrusted with a message for Guildmaster
Polo.

141
00:09:18,457 --> 00:09:21,877
I am to deliver it only to him or Deputy
Guildmaster Esma."

142
00:09:21,877 --> 00:09:24,377
"Both of you dismount and show me this message."

143
00:09:25,337 --> 00:09:29,617
Vilo and Rogers dismounted under the watchful eye
of the guards.

144
00:09:30,177 --> 00:09:34,877
To Rogers' surprise, Vilo walked right up to the
guard and handed him the

145
00:09:34,917 --> 00:09:39,697
letter. Rogers would have worried that the guard
would rip the letter open or burn

146
00:09:39,737 --> 00:09:44,497
it. Instead, the guard closely inspected the seal,
and

147
00:09:44,537 --> 00:09:48,857
then returned it to Vilo. "There is respect here,"

148
00:09:49,317 --> 00:09:50,257
Rogers noted.

149
00:09:50,257 --> 00:09:51,897
"What are your names?"

150
00:09:51,897 --> 00:09:55,297
... the guard asked, handing the letter back to
Vilo.

151
00:09:55,297 --> 00:09:59,957
"I am Vilo, Captain of the Outlands. This is
Rogers, a

152
00:09:59,977 --> 00:10:02,877
guildmate of yours, with news from the Lower
Quarter."

153
00:10:03,957 --> 00:10:07,597
At the mention of the Outlands, the guard stood up
straighter.

154
00:10:07,597 --> 00:10:11,397
"Captain, you honor us with your long trek to our
home."

155
00:10:11,897 --> 00:10:13,097
He bowed his head.

156
00:10:13,097 --> 00:10:15,457
"We appreciate the sacrifices you make.

157
00:10:16,277 --> 00:10:21,157
I am Tim." "It is an honor to be entrusted with
the responsibility, my friend

158
00:10:21,237 --> 00:10:21,617
Tim."

159
00:10:22,597 --> 00:10:26,617
And like that, the guards were relaxed around
Rogers and Vilo.

160
00:10:27,217 --> 00:10:32,177
Rogers wasn't sure what the Captain of the
Outlands did, or even where

161
00:10:32,237 --> 00:10:36,877
the Outlands was, but the Harvest Guild members
clearly considered it an

162
00:10:36,917 --> 00:10:38,217
important position.

163
00:10:38,217 --> 00:10:41,317
"I will let the deputy guildmaster know you are
waiting.

164
00:10:42,137 --> 00:10:43,757
Follow me to the entrance to our house.

165
00:10:44,517 --> 00:10:46,117
There is a garden with benches.

166
00:10:46,837 --> 00:10:47,637
You can wait there."

167
00:10:48,517 --> 00:10:50,097
He turned to the other guard.

168
00:10:50,097 --> 00:10:52,237
"Take their horses to the stalls."

169
00:10:53,137 --> 00:10:57,877
As they were led to the benches, Rogers was
enthralled with Harvest House and the

170
00:10:57,957 --> 00:11:02,497
surrounding lawn. It was intricately manicured and
filled with hedges

171
00:11:02,877 --> 00:11:05,137
pruned into the shapes of animals.

172
00:11:05,857 --> 00:11:09,337
As they sat down to wait, Rogers turned to Vilo.

173
00:11:09,337 --> 00:11:11,257
"What is the Outland?"

174
00:11:11,817 --> 00:11:16,497
Rogers assumed it was from where the Outlanders
were from, but how could Vilo be the

175
00:11:16,537 --> 00:11:17,357
captain of that?

176
00:11:17,357 --> 00:11:20,577
"Have you ever traveled outside of Ness along the
Great Road?"

177
00:11:20,837 --> 00:11:22,257
Rogers shook his head.

178
00:11:22,257 --> 00:11:26,657
"Well, if you travel beyond the site of the wall,
you are in the Plains.

179
00:11:27,377 --> 00:11:29,637
Travel for another day, and you're in the
Outlands."

180
00:11:29,637 --> 00:11:34,337
"You are captain of where the Outlanders live?"
Rogers was shocked that the Ranger

181
00:11:34,417 --> 00:11:36,977
Guild had a presence so far from the city.

182
00:11:36,977 --> 00:11:41,937
"Um, goodness, no. Goatland is much farther away
than that, but yes, I

183
00:11:41,977 --> 00:11:46,597
am the captain who is the first to know when the
Outlanders raid or attack.

184
00:11:46,917 --> 00:11:49,037
It was your luck that I was traveling so close to
the city.

185
00:11:49,737 --> 00:11:54,097
There are actually two captains. Henry is the
Captain of the North. I am the Captain of the
West.

186
00:11:54,577 --> 00:11:56,537
I was traveling back from meeting with Henry."

187
00:11:56,537 --> 00:12:01,517
Before Vilo could explain more, Tim returned with
Esma, who was

188
00:12:01,557 --> 00:12:05,097
famous for his long, pure white hair and beard.

189
00:12:05,397 --> 00:12:09,897
He was an old man, and Rogers marveled at his
energy as he approached.

190
00:12:10,277 --> 00:12:12,097
He practically ran up to Vilo.

191
00:12:12,097 --> 00:12:13,877
"If it isn't Young Vilo."

192
00:12:14,337 --> 00:12:17,877
Vilo stood in greeting, and Rogers quickly
followed.

193
00:12:17,877 --> 00:12:19,657
"Not so young anymore."

194
00:12:20,315 --> 00:12:22,196
Vilo replied with a smile.

195
00:12:22,196 --> 00:12:23,335
Younger than me.

196
00:12:23,475 --> 00:12:24,656
Esmer replied.

197
00:12:25,315 --> 00:12:28,855
They hugged each other, and as they stepped apart,
Esmer said...

198
00:12:29,496 --> 00:12:32,055
I'm afraid Polo can't see you, but I'm told you
have a message.

199
00:12:32,536 --> 00:12:35,355
Vilo pulled out the letter and handed it to Esmer.

200
00:12:36,015 --> 00:12:37,375
We live in difficult times.

201
00:12:37,895 --> 00:12:42,875
Was all Vilo said, but Esmer seemed to understand
as he nodded.

202
00:12:43,515 --> 00:12:47,976
Esmer slid the letter into a breast pocket and
turned to Rogers.

203
00:12:48,415 --> 00:12:49,995
And you have news from the lower quarter.

204
00:12:50,335 --> 00:12:54,575
Rogers wasn't quite sure how to reply when Vilo
spoke up.

205
00:12:54,576 --> 00:12:59,495
There was an attack and Rogers here risked his
life to defend his harvest

206
00:12:59,556 --> 00:13:01,136
guild mates from a certain massacre.

207
00:13:01,736 --> 00:13:05,816
He saved many of them by escaping to outside the
wall. That's where I found him.

208
00:13:05,955 --> 00:13:08,316
Esmer peered at Rogers.

209
00:13:08,815 --> 00:13:09,395
Tell me more.

210
00:13:10,396 --> 00:13:13,435
The old families in the pit were to be cleared by
the merchant guards.

211
00:13:13,995 --> 00:13:16,135
Our guild mates refused to leave their homes.

212
00:13:16,755 --> 00:13:20,955
I helped them with a defense, but the merchant
guards were assisted by mounted knights.

213
00:13:20,955 --> 00:13:24,855
You arrayed a defense against merchant guards and
mounted knights?

214
00:13:25,175 --> 00:13:26,855
Esmer sounded shocked.

215
00:13:27,135 --> 00:13:29,215
The families would not leave and there was no
choice.

216
00:13:29,835 --> 00:13:32,935
After many deaths, I convinced the survivors to
escape.

217
00:13:33,395 --> 00:13:35,135
How did you flee from such a heavy attack?

218
00:13:35,495 --> 00:13:38,895
Esmer was thoroughly mesmerized by Rogers' story.

219
00:13:38,895 --> 00:13:43,655
We repulsed the first attack amidst many losses,
but we left more than two dozen

220
00:13:43,715 --> 00:13:45,556
merchant guild members dead on the street.

221
00:13:46,335 --> 00:13:49,575
We escaped as a force of knights approached to
finish the job.

222
00:13:49,575 --> 00:13:51,735
How many of our guild mates died?

223
00:13:52,015 --> 00:13:55,055
Esmer asked, his voice almost a whisper.

224
00:13:55,096 --> 00:13:56,476
Uh, perhaps 50.

225
00:13:57,236 --> 00:14:00,735
Esmer didn't reply, but instead turned to Vilo.

226
00:14:01,196 --> 00:14:03,516
I'm sorry, but you must wait here, my young
friend.

227
00:14:03,795 --> 00:14:05,156
He turned to Rogers.

228
00:14:05,515 --> 00:14:06,415
Rogers, come with me.

229
00:14:07,135 --> 00:14:08,055
Where are we going, sir?

230
00:14:08,876 --> 00:14:13,676
Rogers asked, too shocked to realize his question
to the deputy guild

231
00:14:13,715 --> 00:14:18,675
master was disrespectful. However, Esmer didn't
seem to mind.

232
00:14:19,035 --> 00:14:21,915
To Guild Master Polo. You're going to tell him
your story.

233
00:14:25,815 --> 00:15:03,535
(dramatic music)