1 00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,900 The Thieves Guild 2 00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:05,759 by Jake Kerr. 3 00:00:11,099 --> 00:00:13,459 Episode 123: 4 00:00:15,579 --> 00:00:16,579 It Begins. 5 00:00:24,399 --> 00:00:29,299 Orion was not one to worry, but something odd was happening, and 6 00:00:29,319 --> 00:00:33,979 in the chaotic environment of Ness at the moment, that worried him a 7 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:34,919 great deal. 8 00:00:35,799 --> 00:00:40,560 Earlier in the day, a messenger had let him know that the Greatbridge was closed. 9 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,200 "Closed? What does that mean?" "The Harvest Guild members that had been 10 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:46,999 returning to their homes have stopped. 11 00:00:47,799 --> 00:00:51,999 In fact, all day yesterday, not a single person returned from across the bridge. 12 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,260 The knights refused to do anything, as they said the Wretched Quarter was haunted. 13 00:00:56,819 --> 00:01:00,199 So Captain Kilgore sent a group of guards across the bridge to investigate. 14 00:01:00,379 --> 00:01:04,719 They never returned, and that's when he told me to inform you that the Greatbridge appears closed." 15 00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:10,339 The Thieves, Orion thought. Something is going on with the Thieves. 16 00:01:10,639 --> 00:01:15,439 Were they holding the Harvest Guild members hostage in return for something from Polo? 17 00:01:15,579 --> 00:01:17,279 Or was it something else? 18 00:01:17,919 --> 00:01:22,819 Orion considered it unlikely that Polo would have his guild members stay any longer 19 00:01:22,839 --> 00:01:27,619 in the Wretched Quarter than necessary, no matter what Vesper had said about it 20 00:01:27,679 --> 00:01:29,299 not being wretched at all. 21 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,259 Vesper, his absence also worried Orion. 22 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:36,979 He was to assassinate Alard, but he had disappeared. 23 00:01:37,779 --> 00:01:42,739 Despite Vesper's formidable skills, Orion worried that Alard had killed him. 24 00:01:43,699 --> 00:01:48,519 The loss of Vesper would be a serious blow to his ability to navigate times 25 00:01:48,539 --> 00:01:53,299 ahead. And then there was Sax. The drunken fool assumed 26 00:01:53,319 --> 00:01:58,279 that all of the city's problems were over, and he could just wait for Polo to come to 27 00:01:58,339 --> 00:01:59,119 his senses. 28 00:01:59,839 --> 00:02:04,659 At least Orion was able to manipulate him. Orion wasn't a fool. 29 00:02:04,839 --> 00:02:09,459 He knew that Karch's mission to Polo was doomed for failure, 30 00:02:09,879 --> 00:02:13,619 but it would at least give Orion some sense of Polo's intent. 31 00:02:14,479 --> 00:02:19,219 If Karch returned with angry words, Orion was confident that the major 32 00:02:19,299 --> 00:02:23,679 crisis would be averted. But if Karch was imprisoned or killed, 33 00:02:23,879 --> 00:02:27,019 Polo would then clearly have vengeance in mind. 34 00:02:27,699 --> 00:02:30,139 The thing was, Karch hadn't returned. 35 00:02:30,899 --> 00:02:34,839 Loud yelling outside his door interrupted Orion's reverie. 36 00:02:35,279 --> 00:02:38,599 And to his shock, there was Sax and Karch. 37 00:02:39,179 --> 00:02:42,139 One glance at Karch and Orion had his answer. 38 00:02:42,139 --> 00:02:44,459 "It's civil war then." 39 00:02:45,179 --> 00:02:49,279 Karch walked with a limp, and his face was badly swollen and bruised. 40 00:02:49,719 --> 00:02:52,839 He winced as Sax gave him a slight shove forward. 41 00:02:53,619 --> 00:02:58,459 Orion was at his desk, and he couldn't help but stare at the sight in front of him. 42 00:02:58,979 --> 00:03:03,879 Karch beaten to near death, and Sax looking more serious than he ever 43 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:04,719 had seen him. 44 00:03:05,359 --> 00:03:10,079 Orion stood. "By the gods, Karch. What has happened to you?" 45 00:03:10,839 --> 00:03:15,539 Sax shoved Karch aside, who almost fell as he stumbled. 46 00:03:15,539 --> 00:03:20,199 "Polo had him beaten to near death to send us a message." Orion sat 47 00:03:20,219 --> 00:03:24,999 down, as did Sax and Karch, who once again winced as he maneuvered his 48 00:03:25,079 --> 00:03:28,199 body into the chair. "And what message is that?" 49 00:03:28,839 --> 00:03:32,839 Sax nudged Karch's shoulder, who nearly cried out in pain. 50 00:03:32,839 --> 00:03:37,759 "I have a message from Polo." "Clearly." "He plans on marching on 51 00:03:37,759 --> 00:03:42,679 the Lower Quarter. His exact words were, 'Tell Sax and Orion that they will feel 52 00:03:42,699 --> 00:03:43,579 our rage.'" 53 00:03:44,219 --> 00:03:47,119 Orion closed his eyes and lowered his head. 54 00:03:47,439 --> 00:03:51,999 This was all Larsen's fault. It never should have gotten to this point. 55 00:03:52,479 --> 00:03:55,799 Their only hope was that Sax could rally a defense. 56 00:03:55,799 --> 00:04:00,519 The Harvest Guild outnumbered all the other guilds combined, but the Knight 57 00:04:00,659 --> 00:04:05,179 Guild held the wall, had a formidable cavalry, and heavily armored 58 00:04:05,219 --> 00:04:07,859 knights. Defeating them would be challenging. 59 00:04:08,519 --> 00:04:13,379 But could he count on Sax? Orion opened his eyes and peered 60 00:04:13,399 --> 00:04:17,539 at Sax. "What do you think?" "I am unconcerned. 61 00:04:17,819 --> 00:04:22,759 We will smash them. I'm more concerned about the Fall Harvest having enough living guild members 62 00:04:22,779 --> 00:04:25,019 to manage it than their baseless threats." 63 00:04:26,039 --> 00:04:29,679 Orion wanted to reach across his desk and throttle Sax. 64 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,319 Arrogance at a moment like this was dangerous. 65 00:04:33,319 --> 00:04:38,219 "What is your plan, Guildmaster?" The question immediately perked up 66 00:04:38,299 --> 00:04:43,019 Sax. "We will take Trader's Bridge and assault the Upper Quarter from both the bridge and 67 00:04:43,099 --> 00:04:44,439 Nightwatch via the wall. 68 00:04:45,179 --> 00:04:49,939 As the Harvest Guild members panic over defending those two points, we will follow up with an 69 00:04:49,979 --> 00:04:53,539 assault via boats using the piers at the Warehouse District." 70 00:04:54,339 --> 00:04:58,359 Orion was shocked. It was a surprisingly good plan. 71 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:02,299 It was obvious, but sometimes the best plans are. 72 00:05:02,299 --> 00:05:06,579 "That's an excellent plan, Sax." "There's more." 73 00:05:07,119 --> 00:05:11,299 Sax smiled, and that was when Orion could see it in his eyes. 74 00:05:11,599 --> 00:05:16,079 This is what Sax lived for. More than drink, more than 75 00:05:16,199 --> 00:05:19,279 power, he lived for violence and confrontation. 76 00:05:19,779 --> 00:05:22,719 No wonder Larsen could manipulate him so easily. 77 00:05:22,719 --> 00:05:25,699 "I've sent word to Quinto to march on the outer fields. 78 00:05:26,059 --> 00:05:28,779 There is no way the Harvest Guild can defend four points." 79 00:05:29,699 --> 00:05:34,079 At that moment, hurried footsteps could be heard from beyond Orion's office. 80 00:05:34,659 --> 00:05:39,579 Another messenger was escorted in. He was out of breath and stumbled to the three 81 00:05:39,599 --> 00:05:42,879 of them. "Sir," he gasped for breath. 82 00:05:42,879 --> 00:05:44,679 "Trader's Bridge has fallen. 83 00:05:45,399 --> 00:05:48,259 The Harvest Guild attacked with force and slaughtered the merchant guards. 84 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:52,459 They are fortifying along the Greenbelt." Orion turned to Sax. 85 00:05:52,459 --> 00:05:57,159 "How bad is that?" Sax stood up. "It is a desperate ploy. 86 00:05:57,699 --> 00:05:59,099 We will punish them from the wall." 87 00:06:00,219 --> 00:06:03,119 Before marching out, he turned again to Orion. 88 00:06:03,119 --> 00:06:06,639 "Polo seems to have forgotten that we can rain arrows upon him from the 89 00:06:06,699 --> 00:06:11,693 Nightwatch."... he ignored Karch's existence as he spoke to Orion, 90 00:06:12,074 --> 00:06:15,893 and then spun around and left. "I must go." 91 00:06:17,153 --> 00:06:21,853 As Saxe walked out, Orion realized that he had to leave the defense of the lower 92 00:06:21,954 --> 00:06:26,853 quarter in Saxe's hands. What Orion would need to do was 93 00:06:26,853 --> 00:06:31,794 rally his own guild and the merchants to support him, especially with what happened to 94 00:06:31,834 --> 00:06:34,613 the merchant guards on Trader's Bridge. 95 00:06:35,494 --> 00:06:40,473 The merchants. His nephew, Carris, was in charge, and he would need guidance. 96 00:06:41,133 --> 00:06:45,233 It was critical that the merchants supported the Craft and Knight Guild. 97 00:06:45,233 --> 00:06:48,493 "Karch, stay there. I will need your assistance. 98 00:06:49,074 --> 00:06:52,753 I am summoning my nephew. He could use your guidance in times like this." 99 00:06:53,373 --> 00:06:58,254 Karch didn't move or say anything, but there may have been the hint of a smile 100 00:06:58,274 --> 00:06:59,593 on his battered face. 101 00:07:01,613 --> 00:07:04,074 Velo felt bad for those in the Nightwatch. 102 00:07:04,594 --> 00:07:09,133 They happily opened their doors to their ranger brothers and invited them in. 103 00:07:09,733 --> 00:07:14,533 It was a small group, only 10 rangers who said they had been visiting family in the outer 104 00:07:14,633 --> 00:07:19,373 fields and wanted to experience the long walk along the wall back to their 105 00:07:19,393 --> 00:07:23,313 assignment in the southern plains rather than walk outside. 106 00:07:24,013 --> 00:07:28,953 The knights considered it a brilliant idea, and as they escorted the rangers up to 107 00:07:28,993 --> 00:07:33,833 the top of the wall through the tower, they extolled the amazing views of the walk 108 00:07:33,853 --> 00:07:35,633 along the formidable wall. 109 00:07:36,373 --> 00:07:41,173 The rangers nodded, thanked the knights, and then unsheathed their knives and 110 00:07:41,273 --> 00:07:43,393 killed every single one of them. 111 00:07:44,133 --> 00:07:48,993 Word came down that the Nightwatch had fallen and Velo's assignment had changed 112 00:07:49,173 --> 00:07:53,973 from assisting the attack to returning to the southern fields to keep an eye on any 113 00:07:54,113 --> 00:07:58,413 outlander movements, which would need to be contained during the ranger 114 00:07:58,453 --> 00:08:00,593 operations with the Harvest Guild. 115 00:08:01,433 --> 00:08:06,393 He would have preferred to be with his guild mates freeing Ness from Orion and Saxe, 116 00:08:06,513 --> 00:08:09,873 but he knew even his modest mission had value. 117 00:08:10,633 --> 00:08:13,793 He crossed the North Fork and was suddenly alone. 118 00:08:14,293 --> 00:08:19,113 Quinto was not taking any chances, and practically the entire Ranger 119 00:08:19,173 --> 00:08:23,013 Guild had already crossed the river into the outer fields. 120 00:08:23,393 --> 00:08:26,933 Velo smiled. The other guilds had no chance. 121 00:08:27,893 --> 00:08:32,873 He had traveled for a few days and the absolute emptiness of the plains provided 122 00:08:32,893 --> 00:08:37,433 an eerie comfort. Everything was so quiet and peaceful. 123 00:08:37,973 --> 00:08:42,493 He was used to seeing his guild mates at regular intervals, but everyone was 124 00:08:42,493 --> 00:08:43,513 attacking Ness. 125 00:08:44,293 --> 00:08:48,693 He wondered how things were going. Had his guild mates taken the wall? 126 00:08:49,173 --> 00:08:52,273 Had the Harvest Guild swarmed into the lower quarter? 127 00:08:52,853 --> 00:08:57,793 Velo once again had his regrets for not taking part, but he knew he had 128 00:08:57,833 --> 00:08:58,793 a job to do. 129 00:08:59,433 --> 00:09:04,213 He'd already crossed the Great River and was approaching the southern fields already, having 130 00:09:04,233 --> 00:09:08,573 made good time. A light on the horizon caught his eye. 131 00:09:09,053 --> 00:09:13,933 The sun had gone down already, and he was expecting nothing but darkness as far 132 00:09:13,973 --> 00:09:18,593 as he could see. There it was again, a flickering light. A fire! 133 00:09:19,213 --> 00:09:23,573 Velo's horse was trotting along an easy trail, a small 134 00:09:23,673 --> 00:09:24,993 dried-up riverbed. 135 00:09:25,693 --> 00:09:30,613 Velo dismounted and jogged up the side of the slight hill that contained the riverbed 136 00:09:30,753 --> 00:09:35,733 where he saw more flickering lights to his left, the west plains where the dried-up 137 00:09:35,773 --> 00:09:40,353 river had once led. Perhaps some outlanders were raiding for food. 138 00:09:40,893 --> 00:09:42,433 It was always a possibility. 139 00:09:43,173 --> 00:09:46,193 Velo crested the ridge and stumbled in shock. 140 00:09:46,593 --> 00:09:51,453 In the distance, nearly reaching to the horizon were dozens, no, hundreds, 141 00:09:51,713 --> 00:09:55,053 of campfires. It was an outlander army. 142 00:09:55,433 --> 00:09:59,833 There were so many that it seemed likely that it was the entirety of the outlander 143 00:09:59,913 --> 00:10:02,153 forces. "By the gods." 144 00:10:02,813 --> 00:10:06,533 The outlanders were marching on Ness via the southern plains. 145 00:10:07,133 --> 00:10:12,073 They would have a tough time with the wall, but it wouldn't take long for them to reach the great gate, 146 00:10:12,253 --> 00:10:16,793 and with the knights defending the lower quarter from the rangers and at the Harvest 147 00:10:16,853 --> 00:10:20,133 Guild, the outlanders could swarm into Ness. 148 00:10:20,973 --> 00:10:25,233 To make matters worse, he couldn't rush to the gate to warn the knights. 149 00:10:25,573 --> 00:10:28,873 He was now their enemy, and they wouldn't believe him. 150 00:10:29,573 --> 00:10:34,473 He turned and looked at the dark, almost black wall that extended south of the Great 151 00:10:34,513 --> 00:10:36,993 River. The thieves manned the wall there. 152 00:10:37,433 --> 00:10:40,933 Raylan had somehow exited Ness on his missions from there. 153 00:10:41,473 --> 00:10:42,973 Did they have their own gate? 154 00:10:43,613 --> 00:10:46,473 He would gallop there in the hopes of alerting the thieves. 155 00:10:47,593 --> 00:10:51,213 Velo rushed back to his horse only to find him missing. 156 00:10:51,873 --> 00:10:56,633 Did he wander off? As he started to look upstream, a man with 157 00:10:56,653 --> 00:11:00,573 hair so pale it glowed in the moonlight stepped in front of him. 158 00:11:00,573 --> 00:11:04,073 "I'm afraid your journey has come to an end, ranger." 159 00:11:04,773 --> 00:11:07,493 He pulled a long, curved knife from a sheath. 160 00:11:09,253 --> 00:11:13,433 Rafe didn't travel up to the balcony on the top of the Thief's Tower very often. 161 00:11:13,813 --> 00:11:18,113 It seemed to be more like Raylan's place to stand and ponder what he had to do. 162 00:11:18,473 --> 00:11:22,633 But with Raylan gone, Rafe felt like that was his role now, 163 00:11:23,293 --> 00:11:23,953 to stand, 164 00:11:24,573 --> 00:11:25,433 to ponder, 165 00:11:26,053 --> 00:11:29,833 and despite no desire to do so, 166 00:11:30,773 --> 00:11:31,533 to lead. 167 00:11:32,473 --> 00:11:37,233 He thought back to that night not even that long ago of he and Raylan 168 00:11:37,293 --> 00:11:40,073 smiling at the lights twinkling in the Flats. 169 00:11:40,653 --> 00:11:43,973 They assumed that they were fires lit in celebration. 170 00:11:44,533 --> 00:11:46,493 It turned out it was the opposite. 171 00:11:47,353 --> 00:11:51,313 Rafe looked out now on a city bathed in darkness. 172 00:11:51,933 --> 00:11:56,893 The Flats were a shadow. The Upper Triangle was muted with little but the 173 00:11:56,953 --> 00:12:01,653 gas streetlights indicating life. He even looked out beyond the 174 00:12:01,733 --> 00:12:03,573 wall and the great plains. 175 00:12:04,253 --> 00:12:08,933 He had no illusions as to his future. There would be no more poring over 176 00:12:08,993 --> 00:12:12,533 delightful books. There would be no more research. 177 00:12:13,133 --> 00:12:17,593 He would be leading the most hated guild in Ness, one which Polo had 178 00:12:17,633 --> 00:12:20,753 politely said would soon cease to exist. 179 00:12:21,413 --> 00:12:26,393 Rafe turned from the balcony. Ness was no longer burning, but it was 180 00:12:26,473 --> 00:12:27,873 shrouded in darkness. 181 00:12:27,873 --> 00:12:50,833 (dramatic music) 182 00:12:52,953 --> 00:12:54,053 A Podcast Alchemy 183 00:12:54,093 --> 00:13:05,233 production.