1 00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,979 The Thieves Guild, 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,759 by Jake Kerr. 3 00:00:12,819 --> 00:00:14,899 Episode 128: 4 00:00:16,379 --> 00:00:18,079 Karch and Vesper. 5 00:00:23,939 --> 00:00:28,559 Karch sat across Larsen's former desk in Larsen's former office, 6 00:00:28,859 --> 00:00:33,099 facing the young snot who Karch was sure had killed Larsen. 7 00:00:33,639 --> 00:00:38,279 Carris looked annoyed as he leaned on a pile of papers that Karch was sure 8 00:00:38,279 --> 00:00:40,879 probably needed his signature days ago. 9 00:00:41,599 --> 00:00:46,539 The large window overlooking Founders Park was covered with wooden slats, 10 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:49,479 and the room was lit with several gas lamps. 11 00:00:49,879 --> 00:00:54,579 The flickering light only made the surrounding mess look even more chaotic. 12 00:00:54,579 --> 00:00:59,159 "You seem overwhelmed." That only seemed to annoy the boy more. 13 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:02,039 "Overwhelmed? Of course I'm overwhelmed. 14 00:01:02,479 --> 00:01:07,159 My uncle keeps asking me to calm down the guild members, but how am I to do that with assassins running 15 00:01:07,199 --> 00:01:12,059 around? So I named one of my friends deputy guild master to help, but he just gets 16 00:01:12,199 --> 00:01:16,939 laughed at, and Uncle won't let me send guards to beat respect into those that do it because, in his 17 00:01:17,019 --> 00:01:19,359 words, 'We need to build trust.'" 18 00:01:19,999 --> 00:01:22,939 Carris shook his head. "But how am I to do that?" 19 00:01:23,779 --> 00:01:28,239 The youngster was getting angrier and angrier, and Karch had to suppress a 20 00:01:28,299 --> 00:01:31,739 smile. He wasn't so unlike Larsen after all. 21 00:01:32,399 --> 00:01:37,019 Carris pounded his fist onto the desk and a pile of papers fell onto the 22 00:01:37,039 --> 00:01:41,979 floor. That seemed to be the last straw, as Carris shoved the rest 23 00:01:41,999 --> 00:01:43,579 off his desk and stood up. 24 00:01:44,199 --> 00:01:47,719 Karch watched the entire display with a detached interest. 25 00:01:48,399 --> 00:01:53,099 Carris turned to pace, his nervous energy apparently needing some kind of 26 00:01:53,099 --> 00:01:54,059 physical outlet. 27 00:01:54,059 --> 00:01:59,019 "Your uncle sent me to help. As you know, I left as an enemy of Larsen to join 28 00:01:59,019 --> 00:02:03,079 the Knight Guild, and yet I have deep knowledge of this guild and its inner workings. 29 00:02:03,539 --> 00:02:04,319 In fact..." 30 00:02:05,199 --> 00:02:10,019 Karch tapped the desk and Carris stopped and looked down where Karch was 31 00:02:10,019 --> 00:02:14,059 tapping. "Larsen had me take care of all this quite annoying paperwork." 32 00:02:14,479 --> 00:02:19,079 Carris's eyes went wide, and his frustrated excitement changed to 33 00:02:19,179 --> 00:02:20,759 optimistic excitement. 34 00:02:20,759 --> 00:02:25,499 "You could handle all these things?" He waved at the papers that littered the 35 00:02:25,539 --> 00:02:26,579 desk and floor. 36 00:02:26,579 --> 00:02:27,779 "Indeed, I could." 37 00:02:27,779 --> 00:02:32,739 "Do you think the captains would listen to you and do the things that my uncle tells me to 38 00:02:32,819 --> 00:02:33,539 command them?" 39 00:02:33,539 --> 00:02:37,679 "We have a long history. They may not all like me, but they respect me." 40 00:02:38,379 --> 00:02:41,059 Karch couldn't believe how easy this was going. 41 00:02:41,479 --> 00:02:45,799 The boy didn't want to manage a guild. He wanted to just have the title. 42 00:02:46,399 --> 00:02:50,919 Oddly, Carris's shallow desire for the appearance of power without the 43 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,499 responsibility made Karch think of Raylan. 44 00:02:54,759 --> 00:02:59,699 The boy was considered a figurehead with the false trappings of power, when the 45 00:02:59,739 --> 00:03:02,279 reality was that he was leading a guild. 46 00:03:02,899 --> 00:03:07,659 It wasn't until this moment that Karch suddenly realized the enormity of what 47 00:03:07,739 --> 00:03:08,859 Pietro had built. 48 00:03:09,679 --> 00:03:14,179 Being powerful and hiding it was much more difficult than not being 49 00:03:14,279 --> 00:03:16,979 powerful and having people believe you are. 50 00:03:17,499 --> 00:03:22,039 It was a lesson Karch was determined not to forget, as it was 51 00:03:22,119 --> 00:03:24,219 critical in his current situation. 52 00:03:24,219 --> 00:03:28,819 "This is wonderful. I'll clear your old office and you can start 53 00:03:28,879 --> 00:03:33,839 working on this stuff. Then you can wander about and make all the captains happy." 54 00:03:33,839 --> 00:03:38,079 "I'm afraid it's not that simple, Guild Master." Carris frowned. 55 00:03:38,439 --> 00:03:40,999 He clearly wanted it to be that simple. 56 00:03:41,819 --> 00:03:45,039 Karch raised a hand. "There are traditions and symbols. 57 00:03:45,379 --> 00:03:50,159 You will need to name me Deputy Guild Master as Sax had named me Assistant Guild Master, and the 58 00:03:50,239 --> 00:03:54,239 guilds won't think positively of me returning to the guild in a lesser role. 59 00:03:54,599 --> 00:03:57,799 It will not make sense to them, and thus they won't trust me." 60 00:03:57,799 --> 00:03:59,399 "Of course, of course." 61 00:04:00,039 --> 00:04:03,779 Carris sat down. His excitement was palpable. 62 00:04:03,779 --> 00:04:07,759 "I'll demote Bobby to some other role. He won't really care. 63 00:04:08,019 --> 00:04:10,559 He didn't like how he was treated as a deputy anyway." 64 00:04:10,559 --> 00:04:13,079 "It is indeed a challenging job." 65 00:04:13,079 --> 00:04:14,279 "When can you start?" 66 00:04:14,279 --> 00:04:19,239 "Why, I can start now, Guild Master. Both Guild Master Sax and Orion were rather keen 67 00:04:19,239 --> 00:04:20,939 on my doing all these things to help you." 68 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:25,779 "Fantastic." Carris looked like he had just won the grand prize on 69 00:04:25,859 --> 00:04:26,639 Founders Day. 70 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:31,379 "There is more however. I will need your guild seal." Carris looked down at the 71 00:04:31,459 --> 00:04:36,019 Guild Master's ring on his finger. He looked up, suspicion clouding his 72 00:04:36,099 --> 00:04:36,499 face. 73 00:04:36,499 --> 00:04:37,499 "Why? 74 00:04:38,119 --> 00:04:42,919 This is what signifies I'm the Guild Master." With the subtlety of politics 75 00:04:42,939 --> 00:04:47,099 experienced his entire life, Karch shrugged nonchalantly. 76 00:04:47,099 --> 00:04:50,939 "It is the title investments, and your name that make you the Guild Master. 77 00:04:51,459 --> 00:04:56,159 Can you imagine the insult if you were to wander the guild, and someone were to claim you weren't the Guild 78 00:04:56,179 --> 00:04:59,019 Master simply for not wearing a ring?" 79 00:04:59,779 --> 00:05:04,439 Carris's arrogance clearly gave him pause as he considered Karch's 80 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:09,299 words. Of course no one would question his leadership just because of the ring. 81 00:05:09,799 --> 00:05:13,179 Karch continued, sealing the foolish boy's fate. 82 00:05:13,179 --> 00:05:15,419 "But if you'd rather not, I understand. 83 00:05:15,819 --> 00:05:20,679 Larsen had me hold the ring for him, as it was required to deal with all this paperwork, and he 84 00:05:20,739 --> 00:05:25,239 loathed such annoying details." Karch leaned back, looking totally 85 00:05:25,259 --> 00:05:29,299 relaxed. "But I understand if you want to keep the ring and manage the paperwork. 86 00:05:29,539 --> 00:05:32,279 After all, it is one of the duties of the Guild Master." 87 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:37,119 "No, do as you did with Larsen." Carris couldn't pull the ring 88 00:05:37,139 --> 00:05:40,019 off fast enough. He handed it to Karch. 89 00:05:40,019 --> 00:05:44,759 "I will inform Guild Master Sax and Orion of the change, as well as the captains." 90 00:05:45,319 --> 00:05:48,959 Karch paused as he slipped the ring into a pocket in his vest. 91 00:05:48,959 --> 00:05:53,619 "Unless you would like to write the messages and deliver them yourself." 92 00:05:53,619 --> 00:05:56,899 "No, please take care of all this tiresome business. 93 00:05:57,159 --> 00:06:01,699 I'll have the guild correspondence delivered to your office, and tell the captains to report to you. 94 00:06:02,239 --> 00:06:03,279 Is there anything else?" 95 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,079 "No, Guild Master. That is 96 00:06:05,139 --> 00:06:10,129 enough."Allard's mission turned out to be one of 97 00:06:10,149 --> 00:06:12,989 the easiest ones Vesper had ever been given. 98 00:06:13,250 --> 00:06:18,209 Whipping the Harvest Guild members into hatred of the other guilds took little effort 99 00:06:18,249 --> 00:06:23,069 when the other guilds were active participants or passive watchers of the horrible 100 00:06:23,149 --> 00:06:27,870 crimes against their guild. In fact, after he visited a small 101 00:06:27,989 --> 00:06:32,770 pub between Harvest House and the outer fields, Vesper embraced a new 102 00:06:32,829 --> 00:06:36,869 mission, and this one would be much, much more difficult. 103 00:06:37,169 --> 00:06:41,130 But it was one he was doing for himself, and that felt good. 104 00:06:41,749 --> 00:06:46,250 He sat over a drink, having chatted with the bartender about the evils of 105 00:06:46,269 --> 00:06:51,089 Orion letting Larson and Sachs overrun the lower quarter, when a 106 00:06:51,129 --> 00:06:53,690 young guard slid into the seat next to him. 107 00:06:54,030 --> 00:06:58,690 The young man ordered a drink, and when the bartender served him, the guard 108 00:06:58,729 --> 00:07:02,609 relaxed into conversation after a hearty swig of ale. 109 00:07:02,929 --> 00:07:05,809 Has the news reached here of Allard, the Thieves Guild deputy? 110 00:07:05,809 --> 00:07:10,689 The bartender shook his head, and Vesper's attention turned to the young 111 00:07:10,749 --> 00:07:15,489 man. Why would he be mentioning Allard, and what news could it 112 00:07:15,509 --> 00:07:15,829 be? 113 00:07:15,829 --> 00:07:20,429 He was captured by our guild mates, and when he was brought before Guild Master Polo, he 114 00:07:20,449 --> 00:07:21,689 imprisoned him in the mines. 115 00:07:21,689 --> 00:07:25,509 Aye, 'tis a good punishment for that traitor. 116 00:07:25,769 --> 00:07:27,109 Killing him would be too kind. 117 00:07:27,109 --> 00:07:30,249 I agree, but that is not why I share the story. 118 00:07:30,249 --> 00:07:35,149 The young man took another drink and looked around like he was sharing a secret, 119 00:07:35,549 --> 00:07:38,549 even though he was speaking to two strangers. 120 00:07:38,549 --> 00:07:41,529 One of our guild members had an audience with Polo. 121 00:07:41,789 --> 00:07:44,509 The rumor is that he carried a message from the guild master thief. 122 00:07:44,509 --> 00:07:49,109 At the mention of the guild master thief, Vesper focused all his 123 00:07:49,109 --> 00:07:53,329 attention on the story. If the young man didn't share more details, 124 00:07:53,709 --> 00:07:55,609 Vesper would coax them out of him. 125 00:07:55,609 --> 00:07:59,969 The miscreant, Raylan. I heard he was killed by a blade in the wretched 126 00:08:00,049 --> 00:08:00,609 quarter. 127 00:08:01,029 --> 00:08:05,809 Vesper intruded in the conversation in the typical way found in taverns across the 128 00:08:05,829 --> 00:08:09,209 lands. He just spoke up after leaning in. 129 00:08:09,729 --> 00:08:14,669 The same. He is presumably hiding in the wretched quarter, and I assume is in desperate straits with our 130 00:08:14,709 --> 00:08:18,289 guild members now there. He must badly need Allard, and thus the message. 131 00:08:18,289 --> 00:08:21,189 A foolish boy will always be a foolish boy. 132 00:08:22,089 --> 00:08:24,629 Why would he think Guild Master Polo would listen to him? 133 00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:28,289 At that question, the young guild member laughed. 134 00:08:28,289 --> 00:08:31,449 I don't know, but do you want to know the amusing part? 135 00:08:31,669 --> 00:08:35,509 Both bartender and Vesper nodded without saying anything. 136 00:08:36,289 --> 00:08:39,809 Polo was so offended, he sent my friend, George, with a message to the mines. 137 00:08:40,149 --> 00:08:44,149 Waving for another drink from the bartender, the young man continued. 138 00:08:44,149 --> 00:08:46,769 The message is an order for Allard's execution. 139 00:08:46,769 --> 00:08:49,509 The boy laughed, as did the bartender. 140 00:08:50,029 --> 00:08:53,889 Vesper smiled, but his mind was already assessing the situation. 141 00:08:54,229 --> 00:08:54,509 Ha, 142 00:08:55,129 --> 00:09:00,049 that's a good one. Threaten Polo to free the traitor, and Polo responds by killing him. 143 00:09:00,789 --> 00:09:02,149 Good on you, Guild Master. 144 00:09:03,089 --> 00:09:06,349 I assume this friend of yours is on a swift horse and well-armed. 145 00:09:06,829 --> 00:09:08,389 This is an important mission. 146 00:09:09,089 --> 00:09:13,789 His horse is fast, but he is traveling along Harvest Road, and we all know what that's like. 147 00:09:14,429 --> 00:09:19,149 Vesper laughed with the other two, but he did not know enough of the upper quarter 148 00:09:19,409 --> 00:09:24,229 to know why it was humorous. Luckily, the bartender once again added 149 00:09:24,229 --> 00:09:25,969 his own brand of commentary. 150 00:09:26,429 --> 00:09:31,329 The violence has left the wagons to the silo district so backed up that it would probably be faster 151 00:09:31,349 --> 00:09:33,009 for your friend to climb the mountain. 152 00:09:33,009 --> 00:09:34,749 Indeed, my friend. 153 00:09:35,729 --> 00:09:40,009 I have time, Vesper thought, and his plan came together. 154 00:09:40,569 --> 00:09:45,309 All he had to do was find this George, kill him, take his position, 155 00:09:45,569 --> 00:09:50,329 and make his way to the mines, deliver the message, and then free Allard 156 00:09:50,369 --> 00:09:51,389 once inside. 157 00:09:51,389 --> 00:09:55,369 Certainly, George will be let through with such an important mission. 158 00:09:55,449 --> 00:09:56,929 I assume he is a captain. 159 00:09:57,429 --> 00:10:00,929 Nay, he is not yet a captain. He isn't even well-known to the miners. 160 00:10:00,929 --> 00:10:03,069 Then why send him on this mission? 161 00:10:03,069 --> 00:10:05,769 I'm not sure, but I have an idea. 162 00:10:05,769 --> 00:10:10,549 The bartender slid another drink in front of the young man, who still 163 00:10:10,609 --> 00:10:11,909 hadn't shared his name. 164 00:10:11,909 --> 00:10:14,689 Come on now, don't hold your tongue. 165 00:10:15,389 --> 00:10:16,509 You've shared enough already. 166 00:10:17,329 --> 00:10:20,069 You may as well make us enjoy this final part of your story. 167 00:10:20,069 --> 00:10:24,669 George is an axeman, and has implied to me that he has a dark but important role with the guild. 168 00:10:24,669 --> 00:10:26,069 Is he the blade? 169 00:10:27,069 --> 00:10:28,749 The bartender leaned forward. 170 00:10:28,749 --> 00:10:31,489 Nay, I believe he's the guild executioner. 171 00:10:31,709 --> 00:10:33,909 He travels with a mighty blade attached to his back. 172 00:10:33,909 --> 00:10:38,729 I didn't even know we had a guild executioner, but I see the need in these dark 173 00:10:38,809 --> 00:10:39,469 days. 174 00:10:40,129 --> 00:10:43,429 Vesper stood up and slid a few crowns across the bar. 175 00:10:43,429 --> 00:10:47,669 For my drink and the rest of the young storyteller's drinks for the night. 176 00:10:48,129 --> 00:10:49,149 Thank you, young one. 177 00:10:49,769 --> 00:10:54,469 Leaving effusive thanks and good wishes behind, Vesper exited the 178 00:10:54,569 --> 00:10:58,849 pub with one goal in mind: to kill an executioner. 179 00:10:59,389 --> 00:11:22,209 (instrumental music plays) 180 00:11:22,249 --> 00:11:24,009 A Podcast Alchemy production.