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 00:00:12,899 --> 00:00:15,100 Episode 133: 4 00:00:18,659 --> 00:00:20,559 To Kill the Killer. 5 00:00:24,139 --> 00:00:28,839 Vesper didn't have much to go on other than the executioner would have a large 6 00:00:28,879 --> 00:00:33,799 axe. He had seen executions in Executioner's Hollow, some of 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,880 which made him smile as he watched the blade fall. 8 00:00:37,819 --> 00:00:42,360 An executioner's axe was large, unwieldy and ornate. 9 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,659 It was useless for all but one thing, 10 00:00:46,279 --> 00:00:48,380 separating a head from its body. 11 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:54,360 Such an axe would be easy to identify, but finding the person with that 12 00:00:54,379 --> 00:00:56,639 axe was another thing entirely. 13 00:00:57,379 --> 00:01:01,499 Harvest Road was a chaotic mess of people not sure what to do. 14 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,500 They led wagons for deliveries to the Warehouse District, but the fires 15 00:01:06,719 --> 00:01:10,940 and emptying of the quarter, led to unanswerable questions. 16 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,099 Who is even there to receive the shipments? 17 00:01:14,679 --> 00:01:18,399 With the quarter emptied, were shipments even necessary? 18 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:23,899 When the fires started, everything fell apart, but the Outer and Inner 19 00:01:23,940 --> 00:01:26,860 Fields and the mines never stopped. 20 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,760 All those materials and food stuff and ore had to go somewhere, and 21 00:01:32,819 --> 00:01:37,679 currently, as Vesper struggled with his horse in the midst of it, that 22 00:01:37,779 --> 00:01:40,380 appeared to be stalled in roads and alleys. 23 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,480 Unlike the polite and diligent workers, Vesper knocked people over, 24 00:01:45,779 --> 00:01:50,240 yelled at wagon drivers, and wasn't afraid to unsheathe his dagger. 25 00:01:50,899 --> 00:01:55,720 With no concerns other than figuring out what was happening, most people were happy to get 26 00:01:55,759 --> 00:02:00,419 out of the way of the crazy or enraged guild member on the dappled horse. 27 00:02:01,179 --> 00:02:06,039 Vesper was looking for a young guild member on a single horse heading toward the 28 00:02:06,099 --> 00:02:11,039 mines. He would have a large axe strapped to the horse or most likely his 29 00:02:11,099 --> 00:02:15,719 back. The executioner would clearly do his best to make diligent and 30 00:02:15,839 --> 00:02:20,099 urgent progress while not hurrying and drawing unnecessary attention. 31 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,919 With that in mind, his head start seemed like something Vesper could 32 00:02:24,939 --> 00:02:29,899 overcome. Shortcuts were out of the question, as at any point, he may 33 00:02:30,039 --> 00:02:31,619 miss the executioner. 34 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,359 Harvest Bridge, the bridge over the South Fork that separated the Upper 35 00:02:37,419 --> 00:02:41,919 Quarter from the plateau that was home to the Inner Fields and the road to the 36 00:02:41,999 --> 00:02:46,179 mines, was as far south as Vesper had ever traveled. 37 00:02:46,779 --> 00:02:51,399 It wasn't as large as Trader's Bridge over the North Fork, but it was still a large bridge. 38 00:02:51,899 --> 00:02:54,119 The South Fork was a challenging river. 39 00:02:54,399 --> 00:02:59,299 It was smaller than the North Fork, but was much more violent with the flow of water 40 00:02:59,419 --> 00:03:04,359 coming out from the mountain via a raging waterfall that fed the lush inner 41 00:03:04,379 --> 00:03:05,779 and outer fields. 42 00:03:06,619 --> 00:03:11,499 The bridge was essentially blocked with wagons askew, as their owners argued with 43 00:03:11,539 --> 00:03:16,059 those in front. All the while, more wagons pushed forward from the back. 44 00:03:16,539 --> 00:03:18,959 Moving across on foot would be challenging. 45 00:03:19,139 --> 00:03:22,679 Moving across on horseback would be impossible. 46 00:03:23,519 --> 00:03:28,179 Vesper dismounted and slapped the horse he had stolen back near Harvest House on the 47 00:03:28,219 --> 00:03:28,659 flank. 48 00:03:29,319 --> 00:03:32,679 He had barely stepped on the bridge when he saw his quarry. 49 00:03:33,519 --> 00:03:38,119 He was young, and there was a huge and ornate axe strapped across his 50 00:03:38,179 --> 00:03:38,599 back. 51 00:03:39,259 --> 00:03:42,879 But what Vesper noticed most was how massive he was. 52 00:03:43,419 --> 00:03:48,199 The young man was as tall as a tree, and looked like he had spent his entire youth 53 00:03:48,419 --> 00:03:50,879 loading heavy bags of grain in the fields. 54 00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:55,919 Vesper's plan was to find a hidden location and dispatch the young 55 00:03:55,959 --> 00:03:58,539 executioner there, taking his gear. 56 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:04,339 That now seemed impossible in the midst of the crowds on the bridge, and 57 00:04:04,379 --> 00:04:09,319 not knowing the Silo District well, Vesper feared a larger presence of 58 00:04:09,399 --> 00:04:10,059 guards. 59 00:04:10,739 --> 00:04:15,659 The thought of guards gave Vesper a new idea, although it would require him to kill a 60 00:04:15,699 --> 00:04:19,639 few more people, which was a thought that didn't bother him at all. 61 00:04:20,119 --> 00:04:24,739 He could see that he could navigate through the crowds faster than the executioner, 62 00:04:25,159 --> 00:04:29,539 so rather than confront him, he made his way past him. 63 00:04:30,419 --> 00:04:35,339 As he expected, there was a small guard post that stood between the bridge and 64 00:04:35,379 --> 00:04:40,319 the Silo District. Thankfully it was mostly for keeping order on the flow onto 65 00:04:40,339 --> 00:04:44,779 the bridge, as the bulk of security would be guarding the silos, 66 00:04:44,999 --> 00:04:47,119 warehouses, and docks. 67 00:04:47,779 --> 00:04:52,499 There were two guards watching the chaos in front of them, clearly having given up on 68 00:04:52,539 --> 00:04:55,839 creating order out of the mess. "You there. 69 00:04:56,239 --> 00:05:00,539 I have a message from the Upper Quarter captain about what's happening on the other side of the bridge." 70 00:05:01,339 --> 00:05:05,419 Vesper motioned over his shoulder. The guards peered at Vesper. 71 00:05:05,419 --> 00:05:10,359 "Kahl? What does he want? He knows we can't get this under control, 72 00:05:10,359 --> 00:05:14,959 doesn't he?" "That's what he asked me to talk to you about." Vesper motioned 73 00:05:14,959 --> 00:05:18,479 toward the small stone building. "Can we talk privately?" 74 00:05:19,099 --> 00:05:21,619 The guard that mentioned Kahl shrugged. 75 00:05:21,619 --> 00:05:25,719 "Sure, but I'm telling you, this is not our fault." 76 00:05:26,759 --> 00:05:30,899 As he followed the guard, Vesper had already adjusted his plan. 77 00:05:31,459 --> 00:05:35,839 He had hoped that both would go with him, but he could handle them separately. 78 00:05:36,579 --> 00:05:39,839 He glanced at the bridge. He only had a few minutes. 79 00:05:40,299 --> 00:05:42,799 Vesper followed the guard into the building. 80 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,259 It was a single room with a desk and a sitting area. 81 00:05:46,619 --> 00:05:51,599 A few weapons were in storage cases. As Vesper expected, these were 82 00:05:51,599 --> 00:05:55,959 guards that were more used to dealing with drunkards than battle. 83 00:05:55,959 --> 00:05:59,059 "So what is this message?" 84 00:05:59,859 --> 00:06:04,519 Vesper's answer was a hand over the guard's mouth and a quick stab between his 85 00:06:04,539 --> 00:06:09,409 ribs from the side into his heart.The man struggled, but Vesper 86 00:06:09,409 --> 00:06:12,350 held tight until the man slumped to the floor. 87 00:06:12,969 --> 00:06:17,689 After dragging him behind the desk, Vesper returned to the other guard. 88 00:06:17,689 --> 00:06:21,509 Your colleague is telling me he's not responsible for Cale's problems. 89 00:06:21,969 --> 00:06:26,810 I tried to get him to provide me some details on the traffic sources, but he told me that you would 90 00:06:26,870 --> 00:06:27,429 know better. 91 00:06:27,429 --> 00:06:31,130 Vesper nodded his head toward the small building. 92 00:06:31,669 --> 00:06:33,489 The guard peered at Vesper. 93 00:06:33,509 --> 00:06:38,310 He knows more of that than I ever could. I just joined this rotation. 94 00:06:38,849 --> 00:06:41,189 The guard put his hand on his sword. 95 00:06:41,910 --> 00:06:43,169 Why would you lie? 96 00:06:43,169 --> 00:06:45,709 He glanced toward the guard building. 97 00:06:46,210 --> 00:06:47,249 Where is Gerald? 98 00:06:47,689 --> 00:06:52,509 Vesper didn't have time for subtlety, and in front of dozens of wagons 99 00:06:52,529 --> 00:06:57,409 and countless people milling about, shouting, and on edge, Vesper walked 100 00:06:57,429 --> 00:07:00,609 close and discreetly stabbed the guard in the heart. 101 00:07:01,149 --> 00:07:06,009 The guard tried to yell out, but naught but bubbly blood came from his 102 00:07:06,069 --> 00:07:06,489 mouth. 103 00:07:07,529 --> 00:07:11,389 Vesper quickly grabbed the guard's arm and pulled it over his shoulder. 104 00:07:11,389 --> 00:07:14,349 Make way. Look out. The guard is ill. 105 00:07:14,950 --> 00:07:16,869 Vesper dragged him into the building. 106 00:07:17,209 --> 00:07:21,289 Moments later, he emerged with one of the guard's cloaks and weapons. 107 00:07:22,249 --> 00:07:27,049 Vesper had cut it close, as shortly afterward, the executioner rushed 108 00:07:27,109 --> 00:07:30,389 from the bridge. Vesper rushed out in front of him. 109 00:07:30,669 --> 00:07:32,489 Halt. What is your business? 110 00:07:32,489 --> 00:07:36,990 Get out of my way, guard. I'm on urgent business for 111 00:07:37,090 --> 00:07:38,629 Guildmaster Polo. 112 00:07:38,629 --> 00:07:43,390 The executioner went to walk around Vesper, but Vesper 113 00:07:43,449 --> 00:07:48,109 drew his sword with one hand and pushed the executioner back with the other. 114 00:07:48,969 --> 00:07:53,689 One man with a mighty weapon moves in one direction while the entire guild moves in the other. 115 00:07:54,189 --> 00:07:55,989 Does that not sound suspicious to you? 116 00:07:55,989 --> 00:08:00,450 The question gave the executioner pause until he finally 117 00:08:00,550 --> 00:08:00,989 nodded. 118 00:08:00,989 --> 00:08:04,830 Indeed. I understand. You are simply doing your job. 119 00:08:05,469 --> 00:08:07,970 I have orders I can share with you, but... 120 00:08:08,429 --> 00:08:10,469 The executioner looked around. 121 00:08:10,469 --> 00:08:12,809 I would prefer to do it in private. 122 00:08:13,749 --> 00:08:16,190 Come to the guard house. We can talk there. 123 00:08:16,890 --> 00:08:20,830 They entered the guard house with Vesper closing the door behind them. 124 00:08:22,009 --> 00:08:26,569 Shortly afterward, Vesper exited the building wearing a decorative cloak 125 00:08:26,909 --> 00:08:31,629 with a barely visible bloodstain at its hem and a mighty ax that was so 126 00:08:31,709 --> 00:08:34,470 long its end bounced on the ground behind him. 127 00:08:35,090 --> 00:08:39,089 He turned and looked up toward the dark entrance to the mines. 128 00:08:39,489 --> 00:08:42,749 He had handwritten orders from Guildmaster Polo. 129 00:08:43,009 --> 00:08:47,489 He had the Cloak of the Executioner. He had the executioner's ax. 130 00:08:48,129 --> 00:08:52,470 His entrance to the mines and access to Alad were all but assured. 131 00:08:53,349 --> 00:08:54,750 He had a way in. 132 00:08:55,929 --> 00:08:58,730 All he had to do was figure a way out. 133 00:08:58,730 --> 00:09:21,129 (dramatic music plays) 134 00:09:21,129 --> 00:09:22,569 A Podcast Alchemy 135 00:09:22,609 --> 00:09:40,349 production.