The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 134.
Three Interruptions.
"Everyone with a
brain had disappeared," Karch thought after he had made the rounds of the tower.
Patis was missing and rumored to be dead.
The captain of the Lower Quarter quietly slipped away some time after Larsen
died. The best that Karch could tell, the captain of the Upper Quarter
abandoned the Merchant Guild to join the Harvest Guild, and Karch
couldn't blame him.
About the only person of merit left was the man sitting in front of Karch's
desk at that moment,
old Dervish, the captain of the tower.
"Aye, things look bleak, sir."
Karch had always liked the old man. He was competent and had always stayed out
of Karch's way, just making sure that things ran well within the complex.
Part of his duties were the tower defenses, but that didn't mean much in the
past as everything was generally peaceful.
Now, however, it meant something. "How active is our support?"
Dervish had just told Karch that Trader's Bridge had been destroyed by the
Harvest Guild. On the one hand, Dervish was right.
Closing the only direct path to overrun the Upper Quarter was bleak.
But Karch also knew that if that failed, which he was fairly certain it would,
then the Harvest Guild would overwhelm the entire city by pure force of
numbers. "We were guarding the Great Bridge and just patrolling the Lower Quarter.
That's pretty much all we're doing. The captain that young Kerris put in charge is one of
his friends, and seems more intent on looking tough as he wanders among the deserted and
burned down houses than providing any real support."
Larsen nodded. "What about the Knights and craft guards?" "It looks like
guild masters Sax and Orion emptied their barracks for their assault on the Upper Quarter.
Now they're just milling about, not sure what to do.
I have not heard about any new orders." "And there is no expectation that we are to join
them?" "I believe the intent is for us to guard the Lower Quarter,
although they haven't said anything specific,
at least not that I've heard."
Karch leaned back in his chair. This was good news.
The entire Merchant Guild seemed to have been forgotten now that Larsen did all his
damage. Karch was sure that a reckoning was coming when this was all over
and that Polo and Sax would use the entire guild as the one to take the fall
for this civil war. "What do you think, Dervish?
We seem to have freedom to do what we want, but the ability to do very little."
It was at that point that the most unbelievable and stunning moment in
Karch's life occurred, and that was saying a lot for someone who spent most of his
adult life as Larsen's deputy.
There was a loud knock on his office door, and without him even acknowledging the
interruption, the door was thrown open and a guard rushed in.
"Sir, the Rangers have joined with the Harvest Guild.
They have taken the Night Watch and are marching on Night Tower."
Karch's immediate instinct was to laugh.
He didn't know Quinto well, but it was pretty clear he didn't like Sax.
Quinto was serious and competent. Sax was a drunken idiot.
"How far have they progressed on the wall?" "We don't know.
The Rangers are staying out of sight.
We feared they would rain arrows down on us, but they are presumably focusing on attaining the
Night Guild Tower." "You dolt. There is no reason for them to rain arrows
down on normal citizens."
Karch thought for a moment. "Quinto aims to kill Sax and take the guild.
He doesn't care about anything else."
Yes, Karch thought, this is all making sense.
The future alignment of the city was starting to take shape.
Quinto would lead the Knights. Karch would lead the Merchants.
It was the in-between steps that were unknown and treacherous.
It was as he was thinking this that another guard burst through the half-open
door to his office. He was covered in dirt and sweat.
"What the hell is going on?" "Sir, the Thieves and Harvest Guild members are pouring
over the Great Bridge. They have overwhelmed our guards there." "By the gods."
Karch couldn't help but smile as he turned to Dervish.
"You weren't lying when you said things were bleak." He turned back to the guard who
just arrived. "Do you have any more information?
Are they heading toward the Knight forces at Trader's Bridge?" Such a battle would be bloody
and horrific. Well-armed and trained mounted knights and guards
against hordes of pathetic yet desperate people coming from the Wretched Quarter.
"No, sir. I came as soon as our guards were overwhelmed." Karch didn't have time
enough to think over his options when the final interruption that made this day the
most stunning of his life occurred. Gril, the missing captain of
the Lower Quarter, rushed in. He was wearing the brown of the guildless,
which was shocking enough, but he also was filthy and smelled of
manure. "Sir, I don't know who else to alert." Gril nearly
stumbled to Karch's desk. "The Outlanders have breached the great gate.
They came in fast and overwhelmed the knights before they could close the gate." Karch
stood up. "Did you say Outlanders?" He couldn't believe what he was
hearing. He also took in Gril's look.
"My gods, Gril, what has happened to you?""And how do you know this?"
"I left the guild due to Larsen's villainy.
I couldn't take it anymore."
Grill held his chin up. He was proud, that was clear.
"I was just outside the gate, heading out to join the Rangers, when I saw the Outlanders
rushing toward the city in a great force.
I tried to warn the Knights, but they called me guildless and laughed."
Pacing back and forth, Karch waved to the bedraggled group
in front of him. "All of you, sit. I need to consider our options."
The Rangers had taken the wall to attack the Knights at their tower.
The homeless Harvest Guild members and thieves had crossed the Great Bridge and were
presumably heading up the Thruway to attack the Knights and Craft guards.
This was all happening while the Outlanders were storming the city.
Meanwhile, the city's largest force of people that could be called on to defend
against the Outlanders were trapped behind a felled bridge.
It was chaos, total and utter chaos.
"Dervish."
"Yes, sir."
"We know too little.
Gather all your guards and however many Guild members you can and retreat into the tower.
Close and lock the gate and have your forces man all the other doors into the tower buildings.
Block them with heavy items. We're to hold up here until we know more.
You." Karch pointed to the guard that had warned him of the Rangers.
"Head to the warehouse district and find out what is happening with the Rangers, if you can.
I want to know how much progress they have made and if they are still clashing with the Knights.
You." Karch pointed to the guard that came from the Great Bridge.
"Find out where the Harvest Guild and thieves are moving.
The Outlanders are very close, so I would expect them to be diverted to them, but I need to know
for sure."
Both guards rushed out. "And, Grill, for the gods' sake, get cleaned up and wear the blue.
I need you to travel to Traders' Bridge and let the forces know that we are under attack from the
Outlanders."
"Yes, sir."
Grill departed, and Dervish stood up.
"I'll secure the tower, sir. Anything else?"
Karch stopped his pacing and looked at the old captain. "No, Dervish.
Just make sure no one can get in, and that includes anyone from the Craft Guild, including
Orion."
"Even Guildmaster Orion, sir?"
"Especially Orion." Karch strapped on his ceremonial dagger
with the blue inlaid hilt and pulled on his blue cloak.
"I need to have an important meeting with his nephew."
At that same moment, Vilhelm stood atop his mighty horse and smiled.
His forces were streaming into Ness, the crown jewel and curse of his
people's existence. Soon, he would rule the city and its abundant
supplies of food and ore.
He should perhaps not have been surprised at the little resistance the Knights gave.
They were fat and lazy, and the feared Rangers were far to the north.
By the time Ness knew what was happening, he would have crushed them.
A cry came from his right.
A rider was approaching on a galloping horse.
He was desperately holding onto the horse with one hand while waving his other,
pointing off to the foothills near the haunted part of Ness.
Vilhelm grumbled. He did not need to be dealing with his flank guards being
spooked by ghosts.
(instrumental music plays)
A Podcast Alchemy production.
(liquid bubbling)