1
00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,900
The Thieves Guild

2
00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:05,860
by Jake Kerr

3
00:00:11,899 --> 00:00:14,539
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 76:

4
00:00:17,659 --> 00:00:19,979
A Three-Pronged Challenge.

5
00:00:23,819 --> 00:00:28,280
Orion was positively giddy when Vesper walked into
his office.

6
00:00:28,659 --> 00:00:32,980
He pushed his chair back, stood up, and walked
around to meet Vesper,

7
00:00:33,399 --> 00:00:38,100
something he rarely did. "Vesper. You don't look
worse for wear,

8
00:00:38,639 --> 00:00:41,200
especially having made it through the Wretched
Quarter."

9
00:00:42,259 --> 00:00:45,620
Vesper took Orion's outstretched hand and shook
it.

10
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,919
He was nervous about Orion's mood. Orion was
always well-liked and

11
00:00:50,979 --> 00:00:55,540
friendly in his dim-witted, happy-go-lucky role in
public, but his

12
00:00:55,619 --> 00:00:58,679
private persona was cruel and mercenary.

13
00:00:59,439 --> 00:01:04,419
If there wasn't an immediate goal achieved that
helped his interests, Orion wasn't the

14
00:01:04,419 --> 00:01:05,739
type to shake a hand.

15
00:01:05,739 --> 00:01:09,340
"You are kind to overlook my bruises and
weariness, Guildmaster."

16
00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:14,339
"Nonsense. You have done your job, and such is the
price you paid.

17
00:01:14,859 --> 00:01:16,500
You are better for it."

18
00:01:17,159 --> 00:01:22,079
Orion waved to the couch for Vesper to sit, an
honor he rarely bestowed on

19
00:01:22,119 --> 00:01:26,619
his Blade, even though he was Orion's most
valuable Guild member.

20
00:01:26,619 --> 00:01:28,519
"You did do your job,

21
00:01:29,139 --> 00:01:29,739
didn't you?"

22
00:01:30,420 --> 00:01:31,739
And there was the rub.

23
00:01:32,359 --> 00:01:37,199
Orion must have assumed from Vesper's presence
that he had succeeded in

24
00:01:37,220 --> 00:01:42,119
assassinating Relon. Vesper sat, wondering if his
news would be

25
00:01:42,179 --> 00:01:46,019
perceived better or worse than having succeeded in
his mission.

26
00:01:46,019 --> 00:01:50,659
"Alas, sir, I did not succeed in killing Relon,
but I have even more

27
00:01:50,739 --> 00:01:52,000
valuable information."

28
00:01:52,799 --> 00:01:55,359
Orion frowned, but didn't say anything.

29
00:01:55,359 --> 00:01:59,859
"This is going to sound unbelievable, but I assure
you that it is true.

30
00:02:00,339 --> 00:02:04,959
I traveled along the banks of the Great River, and
through the Ash Fields, to find this

31
00:02:05,019 --> 00:02:08,079
information which I witnessed with my own eyes."

32
00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:12,539
Orion nodded. "No need to exaggerate, Vesper.

33
00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:17,919
Larsen is digging his own grave, so there is
little that you can say regarding Relon that will
be

34
00:02:17,939 --> 00:02:19,959
worth more than my passing notice."

35
00:02:20,679 --> 00:02:24,419
Leaning back, Orion waved a hand. "Go on."

36
00:02:24,419 --> 00:02:29,199
"My first discovery is that the Wretched Quarter
is inhabited by guild

37
00:02:29,259 --> 00:02:33,979
members of all our guilds. People doing menial
jobs, and who can't afford to live in the

38
00:02:34,059 --> 00:02:36,399
flats, let alone the Lower Triangle."

39
00:02:36,399 --> 00:02:38,499
"Yes, yes, yes.

40
00:02:39,119 --> 00:02:39,859
I know this.

41
00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:45,079
This is why it's the Wretched Quarter. Our
wretched guild members live in the streets there.

42
00:02:45,559 --> 00:02:46,259
It is sad,

43
00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:48,239
but it is the way it is."

44
00:02:48,239 --> 00:02:52,959
"But I discovered they are not living in the
streets, and the Wretched Quarter is

45
00:02:52,959 --> 00:02:57,279
simply a facade. Behind the areas near the Great
Bridge are taverns,

46
00:02:57,559 --> 00:03:00,059
townhomes, and people living normally."

47
00:03:00,719 --> 00:03:03,539
Orion stared at Vesper as he continued.

48
00:03:03,539 --> 00:03:07,199
"I dare say the lodgings are similar to the Lower
Triangle."

49
00:03:08,299 --> 00:03:11,339
Better than the flats, Vesper thought.

50
00:03:11,339 --> 00:03:12,219
"But

51
00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:14,679
it is lawless,"

52
00:03:15,439 --> 00:03:19,379
Orion said, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.

53
00:03:19,379 --> 00:03:21,699
"It is overrun by thieves."

54
00:03:21,699 --> 00:03:25,819
"It is not lawless, and it is not overrun by
thieves.

55
00:03:26,199 --> 00:03:29,739
It is run by thieves, the Thieves Guild."

56
00:03:30,479 --> 00:03:35,439
With Orion's face frozen in shock, Vesper outlined
nearly everything he

57
00:03:35,479 --> 00:03:40,419
had seen. From the Black Knights manning the
walls, to the clean streets and

58
00:03:40,419 --> 00:03:45,319
taverns in the Old Quarter, to the organization of
the guild members in all the

59
00:03:45,359 --> 00:03:47,619
other guilds, including craftsmen.

60
00:03:48,279 --> 00:03:53,079
At that, Orion exploded in anger. "These vile
thieves have

61
00:03:53,099 --> 00:03:54,359
infiltrated my guild."

62
00:03:54,359 --> 00:03:58,379
"Sir, I'm afraid you don't grasp the gravity of
the situation.

63
00:03:58,719 --> 00:04:01,959
They have not infiltrated the guild, they are part
of the guild.

64
00:04:02,359 --> 00:04:05,339
They care for, feed, and shelter our guild
members."

65
00:04:05,939 --> 00:04:10,359
Orion sat silently, clenching his fists so tight

66
00:04:10,779 --> 00:04:15,679
his knuckles had turned white. "You are telling me
that Sachs' men do not

67
00:04:15,699 --> 00:04:18,159
patrol the wall south of the Great Gate?"

68
00:04:18,159 --> 00:04:19,779
"They do not."

69
00:04:19,779 --> 00:04:20,959
"That idiot.

70
00:04:21,579 --> 00:04:24,259
Has everyone lost their senses in this city?"

71
00:04:25,099 --> 00:04:29,659
Orion looked at Vesper. "Sachs' incompetence is
bad enough,

72
00:04:30,219 --> 00:04:32,179
but do you realize what Larsen has done?"

73
00:04:32,179 --> 00:04:34,219
"I'm afraid not, sir."

74
00:04:34,219 --> 00:04:38,599
"He has just sent the entire Harvest Guild into
the arms of those

75
00:04:38,699 --> 00:04:42,899
thieves. They will assist them, feed them, give
them homes.

76
00:04:43,239 --> 00:04:47,979
This vile guild of those that steal from my
warehouses will be seen as saviors."

77
00:04:48,559 --> 00:04:53,539
Orion's voice rose, and his anger was such that
spittle flew from his

78
00:04:53,599 --> 00:04:58,179
mouth as he shouted. "This is Allard's doing."
Orion took a

79
00:04:58,259 --> 00:05:03,099
breath, and was suddenly the calm Guildmaster that
people saw outside in

80
00:05:03,199 --> 00:05:07,239
Founders Park. "Do you know where Allard hides
himself?"

81
00:05:07,819 --> 00:05:11,499
Vesper immediately thought of the majestic Tower
of the Thieves.

82
00:05:11,499 --> 00:05:13,319
"I do not, sir."

83
00:05:14,119 --> 00:05:17,239
He also excluded Relon from the conversation.

84
00:05:17,739 --> 00:05:21,859
If he was going to look out for himself, he would
have to share information

85
00:05:21,939 --> 00:05:26,379
selectively, and exposing Relon and Allard did not
seem wise.

86
00:05:26,979 --> 00:05:31,419
Orion scratched his head. Vesper had never seen
him so thoughtful.

87
00:05:31,919 --> 00:05:36,679
Orion was different things to different people,
but Vesper had never seen him

88
00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,859
anything but decisive and commanding in
leadership.

89
00:05:40,139 --> 00:05:45,079
He tended to make smart decisions, but he always
seemed to make them by instinct.

90
00:05:45,599 --> 00:05:49,019
That Orion was thinking took Vesper aback.

91
00:05:49,019 --> 00:05:51,899
"This is now a three-pronged challenge for me.

92
00:05:52,199 --> 00:05:56,379
I'll need to manage Polo and his rage at Larsen. I
can't be lumped in with him.

93
00:05:56,879 --> 00:06:00,159
Similarly, I need to stop this madness of
Larsen's.

94
00:06:00,539 --> 00:06:02,359
I thought I could let him tie his own noose,

95
00:06:02,999 --> 00:06:07,919
but with the thieves welcoming hundreds of new
recruits, he is risking all

96
00:06:07,919 --> 00:06:12,177
of Ness."Peering at Vesper, Orion continued.

97
00:06:12,177 --> 00:06:15,557
"The final challenge is to confront these thieves.

98
00:06:15,997 --> 00:06:20,757
You have a new mission, Vesper. You are to return
to the Wretched Quarter, find where Allard is

99
00:06:20,797 --> 00:06:23,817
hiding, and then you are to assassinate him."

100
00:06:23,817 --> 00:06:28,698
"Sir, that may take me weeks. I will have to find
out the information and then achieve the

101
00:06:28,778 --> 00:06:32,837
formidable task of killing Allard. Do you think
this is wise or worth the effort?"

102
00:06:32,837 --> 00:06:36,797
Closing his eyes, Orion took a deep breath.

103
00:06:36,797 --> 00:06:41,718
"Do not disappoint me, Vesper. You can disguise
yourself as a Harvest

104
00:06:41,778 --> 00:06:46,618
Guild member. Larson's guild members will gladly
escort you to the Wretched Quarter, and

105
00:06:46,638 --> 00:06:49,157
from what you say, they will gladly take you in.

106
00:06:49,897 --> 00:06:53,778
All you need to do is find out where Allard is and
kill him."

107
00:06:53,778 --> 00:06:57,237
"As you wish, Guildmaster. Your words are wise."

108
00:06:57,237 --> 00:07:01,637
"Very good." Orion stood up. "I was wrong.

109
00:07:02,137 --> 00:07:05,577
You look awful. Get some rest tonight and head out
tomorrow.

110
00:07:05,997 --> 00:07:08,217
I want Allard dead as soon as possible."

111
00:07:08,217 --> 00:07:09,597
"Yes, sir."

112
00:07:10,357 --> 00:07:13,177
Vesper made his way out of Orion's office.

113
00:07:13,657 --> 00:07:17,337
Things were getting interesting, and he didn't
want interesting.

114
00:07:17,757 --> 00:07:22,598
He wanted clarity. Orion, who appeared to have
things under control when he

115
00:07:22,697 --> 00:07:27,298
first left for the Old Quarter, was now admitting
that he had a problem with both

116
00:07:27,357 --> 00:07:31,777
Harvest House and Larson thanks to the thieves'
unpredictable

117
00:07:31,818 --> 00:07:36,598
entrance into his plans. The thieves, on the other
hand, were

118
00:07:36,638 --> 00:07:41,437
bolstering their ranks, earning goodwill with the
refugees and

119
00:07:41,458 --> 00:07:45,637
probably earning thanks from Polo for helping his
guild members.

120
00:07:45,637 --> 00:07:49,598
"I need to head to the thieves' tower," Vesper
thought.

121
00:07:49,598 --> 00:07:54,257
"I'll provide information to Raylan and Allard and
see what they

122
00:07:54,297 --> 00:07:58,557
say. Depending on what I hear, I may have a new
mission

123
00:07:59,577 --> 00:08:01,077
or a bloody dagger."

124
00:08:05,157 --> 00:08:32,497
(dramatic music)