A Reluctant Guildmaster

[00:00:01] The Thieves Guild, by Jake Kerr, Episode 122. A Reluctant Guildmaster

[00:00:24] I'm not cut out for this.

[00:00:26] Rafe said the words more to himself than to Phyllos, whose towering presence stood before him.

[00:00:33] Rafe was sitting in Raylan's office and he was doing Guildmaster things with Allard missing and Raylan still away at the Outlanders.

[00:00:42] Or was Raylan missing? No one seemed to know.

[00:00:46] You are the apprentice Guildmaster and without a Guildmaster and assistant Guildmaster that makes you the person in charge.

[00:00:54] Phyllos' steady voice mirrored his countenance.

[00:00:57] Please sit. You're making me uncomfortable standing there at attention while I complain about being an acting Guildmaster.

[00:01:03] If you're going to listen to me complain about my life, you can at least do so in a less stiff manner.

[00:01:09] Is that an order?

[00:01:10] By the gods, Phyllos. Please just sit.

[00:01:13] Phyllos sat down but looked uncomfortable doing so.

[00:01:17] As Raylan's, and now presumably Rafe's, bodyguard, his job was to be alert at all times.

[00:01:24] It's just that I'm not sure what to do.

[00:01:27] Mio, the captain of the planes, travelled to the tower to personally outline his concerns.

[00:01:33] His sources in the Ranger Guild had informed him that Raylan had met with a Ranger captain named Jessa, who gave him an escort.

[00:01:42] After that, there was no information.

[00:01:45] Rafe couldn't figure out what was happening.

[00:01:49] Raylan had been gone too long for just delivering a message, and with the help of the Rangers, it seemed like his mission should even have been shorter.

[00:01:57] In their previous conversations, Raylan had mentioned that the Outlanders were simply looking to survive, and that he trusted their leader, Wilhelm.

[00:02:08] Mio seemed concerned, however, and that made Rafe even more nervous.

[00:02:12] Did Raylan die on the trip out, or back?

[00:02:16] Rafe didn't even know how dangerous the Outlands were.

[00:02:20] Could there be monsters?

[00:02:22] Perhaps even a dragon?

[00:02:24] Was Raylan imprisoned by the Outlanders?

[00:02:28] Rafe felt powerless with the lack of information.

[00:02:32] What are your options?

[00:02:33] Phyllos's steady voice broke Rafe out of his reverie.

[00:02:37] I don't know.

[00:02:38] Rafe dropped his head to the desktop.

[00:02:40] Why don't you start with what you would do to help a friend?

[00:02:44] The comment was a morning ray of light from the rising sun, turning a gloomy landscape into one bursting with awakening life.

[00:02:53] What would he do to help a friend?

[00:02:56] He raised his head to a new day.

[00:02:59] I would go out and search for my friend.

[00:03:01] Phyllos was going to say something, but Rafe held up his hand.

[00:03:05] But I can't do that, as I'm the acting guildmaster.

[00:03:08] So I would gather others to go look for him.

[00:03:11] Perhaps a number of small groups.

[00:03:12] One to follow his path, one to wander south of the Great Road and one to search north of the Great Road.

[00:03:17] And if the one following his path reaches Goutland without finding him?

[00:03:22] Then he is still there, and I will have to organize a diplomatic mission.

[00:03:25] One that hopefully has enough force to be taken seriously, but not so much to be seen as a threat.

[00:03:30] Phyllos nodded.

[00:03:32] I will relay this to Mio to organize.

[00:03:35] Rafe blinked.

[00:03:36] Did he just create a follow-up plan to find Raelynn?

[00:03:40] And was it a good one?

[00:03:42] Before Rafe could ponder what was happening, Phyllos broke in.

[00:03:45] Allard is missing.

[00:03:47] Rafe considered what he knew.

[00:03:49] When Allard hadn't returned, he sent word out to the captains.

[00:03:54] Kalos had replied with a message that Allard had sent Vesper on a mission to Harvest House.

[00:04:00] It seemed too risky to Rafe.

[00:04:02] He still didn't trust Vesper, but Allard was confident in his loyalty.

[00:04:07] And Rafe trusted Allard more than his own instincts.

[00:04:11] The meeting was in the warehouse district, and as far as Kalos knew, Allard was on his way back to the guild tower.

[00:04:19] He is out there. I don't want to disturb him if he is on a mission of his own.

[00:04:23] But it would be good to make sure he is okay.

[00:04:26] Phyllos nodded, a subtle encouragement to go on.

[00:04:30] But it would be good for us to confirm he is okay.

[00:04:32] Who is the captain of the lower quarter?

[00:04:34] Rogers now oversees the entire lower quarter after Mailer was named Blade by guildmaster Raelyn.

[00:04:40] I don't remember seeing a report from him.

[00:04:42] Rafe looked through a pile of messages on his desk.

[00:04:45] Some diligently printed, some hastily scribbled, all from the various captains.

[00:04:51] He is missing as well.

[00:04:54] By the gods, Phyllos.

[00:04:56] Rafe felt overwhelmed.

[00:04:58] He now had three key leaders in the guild missing.

[00:05:01] What would he do for a friend?

[00:05:04] Rafe sat up straight and looked Phyllos in the eye.

[00:05:08] The captains are overwhelmed.

[00:05:09] We need information from the thieves on the streets, in the alleys and hidden in buildings.

[00:05:14] Phyllos nodded.

[00:05:15] We need to focus on the lower quarter.

[00:05:17] Send out a group of thieves to investigate where Rogers and Allard were last seen.

[00:05:21] I don't care how many. Send however many can get the job done.

[00:05:24] It shall be done, sir.

[00:05:25] You don't have to call me, sir. You know I'm just the guild librarian.

[00:05:30] You're not acting like one.

[00:05:32] Phyllos smiled and stood up.

[00:05:34] Your orders are good ones. We must find out what is happening. A vacuum of guild leadership is dangerous.

[00:05:40] Phyllos walked toward the door, stopped and turned.

[00:05:44] Thankfully we don't have one in the tower.

[00:05:47] Before Rafe could reply, Phyllos exited the room and silently closed the door.

[00:05:53] Despite the commands and Phyllos' surprising compliment, Rafe still felt powerless.

[00:06:00] It was true that the captains had everything in order.

[00:06:03] The refugees in the old quarter were doing well, the lower quarter appeared stable,

[00:06:09] and Dirk didn't see any dire threats and felt guild defences were strong.

[00:06:15] So why did everything feel like it was on the edge of falling apart?

[00:06:19] Ugh, I'm not cut out for this.

[00:06:22] Rafe organized the various messages on Raylan's desk into a neat pile.

[00:06:28] He had barely finished when there was a firm knock on the door.

[00:06:32] Enter.

[00:06:33] Phyllos entered with a man Rafe didn't recognize.

[00:06:37] He was old, with a face darkened by a life in the sun.

[00:06:42] He wore the green of the Harvest Guild and strode in with the confidence of someone on a mission.

[00:06:48] Rafe stood up as Phyllos waved the man toward Rafe and the desk.

[00:06:54] The man spoke as he approached, while Phyllos stood close by with his hand on the pommel of his sword.

[00:07:01] I am told you are the acting guildmaster.

[00:07:04] He bowed.

[00:07:05] As the man stood at attention, Phyllos nodded to Rafe, taking up a position behind him.

[00:07:11] I am.

[00:07:13] Rafe waved at the seat.

[00:07:15] But no bows are necessary.

[00:07:17] I am not the true guildmaster.

[00:07:19] The man sat and leaned forward.

[00:07:21] I am Simpson, and I bear a message from Guildmaster Polo.

[00:07:25] The man could have said any number of things, but none of them would have stunned Rafe more than what he had just said.

[00:07:32] Guildmaster Polo has a message for the guildmaster thief.

[00:07:35] The man nodded and reached into a dusty vest.

[00:07:39] Phyllos tensed, but the man pulled out a parchment.

[00:07:43] I am to read it in your presence.

[00:07:44] We honor your guild and Guildmaster Polo.

[00:07:47] By all means, read his message.

[00:07:48] I am looking forward to it.

[00:07:50] Rafe tried to maintain a certain level of formality, but his own sense of wonder and enthusiasm couldn't help but sneak through.

[00:07:59] As Simpson read, Rafe couldn't help but hear Polo's voice behind the words.

[00:08:06] Guildmaster Raelynn, we live in troubling times.

[00:08:09] This letter is intended as a step to make those times less troubled.

[00:08:14] My loyal guild member Simpson, who stands before you, made me aware of your guild and your efforts to serve those of other guilds that suffer through neglect or inattention.

[00:08:25] I was unaware of this, which is a fault solely my own, and which is now corrected.

[00:08:31] Still, I cannot condone the methods of the thieves' guild as honorable as those intentions may have been.

[00:08:39] This letter is to inform you that things are changing.

[00:08:44] Ness is facing a horrible time, but we will prevail.

[00:08:47] And when we do, the thieves' guild will no longer be needed nor will it be tolerated to exist.

[00:08:55] However, until that time arrives, I will honor your goals, if not your methods.

[00:09:03] As such, I will not take any action against your guild.

[00:09:07] You are to continue with your current care for those displaced from the lower quarter.

[00:09:11] You are solely to assist them and do no more.

[00:09:15] Ness is facing a civil war.

[00:09:17] You can help most by not being involved and helping those that are innocent victims.

[00:09:22] How you manage this time will have a great bearing on how we manage the thieves' guild afterward.

[00:09:28] To that end, I have imprisoned Assistant Guildmaster Allard.

[00:09:32] I was inclined to have him executed for crimes against Ness,

[00:09:36] but I believe that his life will be an appropriate insurance that you comply with my demands.

[00:09:42] I will release him when the thieves' guild ceases to exist.

[00:09:45] How long that will take, I cannot say.

[00:09:47] I am sure that you have a captain in the lower quarter.

[00:09:51] As a show of good faith, you will have your captain report to my new captain of the lower quarter for guidance.

[00:09:59] Having them work together when the guild members return from the old quarter will be beneficial to all of us.

[00:10:05] His name is Rogers.

[00:10:08] You were a mischievous child, Raylan.

[00:10:11] I tolerated that out of respect for your family.

[00:10:14] I am glad I did, as it appears that you have brought a wisdom to the guild that I didn't think existed within you.

[00:10:20] Simpson has testified to that.

[00:10:23] Do not fall back on your former ways.

[00:10:28] Be wise.

[00:10:30] It is signed by Polo.

[00:10:32] Simpson handed the parchment to Rafe.

[00:10:35] Rafe looked it over and admired Polo's elegant script.

[00:10:39] It wouldn't have looked out of place in a book in the guild library.

[00:10:43] How am I to respond to this letter?

[00:10:46] You are not.

[00:10:47] Polo believes your actions will be all the response he needs.

[00:10:50] I am to return to the old quarter and spread this message to the guild members there.

[00:10:54] Rafe thought that over.

[00:10:57] Would sharing this message be good or bad for the thieves?

[00:11:00] Did he even have a choice?

[00:11:02] If Polo was correct and the entire goal of the thieves' guild,

[00:11:06] we take so we can give, was no longer necessary,

[00:11:10] then the guild's existence was unnecessary.

[00:11:15] And that thought led to a new one.

[00:11:18] They weren't really the thieves' guild anyway.

[00:11:21] They were the disguised magic guild.

[00:11:24] How?

[00:11:25] Rafe had no idea, but he knew it was true.

[00:11:29] Perhaps this is what was needed for the guild to embrace its true nature.

[00:11:35] Rafe made his decision.

[00:11:38] It may not have been what Raylan or Allard would want,

[00:11:42] but Rafe knew in his soul that this was the guild's future.

[00:11:46] Thank you, Simpson.

[00:11:47] Rafe stood up, which led to Simpson scrambling to his feet out of respect.

[00:11:52] Your mission is clear.

[00:11:53] Work with our guild to help yours as you stay within the safety of the old quarter.

[00:11:57] We welcome this collaboration with our guild brothers and sisters.

[00:12:01] And Rogers?

[00:12:02] That was the one part of the message Rafe was still marvelling over.

[00:12:07] Polo said this lower quarter captain was new.

[00:12:10] Could Polo's Rogers be the same Rogers of the thieves' guild?

[00:12:14] After all, Rogers was missing.

[00:12:17] Could he have somehow infiltrated the Harvest Guild enough to be named a captain?

[00:12:22] I will have my captain seek out Rogers.

[00:12:24] Rafe turned to the guard, who towered over the old Simpson.

[00:12:29] Phelous escorts Simpson to the old quarter.

[00:12:31] Yes, sir.

[00:12:31] As the two departed, Rafe thought over how things had changed dramatically within minutes.

[00:12:38] He no longer had to worry about anyone attacking the thieves' guild.

[00:12:42] They simply had to navigate the Harvest Guild at war with the merchants and knights.

[00:12:48] Everyone knew that the Ranger Guild was closer to the Harvest Guild than their own knight brothers.

[00:12:54] So Rafe was certain that the Rangers would join with the Harvest Guild.

[00:12:58] That would also create more safety for the thieves.

[00:13:02] Assuming the thief Rogers was the same person as the Harvest Guild Rogers,

[00:13:07] that left only two problems.

[00:13:10] Raelynn was missing, and Allard was imprisoned.

[00:13:13] He had already sent out commands to find Raelynn, which left Allard.

[00:13:20] Rafe respected Guildmaster Polo, but holding a guild member hostage, especially Allard, was not acceptable.

[00:13:28] Besides, Rafe could see Polo releasing Allard, only to have him killed by his former guild,

[00:13:35] the knights, who hated him.

[00:13:38] Rafe decided that with everything else seemingly under control,

[00:13:42] he would focus on one thing, breaking out Allard.

[00:13:47] The End