Books And Signs

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER_01]: The Thieves Guild

[00:00:03] [SPEAKER_01]: by Jake Kerr

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Episode 54

[00:00:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Books And Signs

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_01]: The Thieves Guild

[00:01:13] [SPEAKER_01]: This is interesting.

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_01]: How so?

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_01]: This is The Thieves Guild seal.

[00:01:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It is?

[00:01:43] [SPEAKER_00]: But how can it be a seal?

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_00]: There is no seal, it is just a plain stone.

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_00]: It is a good question.

[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_01]: I asked Guild Master Pietro that same one

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_01]: and he replied by telling me that the seal was

[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_01]: featureless and indistinguishable from that

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_01]: which is plain, just as our guild is.

[00:01:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Ah, as a symbol that makes sense to me.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_01]: But that's not what I find interesting.

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_01]: The stone in our guild seal is black.

[00:02:06] [SPEAKER_01]: This illustration shows the stone as red.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Then this isn't the guild seal.

[00:02:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have the ring that we can use to compare?

[00:02:13] [SPEAKER_00]: I gave it to Raelyn.

[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_01]: The seal is used to identify the guild master.

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Alad reached down to turn a page.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps there is more information on other pages.

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef grabbed Alad's hand,

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_01]: stopping him from touching the book.

[00:02:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Alad paused his movement but looked at Raef.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_01]: The look was one of curiosity, not anger.

[00:02:34] [SPEAKER_00]: It's an old book, Deputy Alad.

[00:02:36] [SPEAKER_00]: One must be gentle with the pages.

[00:02:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Alad nodded as he withdrew his hand.

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Gently turning pages, Raef looked for the ring.

[00:02:45] [SPEAKER_01]: There was a section on architecture unique to each guild.

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_01]: Printed designs, armour, weapons, clothing and more.

[00:02:53] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef turned the pages as quickly as he could,

[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_01]: not paying much attention to the content.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_01]: He would go back and read the book closely later.

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_01]: Ah, here we are.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Alad leaned forward.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_01]: What does that say?

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_01]: It was a chapter heading with a collection of badges,

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_01]: pins and rings sketched beneath.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Guildmaster icons.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Knodding Alad said,

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes there are seals for each guild,

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_01]: but also rank badges and similar things

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_01]: that have been created for various ceremonies through the years.

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef turned the page and the first section was of various thrones

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_01]: that were unique to each guildmaster.

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_01]: He continued turning pages.

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Here we go. Guild seals.

[00:03:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, that ring is the one Sax wears.

[00:03:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Sax was the guildmaster knight.

[00:03:39] [SPEAKER_01]: There were seals for guilds that no longer existed

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_01]: or were absorbed by other guilds,

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_01]: the mining guild, the livestock guild,

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_01]: even something called the state guild.

[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Here it is, but I'm afraid that isn't the thieves guild seal.

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef said pointing to an illustration on the page

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_01]: with a label written in a beautiful swirling style.

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: This is the seal of the magic guild.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_01]: What foolishness is this?

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Alad said leaning back and looking up at Raef

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_01]: for the first time his face showed a tinge of anger.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_01]: I will not allow you to mock me Raef.

[00:04:12] [SPEAKER_01]: It is true.

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Raef ran his fingers under the words.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I've seen a mention of the magic guild

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_00]: in some of the ancient history books of the city.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Perhaps the word meant something else back then,

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_00]: and not what we think of as a fantastical wielder of magic.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_00]: You are sure of this?

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I haven't done enough research yet to know more,

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_00]: but the magic guild, whatever it was, was eliminated centuries ago.

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_00]: I have a book outlining its history,

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_00]: but I haven't examined it yet.

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_00]: However, here's the interesting thing.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The guild's entire existence was erased from the history of Ness.

[00:04:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Raef pushed his seat back.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Here let me show you.

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_00]: There are only snippets in all of the other books I've read.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_00]: I can only assume that whoever tried to erase knowledge

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: of the guild couldn't find every reference.

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_01]: Sit Raef, I believe you,

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_01]: but this is knowledge of questionable importance right now.

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Alard looked around the library.

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Your efforts here are valuable.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_01]: I see that now.

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef pulled his seat forward.

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_01]: Are you saying that I'm to continue my research?

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, it has little value now,

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_01]: but I can see it having value in the future.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Alard smiled.

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_01]: So I think that we should request Raelen

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_01]: to change your title to Guild Historian.

[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I would like that.

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Pointing back at the book.

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER_01]: So if this is not the Thieves Guild seal,

[00:05:31] [SPEAKER_01]: can you find it in the book?

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps we can compare them

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_01]: and see if there is a reason written

[00:05:36] [SPEAKER_01]: for why they are so similar.

[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef nodded and turned the pages.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_01]: After a few turns, the section on Guild Seals ended.

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not listed here.

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Farrowing his brows, Raef turned the pages back.

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Perhaps I missed it.

[00:05:53] [SPEAKER_01]: No, I don't believe you did.

[00:05:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Page through more sections

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_01]: and look for other Thieves Guild items.

[00:05:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef continued turning page after page,

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_01]: but while all of the other guilds had several items,

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_01]: including many that no longer existed,

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_01]: the Thieves Guild was nowhere to be seen.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: The Thieves Guild is not included in this volume.

[00:06:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef stated as he closed the book.

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Does it say it is the first of multiple volumes?

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef examined the cover,

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_01]: the spine and the first few interior pages.

[00:06:24] [SPEAKER_00]: No, this is not a multi-volume series,

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_00]: unless they added another volume later,

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_00]: not knowing that this one was unfinished.

[00:06:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Allard nodded.

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Our guild has always been well hidden.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Allard said as he pushed his chair back and rose.

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Keep up your research, Raef.

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I'll have someone else manage tower preparations.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, Deputy Allard.

[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_00]: I will.

[00:06:47] [SPEAKER_01]: The sound of Allard's heavy boots

[00:06:49] [SPEAKER_01]: retreating across the stone floor filled the room.

[00:06:51] [SPEAKER_01]: The sound stopped and Raef looked up.

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Allard stood at the entrance to the library.

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_01]: He had turned and was facing Raef.

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_01]: And Raef, please keep your finding secret

[00:07:02] [SPEAKER_01]: until the Guildmaster returns.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_01]: We will discuss them then.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Raef was going to reply that he would

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_01]: and that he could be trusted,

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_01]: but Allard had already turned and exited the room.