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00:00:01
The Thief's Guild
00:00:04
by Jake Kerr.
00:00:10
Episode 93:
00:00:16
Executioner's Hollow.
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Rodgers had been through a lot of sewers as a thief captain.
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They were never used by other guild members beyond the maintenance sub-guilds, and
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those were all thief members as well.
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The underground pathways linked many destinations that were important to
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thieves.
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There was even a famous tunnel from years gone by that had been called the
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Throughway, as it ran along the North Fork, was wide and easily
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traveled, and was used by the thieves to transport stolen goods from the
00:00:55
Warehouse District to the Old Quarter.
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This was much like how the Throughway was used to do the same thing for the
00:01:03
merchants and craftsmen above ground.
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That tunnel, unfortunately, had collapsed many years before, but it was
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indicative of the use that the thieves made of the sewers.
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The Harvest Guild members knew none of this, and thus the tunnel that led to
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Executioner's Hollow elicited complaints from the injured on how
00:01:25
uneven the path was and how difficult it was to travel.
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For Rodgers, however, it was a delight, no shit or piss, and a small
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trickle of fresh water. It was a natural tunnel that seemed to be
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independent of the sewers. "No wonder we never knew of this," Rodgers
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thought, as they made another turn and yet again failed to pass a side
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tunnel or a man-made sewer access.
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It appeared to be a natural tunnel that had no purpose beyond its
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accidental use as a road between the pit and Executioner's Hollow.
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There was light ahead, and as it increased in intensity, so did the
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noxious stench of rotting flesh. A young Harvest Guild member
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asked,
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"You're from the outer fields and have never made this journey?"
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Rodgers nodded, and the boy said...
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"Then you should gird your gourd. This is not a pleasant
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experience."
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"Thank you," Rodgers replied, half-alarmed at
00:02:29
what he would find and half-amused at the boy's use of the phrase, "gird
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your gourd."
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It turned out to be much worse than Rodgers expected.
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The cave opened at the narrow end of a small canyon or crevice
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more than canyon.
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As it spread to more than shoulder length, the bones started to appear,
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and after a few more steps, the light dimmed.
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Looking up, Rodgers could see why. Bleached white leg bones and ribs
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had created a lattice above their heads.
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The bodies that were thrown into the cavern had stuck in the narrowing of the walls above
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them, and as they decayed, the bones created a kind of trap.
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As more bodies were thrown into the crevice, the bones became interlocked with
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those beneath, and the entire thing created a ceiling of bone.
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Beneath his feet, Rodgers could see the remnants of crushed bone that those
00:03:29
that had traveled before had ground into pieces.
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"It is worse ahead.
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There is no ceiling to clear the floor,
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so we've created a path among the dead.
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But fresh bodies slide down and often block the path."
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And as the light once again shone down, Rodgers could see what the boy
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meant.
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There was no natural ceiling of bone, no floor of crushed yet powdery
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bone, no way to try to imagine a way the horror in front of you.
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There were skeletons and bodies piled to the left, and a small path to the
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right that hugged the wall. The smell was overwhelming, and it took all of
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Rodgers' willpower not to vomit.
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From the pools that he worked to avoid, Rodgers could tell that several of those who came
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through before him were not so strong-willed.
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There were skeletons piled so high on the left that it was clear why the
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path was not discovered by the knights. It was barely visible.
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Additionally, it was clear that this was the main point where the knights
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tossed those executed from the Hollow, as there was no clear path.
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He had to step over bloated bodies and freshly dead, their faces
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recently alive but unrecognizable due to being picked
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over by carrion.
00:04:53
The path was nothing more than gaps between and over skeletons and
00:04:58
bodies, with the bodies shoved to the side when they blocked the path.
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Eventually, they became skeletons and were more easily cleared.
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Rodgers knew that he was surrounded by dozens of his guild mates, killed
00:05:13
by the knights after being caught stealing something from the Silo or
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Warehouse District, or for some minor offense, in another part of
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Ness. It didn't matter.
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Thieves were executed.
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It was the will of all the guild masters.
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It didn't hit him hard until he stepped over the body of a fat man who must have
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been dumped within the past few days.
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Rodgers looked down as he tried to step around him, or at least on him, with a
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modicum of respect.
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It was Dealey, one of Mailer's key thief lieutenants in the Flats.
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He was deeply placed within the Harvest Guild, and Rodgers immediately knew
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that Dealey had done his duty as a thief and was helping Harvest Guild members,
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and in the process, paid the ultimate price....
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Deli war no guild colors, so Rogers was certain he was
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executed as a thief and his colors ripped from his body, but
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Rogers couldn't imagine why Deli would steal things amid the attack on the
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Harvest Guild. What was worth the risk of stealing in the lower quarter
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while so much other activity was going on?
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Rogers would never know, so he silently saluted his guild mate and
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moved on.
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Thankfully, the trail started to lead up, and the bodies were soon left
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behind.
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The trail at the top was narrow and treacherous for all but the children.
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They emerged to the north of Executioner's Hollow behind a hill that was one of
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the group of hills that surrounded the hollow that contained the killing field of the
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knights. There was a cart stained dark with dried and drying blood
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near the lip of the crevice. A large dark-skinned man with a long
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beard stood waiting for them.
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They are waiting to the northwest.
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There is a valley that is nestled next to a small hill that hides
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us from the wall.
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Rodgers nodded. "What about the Rangers?"
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They avoid Executioner's Hollow,
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but we will undoubtedly meet them as we approach the outer fields.
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"Let us go, then."
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Rogers helped the stragglers as best he could, but the injured had trouble moving,
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and the young were all too ready to run off and investigate hilltops and random
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paths.
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His group finally reached the valley, and Rogers took stock.
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There were a few dozen healthy men and women, a large group of children, and a
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smaller group of badly injured. Two men approached.
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Rogers, is it?
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It was a young man with flowing black hair.
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He looked grim, but excited. Rogers nodded.
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"I'm Roe."
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Rogers'
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face lit up. "The brave young man who made our initial plan a success."
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"You have an odd definition of success."
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Rogers was somewhat taken aback. Had he not saved them?
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"We should have fled immediately, but that fool Graff wanted us to defend the
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neighborhood."
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"Respect Roe, Graff died defending our homes."
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It was the bald old man that he had seen back in the pit.
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"Aye, Valmer."
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Roe turned to Rogers.
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"So, we are to flee around the wall to the north and head to the outer fields?"
00:08:38
The question reminded Rogers that despite their perseverance, the families
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from the pit still needed leadership.
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"Yes, we will need to go very wide as to avoid the White Guard."
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"It's a long journey on foot, especially with injured."
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"There is no option. I don't believe separating us is wise.
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Our numbers are still enough to make a small group pause before harassing us.
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That will not be the case if we are fewer in number."
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Both Valmer and Roe nodded.
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"Perhaps the Rangers will assist us."
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Rogers found the comment both interesting and encouraging.
00:09:13
It was well known that as the only two guilds that operated outside the
00:09:18
wall, the Rangers and Harvest Guilds were close, but the Rangers were
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officially a sub-guild of the knights,
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and their loyalties were supposed to lie there.
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Of course, it was well known that Quinto loathed Sacs, so perhaps those
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loyalties were considerably weakened.
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They made dreadful progress. Without wagons or horses, the injured
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had to be assisted or carried, and that slowed everyone done to
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practically a crawl.
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The good news was that they were out of sight of the wall, and the knights didn't seem to
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know or care about what became of the residents of the pit.
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Rogers was constantly tempted to head back.
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He was doing important work, but he was the captain of the lower quarter, and
00:10:07
he was no longer there helping in any way.
00:10:10
He knew things were in good hands with Mas, but he still felt the pull of his
00:10:15
duties. There were armed men at the front and rear, and Rogers himself
00:10:20
wandered along the line of travelers. He wasn't sure how long the trip would take.
00:10:25
He had hoped a single day, but with the pace, it could easily have gone
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more, which meant that they were going to be in jeopardy of hunger and thirst.
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There was a shout from the front of the group, and Rogers sprinted ahead.
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His fear that the knights had found them was replaced by uncertainty when he
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saw the two men wearing brown. They both had bows slung over their shoulders
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and wore a mixture of deep brown and flat green. Rangers.
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The question as to whether the Rangers would help or not was soon to be answered.
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He approached as one of the Rangers was finishing talking.
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"The knights attacked you?"
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"No,"
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Rogers said emphatically as he stopped in front of the two.
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They both turned and peered at him.
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"The merchant guards were aiming to clear the pit and move everyone to the wretched quarter."
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"I don't know of this pit, but you say that the mer- (laughs) Merchant
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Guild is attacking the Harvest Guild?"
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He turned to someone Rogers didn't know.
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"Then why did you say knights were attacking?"
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"Your brethren are in league with the merchants.
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While the merchants attacked first, we had word that knights with cavalry were on the way to finish the
00:11:37
job."
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The two Rangers looked at each other.
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The one who had been speaking turned to Rogers.
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"And you are leading this group? Uh, what is your name?"
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"I am leading purely by fate. I am Rogers, and I am from the inner fields.
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I found myself nearby when the merchants attacked and am doing my duty in assisting.
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If I am leading, it is only due to circumstance, not right."
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The Ranger nodded and looked to the distance.
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"You are taking them to the outer fields?
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Uh-"
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"Yes, we will find shelter with our guild."
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And why did Guildmaster Polo not send help or join the defense of
00:12:15
his guild members?
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Rogers had often asked himself the same question over the past two days.
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He shared his best guess.
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I know not. I believe it is due to the surprise nature of the attack.
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His guards are near Harvest House, and those who were caught in the lower quarter were ill-prepared to
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defend against the attack.
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Additionally, many of the homes were burned to the ground, so there was confusion as well.
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We don't care much for city concerns, but this is, this is troubling.
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I will need you to come with me and report to Guildmaster Quinto.
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He turned to his colleague.
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Gather food and water. From camp, send word to Captain Uros, uh,
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and see if you can get some horses or carts to help with
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the injured.
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Turning to Rogers, he added...
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Tell your guild mates to wait here. We will bring assistance.
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Rogers went up and down along the group and told everyone that the Rangers
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were going to be sending help.
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The response elicited cries of thanks and many comments about the
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goodness of the Ranger Guild. When he returned to the Ranger who had done the
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speaking, he was standing by himself, his colleague presumably
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off getting help.
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So, what is your name?
00:13:33
Uh, I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Vilo.
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He held out his hand, and Rogers shook it.
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Thank you for your assistance, Vilo.
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The ranger shrugged.
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A burning city is not worth defending.
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He turned and added as he started a brisk march out of the hills.
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Follow me, Rogers. It is a good distance to Guildmaster Quinto, and we will be on
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foot, but it is an easy journey.
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Rogers shook his head as he increased his pace.
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He had never seen a ranger in his life, and now he was heading off to meet with their
00:14:08
guild master
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(dramatic music)
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.