Executioner's Hollow

[00:00:00] The Thieves Guild by Jake Care, Episode 93. Executioners Hollow. Rogers had been through a lot of sewers as a thief captain. They were never used by other guild members beyond the maintenance subgilds and those were all thief members as well.

[00:00:35] The underground pathways linked many destinations that were important to thieves. There was even a famous tunnel from years gone by that had been called The Threw Way as it ran along the North Fork, was wide and easily traveled and was used by the thieves to transport

[00:00:54] stolen goods from the warehouse district to the old quarter. This was much like how The Threw Way was used to do the same thing for the merchants and craftsmen above ground. That tunnel unfortunately had collapsed many years before, but it was indicative of the use that

[00:01:13] the thieves made of the sewers. The harvest guild members knew none of this and thus the tunnel that led to executioners Hollow elicited complaints from the injured on how uneven the path was and how difficult it was to travel. For Rogers however it was a delight, no

[00:01:32] shit or piss and a small trickle of fresh water. It was a natural tunnel that seemed to be independent of the sewers. No wonder we never knew of this, Rogers thought as

[00:01:44] they made another turn and yet again failed to pass a side tunnel or a man made sewer access. It appeared to be a natural tunnel that had no purpose beyond its accidental use as a road between the pit and executioner's hollow. There was light ahead and as it

[00:02:03] increased in intensity, so did the noxious stench of rotting flesh. A young harvest guild member asked, you're from the out of fields and have never made this journey. Rogers nodded and the boy said, then you should gird your gourd. This is not a pleasant experience.

[00:02:24] Thank you. Rogers replied, half alarmed at what he would find and half amused at the boys use of the phrase, Gird your gourd. It turned out to be much worse than Rogers expected.

[00:02:40] The cave opened at the narrow end of a small canyon or crevice more than canyon. As it spread to more than shoulder length, the bones started to appear and after a few more steps,

[00:02:53] the light dimmed. Looking up, Rogers could see why bleached white leg bones and ribs had created a lattice above their heads. The bodies that were thrown into the cavern had stuck in the narrowing of the walls above them and as they decayed, the bones created a kind

[00:03:13] of trap. As more bodies were thrown into the crevice, the bones became interlocked with those beneath and the entire thing created a ceiling of bone. Beneath his feet, Rogers could see the remnants of crushed bone that those that had travelled before had ground

[00:03:31] into pieces. It is worse ahead. There was no ceiling to clear the floor, so we've created a path among the dead but fresh bodies slide down and often block the path. And as the light once again shone down, Rogers could see what the boy meant.

[00:03:52] There was no natural ceiling of bone, no floor of crushed yet powdery bone, no way to try to imagine a way the horror in front of you. There were skeletons and bodies

[00:04:04] piled to the left and a small path to the right that hugged the wall. The smell was overwhelming and it took all of Rogers' willpower not to vomit. From the pools that he worked to avoid,

[00:04:17] Rogers could tell that several of those who came through before him were not so strong willed. There was skeletons piled so high on the left that it was clear why the path was not

[00:04:28] discovered by the knights. It was barely visible. Additionally, it was clear that this was the main point where the knights tossed those executed from the hollow as there was no clear path. He had to step over bloated bodies and freshly dead. Their faces recently arrived but unrecognizable

[00:04:50] due to being picked over by Carion. The path was nothing more than gaps between and over skeletons and bodies with the bodies shoved to the side when they blocked the path. Eventually they became skeletons and were more easily cleared. Rogers knew that he was surrounded

[00:05:10] by dozens of his guildnates, killed by the knights after being caught stealing something from the silo or warehouse district or for some minor offense in another part of Ness. It didn't matter.

[00:05:25] Thieves were executed. It was the will of all the guild masters. It didn't hit him hard until he stepped over the body of a fat man who must have been dumped within the past few days. Rogers looked

[00:05:38] down as he tried to step around him or at least on him with a modicum of respect. It was Deely, one of Mailer's key thief left tenons in the flats. He was deeply placed

[00:05:50] within the harvest guild and Rogers immediately knew that Deely had done his duty as a thief and was helping harvest guild members and in the process paid the ultimate price. Deely wore no guild colours. So Rogers was certain he was executed as a thief

[00:06:09] and his colours ripped from his body but Rogers couldn't imagine why Deely would steal things amid the attack on the harvest guild. What was worth the risk of stealing in the lower quarter while so much other activity was going on? Rogers would never know, so he silently saluted

[00:06:28] his guildmate and moved on. Thankfully the trail started to lead up and the bodies were soon left behind. The trail at the top was narrow and treacherous for all but the children. They emerged to

[00:06:42] the north of execution as hollow behind a hill that was one of the group of hills that surrounded the hollow that contained the killing field of the knights. There was a cart stained dark with

[00:06:54] dried and drying blood near the lip of the crevice. A large dark skin man with a long beard stood waiting for them. They are waiting to the north west. There is a valley that is nestled next

[00:07:10] to a small hill that hides us from the wall. Rogers nodded, what about the ranges? They avoid executioners hollow but we will undoubtedly meet them as we approach the outer fields. Let's go then. Rogers helped the stragglers as best he could but the injured had trouble moving

[00:07:33] and the young were all too ready to run off and investigate hilltops and random paths. His group finally reached the valley and Rogers took stock. There were a few dozen healthy men and women, a large group of children and a smaller group of badly injured. Two men approached.

[00:07:51] Rogers is it? It was a young man with flowing black hair. He looked grim but excited. Rogers nodded. I'm rogue. Rogers faced lit up. The brave young man who made our initial plan a success.

[00:08:08] You have an odd definition of success. Rogers was somewhat taken aback and he not saved them. We should have fled immediately but that fool graph wanted us to defend the neighborhood. Respect, row, graph died defending our homes.

[00:08:26] It was the bald old man that he had seen back in the pit. Hi, Valma. Rotant to Rogers. So we are to flee around the water the north and head to the outer fields. The question reminded Rogers that despite their perseverance, the family's from the pit still needed

[00:08:44] leadership. Yes, we will need to go very wide as to avoid the white guard. It's a long journey on foot especially with injured. There is no option. I don't believe separating us as wise. Our numbers are still enough

[00:08:58] to make a small group pause before harassing us. That will not be the case if we are fewer in number. Both Valma and Rao nodded. Perhaps the Rangers will assist us. Rogers found the comment

[00:09:10] both interesting and encouraging. It was well known that as the only two guilds that operated outside the wall, the Rangers and Harvest guilds were close but the Rangers were officially a sub-gild of the Knights. And their loyalties were supposed to lie there. Of course,

[00:09:31] it was well known that Quinto loathed sex, so perhaps those loyalties were considerably weakened. They made dreadful progress. Without wagons or horses, the injured had to be assisted or carried and that slowed everyone done to practically a crawl. The good news was that they were out of sight

[00:09:52] of the wall and the Knights didn't seem to know or care about what became of the residents of the pit. Rogers was constantly tempted to head back. He was doing important work but he was the captain of the

[00:10:06] lower quarter and he was no longer there helping in any way. He knew things were in good hands with mass but he still felt the pull of his duties. There were armed men at the front and rear

[00:10:18] and Rogers himself wandered along the line of travellers. He wasn't sure how long the trip would take. He had hoped a single day, but with the pace it could easily have gone more which meant that they

[00:10:32] were going to be in jeopardy of hunger and thirst. There was a shout from the front of the group and Rogers sprinted ahead. His fear that the Knights had found them was replaced by uncertainty

[00:10:44] when he saw the two men wearing brown. They both had bows slung over their shoulders and wore a mixture of deep brown and flat green ranges. The question as to whether the ranges would help or not

[00:10:58] was soon to be answered. He approached as one of the ranges was finishing talking. The Knights attacked you? No. Rogers said emphatically as he stopped in front of the two, they both turned and peered at him. The merchant guards were aiming to clear the pit and move

[00:11:15] everyone to the wretched quarter. I don't know of this pit but you say that the merchant guild is attacking the harvest guild. He turned to someone Rogers didn't know. Then why did you say Knights were attacking? Your brethren are in league with the merchants while the merchants attacked

[00:11:34] first we had word that knights with cavalry were on the way to finish the job. The two ranges looked at each other. The one who had been speaking turned to Rogers and you are leading this group.

[00:11:46] What is your name? I am leading purely by fate. I am Rogers and I am from the inner fields. I found myself nearby when the merchants attacked and I'm doing my duty in assisting.

[00:11:57] If I'm leading it is only due to circumstance. Not right. The range are not it and look to the distance. You're taking them to the out of fields? Yes, we will find shelter with our guild.

[00:12:10] And why did guild master Polo not send help or join the defense of his guild members? We don't care much for city concerns but this is troubling. I will need you to come with me and report to guild master Quinto. He turned to his colleague.

[00:12:50] Gather food and water from camp send word to captain Uros and see if you can get some horses or carts to help with the injured. Turning to Rogers he added, tell your guild mates to wait here.

[00:13:07] We will bring assistance. Rogers went up and down along the group and told everyone that the ranges were going to be sending help. The response illicited cries of thanks and many comments

[00:13:19] about the goodness of the range of guild when he returned to the range of who had done the speaking. He was standing by himself. His colleague presumably off getting help. So what is your name? I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Vylo. He held out his hand

[00:13:38] and Rogers shook it. Thank you for your assistance, Vylo. The range has shrugged. A burning city is not worth defending. He turned and added as he started a brisk march out of the hills.

[00:13:52] Follow me Rogers. It is a good distance to guild master Quinto and we will be on foot but it is an easy journey. Rogers shook his head as he increased his pace. He had never seen a

[00:14:04] range in his life and now he was heading off to meet with their guild master.