Our Broken, Burning City

[00:00:00] The Thieves Guild by Jake Kerr Episode 75, Earning City

[00:00:42] Of course, it was blocked in the mountain, but it almost certainly also led to the west.

[00:00:49] Wait, Raelen had travelled along the road to Goutland, Raef thought. I can simply ask him.

[00:00:56] Raelen had been spending all his time on his balcony, peering off into the distance, doing his best to see what was happening in the flats and lower triangle.

[00:01:06] The distance was too great however, so Raef figured Raelen did it to feel like he was in control of the situation.

[00:01:13] Although that was clearly not the case, all he could do was wait for a lad to return,

[00:01:19] cooed to maintain the order in the old quarter and dirk to arrange a strong defence.

[00:01:25] If you want something to do, you should help me.

[00:01:27] Raef said as he approached his friend, who was indeed on his balcony.

[00:01:32] I don't do well with books, but some conversation wouldn't hurt.

[00:01:36] Raelen, motion to a bench.

[00:01:39] Tell me how your studies are going. Discover any new secrets?

[00:01:43] You will be happy to know that I got on a horse to do some research.

[00:01:47] Pray tell, it must have been important to drag you away from your books.

[00:01:51] Raelen smiled.

[00:01:53] Well, I've been hoping to have confirmation before filling you in on several important and major discoveries, and I have evidence, so the time is right to finally share what I've found.

[00:02:01] Important and major.

[00:02:04] Raelen turned to face Raef, his attention fully on what Raef was about to explain.

[00:02:10] Well in historical terms, I'm not sure what it means today.

[00:02:14] Raef pulled out the map of the world that showed the cities on the other side of the mountains, the dragon's teeth.

[00:02:22] I've shown this to you before, we had talked about how there must have been a trading pass over the mountain.

[00:02:28] Yes, did you find it? You mentioned the magic guild blocked it.

[00:02:32] I did find it but it wasn't over the mountain.

[00:02:35] Raef tapped the map.

[00:02:37] It's erode through the mountain.

[00:02:39] Through the mountain? How can that be? We have trouble mining ore, how can there be a road?

[00:02:45] I thought the same thing and I don't know the answer, but there is a road.

[00:02:49] The trouble is that just inside the entrance to the north of here it has collapsed.

[00:02:53] That's what I believe is meant by the magic guild blocking the road.

[00:02:56] They must have fled down the road from Ness and then brought the mountain down making it impossible.

[00:03:02] Raelen was going to say something but Raef held up his finger.

[00:03:06] I've been there, the road is paved with stones even in the mountain itself.

[00:03:10] It is wide enough to fit two or three wagons and it has a curb of some sort.

[00:03:14] You mentioned the road to the outlands. Is it similar?

[00:03:18] Raelen paused before answering, staring at Raef.

[00:03:22] This is unbelievable but the answer is yes.

[00:03:26] I couldn't understand it but the road extended for miles from Ness to Goutland

[00:03:31] and it was paved in stones even through the plains.

[00:03:36] Raelen nodded out into the unknown from his balcony.

[00:03:40] I don't know if it extended beyond there but it must have.

[00:03:44] It does, I'm sure of it.

[00:03:46] Raef leaned forward sitting on the edge of his chair.

[00:03:50] Things are becoming clearer. We know there was some kind of guild civil war

[00:03:53] and that it was at that time that the magic guild left Ness.

[00:03:56] We also know that this is what led to the Great Migration north of the river.

[00:03:59] So right about that time Ness was a great trading centre.

[00:04:03] There was even a state guild that managed affairs with other cities.

[00:04:06] You didn't tell me that.

[00:04:08] There were lots of guilds that have died out and I wanted to get more clarity on what has happened.

[00:04:12] I didn't think Ness as a trading centre would be that central to our history with a mountain behind us

[00:04:16] and the only path a treacherous path over it.

[00:04:20] But now that we know there was a road, it is clear.

[00:04:24] Ness was a trading centre of some importance

[00:04:27] but that all ended with the departure of the magic guild

[00:04:30] the destruction of the road east

[00:04:32] and the closure of the gate on this side of the river.

[00:04:36] So what happened?

[00:04:38] I don't know but I'm sure it has something to do with the creation of our guild.

[00:04:42] It all happened at the same time

[00:04:44] and the only missing piece is our guild history.

[00:04:50] Vilhelm noted that Pietro promised to reopen the trade routes with the Outlanders

[00:04:55] and I said I would work toward that goal

[00:04:58] but how can I do that if the route is blocked?

[00:05:01] I assumed that he meant trading with Ness so he could have food and goods

[00:05:06] but what if he meant trading with the cities beyond the mountain?

[00:05:10] It's been centuries since that road has been closed

[00:05:13] he couldn't possibly mean that.

[00:05:15] But what if he did?

[00:05:17] What if Ness has been in this fortress-like location for centuries

[00:05:21] while the rest of the world waited for us to show weakness

[00:05:24] or for us to finally rejoin them?

[00:05:27] Maybe this has been a process that was born out of the creation of the Thieves Guild

[00:05:32] and our role is to finally heal our broken burning city.

[00:05:37] Rafe tapped his chin.

[00:05:39] It's possible. There is nothing I can find about the Thieves Guild though.

[00:05:42] There isn't a chapter or book about the creation of the guild.

[00:05:45] I've looked.

[00:05:48] Raelen had stopped pacing and was looking at Rafe as he continued.

[00:05:53] You could help me.

[00:05:54] I found the secret of the road by looking in a small book on clothing.

[00:05:57] Maybe you can help go through some books

[00:05:59] and just browse for any mention of our guild.

[00:06:01] I could then do the deeper research.

[00:06:04] Throwing up his hands and then collapsing in his chair

[00:06:08] a visibly frustrated Raelen replied

[00:06:11] I told you. I'm no good with books.

[00:06:14] I mean, I'm barely good at anything.

[00:06:16] I ask good questions and Alard helps me follow up with answers

[00:06:20] but I'm no Pietro.

[00:06:22] By the gods, old Pietro would be better for you than I am.

[00:06:26] I know he liked books as his quarters in the merchant tower

[00:06:29] had shelves full of them.

[00:06:31] While Raelen rubbed his temple, Rafe just stared at him.

[00:06:35] His jaw dropped open.

[00:06:37] Did you say that Pietro's room in the merchant tower was full of books?

[00:06:41] Raelen looked up.

[00:06:43] Yes, a whole wall from floor to ceiling was covered with them.

[00:06:46] As Raelen answered a dawning comprehension filled his face.

[00:06:50] It's them.

[00:06:52] Rafe replied with absolute certainty.

[00:06:55] Those are the books that tell the guild's history

[00:06:57] and who knows what else.

[00:06:58] Can you imagine their importance if Pietro felt it necessary

[00:07:01] to keep the books close?

[00:07:03] Rafe stood up.

[00:07:05] They were the key to everything.

[00:07:07] Holding up his hands, Raelen spoke up.

[00:07:11] Wait! Do I have to remind you that half of the lower quarter

[00:07:15] is either burning or overrun by armed guards

[00:07:18] rounding people up?

[00:07:20] First of all, how are you going to get there safely?

[00:07:24] Second of all, how are you going to get to Pietro's room?

[00:07:28] May I also remind you that it's in my brother's tower?

[00:07:31] And finally, how are you going to transport dozens of heavy books

[00:07:35] back to the Thieves Tower without raising suspicion?

[00:07:38] I'll find a way. This is too important for me not to.

[00:07:45] The next day Rafe was dressed in the deep blue

[00:07:48] of a merchant guild member.

[00:07:50] A thief guard was with him, similarly dressed in blue.

[00:07:54] They were taking a small wagon

[00:07:56] led by a single horse from Thieves Tower to the Great Bridge.

[00:08:00] On the wagon was a large chest filled with guilders.

[00:08:04] It was a significant display of wealth

[00:08:07] and Raelen was shocked at the response

[00:08:10] when he asked if they had money for the mission.

[00:08:13] Apparently Pietro had gathered an enormous amount of money

[00:08:17] over the years.

[00:08:19] The chest itself was under a tarp,

[00:08:21] and the plan was simple.

[00:08:23] As Raelen said,

[00:08:25] simple plans are the best plans.

[00:08:27] Remember how we freed you and Allard from the night dungeon?

[00:08:31] Rafe was to cross the Great Bridge with a skilled guard

[00:08:35] and a story that they had been on a mission

[00:08:38] to collect the money that had been snuck into the wretched quarter

[00:08:42] by harvest guild refugees.

[00:08:44] They were to take the money to the merchant tower

[00:08:47] with the tarp hiding the chest

[00:08:49] and the guard acting as a deterrent against random curiosity.

[00:08:54] Of course, for official guards who would lift the top of the chest

[00:08:58] the guilders would prove to be all too real.

[00:09:02] As the two of them approached the bridge,

[00:09:04] Rafe turned to Tilsen, the guard.

[00:09:07] Do you think we will be accosted?

[00:09:09] Tilsen shook his head.

[00:09:11] I'm less concerned with guild members attacking us

[00:09:14] than running out of money after the various guards take their handfuls.

[00:09:18] The guards do that?

[00:09:20] They would steal from merchants or demand a bribe?

[00:09:24] Laughing Tilsen replied.

[00:09:26] They don't call it stealing, only thieves steal, don't you know?