September 25, 2023 • 4 mins
Larsen blames Karch for the failed vote, blind to his deputy's simmering resentment. Forced to stand silent, Karch begins plotting his next move, determined to regain control and remove the unexpected obstacle named Ralan.
Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.
---
Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.
---
Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history.
Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first two Thieves Guild ebooks. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.
---
If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.
----
Grab some Thieves Guild merch!
https://store.podcastalchemy.studio
----
Check out our other drama podcasts!
Artifacts of the Arcane
A historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two.
The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn’t abandoned the world.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcane
Thursday
A cyberpunk VR thriller.
No one can be trusted when nothing is real.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday
Jake's Theatre of the Mind
Nebula Award nominee Jake Kerr narrates short stories twice a week.
----
Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.com
Follow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.
---
Intimidated that you're dozens of episodes behind and afraid to start listening? Don't be. Here's a handy Listener's Guide that let's you know spots where you can start listening further in the story.
---
Interested in the development of the complex story and want to know how writer Jake Kerr puts it together every week? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to his Patreon. Love world building? Want ongoing updates? Free members get ongoing story updates with interesting reference material about the guild hierarchy, geography, and history.
Free Patreon members also receive copies of the first two Thieves Guild ebooks. The next book will be released in 2025 and Patreon members will also receive that book (and all subsequent books!) for free, too. Want to go directly to get your free books? Click here.
---
If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.
----
Grab some Thieves Guild merch!
https://store.podcastalchemy.studio
----
Check out our other drama podcasts!
Artifacts of the Arcane
A historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two.
The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn’t abandoned the world.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/arcane
Thursday
A cyberpunk VR thriller.
No one can be trusted when nothing is real.
https://podcastalchemy.studio/thursday
Jake's Theatre of the Mind
Nebula Award nominee Jake Kerr narrates short stories twice a week.
----
Find out more about writer Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.com
Follow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
The Thieves Guild,
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 11:
Blame.
(00:24):
It took all of Karch's willpower not to rush offthe dais and command the Merchant Guild guards
to hunt down Raylan and toss him in the dungeons.
But Lassen snapped at him to stand still and bequiet when
Karch brought up the idea. So he clenched andunclenched his fists behind
his back as he stood at attention, staring at theback of Lassen's head as
(00:47):
the banquet progressed with awkward silencesbetween courses and the various votes on
lesser guild business.
Karch knew that Lassen could barely restrain hisfury.
Polo, the old guildmaster harvest, took everyopportunity to mock the
result of the vote, commenting at one point afteragreeing to a vote on a minor
(01:08):
issue...
"We don't need the wisdom of the guildmaster thiefto do the right thing here."
While Polo laughed, Lassen was punching his ownleg under the table.
Karch just gritted his teeth.
Halfway through the meal, he couldn't wait anylonger.
He leaned forward and whispered into Lassen's ear.
Sir, don't you think we should grab your brotherbefore he can cause any more mischief?
(01:32):
Lassen turned, a scowl on his face.
And what, pray tell, would that mischief entail,Karch?
He's already ruined the plan I've been working onfor over a year.
Lassen's eyes narrowed.
Or should I say, you have ruined the plan I havebeen working on for over a year?
As this was your idea.
Karch considered his words before he spoke them.He had to be careful.
(01:54):
Lassen was obviously still livid and not thinkingstraight.
That he was blaming Karch for the failure wasobviously wrong, but perhaps not
surprising. As ruthless as Lassen could be,perhaps he still had a soft
spot and couldn't blame his brother.
Uh, sir, I don't know what you are implying, buthow could we predict this
outcome?
(02:15):
That we could not predict this is entirely theproblem, Karch.
Lassen hissed.
Now shut up and take your position.
It was hard to parse Lassen's intentions, Karchthought as he stepped back
and stood straight. On the one hand, he wasexpressing nothing but anger and
resignation. But Karch knew him well enough toconsider that if there was some
(02:36):
alternative solution, Lassen would jump at it.
The dinner progressed, and Karch thought overtheir options.
They could hold another vote. While the traditionwas to hold the votes at the Founder's Day
banquet, the council could vote at any time.
With Polo and Sax, they had the support to call aspecial vote.
(02:57):
All they needed was to get rid of Raylan. Raylan.
Karch's brilliant solution to two of theirproblems turned out to be the biggest problem of
all. But he could fix things. There were ways tochange someone's mind, and
Karch was quite effective at many of them.
And if he couldn't change that someone's mind, hecould remove them.
(03:19):
He looked down at Lassen. He was unimaginative, atrait that stopped him from
solving the thicket of complications inconsolidating his power.
He had Karch for that, and he had done soefficiently and well.
So why should this be any different?
Yes, Karch thought, he would solve the problem oneway or
(03:39):
another.
(dramatic music)
The Thieves Guild,
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 11:
Blame.
(00:24):
It took all of Karch's willpower not to rush offthe dais and command the Merchant Guild guards
to hunt down Raylan and toss him in the dungeons.
But Lassen snapped at him to stand still and bequiet when
Karch brought up the idea. So he clenched andunclenched his fists behind
his back as he stood at attention, staring at theback of Lassen's head as
(00:47):
the banquet progressed with awkward silencesbetween courses and the various votes on
lesser guild business.
Karch knew that Lassen could barely restrain hisfury.
Polo, the old guildmaster harvest, took everyopportunity to mock the
result of the vote, commenting at one point afteragreeing to a vote on a minor
(01:08):
issue...
"We don't need the wisdom of the guildmaster thiefto do the right thing here."
While Polo laughed, Lassen was punching his ownleg under the table.
Karch just gritted his teeth.
Halfway through the meal, he couldn't wait anylonger.
He leaned forward and whispered into Lassen's ear.
Sir, don't you think we should grab your brotherbefore he can cause any more mischief?
(01:32):
Lassen turned, a scowl on his face.
And what, pray tell, would that mischief entail,Karch?
He's already ruined the plan I've been working onfor over a year.
Lassen's eyes narrowed.
Or should I say, you have ruined the plan I havebeen working on for over a year?
As this was your idea.
Karch considered his words before he spoke them.He had to be careful.
(01:54):
Lassen was obviously still livid and not thinkingstraight.
That he was blaming Karch for the failure wasobviously wrong, but perhaps not
surprising. As ruthless as Lassen could be,perhaps he still had a soft
spot and couldn't blame his brother.
Uh, sir, I don't know what you are implying, buthow could we predict this
outcome?
(02:15):
That we could not predict this is entirely theproblem, Karch.
Lassen hissed.
Now shut up and take your position.
It was hard to parse Lassen's intentions, Karchthought as he stepped back
and stood straight. On the one hand, he wasexpressing nothing but anger and
resignation. But Karch knew him well enough toconsider that if there was some
(02:36):
alternative solution, Lassen would jump at it.
The dinner progressed, and Karch thought overtheir options.
They could hold another vote. While the traditionwas to hold the votes at the Founder's Day
banquet, the council could vote at any time.
With Polo and Sax, they had the support to call aspecial vote.
(02:57):
All they needed was to get rid of Raylan. Raylan.
Karch's brilliant solution to two of theirproblems turned out to be the biggest problem of
all. But he could fix things. There were ways tochange someone's mind, and
Karch was quite effective at many of them.
And if he couldn't change that someone's mind, hecould remove them.
(03:19):
He looked down at Lassen. He was unimaginative, atrait that stopped him from
solving the thicket of complications inconsolidating his power.
He had Karch for that, and he had done soefficiently and well.
So why should this be any different?
Yes, Karch thought, he would solve the problem oneway or
(03:39):
another.
(dramatic music)
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