Episode Transcript
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The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 17:
Maela's Plan.
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The Knight Guild tower was actually a hugesprawling complex with
barracks, stables, the prison, and administrativebuildings.
While the guild's weapons were forged by the CraftGuild and delivered via wagon, the
armory included forges used for repairs and otherimmediate needs.
Like every guild tower in Ness, you were likely tosee a multitude of colors throughout
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as citizens pursued their guild jobs in support ofa fellow guild.
Maela stopped as they reached the easternmostbuilding.
The road curved away from the wall at this pointwith the grass sward replaced by
pasture and stables for the Knight Cavalry and theRangers Guild.
Raylan watched as horses trotted across the field,their whinnies echoing off
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the wall and answering the sound of clanging metalin the distance.
"The kitchens are near the center, right upagainst the wall," Maela explained
in a whisper. "They have numerous dining halls,large and small, and the
kitchen passages are designed to extend out tothem without interrupting foot traffic."
Raylan was intrigued.
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The kitchen staff use secret passages?
"More or less."
Maela looked around, and apparently not seeinganything, continued.
"One of the passages opens to the stable where theHerdsmen Guild members eat outside."
Peering across the field, Raylan said...
"So, we sneak along the kitchen passages to theprison, and then we break out Allard
and Rafe and escape the same way?"
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"No. We sneak in along the kitchen passages.
We free the deputy guild master and your friend,and then we fight our way to the bridge
and escape to the old quarter."
"We fight our way out and up riverfront to aheavily defended bridge?"
Raylan shook his head.
"That doesn't sound like a very good plan."
Maela looked up at him, frowning.
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"It was your bright idea, Guild Master.
Would you prefer we use our spies within theKnight Guild to usher them through the secret
passages built
out from the sewer systems that only we knowabout, taking them outside the wall, where we can
get them
to the Thieves Tower safely?"
Raylan didn't answer and could feel Maela's eyesstaring at him.
The intensity of her gaze was almost painful.
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"Because we could do that.
But if we do, it will be pretty obvious that thereis an actual Thieves Guild."
Finally, Raylan replied...
"How bad is it if the other guild members find outthat there is really a Thieves Guild?"
"They'll send troops into the old quarter, killingeveryone and burning the homes of those that
live there while they make their way to the tower,which I am sure they will raze to the ground."
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"That's absurd. The Knight Protectors would neverdo that to Ness' own citizens."
In response, Maela stared at Raylan until heturned his head away.
"Sorry.
There is just so much I don't know.
Okay, we will break Allard and Rafe out, and SaxonLarsen will believe it was me and a band of
hooligans that did it."
Maela nodded and turned to the road.
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"Let's go."
"Wait, tell me more of the plan."
Maela sighed.
"Fine. There are three parts (03:24):
approach,
distraction, and escape.
Approach will be the easiest part. We can getclose to the catacombs via the kitchen halls.
Even so, I've arranged some safeguards.
Distraction will come from another part of thetower, which will draw the guards from the
catacombs gate.
Then I go down, free Rafe and Allard, and weescape."
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"How do we escape?"
"Out the front door," Maela said, grinning.
She set off at a brisk pace and Raylan rushed tocatch up.
Through the kitchen. Navigating the kitchens wassurprisingly easy.
People were running around, focusing so much oftheir attention on their own duties that they
didn't
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even think twice about Maela and Raylan walkingthrough.
The guild in charge of cooking was under theHarvest Guild, so green tunics and
robes were everywhere, although there was theoccasional white of a knight.
There were no Blue Merchants or others in theyellow of the Craft Guild.
They were only stopped once, and that was by aHarvest Guild member.
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Raylan's explanation of broken equipment needingfixed resulted in nothing more than a
comment of, "Hurry up, dinner will be servedsoon."
They had turned down yet another hallway whenRaylan leaned over and whispered to Maela.
"Those two with the carafes of wine have beenfollowing us."
"Very good, Guild Master. It only took you threeturns to notice that."
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"What should we do?"
Before Maela could reply, a large man in the whiteof the Knight Guild walked right toward Raylan and
Maela.
You two, what are you doing here? We aren'texpecting any craftsmen.
Raylan tensed and tried to come up with a storyfor why they would be called to fix
equipment without any kind of officialnotification.
Maela held out her hand, stopping Raylan.
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Before the knight was within arm's reach, the twoHarvest Guild members with the carafes
of wine awkwardly moved around Raylan and Maela.
One of them stumbled and ran into the other one,their carafes flying forward,
drenching the white robes of the knight with wine.
The carafes shattered on the floor, covering it inglass.
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"You idiots. You have ruined my dress whites."
Enraged, the knight turned to the two HarvestGuild members, who were
issuing a stream of apologies.
Maela tugged on Raylan's arm and they brisklywalked past the knight, who had
completely forgotten about them.
When they were well past the knight, Raylanwhispered...
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"Did you plan for them to escort us?"
"People are clumsy," she replied, not even tryingto hide
her smile.
"The defenses here aren't very good," Raylan notedas he and Maela
looked through the door of the prison dining hall.
... prisoners were actually fed in their cells, sothe hall itself was more of a
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room for the jailers and a large prep area fortaking food to the prisoners.
Maela turned and glared at Raylan.
Nothing is ever easy, don't forget that.
Without a plan, you would have been captured inthe flats, on the circle, and in the hallway back
there.
Maela took a breath, and then softened her voice.
But you are correct about the defenses. But whatis there to defend?
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The prisons are well-guarded, and who would attackthe Knight Tower?
They continued on. The other side of the prisondining hall opened up to a
hallway off of the main atrium of the prison partof the tower.
Unlike the small, cramped kitchen halls, the hallsof the tower proper were wide and
imposing.
Knights walked through them at regular intervals.
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Also unlike the kitchen halls, there weren't anyother guild members in the tower
halls. Everyone wore white.
So, the prisons are well-guarded. I'm not sure thetwo of us could actually
fight our way in and then out.
The prisons are well-guarded, but the catacombsare not.
The catacombs?
Yes, that's where prisoners are sent to die.
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They're locked up and forgotten about. The tortureroom is down there as well.
There is only one way in.
Maela pointed to the right.
That iron door and the stairway behind it.
In front of the door stood two knights.
They stood at attention, but seemed bored.
What's behind the door?
Well, there's a long stairway down, and then thereis a hall hewn from the rock that has
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cells on each side. It hasn't been used in a longtime.
Most dangerous offenders are executed beyond thewall rather than locked up these days.
My gods, I didn't know that.
Few people do. It's done out in the plains at aspot called Executioner's
Hollow.
Maela lowered her head.
Quite a few of my friends have traveled there.
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Raylan knew what she meant and squeezed her arm.
I'm sorry.
She looked at him and gave a slight smile.
We will make things better.
Yes, Guildmaster.
Maela turned back to the guards in front of theiron door.
Yes, we will.
Back to the catacombs, is that where Rafe andAllard are?
Yes, but I don't know what kind of guard is set updownstairs. Our knowledge ends at that door.
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Maela looked up and down the hall.
What now?
Now we wait for our distraction.
As they were in the kitchen area, and not far fromthe ovens, none of the
knights paid any attention to them as they enteredand left the hall.
Raylan was getting nervous as the number ofknights increased.
Their ability to get to the guards of thecatacombs seemed impossible, let alone getting
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past those guards.
A boom could be heard in the distance, followed byshouts.
A cry of "riot" echoed down the hall. Raylanlooked at Maela,
who looked amused. The knights in the dining halland the hallway all ran down the
hall, away from the catacombs.
"The prison," Raylan whispered.
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Maela nodded.
Unfortunately, the two knights guarding the doorto the catacombs didn't move.
Maela cursed.
Why aren't they leaving?
She looked up and down the hall again.
I could kill them pretty easily, but this is wideopen and their
bodies would be noticed. By the time it took us tohead down and free Allard, we would be
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overwhelmed.
Raylan mirrored Maela's action and looked up anddown the hall.
He had already formulated a plan. The mainentrance to the tower was not far
away, and the hallway was wide. It was spartan,but it had plenty of room to
maneuver.
You don't have to kill the guards. I'll take careof them.
Maela looked up, giving Raylan an "are you crazy?"look.
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This I have to hear.
I'll run out, let them know who I am, and thenthey'll chase me.
As they run from their post, you quickly go downand free Rafe and Allard.
I cannot let you do that. It's too dangerous.
You are here just to be glimpsed so that you areblamed.
You aren't to do anything that would put you atrisk beyond this already stupid risk of having you
here.
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Raylan opened his mouth to speak, but Maela spokefirst, holding up her finger.
A dead Guildmaster thief is worse than themknowing of the existence of thieves.
There is real power in the position, it is notceremonial.
The strength of the position matters to thethieves and everyone in the old quarter.
Raylan didn't say anything, and Maela added, ahint of frustration in her
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voice...
We need you, Raylan.
Nodding, Raylan replied.
"Okay. Assuming we somehow get past those twoknights and free Allard and Rafe, what
next?"
Maela breathed out, and Raylan realized that shewas actually worried over him getting
caught.
There is a wagon on the circle with a brokenwheel. There are four horses pulling it.
They aren't really tied up, but are ready for usto leap on them and race for the great bridge.
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Sounds only slightly less dangerous than thefight-our-way-out plan.
Well, there are other pieces to the escape, butthe important part is to get on the
horses and get them galloping.
Okay, I trust you.
Maela looked up at him as Raylan continued, hisvoice full of confidence.
"Did you know that for my entire life I've takenpart in mischief and caused all kinds of trouble
for
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just about every guild?"
No, but it doesn't surprise me.
"I've suffered a lot of beatings and otherpunishments, but those were relatively rare.
Do you know why?"
Maela looked impatient.
No. Why?
"Because my one greatest talent is one that veryfew people appreciate: not
getting caught."
Maela's eyes went wide as Raylan added...
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"Get Rafe and Allard to safety."
And with a leap, Raylan entered the hallway,running toward the knights guarding the catacombs.
"I am Raylan Miller, and you are imprisoning myfriend."
The guards unsheathed their swords, but lookedhesitant as Raylan approached.
Raylan stopped and patted his waist.
"Oops, it appears I forgot my weapon.
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Still, you will not get me."
Raylan waited a moment, and then the two guardsrushed him.
Turning, Raylan sprinted back up the hall.
As he passed the door to the kitchens, he winkedat Maela.
(dramatic music)