Compare Dialogs

Dialog #1Dialog #2Coincidence
Could you tell us something about the rat-catcher?

I wouldn’t know what to tell you! Xebbert Dürban was hired shortly before the expansion of the sewer system. That must have been about ten years ago. He’s doing a thorough job. Since he’s been here, the city’s been free of vermin. But then he vanished and the council had to hire a new rat-catcher, Tolsa Fernel.

What do you know about her?

The judge wrinkles his nose.

Well, this kind of job does not attract beautiful people, so she is stereotypically… well… but she seems to be a professional. The council pays her generously for each dead rodent.

Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

16
wouldn, know, tell, shortly, before, sewer, system, about, years, since, city, free, judge, people, well, seems
Have you seen a young Nivesian girl recently?

Yes, I have seen a Nivesian girl with flaming red hair accompanied by a man. Where was it?.. Maybe a ducat could help me remember.

Here is your ducat. Now tell us what you know.

I haven’t seen the girl, but there was this fella… a mercenary or something of that sort. He came here for a drink and asked about the next ships departing from Riva. He had a little too much drink and his tongue got loose.

The fella said he got a quickie. He was to deliver a Nivese girl to island. Some dealer on that island promised him good money for her. Sounds a bit like yer gal, doesn’t it?

I’ve seen an armed man with a young woman in the harbor the other day. He promised to pay me a silver thaler if I help him find a vessel heading to Parkauki island. He was in a hurry.

Are you sure they sailed to Parkauki?

Oh yes. I found them a raft and helped them set sail from the pier. I demanded the thaler he promised to pay, but he hit me instead.

A ducat?! Are you mental? Off with you!

Suit yourselves…

And where is this island?

In the middle of the Brack lake… ’Tween Enqui and Tjolmar.

Here is the person’s description:
18
seen, nivesian, girl, hair, your, tell, thing, about, riva, parkauki, island, like, young, woman, silver, find, heading, sure
Here is the person’s description:
Have you seen a young Nivesian girl recently?

Yes, I have seen a Nivesian girl with flaming red hair accompanied by a man. Where was it?.. Maybe a ducat could help me remember.

Here is your ducat. Now tell us what you know.

I haven’t seen the girl, but there was this fella… a mercenary or something of that sort. He came here for a drink and asked about the next ships departing from Riva. He had a little too much drink and his tongue got loose.

The fella said he got a quickie. He was to deliver a Nivese girl to island. Some dealer on that island promised him good money for her. Sounds a bit like yer gal, doesn’t it?

I’ve seen an armed man with a young woman in the harbor the other day. He promised to pay me a silver thaler if I help him find a vessel heading to Parkauki island. He was in a hurry.

Are you sure they sailed to Parkauki?

Oh yes. I found them a raft and helped them set sail from the pier. I demanded the thaler he promised to pay, but he hit me instead.

A ducat?! Are you mental? Off with you!

Suit yourselves…

And where is this island?

In the middle of the Brack lake… ’Tween Enqui and Tjolmar.

18
young, nivesian, girl, seen, silver, find, about, island, your, woman, parkauki, like, thing, riva, heading, hair, tell, sure
Here is the person’s description:
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

30
called, else, people, become, life, about, years, might, their, look, around, even, know, think, like, looking, whether, near, temple, tell, sure, used, living, went, down, very, large, none, whole, over
The barkeeper seems to be an interesting character. Don’t you think?

The tavern is run by the elf Eraion Shadowcourse, which means that he is actually no longer a real elf. He lost his memory when he fell from a tree. Citizens of Riva found him wandering helplessly in the nearby forest and took care of him. So he got to know human customs and find his way around the city. Since he is a happy fellow and always found the tavern life the most entertaining, he decided to become a tavernkeeper.

Are you serious?

Of course. The economy is well attended, Eraion is always fun. The elf has a lot of humor and laughs at jokes himself, that concern elves just as much as humans. That’s why he named the bar after the nickname he was given. Anyone who has already spent some time with “normal” elves soon realizes that Eraion’s spirit suffered greatly from the fall. So he cannot understand the elves who keep trying to make it clear to him, that he actually belongs with elves rather than humans. He no longer remembers the elven customs and traditions, and the magic that he once mastered has become alien to him. Only when Eraion is drunk, which is not so rare at all, does he suddenly experience an exuberant joy in magic: he then entertains his guests with a Flim-Flam, Solidirid, Colorplay or uses Visibili to let his clothes float across the room in a ghostly way. Fortunately, no Fulminictus has slipped out of him so far…

Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

19
actually, know, around, city, since, always, life, most, become, course, well, himself, much, after, time, soon, keep, trying, make
What do you know about the judge?

I haven’t seen him more than two, maybe three times. So all I know about him are the rumors going around. There’s people that say his sentences are hard but fair, and others that claim they’re totally arbitrary.

He’s said to be sexually attracted to both men and women and use his power to coerce people into his bed. Others say, he has no interest in sex at all and hasn’t had any lovers for years, and then there’s those that claim it’s a change that only came over him after he’d recovered from his illness.

So what’s the story on the judge’s illness?

That was two or three years ago, I’m not quite sure. It was a strange disease all right, in that he was plagued by cramps and severe fevers for weeks and no healer could find anything wrong with him. People were fearing for his life, but then he suddenly recovered, just as abruptly as he’d fallen ill. And that’s about it!

Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

16
know, about, rumors, going, around, people, claim, women, interest, years, over, after, judge, sure, anything, life
What do you mean by ‘homeless’?
Most of the ‘homeless’, as the refugees call themselves, survive as day laborers and beggars. Others try their luck as jostlers or offer themselves services to strangers at the port. Many of them are so desperate that they would do anything for a good wage. Day after day some can be seen at the harbor hoping for another ship to come to hire workers. But many also dream of being able to return to their ancestral home soon, but even if it weren’t for the blackpelts, very few would survive the long journey. The dissatisfaction is great because no one seems to care about their miserable fate. However, they have not leader who could tear people out of their lethargy and loudly denounces the grievances. Even Elidana Weiden, the priestess of Peraine, who self-sacrificingly takes care of the poor, doesn’t succeed. In protest at the indifference of her fellow citizens, she even left the Temple of Peraine to live among her homeless proteges.
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

18
most, call, selves, beggars, their, would, anything, after, soon, even, very, long, seems, about, leader, people, takes, temple
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

Could you tell us something about the rat-catcher?

I wouldn’t know what to tell you! Xebbert Dürban was hired shortly before the expansion of the sewer system. That must have been about ten years ago. He’s doing a thorough job. Since he’s been here, the city’s been free of vermin. But then he vanished and the council had to hire a new rat-catcher, Tolsa Fernel.

What do you know about her?

The judge wrinkles his nose.

Well, this kind of job does not attract beautiful people, so she is stereotypically… well… but she seems to be a professional. The council pays her generously for each dead rodent.

16
years, people, well, before, judge, wouldn, shortly, know, about, tell, since, city, seems, free, sewer, system
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

Here is the person’s description:
30
years, people, large, looking, think, went, know, else, about, sure, tell, life, none, around, over, very, whole, become, like, down, even, whether, used, near, their, called, might, temple, living, look
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

The barkeeper seems to be an interesting character. Don’t you think?

The tavern is run by the elf Eraion Shadowcourse, which means that he is actually no longer a real elf. He lost his memory when he fell from a tree. Citizens of Riva found him wandering helplessly in the nearby forest and took care of him. So he got to know human customs and find his way around the city. Since he is a happy fellow and always found the tavern life the most entertaining, he decided to become a tavernkeeper.

Are you serious?

Of course. The economy is well attended, Eraion is always fun. The elf has a lot of humor and laughs at jokes himself, that concern elves just as much as humans. That’s why he named the bar after the nickname he was given. Anyone who has already spent some time with “normal” elves soon realizes that Eraion’s spirit suffered greatly from the fall. So he cannot understand the elves who keep trying to make it clear to him, that he actually belongs with elves rather than humans. He no longer remembers the elven customs and traditions, and the magic that he once mastered has become alien to him. Only when Eraion is drunk, which is not so rare at all, does he suddenly experience an exuberant joy in magic: he then entertains his guests with a Flim-Flam, Solidirid, Colorplay or uses Visibili to let his clothes float across the room in a ghostly way. Fortunately, no Fulminictus has slipped out of him so far…

19
soon, well, time, after, make, most, know, life, around, since, city, actually, himself, become, trying, always, keep, course, much
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

What do you know about the judge?

I haven’t seen him more than two, maybe three times. So all I know about him are the rumors going around. There’s people that say his sentences are hard but fair, and others that claim they’re totally arbitrary.

He’s said to be sexually attracted to both men and women and use his power to coerce people into his bed. Others say, he has no interest in sex at all and hasn’t had any lovers for years, and then there’s those that claim it’s a change that only came over him after he’d recovered from his illness.

So what’s the story on the judge’s illness?

That was two or three years ago, I’m not quite sure. It was a strange disease all right, in that he was plagued by cramps and severe fevers for weeks and no healer could find anything wrong with him. People were fearing for his life, but then he suddenly recovered, just as abruptly as he’d fallen ill. And that’s about it!

16
years, people, rumors, after, judge, know, anything, about, sure, life, interest, around, over, claim, going, women
Who is this tradesmaster?

Lothur Ui Chearghail moved here from Albernia some years ago. He rented a warehouse in town and soon built up a wide-ranging network of trading interests. He supplys people in town, as well as traders in other League cities. Lately, his interests included several warehouses and trading posts in a large number of northern towns.

So why are the guards looking for him?

There are rumors that he could only have amassed such riches in such a short time through robbery and piracy. But they’ve only surfaced after he was accused of, and sentenced for, high treason. Before that, he was considered an honest trader, and a tough negotiator.

And why was he accused and convicted?

He was accused of colluding with pirates. The evidence presented was skimpy, and the witnesses were more than a little disreputable. But apparently the judge wanted to make an example of him! Despite a strong defense, he was sentenced to death, although he managed to escape before the sentence could be carried out.

That would make it fairly unrealistic to think he would stay here in town, wouldn’t it?

Oh, the tradesmaster has a lot of friends here, and his business associates had reason to suspect they’d be arrested next. So most of them went underground at the same time he did, and shortly afterwards, the guild got into the news.

Do you know anything else about this tradesmaster?

Somehow, Ui Chearghail has managed to squirrel away his fortune before it could be confiscated. It’s assumed he retains a lot of friends in this town who provide him with aid and shelter from the guards. It’s his wealth that sustains the guild.

Are you sure that’s all you can tell us about the tradesmaster?

Tarik tells you some episodes from Ui Chearghail’s life, but none of it is of interest to you. When returning to the subject of more recent events, though, he keeps mentioning the guild.

What is this guild?

It’s a criminal organisation that’s been around for years. All the beggars, thieves, and other lowlife have banded together in it. Since the tradesmaster’s taken over, it commands more sympathy with the general populace than do the city guards.

Tell us more about this take-over.

Rumor has it that the tradesmaster defeated the guild’s previous leader in a duel to assume his post. Other claim to know Lothur’s been the guild’s leader from the very start and actually founded the whole organization himself.

What has changed about the guild then, since Lothur disappeared?

Most of the guild actions these days target the authorities, whereas normal folk are barely troubled by thieves and murderers. They say Lothur takes from the rich to give to the poor - a sure way to become a hero of the common people.

But how can a large organization like the guild escape the guards for so long?

When pursued, the guild members flee into the sewers. Since a whole unit of theirs disappeared down there, the other guards daren’t enter them. Many even believe the guild maintains its headquarters down the sewers, but I wouldn’t put any store in that.

Anything else you know about the guild?

Right now, the guild is at war with the Sorrek pirates trying to gain a foothold in town. Still, there’s no way of telling whether Lothur used to be allied with the pirates and the relationship has turned sour, or if they’ve always been enemies.

Don’t you know anything else about the guild?

There’s a rich amount of gossip going around and Tarik seems to know all of it. But most of his stories sound far too convoluted to be anywhere near the probable truth.

Does the guild members use any distinctive signs?

The wristbands are for recognition. They have different colors according to the wearer’s rank. We have our own rank system: The people who keep their eyes and ears peeled for us are called ‘suppliers’. They wear white bands. - That would seem to apply to me, too, but just like you, I’m occupying a special place in the guild system.

We call those who do the manual work ‘traders’. That includes soldiers as well as thieves, assassins, and beggars. They wear green armbands.
The leaders are called ‘merchants’. Basically, they’re capable men and women who have proven themselves clearheaded in a crisis. You can recognize a merchant by the red wristband.

All other guild members wear a blue band. Often, they are what you might call free agents, same as you. In that sense, the temple priests are part of the guild, too.
Of course, the wristbands are worn only in situations where it’s important to be recognized by other guild members. The beggars who work the town all day long leave theirs at the headquarters in the sewers. It’d be much too obvious if every beggar and beggaress in town were to wear one…

What is it with the sewers?

The sewer system was renovated and extended just ten years ago. Not even the imperial capital has anything like it.

Are the sewers really big enough for the guild to have established a headquarters there?

I doubt it. Sure, the guild members escape into the sewers when chased, but I can’t imagine them actually living down there.
Of course there are a lot of hair-raising stories about, and the guild seems to have a hand in keeping them alive, to keep people from venturing down there. Probably, they’ve hidden some treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

Do you know anything else about the sewers?

No, but if you want to know more, go down and have a look for yourself.

What do you mean by ‘homeless’?
Most of the ‘homeless’, as the refugees call themselves, survive as day laborers and beggars. Others try their luck as jostlers or offer themselves services to strangers at the port. Many of them are so desperate that they would do anything for a good wage. Day after day some can be seen at the harbor hoping for another ship to come to hire workers. But many also dream of being able to return to their ancestral home soon, but even if it weren’t for the blackpelts, very few would survive the long journey. The dissatisfaction is great because no one seems to care about their miserable fate. However, they have not leader who could tear people out of their lethargy and loudly denounces the grievances. Even Elidana Weiden, the priestess of Peraine, who self-sacrificingly takes care of the poor, doesn’t succeed. In protest at the indifference of her fellow citizens, she even left the Temple of Peraine to live among her homeless proteges.
18
soon, people, after, would, most, anything, about, beggars, leader, very, takes, long, even, seems, their, call, selves, temple