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.