//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: The Thieves Guild // Story: The Equine Scrolls: SkyFiM // by FireOfTheNorth //------------------------------// Chapter XI: The Thieves Guild “Let me guess, somepony stole your sweetroll.” I awoke with a fierce pounding in my head. Not surprising since I’d been knocked unconscious the night before. Why did that seem to keep happening to me? I groaned and rolled over, knocking against iron bars. True to the guards’ words, I appeared to be in Splitten’s prison. I pried my eyes open to see a turquoise mare with a coppery mane sitting against the wall across from me. “Awake?” she asked. I nodded and rolled onto my hooves. “You got taken in with us last night,” she said, “But I don’t recognize you.” “I’m Sapphire,” I replied, looking around, “How long are they gonna keep us here?” “Seeing as how we’re being held as suspected Thieves Guild members, probably forever.” “Forever!” “Well, that’s what they plan,” she said nonchalantly, “Unless you’d like to leave?” “Leave? How?” I asked suspiciously. “Just be ready to move when the guards change, or not,” she said, giving a shrug, “Doesn’t matter either way to me so long as you don’t tell anypony how I escaped.” “You are part of the Thieves Guild,” I said, connecting the dots now that my head was clearing. “But of course,” the mare replied, raising an eyebrow, “Which makes it even more important that I get out of here. Are you coming or not?” I thought about it. I didn’t think I could trust a guild of thieves, but I also couldn’t stay here. I was supposed to be on my way to the Greymanes, and I didn’t think they’d be very likely to come retrieve me. I didn’t really want to be involved with criminals, but then again, so far as Splitten’s guards were concerned I already was one. Before I knew it, the Splitten guard outside the bars stood up and trotted out. The turquoise mare trotted over to the wall, and pressed her hoof against a seemingly random stone. With surprisingly little noise, a portion of the wall swung away and she ducked through. With a slight hesitation I jumped through the gap as well. The stone swung silently shut behind me, nearly catching my tail. I found myself in a dark, damp passageway. Soft hooffalls broke the silence as other ponies that had previously been in cells joined us. The mare who’d been in the same cell as me led the way, her mane glowing softly in the dark. After a minute she came to a stop and pried a stone out of the wall. Pulling a lockpick from her tail she proceeded to pick the lock on the evidence chest just on the other side of the wall. Within seconds she’d cracked the lock and began throwing back items from the chest. I paid close attention, levitating my belongings over to myself as they were thrown, before any of the thieves grabbed them. Soon I had all my belongings back. At the sound of approaching hoofsteps, the turquoise mare eased the evidence chest closed, relocking it before replacing the stone in the wall. Beckoning for us to follow, she led the way down the tunnel. “By the Equines!” I heard a guard’s voice as we made our escape, “How is this possible?” Deeper and deeper we went under Splitten. At one point, our guide grabbed a torch from a sconce in the wall to light our way, but I still had no idea where we were or where we were going. After some time, the paths began to branch and we appeared to be trotting through the city’s sewer system. At long last we left the cramped and confining tunnels and entered an open cavern. A lake dominated the space beneath the domed ceiling, but nearly a third of the area was solid stone where a makeshift tavern and forge were set up. Several ponies in rough, many-pocketed leather armor sat around tables and looked up from their conversations as we trotted in. Our group of seven stopped abruptly as an orange unicorn stallion came running up. Held in his magical grasp was a bow with an arrow already fitted to the string, and it was pointed at me. “What have you done Serif!” he said, speaking to the turquoise mare, “You can’t bring somepony from outside the Guild here!” “Relax Malif,” she replied, rolling her eyes, “Vespers won’t care.” “But what if she tells the guards where to find us, or worse, the Legion? She can’t be allowed to live now that she’s seen this place.” “Oh please,” Serif said, pushing Malif’s bow away, “We’re not the Dark Brotherhoof. We don’t go around killing ponies just because they’ve seen our ‘secret hideout.’” I breathed a sigh of relief as Malif backed down, dropping his bow. I didn’t know any of these ponies and they were thieves, but at least Serif seemed decent enough, standing up for me. “Well, we’ll just see what Vespers has to say about this,” Malif grumbled. “What I have to say about what?” a ghoulish voice spoke. Both Serif and Malif jumped slightly as they noticed a pitch black earth pony standing nearby. His snow-white mane was slicked back nearly flat against his head and he bore a dour expression on his face. Like the rest of the Thieves Guild members, he wore leather armor, but his was tanned so dark it was nearly as black as his coat and it was covered in various places with runes and symbols unfamiliar to me. “Ah, Vespers,” Malif said, regaining his composure, “I was just telling Serif what a poor choice it was to bring a non-Guildmember here.” “Indeed,” Vespers replied in his emotionless voice, “But while I must agree with you there, I do not agree with your suggested course of action. Killing is for the Dark Brotherhoof, not for members of a guild such as ours.” “Yes, but what do you propose we do then?” “Hmm,” Vespers said, picking me out from the ponies he obviously recognized as part of his guild, “If we allow you to leave, will you tell anypony about this place?” “No,” I replied, still fearing for my life even though I’d been assured they wouldn’t kill me. “Yet, I see hesitation in your eyes,” Vespers replied in his monotone, meeting my gaze with his pale gray eyes, “Doubt maybe, that keeping this secret is the right thing to do?” “Well, yes,” I admitted. It seemed I could hide no secrets from this odd stallion. “It’s just that- You’re thieves.” “Of course,” he replied coolly, “And?” “Well, you steal from innocent ponies, cause incalculable financial harm.” “I understand. You think we are no more than an organized group of cowardly and petty thieves like the Empire makes us out to be.” I nodded, a bit confused at where Vespers was going. “I assure you we are much more than that. We hold our members to a very strict standard. We take only from those who can afford to lose it, ponies with more than enough. We do the job governments know is necessary, but refuse to take up for fear of becoming unpopular. We make sure that the poor are cared for. Ask any beggar or anypony who’s encountered hard times in Splitten about how they’ve found a gift from the Guild just when they needed it. And yes, that service comes at the expense of the wealthy, but they have plenty to spare. We are much, much more than common thieves.” “All right,” I said, still not completely sure their motives were entirely noble, but beginning to believe that they weren’t all bad. “You are free to leave whenever you wish,” Vespers announced, “The exit is just on the other side of the cistern. Follow the tunnels straight out into Splitten.” “Thanks,” I said, turning to leave. “Before you go,” his voice followed me, and I turned to see him standing right beside me, “I’m curious where it is you are headed. Though you are a unicorn like Malif, you are not from around here like him. What business do you have in Horizon?” “I’m heading to High Hoofgar through Ivarsteed,” I said, figuring it couldn’t hurt to tell the truth, “The Greymanes have summoned me.” “The Greymanes summoned somepony to their mountain?” Vespers asked with a raised eyebrow, “Unlikely, though I suppose not impossible. Ivarsteed you said?” “Yes,” I replied suspiciously. “You know, I’ve been itching to send one of the Guild to Ivarsteed for years. But I’ve needed every one of them here. There’s something there I’m just itching to get my hooves on again.” “Again?” I asked, intrigued now. “Yes, something that was stolen from us that I would steal back if I could.” “What?” “The Gray Fox’s Cowl. When the Thieves Guild was exterminated in Unicornica, the Gray Fox came to us, beaten and dying. He entrusted his cowl into our care, a gift from Nocte herself, the Mare of Shadows. But as the Guild declined even in Horizon, we lost most of our bases of operation, and with them the Gray Cowl was lost, stolen. “I would’ve sent somepony to retrieve it, but all my efforts have been focused on keeping the Splitten Guild from falling like so many others. If you would retrieve the cowl while you’re in Ivarsteed it would mean a great deal to everypony in the Guild and you would be rewarded greatly.” “I’ll think about it,” I replied. It seemed to be a reasonable and noble enough cause, but for a guild of thieves? I still wasn’t convinced they were entirely altruistic in their thieving. “I appreciate your consideration,” Vespers said, “If you do decide to help us out I have reason to believe it was a member of the innkeeper’s family that stole the cowl, so most likely you will be able to find it in the town’s inn.” Vespers then trotted off without saying another word. “Gives me the creeps,” Serif spoke to me once he was well out of earshot, “But he’s the best leader I’ve ever seen.” I watched as he left the cavern, exiting through a door between the tavern and smithy. “C’mon then,” she said after a minute, “Let’s get you some supplies for your journey.” “Oh, not necessary,” I protested. “Nonsense,” she said, pushing me along, “It’s not like we’re going to charge you for them. We’re not the Merchant’s Guild.” Figuring resistance would be futile, I let her lead the way to the supply rooms. ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ After getting new arrows, food, potions, and bandages, I was ready to leave the Ragged Flagon (what the Thieves Guild called their hideout.) Sneaking out of Splitten turned out to be easy enough. None of the same guards from the night before appeared to be on duty today. But, just to be safe, I exited through a different gate than the one I’d come in. The trip to Ivarsteed was mostly uneventful, at least until I passed around Lake Hornrich. As my map told me I was nearing Ivarsteed, I heard a roar come from the trees beside the path. Turning to find the source, I found myself facing the largest bear I’d ever seen. Rising up to its full height, it gave another roar before slamming back down on the path, cracking a rock with the force. With no time to draw a weapon, I shot a blast of fire at the bear’s nose. It quickly batted at the flames with its paws, quenching them, and roared all the louder. Knowing I was no match for this beast, I turned tail and galloped as fast as I could up the path toward Ivarsteed. The bear followed, its steps getting louder as it gained on me. I quickly ducked to the side as the path turned and the bear slammed into a tree, roaring with mingled pain and anger. It bought me a little time, but not near as much as I’d hoped and soon I heard it gaining on me once again. Just when I thought I’d be forced to turn and fight, or else come up with some other way to outsmart the beast, a small cluster of buildings came in sight. Ivarsteed, or at least I hoped it was. I cried out for help as I got within shouting distance of the town. Some of the guards at least seemed to have heard me, for they turned my way and started galloping to intercept the bear. I could hear it just behind me now. I wasn’t going to make it to the town in time. A small stone bridge crossed a river before the town and as soon as my hooves touched the stone I altered my path. Grabbing hold of the edge of the bridge, I catapulted myself into the icy waters of the river. Sliding to a stop, the bear turned and began to climb over the edge of the bridge. I focused my thoughts and propelled a shout at it before it could jump. I Shouted. The bear went tumbling backwards just as the town’s guards arrived on the bridge. With the bear on its back they were easily able to kill it before it could do any harm. As they finished up, I dragged myself out of the freezing water, dripping wet. “Well, that’s one way to make an entrance, I suppose,” a guard said, approaching me. “Th-thanks,” I said, my teeth chattering. “Let’s get you dried off,” she replied, leading me into town, “Back there, what you used on that bear, was that a Shout?” I nodded confirmation. I was trying to pay attention to what the guard was saying, but I was also drinking in the sights of Ivarsteed. It was a tiny town, about the size of Riverwood. Only a few houses, an inn, and a water mill proved a town was even here at all. My eyes were also drawn to the impressive mountain it sat right at the base of. The Crest of the World soared into the sky, the top obscured by clouds. “Very impressive,” the guard continued as she led me into the inn and sat me down by the fire, “I’ve never seen anypony Shout before. You must be the one the Greymanes called!” “You’ve heard about the summons?” I asked, warmth returning to my body. “Heard about it?” she said, “I heard it. Kind of hard not to, being so close to the mountain.” “Oh, of course,” I said, embarrassed I hadn’t considered that. “Plus, the only reason anypony comes through this town is to climb the 7000 stairs. I don’t know why they insist on so many guards here. It’s not like we have any strategic purpose in the war. I doubt the Imperials would take the time to capture a little town like this.” Apparently Ivarsteed was loyal to the Stormcloud cause, which made sense because their mother city of Splitten certainly was. After all, there wouldn’t have been so many soldiers stationed in Kvatch if it wasn’t so close to Splitten. Kvatch. I wondered if anypony missed me. “No,” I thought, shaking my head, “I have to focus on the future, and forget about the past.” “Well, I’d better get back out there,” the guard said, heading for the door, “Talhooves knows this place can’t even protect itself from bunny rabbits without every guard ready.” As the door slammed shut, I took a look around the inn as I finished drying off. Nopony else seemed to be here, except for a bard sleeping atop her drums, snoring softly. I could see no sign of the innkeeper. Warily, I approached the counter. A small bell sat atop it, but nopony came when it was rung. The bard shifted slightly in her sleep, but quickly returned to her dreams. Hesitantly, I stepped around the counter, looking for any clue as to the Gray Fox’s Cowl’s whereabouts. If I could find it quickly, without much trouble, or alerting anypony, I would take it. I knew enough history to know that, though the Gray Fox had been declared a myth by the Imperial government, he had really existed, and been part of the Thieves Guild. So Vespers’s story wasn’t implausible and, if true, the Cowl really did belong to them. All that was behind the counter were money boxes and crates of wine and mead. I didn’t intend to steal money from the innkeeper, and I definitely didn’t intend to get drunk, so I moved on. Behind the counter was a set of doors, most likely leading to the inn’s private quarters. When I tried it, I found it was locked, but that was no problem. Serif had given me a few lockpicks before I’d left and shown me how to use them. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to at least know how to open locked chests I came across in ruins. This would be the only time I picked a door to steal something. After breaking two picks, the lock clicked satisfyingly and the doors swung open. They did indeed lead to the private quarters of the innkeeper. All appeared abandoned, so I stepped inside. I saw no sign of the Cowl, but it obviously wouldn’t be left out in the open. I looked through the dressers and opened the chest beside the bed, but the artifact I was searching for was still nowhere to be found. It looked like Vespers was wrong. The innkeeper hadn’t stolen the Cowl. Either that or this was all just a set up to get me caught. Knowing that any minute the innkeeper could return and I’d be caught red-hoofed, I headed for the exit. As I neared the door I suddenly stopped. My last hoofstep had echoed suspiciously. Testing my theory, I knocked my hoof against the floor again. Kneeling down, I pried up the floorboard with my magic to reveal a hollow space. In it was something wrapped in an old cloth. Pulling the cloth away I found myself holding a dark gray leather mask stylized to look like a fox’s head. It was the Gray Fox’s Cowl for sure! Stuffing it in my saddlebags, I quickly replaced the floorboard and relocked the door. I was just coming back around the counter as the door to the outside swung open. A burly gray earth pony with a scruffy brown mane trotted in. “Can I help you?” he asked gruffly, slamming the door behind him. “I just came in to warm up,” I said, hoping he didn’t look too closely at my saddlebags. I hadn’t buried the Cowl very deep. “You’re not going to pay for a room?” he asked suspiciously. “No, I’m on my way up the mountain to see the Greymanes,” I answered. “Hm, that’ll be ten gold for using my fire then,” he said rudely. “What?” I asked incredulously. “Ten gold,” he repeated as if I were brain-dead, “For the fire.” “That’s ridiculous!” “You don’t like it, you shouldn’t have come in here.” I suddenly didn’t feel so bad about stealing from him. “Or, you could do me a favor,” he said, glowering over the counter. “What?” I asked suspiciously. “There’s a basket of food for the Greymanes outside. Take it up to them.” “That’s it?” “Don’t even try any funny business. If that basket doesn’t make it to the top I’ll know. And I will find you and make you pay.” “Alright then,” I said, leaving the inn. I could feel his eyes boring into my back all the way as I crossed the bridge to the beginning of the 7000 steps. ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ 7000 steps was a long, long way to walk. I trotted higher and higher, following the scattered markers along the path. Soon I could see Horizon stretched out in all directions. In the distance I could make out Whitetrot rearing up on the plain far below. As I climbed higher and higher, I began to wonder exactly how high the Greymanes lived on this mountain. Were they at the very peak of the Crest of the World? An icy whinny broke me out of my wonderings. I drew my sword, but nopony seemed to be around. I was about to sheath it and move on when suddenly a pale blue creature with a vaguely horse-like shape slammed into me. I quickly felt my body temperature dropping and frost began to form on my coat. I swung my sword around at the creature, striking it in the side. The blade did little to no damage, passing through as if the creature was made of liquid, but lightning shot from it, causing the thing to convulse violently and pull away. As it circled back around, I had a chance to get a better look at it. It looked to be made of some kind of fog. The front half of the creature was horse-shaped, but the back trailed off in the breeze. There was only one thing it could be: a windigo. They were very rarely sighted in the far north of Unicornica, but here in Horizon’s more frigid climate they were far more common. And the “A Brief History of the Empire Vol. I” I had been reading the day before did mention Talhooves fighting windigos on his way up to see the Greymanes. The windigo swooped back at me and I formulated a plan. Conventional weapons would be next to useless on it, and my enchanted weapons would only be moderately effective, so I put away my sword and shot the fiercest blast of fire I could conjure at the creature. Unable to stop, it ran right into my flames, screaming as it melted and fizzled out. Small shards of ice tinkled to the ground at my hooves near an expanding pool of water. Carefully I picked up a few of its teeth (which I’d heard could be useful in alchemy) and continued on up the mountain. I passed another marker leading the way to High Hoofgar as I turned the bend. I’d lost track of how many I’d passed now. I had to be there any minute now. It felt like I’d climbed way more than 7000 steps. Another windigo swooped at me as I neared a narrow canyon, but this time I was ready. Flames burned up the windigo in instants, leaving only miniscule evidence that it had even existed. As I stooped down to look for more teeth, a roar echoed through the canyon. Snow shifted and fell in heaps from the very force of it. I looked up to see a ferocious lion with bat wings and a scorpion’s tail standing at the end of the canyon. The manticore had a thicker coat than any I’d seen before, and it was also a creamy white to match the snow of Horizon. As I took a step back it charged me. Drawing my bow, I shot two arrows into the creature’s nose before it closed the distance with me. I leapt to the side at the last moment and it charged on, sliding in the snow as it attempted to turn. Gathering my thoughts, I projected my voice into a Shout. The manticore flinched, but was barely affected and came running at me again, this time flapping its wings to gain a height advantage. I shot a bolt of lightning at it and drew my sword. Calcion’s Cleaver swung through the air, striking one of the manticore’s legs and sending lighting coursing through the beast’s body. I rolled to the side to prevent being crushed and shot fire at it. It roared with fury and charged toward me. Drawing my war axe as well, I prepared myself for the manticore’s attack. Striking its paw with my sword and its stinger with my axe, I succeeded. I wasn’t able to bring them back around, however, in time to avoid the next swipe of its paw. My armor twisted as the claws struck my chest, nearly cutting my neck. I went flying, rolling to a stop near the cliff face. Once more the manticore came running at me and I forced myself to stand, leaving the snow bloody. I managed to retrieve Calcion’s Cleaver before it closed the distance and I did something the manticore did not expect. Instead of running out of the way, I jumped toward the beast. As I thrust my sword up, it was driven in all the way to the hilt by the force of the manticore’s last leap. It groaned as the life left it, and collapsed to the ground. I pulled my sword from the manticore’s chest, the blade steaming, and cleaned it before binding my wounds and downing a minor healing potion. Still sore from the fight, I continued on. As I emerged from the canyon and turned around the cliff, a marble palace came into sight. It was High Hoofgar for sure. I hobbled up the steps and checked to make sure the basket of food for the Greymanes hadn’t been hurt in my battles. I was about to knock on the door when it opened on its own. Standing immediately inside was an earth-brown earth pony swathed in dark blue robes. His mane was completely silver-grey, as was his well-kept beard. “Sapphire of Kvatch,” he addressed me, “We’ve been expecting you.” Level Up Health: 150 Stamina: 120 Magicka: 140 New Perk: Equine Anatomy Expert [Light Weapons] -- Due to your knowledge of equine anatomy, your attacks can be more efficiently placed, doing 20% more damage. Unique Item added: Gray Fox’s Cowl -- A gift from Nocte to the Thieves Guild, the Cowl of the Gray Fox erases the identity of the wearer, making them completely invisible to the law. New Quest: Masters of the Voice -- Learn from the Greymanes how to wield and control Shouts.