text: e lasted longer than most independently in dis city. But I'm tellin ya, there's more out there that yer missin. I mean, sure it's foolish ta go head to head against da ECS, but robbin some rich asshole that may or may not be a wizard? Well dat's different."
  "I really don't see how since both can get you killed. However, I do see your point to a small degree. I have been playing it a bit on the safe side. Still, if this is looking to be more trouble than it's worth then I'm getting the hell out as quick as possible."
  "Sounds like a plan ta me."
  
  You help Warts with the sewer covering and the pair of you descend into the smelly depths.
  
  It actually isn't too bad, but that might be because you're standing next to Warts and his own stench is cancelling out that of the sewers.
  
  Warts gets slightly more talkative as you walk to your destination. He mentions that the Thieves Guild has their hideout somewhere down here, but he doesn't know where. Neither does the ECS, since they'd probably mount an attack if they could.
  
  Warts also goes on about how he's not fond of the ECS since a lot of them tend to have ties to Fel while he's dedicated to Yag. Says that worshipping Fel if you're a thief is like cheating since he's the god of shadows and all. Though he's not so much opposed to that, so much as he doesn't like all the dedication Fel seems to want. Yag on the other hand doesn't really require anything and he not might bless you anyway, but then he might give you a lot even if you don't do much. Warts claims that ALL the gods are like that, so he might as well pray to one that is at least honest about it all.
  
  "Why worship any god at all?" you ask.
  "Wat? You crazy or sumthin? You don't pick a god, youz gonna be in trouble when ya die! Even pickin' some stupid god like Karn would be better than nuthin! You don't believe in anything an' who knows WHERE yer soul goes! Nah, better to pick somethin' just in case."
  
  It's a little surprising just how serious Warts takes religion, well as serious as a follower to the God of Luck and Chance can be anyway.
  
  (It also occurs to you how it's weird how everyone's been getting religious on you lately)
  
  "Eh, I guess I can sort of see that logic. I'm not really religious, but occasionally I have said the odd thanks to Yag." You say.
  "That's all ya need man. He's lissening, even if he doesn't do anything." Warts says.
  
  You and Warts continue a little longer and then he stops.
  
  "Okay, think wez gettin' close. Should be a secret wall around here from what I heard." Warts says and begins pushing on the wall nearby.
  "This seems a bit unprotected." You say looking around for potential traps.
  "It's a secret door, maybe he didn't anticipate anyone finding it."
  "You said the Thieves Guild is down here, surely they would have found it if this is their territory."
  "It's a big ass sewer and they're the Thieves Guild not the Holgard Watch. Dey don't exactly patrol da place. They're all most likely up top breaking into shit. Besides, I told ya, they ain't the ECS. They aren't very territorial anyway. Dat's why we can walk around here without as much concern... well except for giant rats and such."
  
  Just as you're about to ask Warts another question about the Thieves' Guild, Warts finds what you're looking for and when he does so a large bolt just whizzes over his head and into the wall behind him.
  
  "Man, good thing Yag lissened to me." Warts says.
  "Good thing you're short and constantly walk around slightly hunched over most of the time. Oddly, this makes me feel slightly better. If there weren't any traps at all I'd be even more paranoid about how easy this was. So far it seems like this guy just has shitty security, but then we haven't actually gone inside yet." You respond.
  
  You and Warts both enter the passage and soon find yourself in a cellar with a bunch of wine barrels. Tons of them. Warts looks like he's hit a gold mine and immediately starts grabbing wine bottles.
  
  "Hey, leave some room for actual valuable, you're supposed to be carrying shit for me, remember?"
  "I am grabbing valuables! You realize how much old bottles of wine go fer?"
  "Okay, point taken, just don't drink them all."
  
  While Warts plays wine expert, you take a look around the room and find that there are stairs leading up and a solid metal door to your left, which is locked.
  
  Since you don't want to go too far from Warts while he's alone with a bunch of wine, you stay in the cellar and pick the lock of the metal door, which is surprisingly easy.
  
  You enter the dimly lit room and find what could only be a room dedicated to dark magical endeavors of some sort. There's two demonic looking idols starring at you and the pentagrams and symbols on the floor aren't any you recognize. There's also blood splatters on them.
  
  From what little you now know of this Reginald, this guy is into some dark shit. Everything about this makes you want to just get the hell out right now, but you're already here now and you'd hate to just leave with wine bottles.
  
  You walk carefully around the room making sure you don't step on any symbols or inside any circles just in case. You also keep an eye on the demonic idols, which still feel like they're watching you.
  
  There isn't much else in the room itself, though there is another door off to the side, this one isn't locked and you open it.
  
  However, you soon wish you hadn't.
  
  You see a row of cages and various torture devices along with dead bodies in most of them.
  
  "Fucking hell, I came here to rob some shit, not take a tour of a slaughterhouse." You say to yourself.
  
  Just as you're about to shut the door a voice calls out.
  
  "Stranger! You're not one of them! Not one those red robed freaks! (sob) Please! Help me! I can't die here, not like this! I watched my... (choke) just please... help. Who knows when they'll be back!" a nearly naked young girl in a cage begs. She reaches out to you desperately hoping that you'll rescue her.
  
  You definitely didn't sign up for this... however given what you've seen here, you'd be quite the heartless dick if you just left her here to this horrible fate.
  
  "Curse my parents for some of their morality getting through... " you say and head over to the cage.
  
  The lock isn't that difficult to pick and you soon get it open causing the girl to not even wait around, she just runs past you, out the torture room and beyond. You suppose you can understand her not wanting to stick around, but a thank you would have been nice.
  
  So much for good deeds.
  
  Seeing as there isn't anything else in here, you return to the wine room where you unsurprisingly see Warts drinking.
  
  "Hey, some humie gal just ran through here an into da sewers wearin' practically nuthin'." Warts says.
  "Yeah and I'm glad to see that didn't interrupt your important work. Thought you were supposed to be helping." You say.
  "Wat's yer problem? I am helpin'! Sides dese valuable bottles, I found out one of the barrels had a hollowish sound. Smashed it open and there was a body inside, idiots didn't bother looting it and he had some good stuff still on him." Warts answers and takes another swig from a bottle.
  "Warts, you're telling me you found a body in one of these barrels and you're STILL drinking the fucking wine?"
  
  Warts suddenly stops drinking. He ponders your words a bit and then sniffs the top of the bottle. Then he promptly gives a little shrug.
  
  "Still tastes alright ta me." Warts says
  "Of course it does. Look, we're getting the hell out of here. This place has been a big fat zero." You say.
  "What about all these valuable bottles of wine? An' ya haven't even checked da upstairs yet!"
  "Yeah well I've checked enough of the basement to know that most likely there isn't going to be anything that precious up there that's going to make me want to stay another moment in this fucking house. There's some dark magic going on here and I'm not sticking around for it rub off on me."
  "Just say a prayer ta Yag, you'll be fine."
  "And as you like to point out, he might not listen."
  "Fine, we can leave if you really wants, but I'm just sayin' we haven't gone through the entire house yet."
  
  Funny how Warts is content on letting you do all the exploration. He could have easily been searching the upstairs while you were stumbling upon sacrificial captives.
  > leave now
  Warts can stay and get drunk here if he wants, but you're not sticking around. You're also not leaving without something for your trouble, you take Wart's pack on a table stuffed with bottles and leave.
  
  "Ey! Dat's my shit!" Warts shouts and immediately begins to follow you.
  
  You make your way back through the sewers as quick as you can, while Warts is complaining.
  
  "Look, I knows ya didn't wanna stick around, but some of dose bottles is my cut!" Warts says.
  "As far as I'm concerned, you drank more than your cut back at the house! Besides, you told me you looted some body you found in one of the barrels, I'd say you came out ahead." You respond.
  "Alright, alright, but can ya at least gimme my pack back?!"
  "I'll give it back to you when we get to safety, staying around here is just not a good idea... shit!"
  
  You suddenly hear the sounds of multiple footsteps heading your direction and you immediately find an alcove to hide in and pull out your pistol. Warts of course crowds your hiding spot, you just hope the smell of the sewers masks his own odor from whoever is approaching.
  
  And it's not just one either, it's a whole group of them.
  
  "Reginald said we need to get another sacrifice for the next ritual to Neroth. You know Reginald is very particular about these things." A red robed individual says passing by.
  "Then Reginald can stop buttfucking the baron's son for one second and start doing his own dirty work. I know he likes to think he's some sort of high priest of Neroth and all, but he's a fucking dabbling ponce. Him and his noble boyfriend have no real idea of how this shit works." Another one says.
  "Say that to his face."
  "Don't worry I will when the time comes. The only reason why I'm following this fool, is because he's got connections. When this city is in our grasp, then all bets are off, and you, ALL of you had best know what side you stand on. A true believer in the ways of Neroth or a fucking pretender. Neroth isn't about sacrifices and decadent orgies. It's about fucking chaos. It's about bringing ruin to civilization. To spit in the eye of all things dedicated to order and good, even to the smallest degree. The Baron's son is free to take over this city if he wants, but I guarantee the only thing he's going to be ruling over is a smoldering pile of rubble. I suggest you ALL remember that."
  
  The group of red robed folks don't say much to their more passionate comrade, but a couple give some quieter acknowledgements of agreement. Meanwhile you're still hiding in the darkness wondering if you'll get lucky and get a kill with every bullet before they take you down. Fortunately they move on past you without seeing you.
  
  After waiting a bit, you leave your hiding spot and make your way back even quicker than before. Even Warts isn't complaining anymore and is focused on escape.
  
  You don't stop to rest until you get back up top.
  
  "Shit... thank Yag we got outta there when we did." Warts says catching his breath.
  "Thank ME, that we got out when we did. I can only imagine the shit we would have been in had we still been in the house when they got back to it."
  "Yeah, suppose that was good thinkin' on yer part. Guess you do deserve most of the loot."
  "I was taking it anyway, such as it is. Damn, guess Yinen was right about Neroth cultists though. Just one more fucked up thing in this city. Probably best if I don't tell him where I got these bottles of wine."
  
  You transfer the bottles out of Wart's pack and into your own and after a few exchanged words, you and he parts ways. You can't say this was the best night out, though you'd be lying if a small part of you didn't get a minor thrill out of it all. You might have even enjoyed all this, if you made out with more stuff.
  
  You return to Hell's Own and take the rest of the night off. Hopefully you can get a good price for the wine otherwise it really will have been all pretty pointless.
  
  The next morning as soon as you make your way down stairs to go see Yinen, you're approached by two figures.
  
  One of them is very non-descript and oldish looking man, probably not a bad quality to have for blending in with the crowd during a quick getaway actually. The other you can't tell due to the hood, but judging from the smaller body type with more curves, and long white hair peeking out from the hood they're probably female.
  
  "Hi, friend." The older one says.
  "Okay, I already know anyone who starts calling me friend as a greeting is probably the exact opposite." You say.
  "My, you're a suspicious one. Though understandable and smart. However, if you give the pair of us time, you will soon see there is no need for animosity."
  "Don't see why I should give you time at all."
  "Well maybe it's because you've been operating on our turf for quite some time now."
  
  Your hearts sinks when you hear this and then you instinctively start to go for your weapon. However the older man backs off and raises his hands.
  
  "Relax. That wasn't a threat. That was just to get your attention. We're not the Ebony Claw if that's what you're worried about." He says.
  "Thieves Guild. Thought you guys didn't have turf." You say not really relaxing too much.
  "Officially we don't, but ever since the ECS, well it helps to label things. At least until they're gone anyway. In any case my name is Garrick and your recent exploits, along with your ongoing ones have caught our attention, so if you don't mind, can we sit down to speak?"
  
  You didn't plan on this, but it would probably be better if you didn't cause a scene, so you, Garrick and his quiet friend all sit at table.
  
  "So, this is Thieves Guild territory now? I always thought this place was supposed to be neutral." You say.
  "It is for the most part it is, though officially it's ours. Really it just gets spread around that this is neutral territory to keep the new non-aligned thieves feeling safe. You're not exactly the only new one that's come through here thinking they don't have to join a side if they want to continue to ply their trade. You've just lasted longer and shown more skill than most."
  "Wait a minute, is Warts part of the Thieves Guild?"
  "Heh, Warts is more of a outside ally. He's actually spoken highly of you. As has Yinen. That's why I've come to see you for myself."
  
  Well this just goes to show how wet behind the ears you still are that you never thought that you'd been in a Thieves Guild haven the whole time. Even Warts managed to fool you. Though it does explain a few things. Maybe this whole thing was a test.
  
  "So are you the leader of the Thieves Guild?"
  "I'm more of its... yes, well I guess leader would be the term, but honestly I hate it. You're probably thinking I'm here to press gang you into joining, but I'm not. In fact there was a time when this place was filled with freelance thieves. The city is a big thriving place after all, plenty of loot to go around. Our Guild is more of a club of sorts rather than some sinister octopus organization. People join because they want to, well that and the fact that we do tend to pull off the more lucrative jobs and get better deals on selling stolen merchandise. You have to do a job for the good of the Guild every now and then, but even then you still get a cut of the money. But I'm sure to some extent, you're aware of some of this."
  "Yeah, I am, but this still feels like recruitment."
  "Times are harder since the Ebony Claw moved in, and I won't lie, there is a war going on. And there is also strength and protection in numbers.
  "So which do you think is more necessary? Your protection or my strength?"
  "Why not both? Look I can see you're in a bit of a hurry to sell off your loot, so how about this token of good will, I'll give you five platinum pieces what you got in your bag."
  "Five plat?"
  
  Garrick dumps the coins in front of you, which you immediately inspect. They're real and a lot more than what you were expecting to get for your trouble. Garrick's friend turns her head a bit towards him, but doesn't say anything. You get the impression she doesn't approve.
  
  Meanwhile, you waste no time in handing over the bottles to Garrick.
  
  "So, you're really not here to force me to join you? This isn't a trick?" you ask.
  "If it was, do you think we'd tell you? However, if you think you can handle the Syndicate all by yourself good luck. I'm sure if you haven't caught their attention by now, you soon will. The ECS is fairly efficient that way. In any case, we're reaching a hand out to you because we think you'd be an asset to the Guild. If you don't like it, you can always leave the city entirely. That's already better than the Claw. Once you join them, it's for life." Garrick remarks.
  "Wasn't planning on joining them either."
  "Glad to hear it, but will you at least think about our offer? If you change your mind, just let Yinen know. In any case, pleasure meeting you and doing business. Hope we can do it again on a regular basis."
  
  And with those last words, Garrick and his associate get up and make their exit, leaving you to ponder your next decision. Which of course is to go spend your new wealth.
  
  You spend the next few days not doing much of anything other than buying some things you need and spending a little extra on better quality food than you normally do.
  
  You also visit one of the better brothels in the city and as it turns out when you enter you're met with a lot of positivity by the madam and some of the other ladies. At first you figure they're just being nice to get more money out of you, but as it turns out the girl you set free back in Reginald's house was a worker here. (She's thoughtfully been given a couple days off so she can get her head back in the game again)
  
  As a result of your actions, you get a discount, which you take full advantage of. You leave the brothel feeling like robbing that cultist's house wasn't a bad thing after all. You even entertain the idea that Yag has blessed you a bit.
  
  Then not five minutes later after leaving the brothel you're attacked on the street by three thugs catching you slipping.
  
  A crushing blow to your head is felt, though fortunately not enough to knock you out completely, just enough to cause you to fall to the ground.
  
  "This the one Mantis mentioned. Quick, let's finish him off." One says.
  "You idiot, we were supposed to drag him someplace quiet and not draw a fucking crowd in front of us." The second remarks.
  "What difference does it make? Not like any of the people around are going to stop us anyway." The third adds.
  "The difference is we're supposed to be at least somewhat discreet."
  "Fuck that. This sends a message to everyone not to fuck with us!"
  "Okay then how about this? The Holgard Watch might look the other way every now and then, but they'll stop doing that if we're blatantly murdering people in the streets. Only they get to do that. You want to answer to Mantis when he's bitching about one of our Blue Dream houses getting raided suddenly?"
  "Eh, fine. Better disarm this... ARGH!" one of the thugs shouts as you jam your dagger into his leg up to the hilt.
  
  You scramble away and manage to get back up, but one of the thugs is already upon you. The whole time slack jawed gawkers either just watch in silence or they run off not wishing to be caught up in this.
  
  You feel a punch to the face sending to back to the ground, but fortunately away from the pair of them. The two thugs ignore their companion still screaming with a dagger in his leg and advance on you again.
  
  You aren't completely drained of energy, and you probably could try to run, they were arguing about not killing you in the street and given all the commotion going on, they may abandon their task if you prove to be too much trouble right now.
  
  Of course you don't have a pistol for nothing.
  > run
  If you start killing people in the middle of the street in front of everyone, you're just going to bring unwanted heat on you by the Holgard Watch and unlike the Syndicate you don't have the luxury of having them in your pocket to look the other way. You pick yourself up and begin running again.
  
  "Shit, is this asshole really going to make me run? Fuck this." one of them says.
  
  In a perfect world, this would be followed by them ceasing their harassment of you. In your world however, it means one of the thugs threw a dagger into your back.
  
  You drop instantly.
  
  "Quick, get him now!"
  
  Groaning in pain, you fumble to grab your pistol. You manage to turn over and get off a shot, dropping one of your assailants, but the other quickly wrestles the weapon from you and begins beating you in the face with it. Your attempts to struggle soon come to an end as he begins destroying your nose along with the rest of your face with it.
  
  The Ebony Claw Syndicate certainly sent a reminder to all onlookers that they are the not to be opposed.