Chapter 6: Thieves Guild (1)
"Oh" Jack cocked his head towards shark eyeing him curiously.
"You know the Vermuises?"
The Vermuise family was one of the major noble families, they were in charge of military advancement and funding.
"Of course who doesn't know of them?"
"Well apparently one of their children was caught having an affair with a commoner and is being put under house arrest."
Shark was an old man that Jack had become friends with while frequenting the bar. He stood at a shorter height of about 168cm (5,6) and went mostly unnoticed by the bar patrons. Because of this he was always able to hear gossip from the patrons without them even knowing.
Jack took an interest in him since he seemed to always sit alone and rarely talked to anyone. Although one could not explain shark as friendly, he still actually conversed with Jack. Something which he did not do with anyone very often.
The duo was odd to look at, seeing a man roughly about 55 with a stocky short build with a short trimmed white beard covering the lower half of face, sit next to a lanky young man within his lower 20's who had brown hair with twinges of red mixed in giving it a feeling like it was rusting. Would give an outsider an impression of a comedy gig.
Jack continued to converse with Shark one because he enjoyed talking with him despite his foul demeanor, and two because Shark listened and gathered gossip and rumors, giving Jack a source of information on who he could target.
Jack gave Shark a clear impression that he was privy to hearing about gossip and rumors revolving around nobles. So whenever Jack came to the Jovial Joint he would converse with Shark in hopes to find out some info on the Cast family.
Jack leaned back on his stool before stroking his chin and raising his eyebrows. "That is quite shocking, I am assuming that the commoner did not fare any better?"
Shark frowned in response clearly not happy about what happened. "Executed on the basis 'corrupting' a higher class citizen"
Jack and Shark had similar ideals, and despite having only known each other for no more than 2 and a half days, they had become quite good friends.
Sighing Jack ordered a brandy before exclaiming softly "What kind of dipshit excuse was that, it should be the jury sentenced to death not her."
"I agree..." Shark's face darkened briefly, before starting to ponder over something.
"Say... Jack, you got anything going on tonight?"
Jack had several thoughts go through his head before simply responding "No, but I do have to help a friend out tomorrow morning"
"That's fine, this shouldn't take to long. Meet me at Annalise's at 11."
Annalise's was the local nickname for a brothel in the outer districts. The actual name was the Pink Swan, but the owner Annalise had such a reputation within the outers that it was just gradually called Annalise's.
If it weren't for the seriousness in Sharks voice and of topic of conversation before hand, Jack would've thought he was pulling his leg.
"Alright" Jack said seriously.
Shark eyed him up for a second before nodding and turning back to his drink.
Despite the initial dark tone their conversation they continued to talk like normal, the rest of Jack's dinner went smoothly. Bidding Shark farewell Jack headed back to his hotel room thinking lightly about what Shark might want to show him.
Entering his room at the inn Jack closed the door quietly before searching his room with his eyes. When Jack robbed one of the wealthy individuals the had a brief chance to see his face. Whether or not they did Jack had no clue, but he was being careful just incase.
After confirming that there was no one in his room he started to disrobe and entered the shower. The hot water relaxed his scrawny muscles and eased some of the soreness radiating out from them. The steam cleared his sinuses and entered his lungs clearing up some of the smog that would hover over the city.
Stepping reluctantly out of the hot shower Jack got dressed in new clothing that he had bought earlier in the day. Stepping back out into the main room he took a quick glance at the grandfather clock at the wall before picking up a book and studying it determinedly.
It was a book titled Basic Zulteine and how to apply it.
Jack was actually studying up for the next day, where he would be helping Celine. He couldn't just rely on his luck to carry him through, at a minimum, a full day of scholarly discussions. Plus Zulteine resembled Russian back from earth which fascinated Jack.
(Maybe there was someone like me, but earlier within in this worlds time line.... Oh and Russian.)
After reading for a while Jack glanced once again at the clock, seeing that it was getting close to 11 he closed the book and put his jacket on.
Walking down the street towards Annalise's everything was strangely quiet. Usually within the streets of Forgemire you would hear beggars asking for change, and the stores bells ringing whenever they got a new costumer. But there was nothing, just Jack's footsteps echoing down the street.
Feeling slightly unsettled by this Jack quieted his foot steps and quickened his pace, not wanting to stay any longer than he had to.
In a couple of minutes Jack could see Annalise's, a 4 story building with a faded pink swan painted onto the front of it. Dim yellow lights could be seen shining out a couple of the windows. And by now he could hear noises coming out of the buildings relaxing him.
Stepping inside, Jack was greeted with a large room with tables and booths set about like a restaurant, and a small bar area was set up in the far left corner. On the right side of the room was a stage, meant for obvious uses, where several women were performing.
There were several costumers still lingering at there tables watching the girls cheering intermittently. Occasionally one would grab a girl who was not performing on stage, and head up to the upper levels.
Jack made an immediate B line for the bar, not even bothering to take a closer look at it. If Shark told him to meet him somewhere that provided alcohol, and he wasn't where the alcohol was he would be an impostor.
Placing himself next to Shark Jack asked probingly, "Alright what did you want to show me?"
Shark looked at him before grunting and saying "Wait a couple minutes you'll see in a bit."
Jack frowned but obliged. After a few minutes passed a woman came out from what seemed to be the storage for the bar.
"Oh and to what honor do we have Mr. Shark here tonight"
"Cut the crap Annalise you know exactly what we're here for."
Annalise, upon hearing this, turned to look at Jack. Seemingly scanning him with her eyes, making Jack shudder involuntarily.
Annalise was a woman who looked to be somewhere in her early 40's, with black hair and navy blue eyes that made you want not break eye contact. Her overall figure had all the right stuff in all the right places, but time was unkind giving her a faded beauty, small wrinkles appeared around her eyes and laugh lines around her mouth.
"Oooh he's quite the fine catch I must agree. Alright then gentlemen follow me." Annalise said winking at them.
Annalise turned around and picked up a candle by the display case of alcohol and started walking towards the door she came out of. Shark getting up a shuffling behind her.
Jack sat there for a second being very confused before deciding to follow.
Following Annalise she led them into the storage of the bar before pushing a certain stone on the wall, revealing a stair case leading down. It seemed to go deep underground as Jack could not see the bottom.
Jack raised a suspicious eyebrow towards Shark wanting to ask many questions, but holding held tongue. Annalise started stepping down and he did not want to be left in the dark both figuratively and literally.
Walking down the stair case they were all silent not even footsteps sounding with each step. Reaching the bottom of the stair case there was a long hallway with rooms spread out on either side. Annalise ignored them continuing to walk straight forward, heading for the door at the end of the hall. Opening the door Jack could make out a round table with 7 chairs around it.
Annalise walked into room and started lighting candles around the room to give it light. As more light filled the room Jack could see that against the back wall there seemed to be a shrine almost. The were small plaques made out of a unknown black rock with names written out on them.\
Some had charms or flowers nearby the base of them, while other were left empty. The ages of the plaques seemed random as faded one could be seen both near the bottom and a few were at the top.
Annalise put down the candle beside the shrine and sat down at the far end of the round table.
Smiling lightly she said "Welcome Jack Axter, to the Thieves Guild"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone