Year 19

"That's the third large group of cultists we've had to evade in our own fucking sewers. Something needs to be done about those shitheads because not even the EC is giving us this much trouble down here." Sneaks says.
"Agreed. They've been spreading all over the damn place. Granted I'm not much for religion, but given what I know from what Yinen has said about Neroth AND seen what these fanatics do first hand, I'm not exactly keen on them spreading any further." You add.
"I understand the concerns, but we're already warring with the EC, the last thing we need is to open up a front against a bunch of Neroth worshipers." Garrick says.
"We don't need to open up a front, because they've already made it quite clear that they've already done so. I don't know about anyone else, but every time I bump into those fanatics they attack on sight." Sneaks says.
"If you're just bumping into them accidentally, then you're lucky because I know by their personalized threats they're specifically targeting me." You add.
"I told you that rescuing that whore would catch up to you." Tanya says.
"That was years ago and they didn't even see me do it!"
"Yeah, but that tart and her friends spread the word about your deeds a long time ago. I'm more surprised they you weren't targeted sooner by them."
"Well apparently they were too busy with other things than bothering with the likes of the kid here. In any case I'm just saying we need to thin out their ranks or something because while I know we aren't officially territorial, we shouldn't have to deal with daggers at our throats right outside our front door." Sneaks says.
"Exactly. And if left unchecked who is to say they won't find this place? Not to mention these assholes worship a dark god. The last thing we need is for them to do is gather enough power to start summoning shit. Last thing we need is demons running around down here." You add.

As soon as you say that, everyone looks at you and then also looks at Tanya who is also looking in your direction with her head cocked to the side almost intrigued by what you're going to say next.

"Shhhhit..." you quietly say which causes a snicker from Sneaks.

Tanya doesn't even address what you said she instead turns her attention back to Garrick.

"Word fumbling aside, he has a point Garrick. They all do. We can't ignore this potential threat any longer." Tanya says.
"Maybe… (Sigh) I just don't want to lose any more people especially when we may need them in the future." Garrick says.

After a brief moment of silence, Garrick speaks again.

"Okay, fine. Maybe we need to do something. The question is what exactly? I'm still loathe to go all out gang war on a bunch of fanatics, because you know they're only going to hit back with more fervor…maybe…wait a minute. We could set it up so it looks like the Ebony Claw is targeting them. That will hopefully draw some heat off of us on both sides." Garrick says.

Garrick begins to go into a plan to start ambushing the cultists, but also to ambush a few Ebony Claws and plant their bodies among the dead cultists so the living ones can stumble upon them and vice versa. In the meantime he says he's going to try to grease the right palms to gain some sort of meeting with Reginald and appear as an "ally" against the Ebony Claw so Reginald will tell his people to leave the Guild alone.

It's not a bad plan, though you're really not sure on the whole "allying" with Reginald bit.

"Um, I'm not sure if this Reginald is ally material." You say.
"Well we need to try, because if you haven't noticed, we are at a bit of a disadvantage. Reginald is Farrad's boyfriend. You know, the baron's son? The one who is probably going to attempt a coup on his father soon? If he's actually successful it's probably best that we're not on his bad side at least." Garrick retorts with annoyance.
"I can see that logic, but I still have concerns if allying with religious fanatics that participate in human sacrifice is a good idea. I mean hell, I'd rather temporarily ally with the Ebony Claw against the cultists at this point…"
"Well it's a damn good thing that YOU don't have to make the fucking decisions isn't it then?!"

Garrick's sudden snap causes you to shut up immediately and everyone else to stand in silence. You certainly weren't expecting it, but then Garrick in general has been less than friendly with you, as your time in the Guild proper has come about. He's certainly nowhere near like he was when he first offered his hand to you in joining.

You have some theories about why, but for now you just answer:

"Your call. Apologies."

Garrick gives you a dirty look and starts assigning tasks to people. He doesn't give one to you though.

As everyone starts to leave, you go up to Tanya and offer to help her on her assignment and that's when you get a scolding voice again.

"Hey! Leave her be." Garrick orders.
"But I was just…" you start to say before you're interrupted again.
"Did I assign you and Tanya to work together? No I didn't."
"Garrick, it's actually okay, I can…" Tanya says before Garrick interrupts her as well.
"Stay out of this Tanya! Everyone get to work! Except YOU."

Tanya looks at you a little sympathetically as she leaves with the rest, which is definitely not the norm, and part of what you imagine is the problem Garrick is having with you.

Soon it's just you and Garrick and he wastes no time in speaking.

"You know when I brought you in, I thought you'd be an asset to us. Sure you weren't exactly what I normally look for, but your actions against the Ebony Claw couldn't be ignored. Your ongoing work to prove yourself worthy of becoming one of the inner circle couldn't be ignored. Granted, I was still a little hesitant at the time since I was starting to have some doubts since so many thought you should continue to prove yourself, but Tanya's words in your favor…well those couldn't be ignored either."

You don't say anything.

"I also can't ignore how you look at her and more importantly how she looks at you." Garrick says.
"I don't think she looks at me with anything but scorn." You say in an effort to deflect.
"Bullshit. Maybe at one time she did. Not anymore. You're not so stupid to not realize that. Hell, she tried to speak up for you just now. I don't know HOW you did it, but you've actually been getting through that normally solid brick wall she puts up to shield herself again all would be suitors. I have seen MANY try and while I imagine that she leaves a lasting impression due to her nature, I have seen NONE continue to pursue her, or those that have, have met with physical violence that either put a definite stop to it. Somehow you have miraculously avoided that. Somehow YOU have defied what shouldn't be possible."

You continue to stand there and say nothing, which only causes Garrick to throw something at you, which you narrowly dodge.

"WELL? Aren't you going to say anything?!" Garrick shouts.
"I'm not sure what to say. Anything I say, you're not going to like." You answer.
"Well permission to speak fucking freely then."
"Okay, well I don't see how this is any of your concern. Tanya, from what I can tell is a full grown woman that's MORE than capable of taking care of herself and dealing with the likes of me. And as far as I know, you're not her father either even if you see her as some sort of surrogate daughter."
"It…it doesn't make sense! WHY YOU?! There have been FAR better suitors in the past!"
"You mean like you?"
"W…what?"
"Oh come on! I think given your increasing hostility towards me this is going beyond a father-daughter type of protectiveness. You're acting like a jealous boyfriend or something. I'm succeeding where you and so many others obviously failed."

Garrick just starts shaking his head.

"No, I…I never…I never…"
"Or maybe I'm succeeding in something you never had the guts to do at all? That's it isn't it? You've never made any sort of advance on her, and just admired her from afar since you were always secure in the fact that she always drove everyone away. I'm guessing perhaps you thought one day Tanya would come to you of her own accord and…"

Now Garrick lifts up the table and flips it at you. For an older guy, he's certainly fit.

"You think you know everything don't you? Well let me tell you something, you don't know shit. YOU are still a BOY and YOU are not worthy of Tanya." Garrick says getting in your face.

"Okay. Then what would make me worthy…in your eyes?" you ask.

Garrick starts laughing.

"Are…are you actually asking me? You seem to have all the answers, you figure it out. But while you're trying to figure it out, go do what you're actually good at and go kill our enemies. GO! Get the fuck outta my sight!"

You leave Garrick and exit the meeting room somewhat expecting there to be a few people hanging around outside listening to the conversation, but it would appear that nobody wanted to be around for Garrick's anger to be directed towards them as well. Not even Sneaks lingered behind.

Since you didn't even get paired up with a full fledged Guild member, you suppose you could just go gather a few associates to help you, though you believe you're probably more than capable of performing the task yourself.

Honestly though, you're ready to just dispense with the plan and do something else instead like try to kill Reginald. Those assholes have been targeting you anyway. Also seems like it would solve the problem a lot better than trying to be friends with him. Cutting off the head of a cult usually results in it falling apart. The problem of course is he isn't as easy to get to anymore. The secret passage to his home no longer exists as one person in the Guild soon learned when he tried to break in that way thinking that it would be an easy job and nearly got himself killed in the process. If there's another secret passage to the house, you have no idea where it is and it's probably better protected now.

Which would mean a more traditional approach, but again, he's got security up the ass and has his own personal retinue of guards around his home. Perks of fucking minor nobility you suppose.

In any case, you'd be doing this alone though because nobody would help you in this task. Say what you want about Garrick, but everyone listens to him and this would definitely be going against his plans.

Though you do have another option, and that's going to the Ebony Claw Syndicate for help. Rook called off the hit and so far other than a few unavoidable skirmishes here and there, the EC has not been actively targeting you.

You never thought you'd feel this way, but you've actually considered joining them lately mainly because things have been just so miserable in the Guild. If it weren't for Tanya, you probably would have done it already.

Rook has never followed up on your last meeting, you don't know exactly what his game is, but you imagine if you come in for help, he's going to want that inside information on the Guild.

You get help from the Ebony Claw

If Rook is already extending his hand, you might as well take it at this point. You're at least on better terms with him than you are with Garrick.

As for Tanya, well you're going to have to just cut your losses you think on that one. It's obvious that isn't going to work out and you need to accept that despite how you might feel.

Since you aren't exactly sure how to contact Rook, the only place you can think of to go is the Poison Blade Inn since that's the best known Ebony Claw Syndicate hang out.

You don't know what kind of greeting you're going to get, but you're going to have to be on your guard, but then you always are.

You make your way to the Poison Blade Inn and along the way, you soon start getting hostile stares at various people. You're definitely not in a friendly neighborhood.

When you actually enter the Poison Blade, everyone immediately looks at you.

"What the fuck do you want?" one of them demands.
"I need to contact a man by the name of Rook, I have important business with him. Specifically information." You reply.
"Is that so? Well how about you tell me and I'll go relay it to him and he can decide. Rook is much too busy to be dealing with the likes of you."
"Uh huh, look I dunno what your problem is with me exactly but I'm not your enemy, we're on the same damn side so…"

At this point the one speaking to you spits on your boots and gets in your face. Several more members close in on you at this point. This could get really ugly.

"My problem…OUR problem with you is you fucking killed many of our friends and associates. Now you just walk in here like you think you own the place? You're Guild scum, no you're worse than Guild scum. You're a fucking rat. You think if you sell out those assholes that's going to make you good with us? Better think again. I don't give a fuck what deal you made, you're not coming in here demanding shit. If you got important information for Rook, he'll contact you directly himself. YOU wait for him. Now I suggest you walk right back out that door and don't come back unless you're actually invited."

Sensing that despite being taken off the hit list, your "immunity" only gets you so far. If you caused trouble here, you are not making it out alive. You just nod and back slowly out of the Poison Blade Inn and make your way out of the neighborhood as quick as possible.

After leaving immediate danger, you start to wonder if joining the EC is the way to go after all since it seems like everyone in it hates you. On one hand you can't be too surprised, but on the other now it seems like a less favorable choice. Instead of having the boss angry at you, you'll have the rest of the damn organization angry at you. You can't fucking win, maybe you need to just get the hell out of the city altogether. That would certainly solve a lot of problems.

In the mean time, you might as well find a new place to stay while you figure things out. You head to Hell's Own Inn since it's at least some place that you know and can consider hospitable.

Before you can however, you are suddenly grabbed while passing an alley and slammed up against a wall. You're then punched several times before you can even react and your pistol is taken away.

"Go for your sword and it gets shoved up your ass traitor!" Tanaya says.
"Tanya, wha…" you utter and then get another fist in the face causing you to crumple.

Tanya then begins kicking you and you curl up while shouting for mercy and asking what the hell is going on.

"STOP! STOP! What the hell did I do?!" you utter.
"You have the balls to ask that? You know what the fuck you did! You've been talking with the Syndicate!"
"Tanya…I…"
"Don't insult me by fucking lying! I SAW you! I've been following what you were up to since I didn't think you'd meekly accept Garrick's orders. I didn't however believe that you'd go full fucking traitor! How the hell was I so damn stupid to trust you?!"
"Tanya, it's not what it seems! I'm…I'm…"

You can't even come up with a good lie though it doesn't matter since Tanya isn't really in a mood to listen, let alone believe you. She grabs your neck with one hand is slowly crushing your windpipe as you dangle off the ground. Her eyes are even giving off a faint reddish glow, it's like you've unleashed her demonic side.

You try to beg for her to listen one last time.

"Tan…(cough) (ack)"
"Shut up, just shut up! I should have known better! Should have known you weren't different! Didn't think you'd be worse though!"

If you weren't on the verge of dying, you'd swear that Tanya's words aren't just about your betrayal of the Guild. She's obviously taking this personally. Your suspicions are confirmed when you see Tanya's eyes water a bit just before she breaks your neck.