Shadow Guilds

[Dungeon Blaster]

Something I've been working on. It's half done, but I thought I'd start gathering feedback early, so that I might shape the RP accordingly before I release the finished product.

To members of my other RP, NO, I haven't abandoned you. I usually run 2-3 RPs, and am very capable of doing so, so do not worry. Also, if you like the look of this, then come on in ;)

Authored by Dungeon Blaster

RP Summary

• Set in a fictional medieval town of Fenstone.
• No magic, but fantasy races allowed.
• Medieval/early gunpowder tech.
• Players are assassins, rogues and thieves.
• They can either play as a Guild master, recruiting other characters to their cause.
• OR, they can play as a free lance contractor.
• Fenstone has recently been occupied by a particularly terrible benefactor, Prince Gallowheart, who is a zealot of law and order.
• The Shadow Guilds, guilds of rogues, assassins and thieves, have suffered under his crack down on their activities.
• Naturally, they all very much wish to see the end of his reign, before he manages to find and kill them all.
• Therefore the RP's aim is to bring down Prince Gallowheart, through any means necessary.
• The GM plays the living, breathing world, throwing challenges and death at the players as they attempt to track down the Prince, ambush his soldiers, steal his goods and murder his peers.
• Outside of this, the world is very much sandbox in style, with players free to do what they wish, but with the GM's watchful eye awaiting them to make a mistake worthy of killing off their character.

A Prince Comes to Town

Ah... my beautiful Fenstone.

Such a wonderful place. A place where a man can arrive as a serf, and become a king. A place where a whore can earn herself enough gold to buy her clients into poverty. It is a both a gem and a blight on the Kingdom of Erva, but none can doubt the economic advantages of such a place existing within one's borders.

Mercenaries and foreign merchants present Fenstone's legal face, but it stops there. For underneath my city's beautiful, murky exterior, there is much darkness in her even murkier interior. Assassin guilds make backroom deals with disgruntled nobles, felling blue blooders left and right with their night time artistry. Thieves guilds operate in plain sight of the town guard, but hidden by their continuous bribes, as they pass on their ill-gained goods to ignorant (or maybe not) customers. Rogue guilds, a dastardly lot, cause trouble where they think it's needed. Then there are other, lesser known entities. Together, they all represent a trade that supplies the Crown with more gold than the city's taxes ever will.

That was, until Prince Gallowheart arrived with his "ideals" and "passions" regarding the notion of law and order. The man is wicked, as cold as iron, and as unfeeling as an arachnid digesting its prey. He brought with him many hundreds of soldiers, dismantled the town guard, and laid down his own form of security. His own form of justice.

The price of stealing a loaf of bread, is now the loss of a head. The price of murdering your neighbour? The loss of a head. The price of conspiring with shadow guilds? The loss of the heads of all of those you love, though you are spared to live in misery. Yes, Prince Gallowheart is a ruthless individual, and under his year-long stewardship of Fenstone, he has systematically destroyed our much beloved underworld.

The Thieves guilds can no longer operate as freely as they once did, having lost over a half of their number to double-crosses and Crown-subsidised informants. The assassins guilds have all but been purged, the blood trails of their trade leading back to them in many circumstances; the price to be paid for complacency. The rogues? Well, they don't make much trouble any more, not where it can be seen in any case.

Though if Prince Gallowheart thinks he can extinguish the shadow guilds so easily, he must be mad. He has humiliated them, hurt them, but he has not destroyed them. They burn with vengeance, and many of them have existed longer than he has lived. Each assassin, thief and rogue slain is a brother or sister lost. The shadow guilds are riled for confrontation, and in the shadows of Fenstone's shrinking underbelly, they are regrouping.

Though their comeback is not guaranteed. The Prince has the streets patrolled often, and his men are by now experienced lawmen. They know what to look for in an individual, what questions to ask, and what to do once they have the slightest suspicion. Perhaps then, the Prince needs his strength cut from under him? Soldiers wont fight for a man who struggles to get his payments to them on time, and nobles wont support a Prince who stands idly by as they are murdered one by one.

And what of the common man? He has been brutalised by the law, perhaps more so than the Shadow guilds. The streets are lined with the hanging corpses of wrong doers; adulterers, bankers, petty thieves and the wrongly accused. He seethes for revenge, but what can he do? With a population of just a few thousand, standing up to the Prince's soldiers with axes and rolling pins is a quick way to die.

But if the Shadow guilds showed them that the Prince's men were fallible and flawed, perhaps they could stir them into action?

Time will tell, but this story will only end in one way...

... With Prince Gallowheart's head hanging from the turrets of his blasted castle.

Fenstone

Space Saver

Fenstone is a small city, or a large town, depending upon who you speak to.

Situated along the Fen, a river of moderate size that passes through the county, she sits on a direct trade route between the Eastern and Western realms; Erva's neighbours. Goods arrive on ships, and are disgorged into the warehouse district, before being passed onto the coin district for sale. What's left is quickly passed further down river, towards Loathenstock, the Capital.

With a population of just six thousand, Fenstone is surprisingly small for a city (or town!) of its economic significance. This is because it is also notorious as a hotbed of crime and depravity, where assassins and preachers share an equal standing on their descent into the fiery Underworld for their sins. Street sweepers and nobles have the same immunity to the threat of retaliation from a Shadow guild: none.

Many great names have ended in Fenstone, having angered a Shadow guild for one reason or another. Thousands of commoners have gone missing, inexplicably over the last couple of centuries, and now in the present day, many hold the name Fenstone with infamy.

To move into Fenstone, is shorten one's life by several decades.

Though what a short life there is to be had!

And this is why the city caught Prince Gallowheart's attention. Every royal has to make their mark on the world in some way, and for the Prince, straightening out Fenstone seemed the perfect place to start.

City Layout

Map

Coin District



Market stalls, shops, tall and elaborate houses all mark the Coin District's flourishing presence. Even under Prince Gallowheart, it thrives, and perhaps even more so with his soldiers patrolling the area.

Many foreign goods can be bought here, for gold or by bartering. More common goods, such as foods, herbs, cotton, building materials and other such things are also available.

Old Village



The Old Village was the original area from which Fenstone was born. The buildings here are old, and their inhabitants are a shady bunch. Brothels and taverns dot the area, along with the sight of children racing around in muck, wives emptying chamber pots and stray dogs tearing apart rats.

The Prince's men raid the area often, breaking up suspected Shadow guild gatherings and arresting brother owners. However, the soldiers rarely stay long - their presence unwelcome, and they lose most of their number here to too many "unfortunate accidents" to be mere coincidence. For now it is safe, but some believe that the Prince is only days away from purging the entire area... something he is quite capable of.

For now, the inhabitants have grown smarter, and have learnt ways to evade the raids and random patrols. Business, is beginning to blossom for the first time in a year.

Temple District



If you think Holy Men are an example to be followed, in Fenstone you would be wrong. Half of them are pimps, and the other half are thieves. They prey off their ignorant flocks, using their influence to deflower maids and to steal the coin of the desperate. Anyone who is smart enough, or informed enough, to see past the church spires and the white robes, knows that it is a place of evil.

Though for some reason, Prince Gallowheart allows these bastards to thrive. Why? Because they exert much influence over the common man. For now, he needs them to continue supporting his governorship, but maybe this is something that can be soiled?

The Temple District is heavily guarded, by the Order Militia - a small army of some one hundred bully-boys who protect the various churches and temples from harm. Occasionally, they also assist their masters in carrying out some less than Holy work.

The district itself is a patchwork of churches, or varying in size, some grander than others. The streets are paved marble, and meticulously maintained. Some large residential buildings are scattered around, offering accommodation for the priests.

Bishops tend to reside within their churches, which they treat as castles when they're not using them to host a Mass.

West Bridge



The West Bridge is small, made of solid stone and a work of art from a technical stand point. It is capable of being drawn, by large manual pulleys, allowing for large ships to pass through. The guard house at either end is manned by a contingent of soldiers, who watch the passing crowds diligently. It is dangerous for a man known to the law to attempt to pass, but not impossible.

A small tower at either end of the bridge houses the pulleys, but these are watched at all times by at least two guards... or so the official procedure states.

The Commons



Winding, narrow streets, crammed houses and crumbling slums denote the city's poorest inhabitants. In the commons, the people are many, the accommodation shoddy, and life exceptionally cheap. This is where one can expect to find the labourers, the infirm and the broken.

Rightly so, Prince Gallowheart has the area patrolled frequently, for he believes it to be a potential hotbed of revolution. The inhabitants of the Commons have faired poorly under his rule, as they are often associated with the Shadow guilds. Four times he has halted grain relief shipments to the area, for a murdered soldier, and each time the peasants have rallied up against him. A cavalry charge and some hanging normally resolves these issues, but the commoners are becoming bolder.

To cement his hold in the area, he has erected several guard stations throughout, and each of these are manned by a local commander with total freedom of operation. These commanders are known to use their powers for purposes of evil, stealing what little the inhabitants have, and subjecting them to decadent activities.

New Village



The New Village is an affluent area of the city, where the rich and the fortunate dwell. Upper class goods line the streets in shops with expensive glass windows, children dressed in finery followed their even finer dressed parents with reverence.

If someone was to track the city's wealth, they'd find over half of it in that district alone... and as it overlooks the Commons, the Prince's men maintain a constant presence. People who do not look like locals to the area are often turned away, or are ushered into a back alley and given a good beating.

The taverns serve the finest wine and the finest meats, though some of them serve other appetites too (with the Prince's secret approval).

Before Gallowheart's arrival, the Thieves Guild of Fenstone was located here, laughably in plain sight of the former town guard. Their bribes wouldn't touch the Prince though, and now the building has been re-purposed as a taxing office for local foreign traders.

The Barracks



The barracks is a re-purposed part of New Village, where the city's former Watch Commander dwelt. The buildings within, house the Prince's off-duty military, and are heavily guarded. It also acts as a processing centre for suspected criminals whose crimes warrant further investigation.

However, with no attack having fallen on the area in over a year, it is possible that the guards posted are becoming complacent. Who in their right mind, would assail the Prince's strongest area, after all?

Castle Fenstone



Castle Fenstone has not seen action in two centuries, now that is a hundred miles away from the frontier. As a result, much of it has fallen into disrepair. However, Prince Gallowheart is lavishing his wealth on the castle, with hopes to rebuild it in the image of what he thinks a castle should look like.

It is a long way off from being refurbished, there is no doubt of that, but it is still a significant defensive structure. With an outer wall, and a keep, it is heavily guarded by the Prince's best, and with good reason.

The Prince resides here, sharing the 20 elaborate bed chambers with the city's richest and most powerful inhabitants.

It would be unwise to go after the Prince directly. The castle is near impenetrable, owing to the fifty or so soldiers that patrol its ramparts, but it does have its weaknesses. Holes in the stonework, crumbling sewers, overlooked smuggling tunnels - all present a possible point of entry, and will continue to do so until the castle is fully repaired.

Craft District



Whether you're looking for a horse shoe or a sword, a pistol or a halberd, you'll find it here. Blacksmiths are aplenty, along with carpenters, bowers, stone workers and other tradesmen.

Many of the business owners operate their own guards here, who are free from Royal interference. The Prince has allowed for this to be the case, as it lessens the strain on his soldiers, however he still makes patrols of the area from time to time.

Perhaps causing trouble here, would force the Prince to spread himself thinner than he already is?

Warehouse District

The Warehouse District is row upon row of large wooden buildings, dedicated to holding goods arriving from the Fen. Most of them are owned by wealthy merchants, or merchant guilds, but others have owners who can't be traced. The Prince resold most of the latter to people who he could trace, but many suspect the original owners still use the buildings in secret.

It was notorious for Shadow guild activity, and perhaps, it still is? The Prince chances nothing however, and has his men raid the area frequently, hoping to catch any wrong-doers off guard. So far though, little of note has taken place here.

East Bridge

The East Bridge is a long stone structure, raised a hundred feet above the water level at its highest point. Unlike the West Bridge, it does not draw and there are no mechanisms involved. Most ships instead just pass underneath, the structure's hight accommodating them perfectly.

As with the West Bridge, it is guarded at either side by dedicated and watchful soldiers.

NPCs

Space Saver

As GM, I am responsible for controlling NPCs for the most parts. Raids on Shadow guilds, random patrols blundering into an assassin, a traitorous blacksmith reporting your presence, a guard hearing something suspicious as your thief thumbles for his keys - this is all me.

However, once I have created an NPC and thrown them into the world, they come under joint GM-Player control. They are killable, and do not need my permission to be killed.

I can create them at any time, at any given location. This is to provide challenges for the characters to overcome, and it livens things up a bit.

This excludes the Prince, who remains under my control, and my permission is needed for him to be killed.

Players can also create their own NPCs, with similar conditions. I imagine an Assassin is going to want to um... well, assassinate someone? The player therefore is free to create its target, design its target's lair, and go from there. The GM's job is to see if the player's character is vulnerable at any point, and whether its feasible to insert a patrolling guard into the mix as the assassin is poised to eliminate his contract.

Contracts

Space Saver

For players lacking direction, I will occasionally (or maybe frequently, depending), post contracts. These will range from assassinations to stealing something, or framing an NPC for a crime.

When I post these contracts, I will probably list them in the IC, although I am not sure at this point.

Religion

Space Saver

The main religion of Fenstone is similar to Christianity, in that followers of the Holy Dawn believe in a omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient Creator.

The Prince has no love of religion, believing that it clouds the mind, and instead relies in his steadfast beliefs in law, order and justice. However, that does not stop him from using religion as a tool to keep the commoners under his heel.

Typically, priests of the Holy Dawn wear vibrant white robes, and are of middle to old age. It takes many years of learning the Holy Scriptures to become a preist, and only then do the most devout make it to Bishop - the highest rank.

Bishops head churches with semi-independence, able to preach whatever they like within the context of the Holy Scriptures. This naturally allows them to twist the words of the Creator, much like what we see in real life religions with their varying sects.

The ignorant and the downtrodden follow the word of the Creator blindly, revering the Bishops as his chosen ones. Therefore, it is hard to prosecute a Bishop, and even harder to rid one of office. An irony not lost on the Prince, whose laws prohibit him from interfering with them - although some suspect he made it this way on purpose, to absolve him of their actions.

In Fenstone, the Bishops operate as mini-warlords, with their Order Militia. They dominate the Temple District with impunity, killing and punishing at will. They are corrupt, and lack a self-regulating body to watch over their actions, and therefore, they are deadly in their own right.

Soldiers

Space Saver

The Prince's soldiers are more attuned to scaring a populace, than they are to war. Their days consist mostly of chasing down hungry peasants who have stolen some rice, or hanging a woman for accusing them of rape. They are a wicked lot, though there are undoubtedly a few among their ranks who look upon the situation with distaste.

Corruption is rife amongst the soldiers, ironically, who take every opportunity they can to plunder the inhabitants of Fenstone. The Prince executes some every now and then, to make examples, but this does little to stem the flow of crime.

Most citizens will secretly cheer every time one of them is put into an early grave.

However with all this said, they are always armed with swords, shields, bows and mail armour. Getting yourself cornered will be a quick way to die. More over, killing them is not always a good thing to do. The Prince has little patience for the murder of his soldiers, and he will usually respond by having the District raided in force. This may upset the locals, who may be more inclined to turn your character in, the next time they see him/her.

Racism

Space Saver

Fenstone is a mostly human city, with 95% of its inhabitants being human. Other races are looked on with suspicion, and are much more likely to face random spot checks and prosecution - even if "much more likely" is only a small margin, thanks to the Prince's crack downs.

For a non-human, life is a brutal affair. They are often the targets of muggers, scorn and descrimination. The Bishops too, have taken a dislike to them, despite the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that describes racism as an evil.

For players wishing to be say an Elf, you will face more challenges than human characters. Be much more prepared to die.

Character Fatality

Space Saver

Your character's competence at their work, is solely in your hands.

Judging your actions, is me, the GM.

Characters who make unforgivable mistakes, forget immediate threats and bite off more than they could reasonably chew, can end up getting killed. If this happens, I'll narrate it in one of my posts. Here's a few examples of how your character can die.

Let's say you're a thief, waltzing into some merchant's manor. You've snuck past the guards, grabbed loads of gold coins, and then are sneaking back out.

SUDDENLY, the GM decides that actually, those guards you snuck past can hear a suspicious metallic rattling. So they're going to go and investigate, and lo and behold, they find your thief, his pockets bulging with coins, tip-toeing across the corridor. Your character is then in a battle for his life! Caution at all times, understand the actions that you are doing, and their consequences. The more careful you are, the more precautions you take, the safer you'll be.

Or let's say we've got an assassin. He's just killed a couple of guards, and has then darted off down the hall. Sound good? NO.

The sound of the guards, in their mail armour, hitting the floor has created a bit of a racket. Other guards in the area are now coming to investigate.

Or you're a rogue, having just beaten some Bishop to a pulp in a back alley. You're strolling down the Temple District, a job well done... until an Order Militia member spies you, and finds it odd that your knuckles are a bit bloodied. Naturally he comes over to investigate, and the Rogue then has to explain the situation - and if he's not convincing enough, he'll have a fight on his hands.

There are about 3402349 ways I can kill your characters. I wont see all of the mistakes, and I'll forgive some of the lesser errors if you're telling a good story, but ultimately, my purpose in this RP is to add mortality to your characters.

So if you're not cool with me smacking you with the hand of God, then this RP is not for you.

Guild Sheet

Guild Name:

Guild Mark: A body marking all of its members have, and its location. This is optional.

Guild Type: Asassin Guild, Thief Guild, Rogue Guild, Spy's Guild, Pirate Guild.

Guild's Location: Choose a district that house's your guild. The location will be hidden from the Prince, initially, and known only to you and the other players.

Guild's Aims: What your guild is trying to gain from the situation.

Guild Master: The name of the Guild Master.

Character Sheet

Guild:

Name:

Age:
Gender:
Race:

Physical Description:

Skillset:

Talents one has either naturally or through education or training of some sort.

History:

Psychological Profile:

An idea of how the character thinks and so forth; should be linked to the history.

Equipment:

[TheRealCrow]

So people might play the leaders of different shadow guilds who are in competition with eachother (until the common enemy shows up)? Anyway, Im interested.

[Guilty Spark]

Definitely interested. Is there anything more you can say about the temple district, and the religion in general?

[Dungeon Blaster]

Definitely interested. Is there anything more you can say about the temple district, and the religion in general?

@Guilty Spark

Getting to that, although we're looking at a Christian-based religion, where everyone worships the Creator, who is all seeing, all knowing and all loving etc.

There will also be a host of minor religions, that the players can contribute should they wish. I called it the Temple District for this reason, as it allows for a bit of diversity should we need some.

So people might play the leaders of different shadow guilds who are in competition with eachother (until the common enemy shows up)? Anyway, Im interested.

@TheRealCrow

This is correct. Not all Guilds will simply be appeased by the death of the Prince... some might want to make good of the situation, and have a go at securing the city for themselves.

[AiyvaGuard]

I have an Idea....so I've been trying to get my character to work! So!
Is the acceptable?

[Gareth]

I am interested in joining.

[Dungeon Blaster]

I have an Idea....so I've been trying to get my character to work! So!
Is the acceptable?

@AiyvaGuard

Uhhh. I mean the wings are a bit obvious, but sure.

[Guilty Spark]

@AiyvaGuard In a city of 95% humans I think your winged character is going to stand out... drastically. Like a viking in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II.

@Dungeon Blaster Where does the Prince recruit his soldiers from, and (unrelated) how are women treated in this society?

[AiyvaGuard]

@AiyvaGuard In a city of 95% humans I think your winged character is going to stand out... drastically. Like a viking in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II.

@Dungeon Blaster Where does the Prince recruit his soldiers from, and (unrelated) how are women treated in this society?

@Guilty Spark

Hmm... .- . If my character was seen by a christian they'd think she was an actual angel from above. From what I was thinking my character has lived in Fenstone for a long amount of time that she is partially accepted or that she is apart of the church due to her 'holy' physical characteristics

[Guilty Spark]

@AiyvaGuard Well, I can't really comment on the plausibility of that, but I will note that this isn't actually Christianity. It's a Christian-like religion, so they may not even have angels...

Maybe she can masquerade as a high-end escort to cover the finances she gets from her... thievery? Or assassinations, or whatever you planned on her doing.

[AiyvaGuard]

@AiyvaGuard Well, I can't really comment on the plausibility of that, but I will note that this isn't actually Christianity. It's a Christian-like religion, so they may not even have angels...

Maybe she can masquerade as a high-end escort to cover the finances she gets from her... thievery? Or assassinations, or whatever you planned on her doing.

@Guilty Spark

Maybe she can masquerade as a high-end escort to cover the finances she gets from her... thievery? Or assassinations, or whatever you planned on her doing.

:OOOOOOOOO Tell me about that part .-. | Its a risk I shall take~

[AiyvaGuard]

Oh~ and creatorr..can I be molested by the hand of god instead of smacked? .- .

[Dungeon Blaster]

@AiyvaGuard In a city of 95% humans I think your winged character is going to stand out... drastically. Like a viking in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II.

@Dungeon Blaster Where does the Prince recruit his soldiers from, and (unrelated) how are women treated in this society?

@Guilty Spark

I'll be getting to the subject of women. The short answer is though, they're not on equal footing with men. How much of a disadvantage they're at, I haven't decided yet, but I want them to appear fragile, submissive and meek.

The Prince brought his soldiers with him, he hasn't suffered so many losses as to warrant replenishment. So, they're from elsewhere in the country, and not sympathetic to the city's inhabitants.

[Guilty Spark]

The Prince brought his soldiers with him, he hasn't suffered so many losses as to warrant replenishment. So, they're from elsewhere in the country, and not sympathetic to the city's inhabitants.

@Dungeon Blaster

Hmmm, so no character can have infiltrated the guard (yet).

[Dungeon Blaster]

<Snipped quote by Dungeon Blaster>

Hmmm, so no character can have infiltrated the guard (yet).

@Guilty Spark

But they could be an informant. A double agent as such.

[AiyvaGuard]

<Snipped quote by Guilty Spark>

But they could be an informant. A double agent as such.

@Dungeon Blaster

DungeonBlaster... .- .

Can my character be apart of the church? Or does the religion have no connections towards angels?

[Dungeon Blaster]

<Snipped quote by Dungeon Blaster>

DungeonBlaster... .- .

Can my character be apart of the church? Or does the religion have no connections towards angels?

@AiyvaGuard

No connection with angels. Just a big man in the sky that promises paradise to all those who are good in life.

You could just come from a race of harpy-like beings? I mean that'd work. At least people would know what you were.

On the other hand, they'd also be like, "IT HAS WINGS, ITS NOT FROM HERE, KILL IT!!!!"

Which is not the end of the road. It'd just mean you would probably want to remain hidden during the day, or have a crafty disguise. Maybe walk around like a haggard old crone with a hunched back? Then suddenly BAM, away goes the tattered robes and out come the wings!

EDIT: Sorry, I got carried away there. Being not human doesn't equate to an instant death, it just means you're more likely to get ratted out, randomly attacked and persecuted by the guards.

[AiyvaGuard]

<Snipped quote by AiyvaGuard>

No connection with angels. Just a big man in the sky that promises paradise to all those who are good in life.

You could just come from a race of harpy-like beings? I mean that'd work. At least people would know what you were.

On the other hand, they'd also be like, "IT HAS WINGS, ITS NOT FROM HERE, KILL IT!!!!"

Which is not the end of the road. It'd just mean you would probably want to remain hidden during the day, or have a crafty disguise. Maybe walk around like a haggard old crone with a hunched back? Then suddenly BAM, away goes the tattered robes and out come the wings!

EDIT: Sorry, I got carried away there. Being not human doesn't equate to an instant death, it just means you're more likely to get ratted out, randomly attacked and persecuted by the guards.

@Dungeon Blaster

Fudge...your idea wouldn't work as well. She has a floating crown above her head . - . ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||....Hmmmm.

Maybe she could be a healer? or just a provider for the Guild?
I don't mind being a side character :P

[Guilty Spark]

@AiyvaGuard You know, you don't have to follow the image exactly. You can easily say she doesn't have a floating crown over her head for convenience.

[Guilty Spark]

@Dungeon Blaster

Guild Name: The Wayfarer’s Guild

Guild Mark: None

Guild Type: Spy's Guild/Information Brokers

Guild's Location: New Village, though few in the guild know this.

Guild's Aims: The dissemination of information, for the right price.

Guild Master: Namal Inthus, though few in the guild know this.

---

Guild: Wayfarer’s Guild

Primary Alias: Ariston Kalas.

Age: Unknown (Forties)
Gender: Male
Race: Human

Physical Description: Ariston has many faces crafted from the expert application of expensive makeup and related products. These different faces range in apparent age from the thirties to the sixties, and range in physical features widely. While someone of particularly sharp gaze may pierce the disguise, if you do not know what to look for he can walk right by you or even hold a conversation without you noticing. Unaided, he is 5’9” at his tallest, but can disguise his height rather effectively with the limp of a cripple or hunched back of a worn out elder. He remains lean, roughly 150 lbs. because it is easier to appear bulkier than you are than it is thinner.

Skillset:

• Master of Disguise: Through years of practice and connections to various exotic merchants, Ariston has learned to disguise more than just his physical appearance. Everything from his voice to his personality can be changed at the drop of a hat if need be.
• Smooth Talker: Ariston has talked his way out of so many hairy situations it would be difficult for him to not have an excuse on hand.
• Unarmed Combat: Put a sword in Ariston’s hands and he’ll make a fool of himself, but take it away and he’ll shatter your knee, collapse your throat, or simply pin you. He may be out of his weight class, but he’s a wily fighter who knows how to find the right leverage to bring you to the ground and keep you there.
• Quiet: Self-explanatory. Ariston’s life has depended on moving silently more than once, and he’s still alive.

History:
Ariston’s history is enigmatic to everyone but himself. He ran away from home as a boy, choosing to be raised by the streets of Fenstone rather than his own father. The man wasn’t abusive, he was simply impoverished, the result of trying to live an honest life in a dishonest town. Ariston thought life on the streets, following know rules but his own, would be easier. He tried being a cutpurse, but his infringing on guild territories nearly led to his death on more than one occasion, and he had to fight bullies to keep what he did manage to steal. It was this fighting that started him on the path of unarmed combat, without any advantages on his side he realized he needed to fight smarter than his opponent to survive.

Eventually his persistence earned him invitations to thieves’ guilds when he was twelve. In the thieves’ guild everything was different. There were cuts, demands, and a pecking order. It no longer felt like he in charge of himself, but if he did good he ate well and it was comforting knowing there were people on his side, even if he had to sleep with one eye open. He stayed with the guild for a few years, until there was an incident. During a raid on a wealthy merchant’s warehouse, they were discovered by the merchant’s hired swords. Everyone made it out except for Ariston, who was clubbed and captured. When the merchant threatened him with death, he ratted out his own guild and the mercenaries raided their hideout incurring severe casualties for the thieves. This was Ariston’s first taste of the power of information. Knowing what happened to rats, the merchant let Ariston go.

Ariston realized the gravity of his mistake when he was nearly cornered by a couple of guild thugs. He escaped with a stab wound right through the meat of his arm, but he did escape. Everyone knew his face, and nobody trusted him. His attempts to join another guild were met with refusal at best, and violence at worst. He knew that in Fenstone nobody survives with a target on their back, so he changed his face. It was his first experience with disguises, and while they were crude to begin with, they slowly improved until after a few years nobody could tell the difference. Although he had returned to the good graces of the guilds as a new man, he was no longer satisfied with thievery and assassination wasn’t his cup of tea. After a few years of building ideas and establishing discreet connections, he founded the Wayfarer’s Guild.

The Wayfarer’s Guild was a slowly spreading network designed to encroach on all areas of Fenstone. Their goal was to disseminate information to the guilds, and even the merchants. Little escapes the attention of their network, whether it is a raid by the city guard, a new shipment of exotic valuables, or an impending assassination attempt. The Guild’s largest shortcoming is that’s its network is too expansive for anyone to truly control, but this also makes it very difficult to pin down. To receive information from the guild, you need to know one of its members, but these could be anyone. A merchant, a thief and assassin, or day laborer could all have ties to the guild. The safest bet for someone looking for the guild is to ask someone affiliated with the underworld, they’ll refer you to a broker who can accept payment and retrieve the information you seek.

Under certain aliases, Ariston still holds positions of significance within the guild, but otherwise he has let it grow beyond the control of any one man, even though his subordinate Namal Inthus is its official head. Ariston has achieved exactly what he wanted, prosperity and comfort. In reality, he has enough wealth stashed away to retire comfortably, but where is the fun in that? He prefers to move around the city, playing many roles from beggar to inn keeper when it suits him.

Psychological Profile:
Devious and curious, Ariston gets his thrills from every person who passes him by without recognizing him, and from every secret he uncovers. He likes the money, but more than that he likes the challenge. Twenty years with his life on the line, and it is still thrilling to him. Although the arrival of the Prince has cost the Wayfarer’s Guild lives, Ariston is pleased by the development. The game has just gotten more interesting, and more dangerous.

Equipment: (Only what he carries on his person)

• A half-eaten loaf of bread.
• Two nondescript iron keys.
• Ragged garments.
• A leather coin-purse with a handful of the lowest denomination of coin in it.