Fire
Knives
Group Alignment: Neutral Evil
Leader: Shadulos Elas Boron
Headquarters: An anonymous guild hall
in the Guild District
The Fire Knives are an international organization of illuminated
conspirators who have supporters within Hyrkania, Octzel, and Jhakn. Rumors
indicate that there are even members operating within the empires of Persedonia
and Galvonar to the south, and maybe even as far east as Cretea and Namintha.
The Fire Knives are a vicious predatory political organization, motivated less by
religious or moral principles than they are by political gain, despite their
origins as a cult to Haro, the god of murder. The mysterious Council of
Thirteen are a secret council of dissident political radicals from across the
Middle Kingdoms who work together to maintain long distance ties and support.
Their agendas are many and varied. Some employ magical prowess which is often
learned from the Cabal of Southern Hyrkania, while others practice bastard
magic, culled from the books of Blue Robes and Geomancers who dared to cross
their path. Most members of the guild are common men and kindred folk who rely
on stealth and swift assassination to accomplish their nefarious deeds.
At
its roots, the guild looks like some sort of thug-enforcer type of thieves’
guild that seems to have little obvious direct connection to their actions. In
some cities, such as Octzel, their movements are silent and unobserved by most
people. In Krythia, they wear their shield of stars surrounded by a weapons
symbol proudly, and are believed to be a mercenary's guild by most people. In
Jhakn the existence of the Fire Knives is unknown, as their movements are so
carefully concealed and hidden that not even close allies know who they are
dealing with.
In
Octzel, the Fire Knives have few allies and many enemies, often coming to blows
with rival organizations and guilds. Of the many thieves and mercenaries guilds
in Octzel only the Order of the Blade maintains neutral relations, and is
willing to hire out sellswords to the Fire Knives for any unsavory deeds.
The Fire Knives have the primary support of three Barons, and possibly
other nobles, in Octzel. House Boron, House Killaman, and House Agrapor are the
primary backers. House Boron, of the Merchant Lord Shadulos Elas Boron, and his
wicked daughter Teylayurana Sorinos are the most dangerous members. Hallergan Blacknails
is an infamous orc assassin of the order.
Beside the illegal and secretive activities which likely take place in
the shadowed chambers of the manors of each noble house, the Fire Knives own
property through indirect channels throughout the city. They own a trade and
import shop in the Marketplace which leads to a secret meeting place. They own
a Guild Hall that is rented out regularly, except on dark, moonless nights when
they convene for a recap of their actions. They own warehouses by the docks,
where imports of special relation are often kept, or where bodies can safely be
dumped. Members of the Fire Knives learn as much as they can about the back
alleys, secret passages, sewers, and catacombs beneath the streets of Octzel.
Some would say that the Fire Knives go beyond being a society of
political assassination and into the realm of a secret society for the sake of
secretiveness. Much of this is due to the fact that the three barons behind the
house lack the backing or funds of a major political interest, and it is
believed that none of them belong to the Thirteen. Yet, since some claim that
Fire Knives in Hyrkania, such as Dame Magna Mordent, say that there is a member
of the Thirteen in Octzel, then who is he or she, and what are they planning?
Icon
Option: The Thirteen
The Thirteen are an entity and an icon unto itself, operating in utter
secrecy throughout the Middle Kingdoms and the East to further its diabolical
ends, using assassination, slavery, and the sale of opiates (especially of the
blue and black lotus) to manipulate the political currents of the realms.
An
agent, follower or servant of the Thirteen is likely to be a lower order member
of the Fire Knives, but someone could also have a conflicted relationship if
they revere the god Haro, or are independent assassins, and an adversarial
relationship could stem from any number of cases where one would see cause to
oppose the actions of a murderous guild-cult.
Shadulos Elas Boron
The guild master of Fire Knife operations in
Octzel, Boron is a local merchantman with family ties back to Hyrkania. His
rise to power on the surface appears to be one of a shrewd businessman, but
behind the scenes he is suspected of being ranked as one of the Thirteen,
relying on the bloody death that his guild can heap upon those who stand in his
way to further his ambitions.
Boron has locked down the city for the Fire
Knives, eliminating most other rival guilds, and now schemes to find ways to
dislodge the Black Lotus and the Guild of the Spheres.
Level 6 Human fighter-Skirmisher, NE
Initiative +13
AC 22 MD 17 PD 19 HP 92
Melee Rapier
Strike +12 vs. AC; 21 damage and on an attack roll of 16+ the target is
disarmed.
Ranged Poisoned Daggers +12 vs. AC short range; 11 damage and on an even roll make a second
attack (up to 6); for each attack roll secondary strike: +11 vs. PD or target
is paralyzed (16+ save ends). If the poison attack gets a natural 20 the target
takes 20 additional damage due to debilitating paralytic effects.
Disarming Personality +11 vs. MD; on a failure the target is confused by Shadulos’s charm and
wiles and is treated as charmed (16+ save ends). Shadulos has subjected his
very body to complex rituals to allow for unnatural magical guile.
Entourage Shadulos rarely travels alone. For each round roll 1D6 and compare to
the escalation die; if equal to or lower 1D6 fire knife thugs arrive to aid
him; on Escalation Die 6 a fire knife master assassin arrives.
Teylayurana Sorinos
The bastard daughter of Shadulos Elas
Boron, Teylayurana has worked her way up the ranks in the Fire Knives to become
the premiere assassin in Octzel. She is ruthless and efficient, though regarded
as unstable by those who have seen her succumb on occasion to a bloodlust
driven by her madness. Some believe that when she experiences these “episodes”
she is actually channeling the spirit of Haro himself; no one knows for sure,
but her skill has nonetheless attracted the attention of Celiobantes Astiriate
in the east, and within the guild it is rumored the two have had relations.
About two years earlier Teylayurana also
traveled with the adventurer Cassius Augustus and was lured into a war between
the Fire Knives and the Guild of the Spheres. This conflict led to ongoing
enmity between the two guilds.
Level 7 Human rogue-offensive, CN
Initiative +14
AC 23 MD 16 PD 22 HP 112
Melee Twin-Dagger Strike +12 vs AC; 22 damage and on an even roll add blue lotus poison; may pop
free after the attack and use stealth.
Ranged Hand Crossbows +12 vs. AC; 20 damage and on an even roll add blue lotus poison.
Blue Lotus Poison +11 vs. PD; target suffers hallucinations from Blue Lotus poison (target
is confused, save ends)
Sneak Attack If attacking a foe engaged with more or more allies
Teylayurana deals an additional 20 damage on a successful hit.
Stealthy Teylayurana starts any given round stealthed in which she has popped free
or was not seen (i.e. surprise round). She is DC 22 perception (wisdom) check
to detect.
Hallergan Blacknails
Hallergan Blacknails is Shadulos Boron’s
right-hand man. He is an accomplished mage, a tough fighter, and a tricky
devil. Hallergan is approaching middle years, but has worked hard to keep a
lean figure, and avoid the bloatedness so characteristic older male orcs. His
snout is stubbier than usual, perhaps due to some forgotten human blood in his
ancestry, and he will often pass without question in the city streets if he
wears heavy robes like a priest. He is a master tactician when it comes to
weaving his magic, and he can bring down some rather impressive foes with
little difficulty.
Level 8 Orc fighter-warlock (brute), CE
Initiative +11
AC 24 MD 19 PD 21 HP 150
Melee Great Axe +13
vs. AC; 38 damage.
Ranged Spectral Syphon +12 vs. MD short range 1 target; 22 psychic damage but the target is
subject to a new attack every round thereafter as a free action until the MD is
missed or target drops to 0 HP. For each round the target takes damage
Hallergan gains +1 (cumulative) to his MD. This terrifying warlock power drains
spirit energy from the target and does not stop until forcibly interrupted or
the target succumbs.
Invisibility Hallergan may start any round invisible as a free action if the
Escalation Die is even. This simple spell trick provides him an extra
advantage, as he can quickly disguise himself for a quick surprise attack, or
make a quick escape.
Shimmering Nightmares (recharge 6) +12 vs. MD vs. one nearby target; 40 psychic damage and the
target is confused. This vile warlock spell targets one person, dragging their
mind into a nightmarish realm of the dreamlands of Ethenur where the dream
devils reign supreme, striking and ripping at the target. Target continues to
take 40 damage and is confused until save ends.
Fire Knife Thugs
(mook)
Level 3 Human (Skirmisher)
Initiative +6
AC 19 MD 13 PD 17 HP 12
Melee Daggers +8 vs. AC; 4 damage; on a 16+ apply blue lotus poison.
Ranged Crossbow +8 vs. AC; 4 damage; on a 16+ apply blue lotus poison.
Blue Lotus Poison +8 vs. PD; target suffers hallucinations from Blue Lotus poison (target
is confused, save ends)
Sneak Attack fire knife thugs deal 4 additional damage if the foe is engaged with one
or more allies.
Fire Knife Agent
Level 3 Human (Lurker)
Initiative +6
AC 19 MD 13 PD 17 HP 45
Melee Daggers +8 vs. AC; 8 damage; on a 16+ apply blue lotus poison.
Ranged Crossbow +8 vs. AC; 8 damage; on a 16+ apply blue lotus poison.
Blue Lotus Poison +8 vs. PD; target suffers hallucinations from Blue Lotus poison (target
is confused, save ends)
Sneak Attack fire knife thugs deal 8 additional damage if the foe is engaged with one
or more allies.
Fire Knife Master
Assassin
Level 6 Human (Lurker)
Initiative +9
AC 22 MD 16 PD 20 HP 90
Melee Daggers +11 vs. AC; 18 damage; on a 16+ apply black lotus poison.
Ranged Crossbow +11 vs. AC; 18 damage; on a 16+ apply black lotus poison.
Black Lotus Poison +11 vs. PD; target suffers total system shutdown from black lotus poison
(target drops to 0 HP)
Sneak Attack fire knife thugs deal 18 additional damage if the foe is engaged with
one or more allies.
Smoke Bombs on an even escalation die the master assassin can drop a smoke bomb for
a fast escape. DC 20 perception (wisdom) check to spot him before he gets away!
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