Shadow Thieves' Guild Member (5e Background)

Shadow Thieves Guild Member

The Shadow Thieves was a thieves' guild based in Athkatla, a large port city in Amn. They were formerly the most prominent thieves guild in Waterdeep, but have since been all but routed from the city by the Lords of Waterdeep. It is alleged they had some arrangement with the Council of Six, as the merchants of Waterdeep are the main trading enemies of Amn.

The Shadow Thieves were a strongly structured organization, using this as advantage to avoid any action that desegregated the whole organization. The supreme leader of the guild was the Grandmaster of Shadows, that lead the Shadow Council, previously known as Shade Council. The Council divided the Realms territory in region, each member of the council act as supreme leader of that territory, there were two members of the council as leader of the no-Amnian regions. Under the council's members were the Cloakmasters. One Cloakmaster administrated a territory that comprised maximum 10,000 people, so a rural area usually had only one Cloakmaster and metropolis had various Cloakmasters (usually divided for the districts or quarters of the city). Under the Cloakmaster there were the guild masters, or Silhouette. Usually there were ten guild masters, one for each different criminal activities in which the Shadow thieves deal: Assassins, Beggars, Bounty Hunter, Con Artist and Tricksters, Burglars, Cutpurses and Pickpockets, Enforcers and Thugs, Racketeers, Scouts and Spies, Fences, Smugglers and Pirates. The Guildmasters administrated their criminal activity in autonomy, although under supervision of the Cloakmasters, and usually law enforcers arrived to capture only to those level; by the name's status usually law enforcers believed to had dismantled the guild capturing a guild master but in truth was only a moderate rank.

By Ned Dameron

Skill Proficiencies: Two of your choice from: Stealth, Deception, Sleight of Hand

Tool Proficiencies: Two of your choice from: Disguise Kit, Poisoners Kit, Forgery Kit, Thieves' Tools

Language: Thieves Cant, or if you already know Thieves Cant, you become proficient in any language of your choosing.

Equipment: Two Daggers, Two of your choice from: a poisoners kit, a disguise kit, forgery kit or thieves' tools; a set of common clothes, traveler's cloths, and fine clothes, and a small pouch with 20gp, also you have several(5-9) sheets of paper, an ink pen, and flacons of black, red, and invisible ink, as well as a black cloak with the Shadow Thieves logo in gray.

Specialization

d12	Specialization
1	Assassin
2	Bounty Hunter
3	Trickster
4	Burglar
5	Cutpurses
6	Enforcers
7	Thugs
8	Racketeers
9	Scout
10	Spy
11	Fence
12	Smuggler

Feature: Shadow Thief

Like an artisan you belong to a guild but instead of merchants you consort with criminals. You live a comfortable lifestyle without charge, and your guild will grant you protection from any crimes you are charged with. To remain part of the guild you must pay them 10 gold you earn every month. In addition your guild provides for the upkeep of your weapons and your living costs (food) while away from the guild.

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1	I assume every job is a trap.
2	I tend to approach conversation with people I've just met as though it were an interrogation.
3	I don't like killing.
4	I always check the escape routes of every building I enter.
5	I have trouble trusting people, especially those closest to me.
6	I have a habit of listening in on the conversations of others.
7	I prefer not to talk unless it's necessary.
8	I'm a specialist and my skills are best used in a team atmosphere.

d6	Ideal
1	Charity: I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good)
2	Brutality: Gold pales to the brilliance of the life draining from their eyes. (Evil)
3	Honor: I don’t steal from others in the trade. (Lawful)
4	Improvisation: Winning isn't everything, winning in a cool way is! (Chaotic)
5	People: I help people who help me--that's what keeps us alive. (Neutral)
6	Self-Knowledge: If you know yourself, there is nothing left to know. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.
2	One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest shadow thief of them all.
3	I'm trying to pay off an old debt I owe to My Teacher.
4	I am almost dangerously greedy.
5	I need to be the most famous thief alive.
6	I know I've done my best work when nobody knows I've done anything at all.

d6	Flaw
1	I have no problem with betraying people who trust me.
2	I keep everything.
3	Not only am I good at what I do, but I love what I do - and I hate myself for it.
4	I never share secrets with anyone.
5	I don't save people who can't save themselves. The Game is harsh and the stupid and flamboyant tend to die the first.
6	Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation.

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