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The Red Rose is Nora's largest thieves' guild and spy network. Headquartered in Aeros, the leader of the Red Rose is the mysterious Dark Lady. The Red Rose has enclaves in all major cities and agents in many smaller settlements.
The Red Rose is semi-autonomous, the individual cities running the guild as the Guildmasters desire. In some cities, the Rose is nothing more than a common thieves' guild, running numbers, pickpocketing and engaging in protection rackets. In other cities, the Rose is more community oriented, playing the role of the vigilante and freedom fighter.
The one trait that ties all branches together is the dealing of information.
The Black Rose
see Black Rose
An offshoot of the infamous Red Rose spy guild, the Dark Lady has, remorsefully, founded this guild to protect the Red Roses’ interests. They specialize in death through the art of the rapier and dagger.
Notable members
- The Dark Lady
- Golerk Ironboots
- Jesse Blackblade
- Pansy Ienli
- Tik the Gnollslayer
Built upon the ruins of the old Winksman
Thieves Guild founded under the
rule of Drassig, the Clasp is a very
well established secret organization
consisting of thieves, fences,
assassins, saboteurs, spies,
and smugglers. Based
largely in and under Emon
through a network of subterranean
tunnels, they run
smaller outfits in Westruun,
Stilben, and Kymal. Members
are branded with the guild’s symbol
on their mid back, signifying allegiance
and commitment. The Clasp
operates like a business-minded crime
family, celebrating loyalty and truth to
one’s word over most other merits. A
member pays their debts, keeps their
promises, and always seeks opportunities
for the betterment of the Clasp.
Leaders of a Clasp sect are titled Spirelings, and they
oversee assigned elements of the organization’s functions.
Spirelings hold equal power within a sect, and there is
always an odd number acting within that location to break
any disagreements over business ventures and actions.
Goals
While the immediate assumption is that the Clasp is
merely interested in profit at any cost (and that is a merit
of the Clasp), they also wish to preserve the function and
prosperity of civilization. It is well known that a thriving
city is a profitable one, and an enemy of civilization is a
foe of the Clasp. They largely consider themselves a necessary
dark underbelly, willing to do the under-the-table
deeds that the wealthy and powerful cannot commit with
their own hands. The Clasp also understands that conflict
breeds a healthy economy, and has occasionally kindled
the flames of unrest to keep things tense and profitable.
There is also virtue in a distracted administration being
easy to manipulate.
Were it not for the branch of the Clasp in Emon, the
Chroma Conclave’s attack would likely have forever
destroyed its culture. However, thanks to the Clasp’s
role as a “shadow civilization,” the people of Emon could
maintain their foothold at home, even under the watchful
eye of Thordak the Cinder King.
Relationships
While some of the Clasp’s activities are secretly
state-sanctioned, it is highly illegal and extremely dangerous
to be a member or be caught doing business directly
with them. Most city guards have orders to arrest upon
discovery, and raids are occasionally conducted with
varying degrees of success. Having friends in the barracks
makes for an easy escape.
The Clasp frowns upon dogmatic religion or cultish
behavior, as these have conflicted with the organization’s
business in the past, and always ended messily.
Since the arrival of the Myriad within Tal’Dorei from
Wildemount, the Clasp has been on extremely high alert,
seeking information on them and any means of banishing
this new competition. Their Stilben sect has already
gotten into a few bloody altercations with the Myriad,
and rumors of a coming turf war instill worry in the local
mercantile.
