**The Black Cloaks** — _Guild of Shadows, Empire of Secrets_ --- ### Faction Overview The **Black Cloak Guild** is a vast and influential thieves’ organization that thrives in the shadows of **South Angoria**. What began as a loose confederation of rogues, smugglers, and outlaws has evolved under **[[Artimis Sky]]** into a **criminal empire** woven into the very fabric of urban and political life. Despite their dark reputation, the Black Cloaks operate under a **strict code of honor**, valuing loyalty, discipline, and efficiency. Their activities span a wide range of both legal and illegal enterprises, including **smuggling**, **assassination**, **espionage**, **black-market commerce**, and ownership of **brothels** and **front businesses**. They maintain a razor-sharp balance between ruthlessness and internal code—earning both fear and reluctant respect across the continent. --- ### Base of Operations - **Primary Stronghold:** The [[Green Palace]] (South Angoria) - **Territorial Reach:** Bay Town, Polaria, Kalanthie, and multiple coastal cities across South Angoria --- ### Leadership **Guildmaster:** **[[Artimis Sky]]** [[Artimis Sky]] rose to leadership after the **assassination of his father** by the rival **[[Dark Consortium]]**. A master of strategy, charm, and vengeance, Artimis has transformed the Black Cloaks into a militarized crime syndicate with political influence across multiple cities. He is as **calculated** as he is **charismatic**, and his leadership is marked by both ruthless reprisal and genuine loyalty to those who serve him well. > **Quote:** _"In a world of shadows, trust is the rarest coin. Those who betray it will find their debts paid in blood."_ --- ### Traits of the Guild - **Calculated and Tactical:** Every operation is planned with precision. Mistakes are costly. - **Charismatic Leadership:** Artimis unites a guild of criminals through charm, fear, and shared purpose. - **Dual Nature:** Mercy to the downtrodden, death to the traitorous. The guild protects its own. --- ### Guild Structure - **Guildmaster:** [[Artimis Sky]] - **Lieutenants:** Regional commanders overseeing territories and operations - **Shadow Operatives:** Experts in infiltration, assassination, and surveillance - **Enforcers:** Combat-trained loyalists responsible for enforcing guild law - **Initiates:** New recruits subjected to trials of loyalty, stealth, and resolve --- ### Code of Conduct - **Loyalty above all else** — Betrayal is met with immediate death - **Honor among thieves** — Never steal from or harm another guild member - **Efficiency over chaos** — All operations are to be calculated, profitable, and discreet --- ### Primary Activities - **Smuggling:** Specializing in **poisons, rare alchemical components**, and forbidden magic items - **Assassination:** Discreet and lethal; often disguised as accidents or disappearances - **Black Market Commerce:** Rare books, cursed items, soul contracts, and exotic slaves - **Legal Fronts:** Taverns, shops, brothels, and trade guilds acting as laundering hubs - **Political Manipulation:** Bribery, blackmail, and backroom alliances with city nobles and magistrates --- ### Ongoing Conflict: The War Zone The **[[Green Palace]]** and surrounding districts are locked in a **silent war** between the **Black Cloaks** and their fiercest rivals—the **[[Dark Consortium]]**. The death of Artimis’s father ignited a long-standing vendetta, with assassins, informants, and bribed officials constantly shifting the balance of power. --- ### Enemies and Rivals - **The [[Dark Consortium]]:** A rival shadow guild known for necromantic pacts, soul trafficking, and infiltration. Their war with the Black Cloaks threatens the stability of southern cities. - **The Naked Maidens:** A competing brothel network undermining the Black Cloaks' economic interests and public influence - **Independent Lawkeepers:** Rogue bounty hunters, righteous paladins, and incorruptible agents who refuse bribes and hunt down the guild’s operatives --- **Notes:** The **Black Cloaks** are a prime faction for urban intrigue, espionage missions, and morally gray alliances. Whether serving them, infiltrating them, or attempting to dismantle them, players will find themselves in a world where **information is power, loyalty is law, and betrayal is death**.