Thieves Guild: A loose guide to running a new thieves guild. House rules for the Aleria game The basic functions of the guild” 1. Rumors: The guild will gather rumors about whats going on around Aleria, some true some false 2. Research: Rumors can be researched to get more information and to determine their viability 3. Intimidation: Strength in numbers, some times people will give you money just to leave them alone… this is extortion, it’s also business. The more intimidating the less likely another guild is to challenge our territory. 4. Finding Jobs: Thieves find marks and targets all the time. Picking good jobs is the hard part, that’s why you need a guild master. 5. Executing Jobs. The Gm will assign jobs a difficulty (1 to 10). The thieves doing a job will be taken into account. The difficulty is subtracted from 10+ the thieves level. A Roll of 1d20 is made if the roll is a success Under the target) then the thief succeeded. If not the thief failed. (Rewards and penalties determined by the GM.) 6. Buying and selling illegal goods: What it says on the tin. Personnel: • Once a thief reached 9th level they will attract 2d6 + charisma bonus: level 1 thieves as followers. ◦ The main players in the a thieves guild will be these initial followers. • These followers can be gained in several ways. ◦ Some followers will seek out the higher level thief, reputation and word of mouth will lead them to seek out the professional for training and guidance. ◦ Followers may be recruited. The thief may go out looking for talented prospects. ◦ Followers may already be known to the thief. NPC’s he or she has interacted with in the past. Followers Have the Following Types / Functions. Each thief recruit should fall into one of the categories below, even if they are all simply “Level 1 thieves” • Informant: Best stats Charisma / Intelligence ◦ Once per game the Guild-master may ask an informant for rumors. The informant will know 1d6+ the informant’s charisma bonus local rumors automatically. ◦ Research: The guild master can ask an informant to look into a rumor. This will take time determined by the GM. • Thug: Best stats Strength / Constitution ◦ Thee guild muscle a thug can be tasked with shaking down businesses or generally extorting protection money. The Thug will have a success rate based on his or her intimidation skill. The guild master will set just how much he or she wants to extort from businesses. ◦ Thugs can also be sent to question targets. Intimidation is also important for this function. The time this takes and the information gathered is up to the GM • Street Thief: Best stats Wisdom, ad Dexterity ◦ Street thieves work to gather missions and jobs, then do them. These are not rumors these are true opportunities. Each street thieve rolls 1d6 each game on a roll of 5 or 6 the thief has found a potential Job. The guild master has final say as to whether or not the thief can pursue the job his or her self, the guild master wants to take the job, or if the guild should pass on the job. Job difficulty will be determined by the GM (see executing jobs) ◦ The guild master may also give known jobs to other thieves in the guild if he or she feels that they are better suited. Guild member Experience: As the guild performs jobs and brings in gold, experience is gained per the normal D&D rules. The guild master has the job of deciding which thieves get that experience. For example if a job brings in 1000 Gold the Guild master could decide to divide that 1000 exp among all of the thieves in the guild, reward it to just the few that did the job, or give it all to one key player. Guild Experience: Total experience gained from guild activities should also be tracked and can be used to buy guild features. The guild master can donate his or her own gold to increase guild experience BEFORE it is calculated into the guild masters personal experience. Things to buy: (prices up to GM not yet determined) Fence: This is a connection with a fence that can get rid of your stolen good form a decent price. Store Front: Is it an Inn. A piano shop? (both have happened in game) Bu this is a public facing front of the guild. Black Marketeer: Helps you find rare items. May provide jobs. Bribe the guards: Get some guards in a targeted area on the take. This will make all the other operations safer and easier. Will cost the guild gold monthly. Couriers: Fast communications and movement of goods. Healer: You hire a Dr. or low level priest to work for the guild. This will cost a monthly fee. Apothecary: You hire on an Apothecary which will allow the creation go potions and poisons. Reputation: Each level of reputation bought for the guild is used as a +1 bonus by it’s members on intimidation, and reserch checks. (maximum reputation +5) Connection: Each level of Connection bought for the guild acts as a +1 bonus by it’s members on rumor gathering and Job finding checks (maximum connection +5)

House Rules Round up

SO we have been using the rules cyclopedia basic D&D rules for a few months now. For me it's kind of D&D easy mode, as it's what I played before AD&D 2nd edition. An old sweatshirt and jeans kind of  game system.

However, even with  that comfort level we have had to house rule a few things. I felt it might be a good idea to drop those rules here, so that they are at our finger tips in the event we forget them or need to verify how we are doing things.

• Weapon Mastery:

  • Rule: When the  player or NPC gains levels in weapon mastery they receive all the  normal bonuses from weapon mastery except the  to hit bonuses. 

  • Reason: The to hit bonuses are way out of wack. Making it far easier to hit an armored opponent of similar level than it should be. this leads to "monster bloat" where the GM (Me) would have to use monsters and opponents that would not fit the spirit of the game, just to maintain an acceptable level of challenge.

Roll20 Games from October

 

10/16/2020 Roll20 Game

 

As we wait for the flare to be seen, we set up camp. We go through the dead bodies and pull them off into the woods. The guys go over to the dragon and they start to harvest the scales. They get a bunch, enough to make some armor. I went over to the claw and was able to take it. Its cool, maybe I can sell it. Reggie sees something moving under the dragons’ skin. It was creepy, I throw him my dagger. Reggie cut open the skin and these large worm looking maggots came pouring out of the red dragon. One attached to Reggie’s arm before he could react. It started to burrow into the arm of Reggie. Quickly, Reggie took the dagger and dug it out. Luckily, Guthar was there to heal him up. About that time, the crew arrived with the ship. We had an idea to use our ship to dig through the wreckage. We found the engine and hoisted it up to our ship. Unfortunately, when we were doing our hoisting it pulled the front of the ship and it was damaged. We decided right then to get home and get this fixed.

We get home with nothing to report. We arrived home and was greeted by Greydelver the high mason dwarf. He told of the surplus of stone. We told him to fulfill the rest of the orders and stop at 50 pallets. I told them to take the week off. The winter is here and it is time to celebrate. We set it all up and head to the Never Forget Inn and speak with Brelyn. It was good to see her. She has gone into a fine young woman. She tells us of a gentleman looking for Reggie. She said they were heading to Glaston Fields. We know that the red cloaks were seen in the bazaars too. We are going to stop at Torin, so we check out the library. They might have some information of the engine we picked up. We need to figure out how to get our parts to work with the new parts we found in the wreckage. Before we do all that though it is time to party. I give Brelyn 100gp and tell her to throw a grand party for the town.

 

10/25/20 Roll20 Game

It is a great feast to celebrate the end of the selling season. Everyone Is having a ball. We give our thanks and head out to Torin. It’s a cold and wet trip. Man, I miss the ship. We stop off in small hamlets on the road. After a few uneventful days we make it to Torin. It’s a city on top of the hill. Its an old city with white stone road to the river. It’s a trade city, the last city where the ships can get to. We decided to separate. Reggie is going to check out the library and I was going to check out the thief’s guild. We have questions and we need answers fast.

I arrived at the guild. The way looked like it was not passed though in years. Inside the door was locked. I opened it up and found that the guild has been gone for a long time. It looks like it was attacked. I find some old notes, (Ask Mark) I know that some must have been able to get out. Behind the old bookcase (the secret exit) don’t tell, I find a message that reads, (ask Mark)

I head back to the horse and the guys. They left me a note that tells me that they are at the Signing Mouse Inn. I see woman with no shadow. I tell Guthar and Reggie, but we are there to find out what is going on in the city, not some strange shadow-less woman. The guys tell me that they made it to the library, they asked for some books and Guthar had to leave some collateral behind. He wants it back so we need to make sure the book is not damaged.

 

We overhear some rumors while we drink some wine and the guys eat.

Trolls in the Highlands – Holbeck could be in danger

In the swamp lands further down the river, one of the dragons have taken roost. It is a large ancient dragon. It has disrupted trade routes. They are looking for ways over or around to get to Dairhouse and Qull.

I oversee a conversation, with a couple thieves talking in Thieves Cant. I excuse myself from the table and walk over to the men. I introduce myself to the one man sitting with a woman. I shake his hand with the secret handshake of Dairhouse. I ask him to speak privately. Outside, he tells me that the Torin thieves guild has been run out of town by the Dairhouse guild. His name is Dorset from Dairhouse. He said that the guilds have been disbanded. This does not set right with me. I go in and go to bed. The next morning, I woke up early and made my way back to the old thieves’ guild. I reset the traps, and locks and put up a sign in Thieves can’t that says “New Guild Coming soon to Holbeck”.  

We head to Glaston Fields to check out the bazaar and find some red cloaks.

 

11/1/2020 Roll20 Game

The road to Glaston Fields is not easy but very uneventful. The road, I call it road but it’s a wagon path. Its cold and wet. Damn, winter months. We enter a small hamlet called Narakiv on the way. People are selling pies and simple wears just to get by. The hamlet has a small inn call the Hunter and Cup. Reggie takes the horses and does what he does. I go in, looking for room and food. Looks like an old quarry town that is all dried up. The Inn is carved into the side of the quarry. We go in. It’s a nice place. Simple and warm. The man behind the bar, an older man with a hunchback gets us our ale and food. We ask for some rooms. The place is quiet. A few farmer folks just eating and chilling out. It seems very quiet. We sleep, we wake, we leave. The man gives us some coffee and porridge for the road. A few miles down the road, Reggie tells us that there is something in the woods. A small glint of light caught his eye. He gets off his horse with his sward drawn. He finds a large section of skin that has been shed from a snake. This snake skin is huge, like it could eat a horse. We quickly mount back up and move out to Glaston Fields.

We make it to Glaston Fields. This place is nice. There is a nice manor house on top of a hill. Below the hill is the market and bazaar. Then the rest of the area is farm land. They have a mill there where milling seems to be the main income as people love to mill here. We enter the town. I sort of remember solving a murder here a few years back with Guthar and some of the other folks we were traveling with from Krom. We decide to make our way to the Duke and Duchess of the town. The Svelds accept our request for an audience. We are greeted by the Duchess Sveld. She is happy to see us and she has rooms prepared for us. Reggie is told that someone is here that has been talking about him. Could this be the person asking for Reggie back at Holbeck. We go to the Barons den. It’s a swank looking room. It’s a manly room made of mahogany wood, stuffed animals that have been hunted, leather couches, cigars. Richtag, the baron is behind the desk looking over a map. He goes over to make us all a drink. He introduces us to a man named Tobias Wakefield of Dairhouse. Who is this Tobias A-hole? Reggie could kill this guy and he starts to step to Reggie. This is the guy who has been looking for Reggie. He has two guards standing behind him. Tobias tells Reggie he is looking for some help. Reggie's name has some clout in the city of Torin. Tobias asked Reggie to talk some sense into the leaders of Torin to consider coming back to the Alerian Empire rule. He started yammering on about taxes, trade council, politics. I told them that the free folk have been just fine over the past few years being out from the grasp of the Alerian regulations. Reggie agreed with me, telling Tobias to get outta here with that bull. He left the room, we stayed behind. We spoke about what our next move should be. We decided to take the night and head back home in the morning. At about 4 am I heard Tobias and his men getting in a coach and heading out. He said he would see us at breakfast. Why was he in such a hurry to leave? I ran down to see him but he was gone and the baron was coming back in. He seemed a little out of sorts, he didn’t seem the same as he was when we met before. This Tobias guy has shaken him in some way. We ate breakfast and headed out, back to Holbeck.

The ships log book from our 2/29/2020 game.

Ship Log:
Early Log entries included normal day to day activities, course corrections and supply inventories. Each entry is initialed K.M. and L.V.L.

The following entries are stand outs and outliers that may be of interest or at least are different from the day to day.

We left Krom two months ago the Ageis is performing well, sky worthy is the best way to describe it. Maneuvering is difficult with such a large ship, the wind batters these boxy sides as much as wave have ever battered a wave born vessel. I look ahead and see the Athias moving into the clouds and hope their captain is capable. The mages who kitted these ships trusted gnomes and wizards but not shipwrights and I can't wait to get out of the sky and back in the sea.
K.M. / L.V.L.

Our clients keep changing their destinations, they have the gold to make these changes viable, but I don’t trust the winds over the mountains. Safety before profit. Torin would have been an easy journey.
K.M. / L.V.L.

I halve asked the Client to cover that damnable mirror. The crew is nervous around it and it’s ever changing images. We found an old curtain from my cabin, it’ll do.

K.M. / L.V.L.

These magicians are having us over the iron spine. I wouldn't try to walk over these peaks let alone “sail.”

K.M. / L.V.L.

The keel of this ship is acting up we are having trouble making speed against the winds. The gnome is talking of “gems and magical fields”, I don’t believe a word. We have run up sails to assist, I know and trust the wind. The Athias is out pacing us.

K.M. / L.V.L.

Finally a destination has been decided a keep at the end of some forsaken valley. The final cost will be 1200 in gold and they best pay. The risks involved in this mountain crossing have been extreme. The Athias is ahead and has reported a small village where we may put down.
K.M. / L.V.L.

The spotter claimed to see a winged beast in the clouds. I have doubled the deck crew and armed them all.
K.M. / L.V.L.

The crash was horrendous. I thought dragons were legend, I also thought they were wise. The damnable beast dove from the sun right into our rigging. I don’t even think it slowed down. Had it not even have seen us? The beast is dead regardless. The weight of the creature drove us to earth, The best I could do was try to land us in a small clearing. K.M.

At count of our 45 crew only 20 survive. One of our clients is dead. Three remain.
We have buried who we can , many remain in the hulk of the ship.
K.M.

First mate Loren is dead, we found him in the woods this morning. Well in a tree actually. Tossed from the deck during the fall. We buried him with honors, but the best we could do is a stone cairn in this frozen land. A good sailor and navigator, a waste and a shame.
We also found the Gnome in the wreckage, crushed. With him died any chance of repairing this vessel.
K.M.

I have spoken to the surviving crew. This job is over. We’ll pay out once we have a plan.
K.M.

The Athiea was forward of us and I think they saw our plight but they continued on. I hope they don't return. I hope their captain gets out of these mountains as fast as she can sail her ship south.

A party is being put together by our clients to march out on foot and meet the Athias at their destination. our clients are among them but one will stay back to guard their silly mirror. Some of the crew have been convinced to stay with the job. Fools.
K.M.

This isn’t about money for me anymore, I’ll take my gold, what’s left of my crew and march south out of these hellish mountains. These red wizards can do whatever they want with whomever will stay behind. Love of gold has claimed more men than the sea.
K.M.

My men are gathering supplies and have have packs ready, we leave in the morning.
K.M.

Let it be known that this is the final entry of the Sky ship Ageis. If this log ever found, I captain Kalivin Midgrain and crew executed our contract to this final day. We sailed our client towards their destination until beset by calamity equal to any accident seen on the sea.

I have spoken to our clients. It was a heated conversation, but I convinced them that I can be of no further use and that my remaining crew has enough numbers to enforce my breaking of this contract if we must. Even the individuals who have chosen to stay on with the clients will not take up arms against their former crew mates or myself.

I release the clients of their financial obligations beyond this point. As the ship is no longer sky-worthy and can not be salvaged. The Laws of free salvage now cover her, and the clients are on their own.

My remaining loyal crew of 12 and I march south today.
6 of my former crew are staying behind joining the remaining retainers of the surviving wizards. I wish them luck.
K.M.

Captains Log – Game day 2/29/2020 (Leap Day)

We are still in the mountains. The ship cannot land here to pick us up. Reggie sees some smoke in the valley below. We have to walk down a treacherous staircase carved in the mountain to get there. Old statues and alcoves line the staircase on the way down. They are worn and decayed due to time and the elements. It is cold. The crew is tired and weak. We haven’t rested in what seems like days. Hours pass and we can see the tops of the forest below getting closer. We continue down and old trees and branches have fallen over the stairs. This has made the trip more difficult. Laird and Kendon are carrying the chest of the spheres. They have to carry it over and under the fallen debris of the forest so it has taken even more time. We decide to take a rest in the last alcove at the bottom of the stairs once we finally get to the bottom. While we are resting Leric and Guthar study their books while Reggie leans up against a tree and prays to his god. After his praying is done, he starts a fire for us and chills out. Kendon, Laird, Drit and I play some dice. I won of course. After a couple games I send them out to hunt. After an hour or so Kendon returns with a rabbit and Laird returns with a big ol fish. While Reggie and the other prepare the food for consumption I see out in the trees across from the creek two large figures. They are pushing their way through the trees to the creek. One bends over to get a drink and wash his face. The other joins him shortly after. They are huge, I would say about 9ft tall with gray skin. They are dressed in fur loin cloths and boots. One gets up and smells the air. I quickly tell the crew to hush. They might smell the food Reggie says. He gets up to look at them and sees that they are some sort of hill giant. The giants walk across the creek with ease. Guthar and Leric slept during this whole thing. The giants moved towards the camp, smelling the air. They came to a stop. Listening and smelling, they looked over where our camp was the moved in the entire opposite direction. They must have been hunting for food Reggie says. We headed to the village where we saw the smoke from early the next morning. We made it to the village with no issues. The giants from the night before kind of made an easy pass to get though. We were worried that they might have something to do with this village. We came out of the forest at about mid-day. The gate to the village was made out of parts from the forest, it had high walls that went all the way around the entire village. It was almost as if the village itself was surrounded by the forest. We knock at the gate. A funny little man at the top of the wall poked his head over the side and yelled down to us. He seemed friendly enough. After telling him our business he opened the gate and let us in. We asked to see the mayor or someone who was in charge. Right away he told us he would take us to Levi the village elder. He walked us to Levi’s house. The village was small, with small houses and farm areas for living. We guessed the population was about 50 people here. The little man, who learned was named Halfried showed us around. We say a giant pool carved from stone with statues much like the staircase have been faded by time. The pool was bubbling and steam was coming off of it. A natural hot spring. The houses themselves looked like at one time made from stone but now just patched together with wood from the forest to make the places livable. Monkeys were seen over by the hot springs chilling eating food. Halfried tells us the name of the village is Steamwild and is governed by a small council. Most people take care of their own issues but sometime the council needs to step in to help. Levi, head of this council lives at the end of the village. His home is a bit nicer than the others. Halfied introduces us and we enter Levi’s home. We tell him that we are travelers from the north exploring this new world of magic and treasures. We ask him if had many visitors that pass though Steamwild. He tells us a story of a red dragon that fought a flying ship and crash landed not far from here. It seems the visitors from the wreck passed though here as they were on their way to valley. The same place we came from only we took the stair and they passed though the valley. Reggie notices a giant sword hanging above Levi’s fireplace. Reggie tells Levi he is looking for a sword like that. Levi tells him it that the sword was in his family for years. It was found right under your feet in the cellar below. Levi thinks it might have been a crypt at one point in time. I looked at the sword and could see some sort of runes carved into the blade. Faiths Glass it was called. I tell them what it says as you know I have better knowledge for written languages than most. Reggie wants it, I can tell. He asks Leric to see if he can see anything magical about it. Leric tells him it has some magic properties. REGGIE WANTS!! He offers Levi 100gp from his own purse. He really wants that sward. Levi tells Reggie that it is a family heirloom and it is really not for sale. Reggie offers him his own sword and the 100gp. Levi looks at Reggie and tell him that he would love to buy his daughter a home and send her to the university. Get her out of Steamwild and make something of herself. Reggie listens. Levi asked Reggie for 125gp to make it happen and he would give the sword. Reggie offers him 160gp and Reggie would just keep both swords. Levi graciously agrees. After that we ate some dinner and shared some stories. We sleep in one room and decide to head out in the morning. We borrow a donkey and wagon from Levi. He tells us to watch out for giants they don’t usually bother with the village but once they are out of the safety of the walls its better to stay alert. Reggie led the way on our new adventure to the wreckage. He was able to track the party that came to village using some old tracking knowledge. We continue on for a while. The way started to get rocky and we could not bring the wagon with us anymore. We tipped it over and hid it in the brush. We continued on for a bit more. As the crew came to a pass that had been cleared out the donkey just stopped. Guthar talked to the donkey and leaned that donkey smelled danger and sensed death. We tried negotiating with the donkey but he wouldn’t budge. We ended up having to move a couple hundred yards forward then yelling an all clear. Laird and Drit stayed with the donkey when we came to another clearing. We called back for them to join us. This clearing was wide open. From higher up on a hill we could see a giant crater and trees pushed all away from this giant wooden wreckage. It was the ship, a giant looking barge of a ship. Also, a large young red dragon who was dead wrapped up in the shipwreck. It seems the stories Levi told us were true. It looked like the dragon and the ship got into a fight in the air and they both went down. The dragon was impaled by the ships mast right through the chest. I remember seeing dragons before but not this small and young. Where did this come from? In front of the carnage were three 10x10 tents with small campfires in front of them. I figured I would to a little recon and see if anyone was occupying those tents. I sneak up behind the one tent and can hear 3 guys inside, one of them were snoring. Where are the rest of the people from this barge? I figured I could smoke them out…literally. I set fire to the tent. The three guys come running out of the tent. I jumped behind the dead dragon for cover. I see 4 more guys. 2 from one tent 2 from another. One dude had a nice red coat, riding pants and an amazing puffy shirt. Reggie who is always quick to help out come rushing out of the forest with Guthar to help. They tell the 7 men they can help with that fire. The man in the red coat tells them to leave it alone and move along. Reggie and Guthar are too nice. Knowing that I set the fire I really think they were trying to help. Good for them. As the continued to move toward the men and fire the Red Coat dude waved his hands around and in a flash the guys were dead. Yup, Dead. I tired; I want this record to show that really did try to attack this red coat guy. I came out from hiding spot and lunged in his direction but I tripped on a piece of the burning tent and he just moved out of the way as I rolled into their small fire pit. I looked over at my friends as I laid there in the dirt. I could see that Reggie was moving. He was not dead after all. I found out later that our boy Leric was able to set him free of some kind of curse. I looked at Guthar he was laying there face down in the dirt. I was very angry at this point. Who was this guy? Why did he attack my friends? I threw my dagger at him while he was fixated on Reggie. I missed again. My emotions were getting the better of me. An arrow come from the forest hitting one of the guys in the chest. 2 guys were on Reggie, lifting him up. Reggie headbutted one guy and was able to get his sword free. Now they were in trouble. Kendon, Drit and Laird came out from the forest to the rescue. They fought with all their hearts. They took out some of the guys while Reggie killed another. A bigger guy who I just called the bodyguard came up to me and stabbed me. I laid there on the ground crying…or so he thought. He couldn’t be bother with me so he went over to engage Reggie. I looked over at the crew and the guy in the red coat. They were all fighting each other. Poor Guthar was still paralyzed on the ground.  This was my opportunity. I got p to my feet and snuck up behind this red coat bastard. I put my dagger to his throat and *snickt* I opened him up. He spun around to get me but I was to quick. He tried to cut me down with his rapier but I jammed my dagger under his sword arm and twisted it. He fell over in a lifeless clump. The bodyguard that Reggie was fighting surrendered. Reggie let him go and he ran into the forest. Another one of these campers also ran away in to the woods. Guthar finally was able to get up. As soon as he stood, he saw a giant bat. He took a shot at it and it died. We made our way to the wreckage of the ship. Before we went to check it out, I grabbed the red coat of the guy I killed. It was soaked in blood. Good thing the coat is red. I bet someone can get the stains out. I put it on and marched in to the dead dude’s tent. I found a small chest. With an easy pick of the lock it opened and inside was the following items:

• 2 bags of gold – 1 bag with 917 and the other with 971
• A bottle of rare perfume worth about 150gp
• A small bag with an Opal ring inside worth 1000Kgp

The guys went in to the ship and dug around in the wreckage. They found a mirror that looks like it was under a spell. They told me it was showing moving pictures. Very strange. They also found a spell book. Probably from the Red Coat guy. They also found a brass Key. Not sure what it is for but it was not for the chest I opened. We sent up a Leric Flare and waited for the ship to come back. We dug around a bit more and found the Captains Journal.