Shadewise (Greyhawk 4E)

Greyhawk for 4E

This is a work in progress.

Shadewise is not an affiliation. It is more of a reputation system; an informal ranking among the inhabitants of the Shadowshore district in Sasserine and of gangers and two-bit criminals across the city.

Background: The city of Sasserine lacks a thieve's guild. In the aftermath of the occupation, most of the existent criminal organizations were either ousted, most because they were affiliated with the occupation. Those that remained had been a part of the resistance and became legitimate, and now form parts of the other affiliations in the city. But this created a power vacuum, a void many tried to fill. The Lotus Dragons were one such gang and one of the most serious contenders for building a new thieves guild, but they were destroyed by adventurers and their noble backers exposed. Others have failed similarly. This has led to a somewhat stable anarchy; many small gangs or bands that compete, yet are ready to unite against any threat, be it outsiders trying to muscle in or one of their own growing too strong.

As is typical in Sasserine, the Shadowise are more at each others throat than any outsider. If any one gang became dominant, it would quickly spell the end for Shadewise as an affiliation.

Members: The Maze favors the rogue class, while clerics of Olidarma and Norebo are also valued. But anyone who has to live on the street sooner or later earns some reputation - good or bad. No formal symbol; each gang has their own. But the shadewise knows each gang and their symbols, so any of them functions as identification across the small affiliation.

There are rumors that a new crime lord is rising in Sasserine, a mastermind that is not a gang leader, but rather just a shadowry figure that manipulates events behind the scenes. Some welcome this and look for ways to serve this shadow master, others would do anything to stop him.

Scale: 6 City

Affiliation Score Criteria: The shadowise win respect by knowing everyone, maintaining the status quo, and winning facedowns with other gangs.

Advancement

Criterion	Affiliation Score Modifier
Effective character level.	+1/2 levels
Acquired		5
5 ranks in Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Move Silently, Open Lock, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Swim, or Tumble.	+1, up to 3 different
10 ranks in Appraise, Bluff, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Move Silently, Open Lock, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Swim, or Tumble.	+1
5 ranks in Gather Information	+1
10 ranks in Gather Information	+1
Work		3
Live in Shadowshore	+1
Gang boss	+2
Adventure		3
Arrange a profitable heist	+1
Survive a conflict with a gang in Sasserine	+1
Defeat a gang in Sasserine	+2
Not ratting out on the shadewise	+1
Foil a plan
Penalties		2
Ratting out on comrades	-1
Eliminate a gang in Sasserine	-4
Become a threat to the power-balance in the affiliation	-10

Titles, Benefits, and Duties: With no formal rangs, benefits are based on reputation only.

Benefits

Affiliation Score	Title: Benefits and Duties
3 or lower	Visitor: Tolerated... for now.
4-10	Shadeborn: Trusted face. +2 affiliation bonus to Gather Information in Shadowshore and among the gangs.
11-20	Shadewise: Made man, trusted to arrange heists. +2 affiliation bonus to Intimidate in Shadowshore and among the gangs. Can recruit up to four footpads (3rd level rogues) about once per month. They expect share in the loot depending on what they actually do (one full share for them to split is the usual).
21-29	Shadeboss: Seen as an arbitrator of conflicts among the shadewise. +4 affiliation bonus to Bluff, Intimidation, and Gather Information in Shadowshore and among the gangs. Rogues recruited are now level 4.
30 or higher	Shadow Lord: Seen as the unofficial and secret lord of the shadewise, a shadow lord gains both enemies and allies. If there are two shadow lords at one time, they are almost certainly enemies. Recruited rogues are now level eight and work full-time without expecting pay except when on missions; they are secret agents not generally parts of your gang and in fact often lead their own gangs.

Executive Powers: Pariah.