nine golden swords
unaproachable east.
although more info could be found elswehere i suppose
teflamm shadowlords
nine golden swords
Those like I said, I see them more like Thief Guilds or Assassination Guilds than like superpower organizations like the Zhentarim. Are they bigger than I had the impression of though? I didnt get into the Realms until late during the 3e era and wasnt that impressed, so I might have missed something I'll admit.
I think that's it really, as far as the big-name factions go. The rest are local thieves' guilds, assassin bands, and the like.
Does it have a name? What do they do?
teflamm shadowlords
nine golden swords
Those like I said, I see them more like Thief Guilds or Assassination Guilds than like superpower organizations like the Zhentarim. Are they bigger than I had the impression of though? I didnt get into the Realms until late during the 3e era and wasnt that impressed, so I might have missed something I'll admit.
i came in late very late in the 2nd edition myself.
so my info is limited myself.
criminal organization.
most of them do one or more of the following:
political assassinations
pickpocketing
mugging
smuggling
murder for hire
slave trade
highwayman work
fence-work( aka black market)
terrorism
just about anything else that the local authorities dont like
now i wonder where i left that wizards and rogues of the realms book
teflamm shadowlords
nine golden swords
Those like I said, I see them more like Thief Guilds or Assassination Guilds than like superpower organizations like the Zhentarim. Are they bigger than I had the impression of though?
Both of these organizations are relatively large. They simply aren't as loud as the others you mention. Shadowlords are focused in Thesk, and aren't mentioned much outside of it. Nine Golden Swords though are described as being present in just about any town with a Shou presence. In 3.5, that would put them heavily in Thesk and in the countries surrounding it which do any trade stemming from the Golden Way.
I noticed that in the current Realms, the Nine Golden Swords have now been pointed out as far as west as the Dragon Coast, indicating that they at least cover the whole of the Sea of Fallen Stars. They are also featured in at least one LFR adventure in that area.
I came across three in Koryo alone, and thats just a very minor player in the scheme of things.
When you read all the regional entries in the K-T sources, it usually mentions at least one such organization for that region (which is sometimes in control of the region). T'u Lung especially is rife with that stuff.
Does it have a name? What do they do?
-Are you talking to me? If you are...I haven't decided on the name. It's very much a "Colombian Drug Cartel" like organization, with drugs, prostitution, "political muscle", smuggling, etc.
On the Mainland they are known as 'Tongs'. Shou and T'u Lung do not have Ninja clans as such, but rather 'Ninja Schools', which the True Ninja of the Islands look down at with much derision. The actual Mainland Ninja themselves are referred to as 'Vagabonds'.
Further South, in the areas with a more Vedic/Indian flavor, they are referred to as Jinyan. These are Criminal gangs like the Yakuza, but are more Clan-based, like the Ninja (its a true 'family business'). The most prominent of which are the Jarvatya based out of Ranguri.
Does it have a name? What do they do?
teflamm shadowlords
nine golden swords
Those like I said, I see them more like Thief Guilds or Assassination Guilds than like superpower organizations like the Zhentarim. Are they bigger than I had the impression of though? I didnt get into the Realms until late during the 3e era and wasnt that impressed, so I might have missed something I'll admit.
I might be mistaken but prespellplaguesearing the Teflamm Shadowlords controled the capital of Thesk (Teflamm...). There was a Minister in the seat of power but he was a puppet for the guild. They were also devoties of Mask and were slowly pushing out other religions. Yes, the stole, killed, etc. but they were a powerful crime orginization. They were my favorite infact. Very mob like in set up.
Not sure what they are up to now though...
Thank you for those that answered. I'm probably going to make something up myself like a continent wide Yakuza group. When/if I do, I will share it.
Use the Tsui Tong, then. They have their own write-up on pg. 23 of the K-T stuff, and they are also mentioned in The Society of Kuo-Tan entry (as enemies), and in the Emperor's entry (he uses the Kuo-Tan as his own private 'secret police').
And the one group split from the other, when the ancient Tsui Tong started 'going bad'.
They are probably the largest and furthest reaching group in source, and anything you develop and would like to share with us can wind up in the netbook... eventually. ;)
I personally haven't given and detailed thought to any of the Tongs, beyond whatever their 1e entries say.
-Speaking of private police, there is also the Vian-chi, another secret police-type group that serves the Empress of Phutan.
And for some reason, the term 'Phutannic Knights' sprang to mind when I read your post.
Edit: What did you say your Tabot cavalry were riding again?
-That small group of cavalry in Tabot rode Earthquake Beetles. There is an "Oriental" name for them, I believe, but I don't have the book on hand for the 'translation'. They aren't criminals, though.
I figure they 'got permission' or whatever from Petan or the cult (which will have a connection when I work it all out). The Black Leopard seems to be both a hero and a villain, and I'm starting to put together an interesting spin for him (pro-freedom, anti-establishment - good and evil do not come into it).
Very Catlike. :D
Anyhow, wrong thread, and my apologies to the OP. :embarrass
I realized after I posted that that it sounded a lot like the Teutonic Knights, so it probably spawnd from my always-active word association habit.
The rest can be gotten as pdf downloads from Paizo - I paid $4 each for them last year, but I believe they are all $5 now (and still well worth it).
And I have Map WIPs of the greater majority of Kara-Tur on my DeviantART site. None of those are complete, but you can see most of the main countries on the four showing the main continent and Islands. I was hoping to have them finished by the Holidays, but it just didn't happen
I should update them soon, though. I think Shou-Lung is complete now, at any rate.
where can i find Kara Tur sources ?
-Everywhere! And, where you wouldn't expect them.
hey great map to is there software for using the same tools that the 3ed FR map was made with or somthing ?
either way it great
It has taken me two years to perfect my '3e style'... and now I'm looking to find my own style.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara-Tur