Hightails

The Hightails, also known as the Friends of the Inkwood, are a semi-secret organization spread across all of Luquastra. Built upon the foundations of equality, economic justice, anti-aristocracy, secrecy, and humility, the thieves and charlatans of the Hightails use their skills to redistribute wealth, stealing from the rich and diverting it to the poor and needy. Hightails are often seen as pariahs in many jurisdictions, such as the Kingdom of Grasynnia, the Protectorate of Highvale, the Republic of Fennerland, the Holy City of Hymnis, and most notably the Free City of Crosswell, where association with the Hightails is enough to be killed on sight. In other circles, they are regarded as heroes, striking where the need is great and disappearing into the night afterward.

History

The Hightails were inspired by the legend of Vesper of Inkwood, an archer once supposedly living in the former Barony of Ullsthorne, now part of the East Stamsard Province of Fennerland. While employed as a wall guard for the baron, she saw how he bled his subjects dry for their every coin, and hid behind his guards to legitimize his thieving. She tried to call upon some of her fellow guards, and got shooed out into the woods for her effort, which was described as 'a mercy'. Not long after, the baron's castle was infiltrated by an unknown woman, during which massive amounts of his wealth were stolen. Over the next while, many poor victims of the baron's greed received anonymous gifts of gold, and many ascribed this to Vesper. The folktale was born, and spread across the lands as a favorite tale of many a bard. Based on the story, the Song of the Hightail was written by an unknown skald, and as such, those inspired by her tale of heroism started calling themselves Hightails in her honor.
Throughout history, many a greedy ruler has been separated from their wealth by a Hightail, be it proven or rumored. Famously, High Lord of Waversham Tubodiah Pryce - a famously avaritious and cruel overlord, who often boasted about his wealth and his personal prowess - was bested by a team of Hightails and relieved of his coin, which rained into the city streets in an event still spoken of to this day as the Night of the Caper. The Hightails in question were never identified - the good ones never are.

Organization

The Hightails have no centralized leadership, instead consisting of various smaller groups, bands, and units across all three continents, who often have their own admittance criteria and rites. As they are an organization known for their secrecy and subterfuge, there exist no known headquarters of any of their chapters, though old abandoned ones have been discovered in Kairsmouth and Burrath. It is believed they currently operate in and around at least five cities: Hartmere, Crosswell, Waversham, Shaerock, and Port Yomé. However, they often meet in secret locations in the wilderness, making them near-impossible to trace - and there could be many more chapters.
A key part of the Hightails' modus operandi is their subterfuge. Hightails usually never identify themselves as such, unless among other Hightails, or when trying to obtain a boon from a known ally. By code, they do not seek personal glory or acclaim, and thus never make their heists known, making it even harder to pinpoint when activity was indeed carried out by a Hightail. Their targets are almost exclusively wealthy rulers, aristocrats, landed gentry, or cruel bosses of large organizations - stealing from smaller targets is discouraged.
The Code of the Hightail is:
I swear to serve the common man
In dark of night, my blade in hand
I will not boast, or take a knee
For those who hoard, shall meet with me