Gangs

The constant commerce of even a modest river city like Zobeck calls to certain men as irresistibly as a siren’s song. All manner of thieves, rogues, smugglers, and bandits prowl the shadows of the town and prey on barge traffic, baggage trains, and the fat purses of fatter merchants. The constant quest to prosper from someone else’s labor, especially in such a (literally) cutthroat environment, leads to energetic and creative thieves of all stripes. Indeed, to convert the cacophony of commerce into the clink of hard coin, a few will even barter their souls.   The underworld of Zobeck is a shifting place of mysterious masters, dubious alliances, and hidden secrets. Major players range from the mystic to the mundane to the diabolic. Little is as it appears, and everything changes rapidly.   Once, the formally recognized Spyglass Guild worked hand-in-paw with the more secretive and widespread forces of the ancient Mouse King. Recently, however, a hidden rival has seized control of the Spyglass Guild and uses his new power to carve out an underground empire. A mysterious death has shaken the Cloven Nine, sending these dilettante diabolists running and breaking up their ring of thieves. And lurking behind it all, the mysterious smuggler named the Red Mask deals with anyone able to pay his exorbitant (and occasionally unorthodox) fees.   In addition to the major players, many smaller gangs, guilds, and freelancers operate in the gaps and go largely unnoticed. Each faction strives to seize control of the fluid situation and ensure that every coin that changes hands in the Free City is clipped or shaved ever so slightly.   Welcome to the thieves’ world of Zobeck. May you survive the experience.