Council of Thieves [Bastards of Erebus] (IC)

[lostsole31]

Janiven does have a questioning look towards Kavina, but Morosino pipes up, "It's Gabriella, mum. I don't understand, either."

Janiven smiles, with that look that says that she will have some questions for Kavina later.

---

Janiven tells you about the hideout as she shows you around, "When Arael first came to Westcrown several years ago, he was distraught at the condition of the city’s abandoned shrines to Aroden. Nowhere else, he thought, had the corruption and fall of the once proud empire of Cheliax more blatantly exposed its shame than here. The ascendancy of Asmodeus-worship (even if just lip service) has discouraged many people from public worship of other gods, leading to some temples closing as their followers stopped attending, prayed at home, or changed to other churches. This shrine to Aroden, like many others throughout Westcrown, isn’t technically abandoned—it belongs to the church of Iomedae now, but no one has tended it for years. Westcrown’s government has no interest in maintaining the building, and like so many other ancient structures (especially those this close to the ruined portions of the city) it is simply ignored.

"Arael decided to use this old shrine as a safe house for his latest project for precisely these reasons. The combination of it being a sacred place to his religion and being a building the city government ignores makes it a perfect place to serve as a headquarters. Furthermore, long-standing laws that forbid secular groups from looting, rebuilding, or otherwise harming houses of worship work well to prevent too much Hellknight interest in the building. Yet just to be safe, Arael is careful to hide all indications that the shrine is now inhabited. Its facade is as old and filthy as it ever was, and he’s covered all interior doors and windows with dark curtains to block light sources from within. Very few of Westcrown’s citizens know that Arael has cleaned up the interior of the shrine—and most of those are now among his growing group of followers here."

When the PCs arrive, Janiven and the other rebels arrange to let them wash up, eat, and rest before making formal introductions to the others of the group that are present.

When Janiven introduces the PCs, the other "rebels" are in a heated argument about what they should call their group. Some see themselves as rebels and freedom fighters and push for names like "The Knights of Westcrown," or "The Scions of Aroden." Others see the group as something that should be gentler and more subtle in its attempt to win the hearts of the citizens (this is Janiven and Arael's preference as well) and push for less antagonistic names, like "Guardians of Cheliax" or "Children of Westcrown." This latter one is the one with most traction, currently.

Although none of the Children of Westcrown have made any overt moves toward winning the public’s heart, they do agree that when that time comes, they’ll need to do two things: hide their identities and give the public something by which to identify them—not as individuals, but as members of a group. The current plan is to wear hooded cloaks or full helms whenever a member of the group is performing a public service, but to also wear a red cloth armband on the right arm. This way, unless one of them is caught, they can keep their private lives (and in some cases, families) separate from their work as the Children of Westcrown.

If the PCs talk about their encounters in the sewers, the other members of the Children of Westcrown are fascinated and encouraged to have such brave and hardy folk on their side—that is, assuming the PCs still want to help them. None of the current members are what anyone would call “heroes,” at least not yet; in time, any of them could develop into a hero (or even a villain) depending on PC intervention. For now, it is important to understand just how desperate the Children of Westcrown are. Janiven is competent, and their leader Arael is a cleric of some skill, but most of the dozen or so other rebels are young and idealistic, with no training in subterfuge, magic, or battle (they’re all 1st-level commoners or experts, at least at first glance). While some of them may have the potential to learn swordcraft, stealth, or magic, most of them are just regular folk who want better lives for themselves and the other people of Westcrown; they’re in no shape to go charging into battle with Hellknights, let alone eventually rally the common people for a change of government. They’re willing to die for their cause, but uncertain if that would accomplish anything significant. They need the PCs’ help.

That said, after a whirlwind of eating and introductions, the PCs will find the need to sleep, and will be shown bedrolls and other things where they can sleep.