The Wayfarer Cirque
Travelers of a thousand lands. Performers of ancient legends and living myths. Those who are above borders. The Wayfarer Cirque has turned its humble beginning as a haven for traveling actormages into a near monopoly on a vital service in international travel and trade: teleportation.
From their base – a teleporting galleon known as the Wayfarers Theater – the wayfarers operate in every country. Their reputation as tremendously entertaining performers gains them warm welcomes in all major ports, but their elaborately costumed theatrical productions are only the public front for a fabulously expensive network of elite couriers, freight delivery, and expert guides to the most dangerous places in the world.
Every wayfarer must be a talented acrobat or performer, and possess some level of magical skill. Most importantly, however, wayfarers are not beholden to any government, choosing instead to maintain strict control over the affairs of their members. Should one wayfarer raise the ire of an influential noble, a city, or an entire nation, the wayfarers will punish their own rather than have their entire business destroyed.
Wayfarer Cirqueliste are required to pay the Cirque a fee for each teleportation spell they provide, even to friends and allies. Because of this fee, wayfarers usually charge for their services except in extreme circumstances. In exchange, the Cirque offers its members protection and rescue in times of trouble, and can practically ensure business. Those who need to get somewhere quickly know they can trust the wayfarers.
Those who join the Cirque merely to learn their secrets and then use the knowledge only for themselves are tracked down, and their punishment
is fierce indeed.
Oath
The Wayfarers want to maintain their near-monopoly on teleportation-for-hire, and so new members of the Cirque must pledge to pay the Cirque a fee for every time they teleport someone. Wayfarers are not required to charge for their services, as long as the Cirque gets its money. A wayfarer must speak to one of the Cirque leaders at least once a month and submit to a discern lies spell, then report how many times he has provided teleportation services to others. A wayfarer who fails to hand over the mandated commission is put on probation, and is not allowed to make any profit from teleportation for a month. A wayfarer is not required to pay for teleportation used when his or an ally’s life is at stake, but when rescuing strangers the wayfarer is still required to pay. The Cirque does not want to be viewed as a philanthropic organization. A wayfarer who regularly shirks his responsibility is stripped of his powers quite violently. Stories tell of a trained wight that the head of the Cirque keeps in the Wayfarers Theater ship, which sucks the life from those who transgress against their oath until they have no more power than an apprentice wizard. The former wayfarer is then placed in an oubliette for one year, removing from him even the freedom to travel by conventional methods. Fee Owed:- Dimension door or other local teleportation – 20 gp
- Teleport – 300 gp
- Greater teleport – 500 gp
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