The Annex

The Annex or TAX, outwardly an adventuring guild offering quests and employment, is strategically positioned across various cities in Eroth. However, beneath this facade lies its true nature—a sophisticated organization of master thieves and covert operatives. The Annex's operations extend from high-stakes thievery to intricate espionage, all conducted under a veil of secrecy.
The Annex operates with precision and efficiency, orchestrating its clandestine activities with a focus on stealth and intelligence. The guild's success is attributed to its strict hierarchy, specialized roles, and the formidable leadership of Mr. Stone. Members are chosen for their unique skills and loyalty, ensuring the guild's operations remain shrouded in secrecy and its members always a step ahead of their adversaries.

Public Services Offered:

• Quest and Adventure Brokering: Matching adventurers with suitable quests and expeditions, ranging from monster hunting to artifact retrieval.
• Provision of Equipment and Supplies: Offering a wide range of adventuring gear, from standard weaponry to unique artifacts, catering to the needs of various adventurers.
• Training Facilities: Providing training in various adventuring skills such as combat, survival, and basic magic use.
• Information and Research Services: Offering access to a wealth of knowledge through libraries and information brokers, aiding adventurers in their quests.
• Healing and Restoration Services: Providing medical aid and healing services, both mundane and magical, for injured adventurers.
• Transportation and Logistics Support: Assisting in arranging travel and logistical support for expeditions and adventures.
• Lodging and Safe Houses: Offering comfortable accommodations for adventurers, including secure storage for valuables and equipment.

Clandestine Services Offered by The Annex:

• Espionage and Intelligence Gathering: Specializing in the collection of sensitive information, infiltration of organizations, and surveillance.
• High-Stakes Thievery: Expertise in planning and executing complex heists targeting valuable and heavily guarded assets.
• Covert Operations: Conducting discreet missions that require a high degree of secrecy, including sabotage, infiltration, and extraction.
• Forgery and Counterfeiting: Offering services in creating high-quality forgeries and counterfeits, from documents to artifacts.
• Security Consulting: Providing assessments and recommendations for improving security measures, leveraging their expertise in overcoming such systems.
• Assassination and Neutralization: Undertaking assignments to discreetly neutralize specific targets when necessary.
• Training in Stealth and Subterfuge: Offering specialized training programs for aspiring thieves, spies, and operatives.

Contract Completion and Remuneration:

• Proof of Completion: Members are required to provide indisputable evidence of mission completion, often including retrieved items, intelligence reports, or other relevant proof.
• Discretion in Reporting: Absolute discretion is expected in reporting the details of missions, with information shared only with designated officers.
• Commission and Payment: The Annex operates on a commission basis, typically taking a percentage of the value of stolen goods or payment for services rendered. The exact percentage varies based on mission complexity and risk.
• Bonuses for Excellence: Exceptional performance in missions can warrant additional bonuses, rewarding skill, and ingenuity.

Policies and Punishments:

Breach of Secrecy:

• First Offense: Severe reprimand and possible suspension of guild privileges.
• Subsequent Offenses: Expulsion from the guild and potential exposure to enemies of the Annex.

Failure to Complete Mission:

• First Offense: Reduction in rank and a fine based on mission value.
• Subsequent Offenses: Harsher fines and eventual banishment from the guild.

Theft or Betrayal Within the Guild:

• Any Offense: Immediate expulsion and marking as an enemy of the Annex, with all associated dangers that entail.

Insubordination or Disobedience:

• Varied Response: Depending on the severity, punishments can range from fines and demotion to expulsion.

The Annex maintains these policies to ensure the smooth operation of its activities, with a strong emphasis on loyalty, discretion, and efficiency. Missteps are taken seriously due to the high-stakes nature of their work, and the guild's reputation for ruthlessness in dealing with internal issues is well-earned.

Structure

Shadowscales:

• Role: Core Members
• Skills: Specialize in thievery, stealth, and subterfuge. Handpicked for their exceptional proficiency. Responsible for executing high-stakes missions and overseeing daily operations.

Enforcers:

• Role: Guild Muscle
• Skills: Composed of adept combatants. Provide protection during operations, enforce guild rules, and manage threats to the Annex.

Spymasters:

• Role: Intelligence Experts
• Skills: Masters of infiltration and information gathering. Maintain a vast network of contacts and informants, instrumental in gathering intelligence to further the guild's objectives.

Slicers:

• Role: Security Specialists
• Skills: Experts in locks, traps, and security systems. Essential for bypassing complex security measures during heists and covert operations.

Whisper Agents:

• Role: Covert Communicators
• Skills: Experts in clandestine communication and message delivery. Whisper Agents are trained in codes, ciphers, and discreet message transmission, ensuring that communication within the Annex and with its contacts remains secure and undetected.

Shadow Merchants:

• Role: Illicit Trade Specialists
• Skills: Specialize in the acquisition and distribution of rare, often illicit goods. Shadow Merchants are adept in underground market dealings, negotiating trades, and ensuring a steady flow of resources and contraband that the guild might require.

Veil Walkers:

• Role: Surveillance and Reconnaissance Experts
• Skills: Masters of stealth and reconnaissance, Veil Walkers are responsible for gathering intelligence on targets, scouting locations, and surveillance. They are adept at blending into their surroundings, making them invaluable for pre-heist information gathering.

Ghostsmiths:

• Role: Forgery and Counterfeit Experts
• Skills: Skilled artisans in the creation of forgeries and counterfeits, from documents to replicated artifacts. Ghostsmiths possess a keen eye for detail and are proficient in various artistic and technical skills necessary for producing convincing replicas and forged materials.

Culture

Public Culture as an Adventuring Guild:

• Adventurous Spirit: The Annex promotes a culture of adventure and exploration, encouraging members to undertake challenging quests and explore new territories.
• Community Engagement: Regularly engaging with local communities, offering assistance, and participating in communal events to maintain a positive public image.
• Diversity and Inclusivity: Welcoming adventurers from all backgrounds and skill levels, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual support.
• Training and Development: Emphasizing the importance of skill development and training, offering various programs to enhance the abilities of its members.
• Client Confidentiality: Upholding a strict policy of confidentiality regarding client identities and the nature of their quests, ensuring trust and discretion.

Beneath its public facade, the Annex operates as a guild of master thieves and covert operatives. This duality allows them to leverage their public operations to gather information, scout potential targets, and maintain a network of contacts under the guise of an adventuring guild. The public services and culture serve as a perfect cover, enabling the Annex to conduct its clandestine activities while remaining hidden in plain sight. The members adeptly balance their roles as adventurers with their true identities as members of a secret organization, skillfully navigating both worlds to the benefit of the Annex's hidden agenda.

Banner of The Annex

by RPS

Type

Guild, Thieves

Alternative Names

TAX

Leader

Mr. Stone

Top Rogue:

Xandra Shadowfoot, the Whispering Blade:

• Role: Elite Rogue
• Skills: Known for her exceptional agility, sleight of hand, and ability to move undetected. A master of infiltration and silent assassinations, she is a key asset in the Annex's high-stakes operations.