Tattoos of the Thieves Guild, VOL 1

After my most recent journey into the Capital, I discovered a curious little booklet titled, 'Tattoos of the Thieves Guild and their Meaning, Vol 1.' Most perplexing, beyond the book's very existence, was that each copy I found had had pages removed and the covers graffitied. I can only surmise that the guide consented to the publication of the imagery, but not the stories behind them.

Now, I am no stranger to the secrecy of the Thieves Guild and their rules around outsiders. But more dear to me is the blossoming of knowledge. With that in mind, I have put it upon myself to share with any owner of this incomplete book, the missing information as I know it.

Night of Shooting Stars

This primitive marking has become one of the most notorious symbols amongst thieving kind.

One autumn night, about ten years past, an assembly was organized between the three largest gangs of the guild; Keepers of the Keys, Tin Shillings and the Crowned Royals. They were to meet in a borough known as Twin Cross in order to address concerns of double agents conspiring with the city watch. Together, almost a hundred prominent members meet in a back alley, ready to converse. Thats when the arrows rained down.

Unknown to all there, a trusted officer of the guild by the name of Marco had sold out his fellow thieves. It was a bloody affair that left more than half dead and many more injured. A night of chaos followed with thief and guard battling across the city. Countless perished.

Those that survived the massacre have gotten these tattoos as a memorial to their fallen brothers and sisters. Large gathering are no longer permitted in open air and relations with the watch have never recovered.

Skeleton Keys

To the common folk, skulls are symbols of death and mortality. To members of the guild, they denote accomplishment in service.

Its not a terribly far stretch; skull, skeleton, skeleton key. Any member marked with one of these is considered an expert in lock picking. This has either been demonstrated within the guild halls or in the field under great difficulty.

Its said that one of the greatest skeleton keys ever was known as Gully Tip-Toes. Apparently they broke into King Laramee's armory with nothing but a chicken feather and a pet ferret. Take that for what its worth.

Noble Trophy

It's very common for guild members to create tattoos to commemorate famous scores. The Noble Trophy is a prime example of this.

A borough mayor known as Peter Tweks was a loathsome man. He taxed beyond his authority, blockaded traders who slighted him and strung up beggars in crows nests. None had love lost for the Lord Tweks.

Members of the Keepers of the Keys did not care for Lord Tweks and so set upon a change in leadership. An opportunity presented itself when Princess Lillen was passing through Tweks' protection.

In one evening, the Keys had drained Tweks' personal vault and replaced all within with the ceremonial jewels of the princess. A few forged documents of debt and paid 'witnesses' later and little Peter was arrested for royal theft. Those who took part commemorated the accomplishment with the head of Tweks' house sigial as a trophy.

Iron Clad

The thieves guild may be notorious for stealing great amounts of wealth but what most don't think about is what they have to do with all that gold after they've given guards the slip.

Members who wear the Iron Clad are tasked with keeping the great thief vaults, hidden in secret tunnels under The Capital, safe from guard and moisture alike. It's not a glamorous job but someones got to do it.

Gang Crests

Pretty self explanatory. These are the symbols of the guild's three largest gangs.

Keeper's of the Keys. A simple crest of crossed keys on a shield. The founding members of the Keys were known to be able to forge castle keys by simply whistling into the lock and then carving a block of wood. Theres a reason no current members carry on this tradition, namely because its nonsense.

Tin Shillings. Originally this gang was not a member of the guild but counterfeiting ring. Split hairs, I know, but one is taking and the other is faking. As merchants and bankers became wise to their shoddy work, they had to steal coin presses to keep up. It wasn't long after that they discovered that their talents for breaking and entering could be put to more profitable uses.

Crowned Royals. This crest is a bit of a political statement. Members of the Royals have always detested the ruling classes and so the symbol of a taking hand out of a crown seemed appropriate. Since the founding of The Capital, these thieves have focused their skills on the theft and destruction of symbols of power. Crowns, scepters, tiaras, etcetera, etcetera.

The Water Stag

Since the Night of Shooting Stars, certain uppity lords have cracked down on the guild in a big way. Prisons have filled to the brim and within less fortunate boroughs, even worse.

One of the most infamous prisons in The Capital actually floated just off-shore. The HMS Ripper was prison ship built from a gaggle of barges nailed together and crewed with thugs and cutthroats. So terrible were the conditions of the prison ship that many guild members never returned.

A senior guild officer named Roger Twisty could no longer stand the plight of his fellow thieves and so they stole a ship. It was a simple Ketch ship named 'The Water Stag'. Roger named himself Admiral Twisty, hired a crew of disgruntled sailors and turned the front of the ship into a great battering ram.

Under the cover of a morning fog Admiral Twisty rammed the Ripper, splitting it wide on its aft side. The crooked guards were caught unawares and all the poor souls of that ship were liberated. The breakout sent a clear message to the city's nobility; you can put a prison in the ocean but the guild's got a navy.