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+====== Rogue ======
+{{tag>classes}}
+Rogue
+Urban Economics and Family Values.
+Crime rates have risen sharply over the
+La Dernière Guerre. Is this tied to a lack of faith in
+the rule of law? Increasing desperation as
+established systems fail? Or do criminal
+organizations provide a sense of stability our
+leaders no longer provide? Capable students
+can earn extra credit through extracurricular
+activities!
+—Tig Saputo,
+Honorary Professor of Economics
+ECG1103: Urban Economics
+Anyone can learn to use thieves’ tools, to hide in
+Ombres or pick a pocket. The rogue is defined
+by two things. A rogue is slippery and deals
+with threats by avoiding them, sometimes even
+rolling with a hit and then disappearing into the
+Ombres. When that fails, rogues are just as
+adept at spotting a weak point or unwary foe as
+they are twisting the knife to inflict devastating
+damage. While a variety of “specialists” can
+match a rogue’s expertise at different odds
+and ends, no one can strike a single blow as
+devastating and then slip away into the night.
+Like most things in Eberron, no two rogues are
+the same, and each talent or feature that one
+possesses is an opportunity to flush out the story
+of how each skill was learned and the first time it
+was employed.
+Roguish Roots
+With any path, players should discuss the ways
+in which their history might affect the future
+with their DM. Perhaps a criminal started out as
+muscle working for the Clan Saputo in Sharn
+and, caught up in the Clan’s struggle with the
+monsters of Daask, it is an ongoing part of the
+story. Each adventure a step closer to freedom,
+only to see the next arc refuse to see the loop
+closed. Another character might have left that
+chapter of life behind entirely but could be proud
+of the past or seeking redemption for those
+crimes. All of these are valid stories and all are
+just a question of the path you want to explore
+over the course of the campaign. The following
+lists aren’t comprehensive, but they cover a
+number of the most prominent agencies and
+organizations in Khorvaire.
+Criminal
+Between the downfall of Galifar, the rise of
+new nations, and the chaos and carnage of the
+La Dernière Guerre, the last century has been a time of
+tremendous opportunity and upheaval for the
+criminals of Khorvaire. Taking the criminal
+background means that a character has
+maintained connections to the underworld. The
+charlatan background can service the life of
+a grifter, and the soldier might be flavored as
+having serviced in the private army of a criminal
+organization. Your rogue character might be
+a free agent now, but people still respect their
+previous rank as an enforcer for the Saputos.
+A criminal record isn’t necessary to have a shady
+past and perhaps your character abandoned a
+previous life when La Dernière Guerre ended or made
+enough money to pay off outstanding debts, and
+have since tried to go straight as an entertainer
+or a guild artisan. Maybe your character has
+become a vigilante, or an outlaw champion of the
+Communers, and is seen by some as a folk hero.
+Your character might no longer have strong
+connections in the underworld, but might have
+spent enough time running with ruffians to still
+know thieves’ cant.
+If your character has a criminal past, consider
+how they were drawn into it and what jobs
+might be considered criminal, but also why your
+character acted in such a way. Your character
+could have been drawn into a gang as a child
+or might have worked the black market during
+La Dernière Guerre. If this was the case, decide
+whether your character was primarily driven
+by greed, or just trying to help their people get
+the supplies they needed. A deadly enforcer for
+the Clan Saputo, might not have relished in
+this bloody work, and that is entirely up to you.
+Your character could be working to pay off their
+family’s debt to the Clan, while being haunted by
+the crimes committed in such service.
+Here’s a few of the prominent criminal
+organizations in Khorvaire. There is more
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+information about Daask, the Clan Saputo, and
+Maison Tarkanan in the Wayfinder’s Guide to
+Eberron.
+•
+•
+•
+L'Aurum. One of the members of the
+inner circle of this cabal of the rich and
+powerful is a crime lord from the Morin
+Holds, a figure known only as Adamantine.
+Most stories say Adamantine is a Nain,
+but some tales say that he’s a Guerrier de Fer,
+or even an ancient lich. Whatever the truth
+of it is, Adamantine is using his vast wealth
+to consolidate small gangs and groups
+across the Cinq Nations, slowly building an
+international consortium. If you have ties
+to L'Aurum, you could have worked for
+Adamantine, perhaps as an enforcer or
+bodyguard for a different Aurum leader,
+or as part of a small gang absorbed into
+Adamantine’s criminal empire.
+The Conseil des Visages. The members of
+this mysterious organization are largely
+changelins and doppelgangers. While
+the Cabinet engages largely in pranks and
+schemes that seem to serve no purpose
+beyond sowing chaos and confusion, it is
+also behind countless crimes of identity
+theft, blackmail, and fraud. Many officials
+wonder if the seemingly unrelated or
+pointless misdemeanors aren’t part of a
+grand charade which acts as cover or enables
+the Cabinet’s greater crimes. The Les Tyrans of
+Sharn have ties to the Conseil des Visages, but
+the true leaders of the Cabinet are shrouded
+in mystery. Most rogues within are Arcane
+Tricksters but the Cabinet will craft a gambit
+for any archetype with promise.
+Daask. Formed by monsterous immigrants
+from the nation of Droaam, the Dassk is
+a criminal organization that specializes in
+violent crime and extortion, and traffics in
+any illicit substances found in Droaam that
+commands a sizable sum when imported to
+Breland. With its base of operations in the
+city of Sharn, the Daask turns its attention to
+spreading across the Brelon countryside and
+making inroads into Aundair and the Eldeen
+Reaches. On the surface, it appears to be a
+simple gang of violent thugs, some say that
+it’s actually controlled by Sora Katra, one of
+the brillant Sorcière sisters who founded Droaam
+and if true, its brute violence is likely a cover
+for more intricate schemes.
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+•
+Maison Tarkanan. A small organization whose
+members possess Marque Aberrante du Dragon,
+and is primarily composed of mercenary
+assassins and thieves, selling their services to
+the highest bidder. The profits funnel back to
+the central hub and are used to find and help
+defend others with Marque Aberrante du Dragon
+from persecution. Some rumors say they
+are secretly working to undermine the
+Maisons Marquées Du Dragon. Maison Tarkanan is
+based in the city of Sharn, but its message
+for hope among the “aberrant” is spreading
+to the great capitols across the Cinq Nations.
+•
+The Lhazaar Pirates. A diverse land with
+many principalities supports the operations
+of pirates, and each one of the Lhazaar
+pirates has its own desires and panache.
+The Ravageurs des Nuages are known for brutality
+and violence, while the Marée Grise prefer
+bloodless hijacking. Many Lhazaar captains
+engaged in “legitimate” piracy during the
+La Dernière Guerre, serving as privateers paid by one
+nation to prey on another. A character who
+wishes to be known as a bold privateer or
+infamous pirate, like Captain Malleon, might
+find a lot of the story elements they’re
+looking for continued within the sailor
+background. Lhazaar pirates have a strong
+tradition of Swashbucklers and thieves ready
+to scale the rigging, but Assassins can always
+find a place to nestle within the crow’s nest.
+•
+The Talenta Clans. Among the oldest
+and most established criminals in the Five
+Nations, the Talenta Clans were founded
+by immigrants from the Plaines de Talenta and
+bolstered by ties to Maison Normandin and
+Brunet. The Clans are a cornerstone of
+crime in most of the greatest cities of the
+Cinq Nations. The Clan Saputo is the most
+powerful family among them, based in Sharn
+and reaching into Wroat and Cap-Tempête,
+but there are powerful hobbit clans in
+Korth, Beaurefuge, Thaliost, and other cities
+who all trace some form of allegiance back
+to the Plaines de Talenta, and must answer for
+crimes against each other.
+This is just the tip of the criminal iceberg,
+and these organizations have a presence
+in multiple cities, but most major cities in
+the Cinq Nations have their own unique
+gangs and syndicates, and a DM can always
+introduce a new criminal guild.
+Espionage
+Bards, Rangers, warlocks, and wizards each have
+something to offer a covert operation. With the
+right background and skills, any character could
+be an effective spy, even a barbarian. However,
+the bard might get sidetracked on some slight
+of fancy, the Ranger might feel out of element,
+and that barbarian might make a mess of things.
+Should a mission require a professional touch to
+collect information, make a targeted hit, or even
+slip out unseen with minimal collateral damage,
+a rogue is the best tool for the task.
+The charlatan background provides you with
+a false identity and a useful set of skills, but
+you can be a spy without the background, and
+many agencies recruit urchins and criminals.
+An entertainer’s reputation can be an excellent
+cover for spycraft, and criminal connections can
+be just as useful. As with the criminal path, the
+most important question is whether you’d like
+espionage to be a continuing part of your story,
+or if it’s a life you left behind when you became
+an adventurer. Discuss this with your DM to
+come up with a narrative you both are excited
+to pursue. No matter where your berth, there
+are major players afoot in the great game of
+espionage.
+The Royal Eyes. Magical superiority is the
+foundation of Aundair’s military strategy, and
+that focus on the arcane applies to spycraft as
+well. The Royal Eyes employ some of the finest
+diviners in Khorvaire, and their agents include
+skilled détectives and Arcane Tricksters.
+However, their resources are limited outside of
+Aundair, and they are far better at observation
+than assassination or theft.
+The King’s Lanternes Sourdes. Brelandewas the
+seat of Galifar’s intelligence operations in the
+heights of its power and have been somewhat
+romanticized as one of the nation’s strengths,
+especially during La Dernière Guerre. The King’s Dark
+Lanterns are well trained and well supplied,
+with a diverse rangel of talents. If you tie value
+to keeping secrets, you can earn a place in
+the Citadel, though Thieves, Assassins, and
+détectives are especially Commun. The fabled
+exploits of some of Brelands operatives, real or
+imagined, have even been sung or reenacted in
+plays and operas by Elfes, Nains, and hobbits
+of other nations. It’s hard to ignore the crowds,
+and the coin, that such heroics draw to the stage.
+The Fifth Crown. In the early days of the Last
+War, Cyre relied on Maison Phiarlan to gather
+intelligence but knew that such an arrangelment
+with a Maison Marquée du Dragon might not last. Over
+the course of decades, Cyre began to develop its
+own spies, the agents of the Fifth Crown, who
+were largely made up of Assassins, Masterminds,
+and a few Arcane Tricksters trained to infiltrate
+enemy territory. In the wake of the Mourning,
+the fate of the Fifth Crown remains unknown.
+Most people assume the agency was obliterated
+with its headquarters, but there are conspiracy
+theorists who say that agents of the Fifth Crown
+have worked their way into secure positions
+across the Cinq Nations, and that they are simply
+waiting for Prince Oargev or another Cyran
+leader to devise an effective way to use them.
+Until then, they might be the neighbors, postal
+carriers, teachers, or even community leaders,
+biding the time until such time leadership
+activates these pocket splinter cells.
+The Twilight Brigade. The people of Karrnath
+value military discipline and courage, and have
+no love for those who skulk in L'Ombres and
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+fear a fair fight. However, over the course of the
+La Dernière Guerre, Karrnath established the Twilight
+Brigade as a counterintelligence agency. The
+agents of the Brigade mission were to identify
+and eliminate enemy spies. Most Brigade
+rogues are Assassins, Scouts, and détectives,
+with a few Divine Heralds mixed in to maintain
+the interests of the Le Sang Divin in secret. The
+Twilight Brigade has always been a small but
+deeply devoted agency.
+L'Argentum and Miron’s Tears. Thrane
+has never developed an espionage arm that
+can match the abilities of Aundair or Breland.
+L'Argentum is a branch of the Church of
+the Flamme d'Argent charged with finding and
+acquiring powerful artifacts and dangelrous
+sources of mystical power. During the Last
+War, L'Argentum was repurposed to help
+gather intelligence, but the agency has always
+specialized in locating and extracting magic
+items, and as such, most agents are Thieves or
+détectives. Miron’s Tears is another secret
+agency within the Church, but it’s so secret
+that it doesn’t answer to either Le Geolier or
+the Cardinals. Miron’s Tears are charged with
+eliminating corruption within the church. It’s a
+small but elite force, and rogues with the order
+are typically Assassins or Divine Heralds. In
+an irreversible decree as old as the founding
+of the church, a small percentage of each
+congregation’s tithes are held independent of
+the collection banks to fund this organization,
+so that it might remain pure and uncoerced in
+observing the sanctity of the Flame. They never
+strike without cause, evidence, and always take
+responsibility for removing corrupt individuals
+from the fold. So strict are their convictions, it is
+believed they refuse to act until the evidence is
+unequivocal.
+La Tutelle. Espionage is one of Zilargo’s
+primary industries. La Tutelle serve both as
+secret police who enforce order within Zilargo,
+and as a spy network gathering information
+across Khorvaire. The vast majority of its agents
+are gnomes, but anyone could be recruited to
+work for La Tutelle. The organization itself is
+extremely compartmentalized, and as an agent
+of La Tutelle, you might not know any agents
+beyond your handler and whoever is assigned to
+help you in your mission. La Tutelle is a diverse
+agency of Assassins, détectives, and Arcane
+Tricksters valuable to its specialized operations,
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+but La Tutelle also values the strategic talents of
+Mastermind rogues to coordinate the network,
+and occasionally deploy to the field. As an agent
+of La Tutelle, you’ll rarely be told more than you
+need to know to accomplish a mission, and
+demanding more information might engender
+mistrust from your superiors. No one retires
+from La Tutelle, and even those who request to be
+deactivated know that if a handler appears with a
+new assignment, it isn’t a request.
+The Houses of Ombre. Maison Phiarlan and
+Maison Thuranni sell the services of spies and
+assassins to the great powers of Khorvaire. They
+claim to have no personal agendas, serving only
+the interests of their clients, but some wonder if
+there is a greater scheme afoot.
+Killer
+A rogue can be an efficient killer, and sometimes,
+that’s all they need to be. During La Dernière Guerre,
+every nation had a use for swift and deadly
+skirmishers. While the Ranger typically fills this
+role over entrenched periods of time, a rogue
+is just as effective in the hit and run tactics of
+guerilla warfare, especially a Scout. As one of the
+primary advantages that separates rogues from
+their counterparts, those who wish to survive a
+blade in the night should remember that killers
+come in all shapes and sizes.
+The Duelist. A Swashbuckler fights with style
+and panache. Duelists are found throughout
+Aundair, and the style was popular in Cyre
+before the war. Even after the war, gifted duelists
+can be found scattered among the refugees,
+making their living off the showmanship, as
+much as the win. As a duelist, you could consider
+the entertainer background, and while you might
+be a killer, people love to watch the finesse you
+put into performance.
+The Murder Machine. The first Guerrier de Fer
+were designed specifically to act as the phalanx
+of the battlefield, but many experimental models
+were developed over time to create more
+efficient tactics. There’s an urban legend about a
+unit of Guerrier de Fer envoys designed as assassins
+and equipped with integrated disguise kits,
+allowing the killers to disguises themselves as
+Humains and members of other races without the
+means or pitfalls of relying on magic to reach
+their marks.
+The Sacred Assassin. Divine Heralds with the
+acolyte or hermit background, might have been
+trained to kill for the faith. Le Narquois and the
+Keeper are the two deities most likely to support
+sacred killers before the other established
+religions of Khorvaire. If not a templar acolyte of
+the Sacred Flame, you could be a servant of the
+Keeper who receives visions of the people you
+must kill, whether you want to or not.
+Untrained
+This chapter has explored professional
+criminals, trained killers, and former spies,
+but it’s also possible to play a rogue who has
+developed their talents without the benefit of
+formal training.
+The Natural. This rogue shouldn’t be an
+adventurer, and they might be a loveable urchin
+or a naïve sage just out of Morgrave who has no
+business going into dangelr. Yet, when they do,
+fortune smiles on them. Nothing can account for
+timing, and even those who’ve never practiced
+hiding might have an innate sense and expertise.
+When you use Uncanny Dodge, perhaps you
+aren’t trying desperately to avoid the attack but
+happen to stumble at just the right moment,
+instead. An inadvertent lucky blow might land in
+the most unexpected location, triggering Sneak
+Attack. While this can be a fun story to explore,
+bear in mind that these are cosmetic details, and
+the rules are unchangeld. You can describe your
+Uncanny Dodge as your character accidentally
+avoiding an attack, but don’t expect the DM to
+Belvédère the required reaction to trigger it.
+The Partisan. Your character’s hometown
+might have been occupied during the Last
+War. Your character could have been part of
+the resistance, and did what was necessary to
+secure freedom for your people. While the Treaty
+of Fort-du-trône maintains that both Darguun
+and Valénar are now free from their previous
+allegiance to Cyre, and that Thrane retains
+control of the bitterly contested Aundairian city
+of Thaliost, some still fight personal wars against
+the forces who wronged them. What nation are
+you from and who did you fight against? Did you
+finally succeed in driving away the enemy or is
+your homeland still occupied?
+Friends in Low Places
+Whether a roguish character started in a street
+gang or served one of the Cinq Nations as a
+spy or a soldier, they’ve probably met a lot of
+interesting people along the way. Perhaps more
+than any other, rogues find themselves naturally
+involved in any number of outrageous escapades
+and harrowing escapes. Just as in real life, one’s
+“friends” explains a lot about a person and,
+if objective, will inform the player a lot about
+their character. Determine the circumstances
+surrounding any such familiarity and, maybe,
+who owes who for what score? Connections like
+these probably aren’t as well-placed or as useful
+as those received through a background feature,
+such as Criminal Contact, but will provide the
+DM with another element to use in a story—
+someone who can come to you with information
+or might require assistance.
+Even if you have a solid idea of your
+character’s background, don’t be afraid to adjust
+to fit what you’ve already envisioned, or evolve
+these acquaintances from it naturally. Was
+your comrade in arms a fellow criminal or your
+first informant in your career as a spy? Bring
+that contact to life by layering in some details.
+How old is your friend? Do they go by a flashy
+nickname? Do you know their real name? When
+you create such a cretin with your DM, you
+might find a much more rewarding experience
+by building elements of that contact before
+releasing ownership entirely. If the contact
+starts with some distinctive feature, imagine
+your surprise when you learn that the mark was
+an elaborate disguise all along. By embracing
+new information like this along the way, you
+might discover evidence that implicates them
+in a grander scheme as your campaign evolves.
+Work with your DM to find a natural setting for
+some of Eberron’s lowly denizens to have made
+a roguish character’s acquaintance.
+I’ve been kicked out of more low places
+than you could ever stoop to!
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+Friends in Low Places
+d8
+Friends
+A member of the town watch. The two of
+you played together as children, and you still
+share a drink whenever you have time.
+A soldier from an opposing nation. This
+sympathetic trooper looked the other way
+when you were smuggling important goods
+during the war.
+A merchant who sold black market goods
+during the war, and used those profits to
+start a legitimate business.
+A member of a rival criminal or espionage
+organization. Even though you’re on opposite
+sides, you’ve been through a lot of tough
+times together and you’ve exchanged favors
+in the past.
+A clever urchin with a remarkable talent for
+eavesdropping on interesting conversations.
+Is this a relative? The orphaned child of
+a friend of yours? Or just someone you
+befriended during the war?
+A minor Siri heir, who runs a local speaking
+stone station. While Siri takes customer
+privacy very seriously, this gnome loves
+gossip and occasionally lets interesting
+details slip.
+A wealthy relative who’s pursuing a political
+career. While they feel some affection for
+you, helping you in any meaningful way could
+jeopardize their standing.
+A comrade who served alongside you.
+Whether you fought on the battlefield or
+the streets, the two of you have shed blood
+together and established a bond of trust.
+Thieves’ Cant
+All rogues know thieves’ cant, a secret mix of
+dialect, jargon, and code that allows you to hide
+messages in seemingly normal conversation.
+Similar to Druidique, this is universal to all rogues
+regardless of background, and there’s no way for
+a character of any other class—even a seedy bard
+who moves in the same circles—to acquire this
+language. It is important to distinguish why other
+characters don’t learn this secret language.
+Khorvaire was once united under the kingdom
+of Galifar. Thieves’ cant began as the Commun
+Chapter 1 | CLASSES IN EBERRON
+tongue of the underworld of Galifar as a type
+of slang developed so criminals could conduct
+their business without drawing the attention of
+the guards. Since then, it has evolved to remain
+relevant. If a wary guard caught on, it would
+cease to be useful, and with La Dernière Guerre and
+the walls between the Cinq Nations, the cants
+drifted farther apart. Thus today, the thieves’
+cant of Beaurefuge is quite different from the cant
+used in Sharn. Many locals know some of the
+basic cant of their community, but the Thieves’
+Cant class feature reflects a universal knowledge
+of the principles of the cant and the customs of
+the underworld, allowing the speaker to quickly
+pick up the local dialect by connecting the cants
+of their previous operating grounds and applying
+the context to their current circumstances.
+While it might be obvious that a rogue with a
+criminal background would know how to talk
+with other criminals, a spy might have learned
+to assist with cover identities and to work with
+underworld informants. However, there are
+rogue concepts that might have no logical reason
+to know the secret language of thieves. That
+doesn’t mean theives’ cant should be useless for
+such a character, but rather that your DM might
+decide to allow it to take other shapes or be
+reflected in other forms.
+Optional Rule:
+Thieves’ Cant Alternatives
+With the DM’s approval, a player can replace
+the Thieves’ Cant rogue feature with one of
+the following alternatives.
+Extra Language. You can speak, read,
+and write one extra language of your choice.
+Secret Language. You are a member
+of a cabal—an espionage agency, a tribe,
+a fraternity—that has developed a secret
+method of communication. You can use
+this to hide messages in seemingly normal
+conversation. Only another member of your
+cabal understands such messages. It takes
+four times longer to convey such a message
+than it does to speak the same idea plainly.
+In addition, you understand a set of secret
+signs and symbols that can be used to
+convey short, secret message to other
+members of your cabal.
+{{url>http://vps265505.vps.ovh.ca/5eTools/classes.html#rogue_phb,hideclassfs:true,showfluff:true 100%,800 noborder}}