Driven from the Underdark by a band of adventurers, a family of cloakers have hit upon a scheme to revenge themselves on the entirety of the local human community.
Linking up with an unscupulous merchant, the cloakers have formed a small band of assassins. The merchant either takes contracts on certain people, or else simply chooses his victims based on how rich they are. He then, using all his persuasive and negotiating powers, sells them "a beautifully made, brand-new cloak! So cheap only due to overstock!"
What happens when the customer takes his new garment home is too gory to describe here, but the cloaker returns, delivering a portion of the riches to the merchant, and keeping a portion for itself. The bodies are beginning to pile up, and the watch is clueless...
Cockatrice on deck.