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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mick Miller" data-source="post: 7340760" data-attributes="member: 6900556">This is the guild that I'm working on right now.[h=1]About the Knot[/h]The Knot is a loose organization of criminals from the town of Argyll.  Its members include pickpockets, burglars, highwaymen, fences, beggars, wizards, priests, prostitutes, and ruffians.  It even includes a few city watchmen and even one or two members of the aldermen’s council.  Its members are known as Knotsmen or Knotsladies.  In some ways, the Knot acts as a shadow police force in that it regulates and controls crime and makes sure that not too many people get hurt.  It has been rumored that on occasion the Aldermen’s Council has even hired them to deal with things they wouldn’t want to be seen as being involved with.  Rarely is anyone killed.  The principal exception to this is out-of-town criminals working without sanction.  That’s usually stopped in short order.  Many of Argyll’s poor depend on the Knot for their basic needs.  If you are a good bloke and keep your mouth shut and look the other way, you can depend on a bag of cabbages and box of coal being left on your doorstep when things get hard.If however, you are not such a good bloke . . . it won’t be cabbages showing up at your door.  The Prince is the leader of Knot.  It would be rare for him to ever commit a crime himself, though no one thinks him incapable.  Rarely is violence necessary to enforce his word, most follow him out of respect.  But, when violence is necessary, it is often swift, painful, and prolonged.  The Prince’s word is law.  However, he does depend on the advice of the Noose, the thieves’ council.  They recommend, he decides, end of story.  If you’re a Knotsman, you can count on the Knot to do what they can to get you out of jail, to make sure your family is feed during your incarceration, if you’re hanged, they’ll make sure your widow and kids are provided for.You can also count on the Knot for training, equipment, and information.  Need to know the name of a good fence in a faraway town? The Knot can tell you.  Need a little help with your pickpocketing skills?  The Knot can train you.  Need a new set of lockpicks?  You can buy them from the Knot.  In exchange for these benefits, you are expected to adhere to the Seven Knots (see below).The primary business of the Knot is smuggling.  A lot of silver and gems come down out of the mountains, and the Knot does it’s best to make sure as much of it as possible avoids the tax man.  The burglary, pocket picking, gambling . . . those are just for cash flow and operating expenses.  The smuggling business operates out of the offices of the merchant Tommy Hats.  Tommy actually does a good business brokering silver and gems from the Dwarves . . . and he pays the taxes.  But when he sends a load of cabbages or furs you can bet it has a few extra pounds on it.  Hats owns several warehouses that he uses for storing stolen goods, hiding Knotsmen on the run, illegal gambling, etc.Most of the time the rank and file Knotsman isn’t involved with any part of the smuggling; that’s the purview of a small cadre, many of which are members of the Noose.  However, from time to time a Knotsman will be asked to play some role in the smuggling operation, such as paying off a tax collector, scouting a meeting place, etc.[h=1]Thou Shall Knot – The Seven Knots[/h]Tithing – Whenever you see a financial gain from a job in the territory, you will give 10% to the Knot.Do Not Squeal – If arrested in the course or as a consequence of a job, you must reveal nothing to the Watch.  Not the identities of your partners, fences, informants or others involved.  Report the Loot – You will honestly report how much money or valuables are taken in a job . . . don’t burn your partners.Share and Share alike – You will share the score equally amongst all your partners, or according to the contribution of each to the job, arranged and agreed upon beforehand.  Grease the Palms – You will share some of your earnings with other Knotsmen who have been taken to the bobs to help pay fines, bribes, bail, etc.Contribute – You will share any valuable information with the Knot, including attractive targets, the location of traps, the activities of the town watch, etc. Brothers – Even if you hate a fellow Knotsman you will help them with regards to the staying clear of the Watch or when they are at risk.  The penalty for violating any of the Seven Knots can be as light as a slap and a fine right up to the execution of you and your family and friends.  [h=1]Family Ties[/h]The Knot uses bits of string, rope, ribbons, etc. to convey messages.  You might find a string tied around a lamp post or notice a doorbell string tied in a knot . . . the kinds and order of the knots let other Knotsmen know something about the area or convey some other message. If you see a piece of rope tied in a bowline hanging from a doorknob, you know that you can sell your loot inside.  They don’t have to be actual physical knots, they can be drawn or painted as well.</blockquote>

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