Description
The Black Thorns are a thieves’ guild that steals from the wealthy and distributes their spoils among the poor. Unlike other criminal organizations, they operate under a strict ethical code—no unnecessary violence, no blades unless drawn first, no fire unless others strike the match.
They see themselves as champions of the downtrodden, fighting a quiet war against the greed and corruption of the powerful. Their rivals, the Duskrunners, view them as reckless idealists, while the Gilded Jackals see them as hypocrites playing at heroism.
Their symbol is a black rose with thorns, often worn as a pin or embroidered discreetly on clothing.
Story
The Black Thorns originated in Lusteris but have since expanded their influence to other cities including Balandel, Fadrín, Southaven, Seawatch, and Solaris.
The party first encountered the Black Thorns at the Silver Chair Gala in Session 9 - Masks and Motives, where masked thieves disrupted the event and demanded the wealthy guests surrender their valuables. Later that night, the party attacked a Black Thorns warehouse, killing everyone inside—only to discover a note signed “Lady V” outlining the guild’s strict nonviolent ethical guidelines:
“No blades unless they’re drawn first. No fire unless they strike the match.”
The signature immediately raised suspicions about Velara Kael’s involvement with the guild.
In Session 12 - The Emerald Heist, when the party was trapped in the Emerald Bank vault after claiming the Hammer of Elandria, the Black Thorns arrived with Velara and Lyrian Brightwind to rescue them, blasting a tunnel through the vault wall and providing horses for their escape.