The Shadow Cloaks have been called adventurers, independent contractors, mercenaries, and other … less savory names. Whatever they’re called, they get paid to do jobs of sometimes dubious morality and, more often, dubious legality. They are known to be reliable, although their work can be more public than their client might wish.
Manda Turnbuckle is a conduit for fey magic. She made a pact with an elder fey, exchanging service for beauty and power. Like many mortals who deal with the fey, she believes that she bested her new patron. So far, the fey has not disabused her of that notion.
Manda is a dalibor, the only non-human in the crew. She is short - 3’11” - but statuesque. The blessing of the fey has enhanced her natural attractiveness to a supernatural beauty. Her innate charisma would be sufficient to manipulate many of those she encounters. As with her looks, her charm has been enhanced. She can easily enthrall any who can hear her. The third gift from the fey is the ability to change her appearance. This power she rarely uses. She believes she could not assume a form as beautiful as her own. She is loath to give up that beauty for even a short time. So, she only does so when truly necessary.
Manda’s goal is power. In her mind, she is a spider (a gorgeous one) sitting at the center of a web of devotees and those who owe her favors. She is the leader of the crew, because she would not have it any other way. She exploits any opportunity to add to her network, even if it would jeopardize the Cloaks’ current mission. No method is forbidden. Seduction is a favorite, as are intimidation and blackmail. She rarely tries bribery. She deems it unreliable. If her powers cannot guarantee loyalty, money would certainly also fail.
Cerna Gora is one of the few people who Manda cannot manipulate. The dalibor tolerates the human woman for her skills as a thief. Cerna maddened McArneson’s Swords for several months as she burgled estate after estate in Cliffside, estates for which the Swords were being paid to provide the finest security. Cerna puts up with Manda because the Cloaks get more challenging jobs than she would get going solo. Cerna regards each job as a challenge to be overcome. She values stolen goods more as prizes that prove her skill than for their monetary value. Fooling a senior auditor of the Honorable Order of Merchants with one of her forgeries is worth more to her than the payment for the job. Indeed, she attaches little value to material goods in general. She lives very simply. Her greatest prizes she keeps in a series of secure caches. The proceeds from fencing the rest, plus the money she gets from jobs, are deposited in Freyk’s Walls biggest banks, under a variety of pseudonyms. There would certainly be trouble if the rest of the crew knew how wealthy Cerna really is.
Manda keeps Horon Richter on the crew because she believes he is an impoverished noble. To her mind, he is the only one on the crew that approaches her own status. Having him around reflects well on her. He has also shown his skill with sword, dagger, and fists. He serves as the crew’s muscle.
His persona as a noble is actually a fabrication. Horon is an agent of Locryn, Duke of Tregra. Duke Locryn’s wants to overthrown the monarchy and establish an aristocracy. The Duke rarely has specific instructions for Horon. Instead, he is to weaken the other factions in Freyk’s Wall whenever possible. Working with the crew gives him frequent opportunities to do so.
Amilynn Keane is Manda’s favorite type of person. Insecure, easily manipulated, adoring Manda. Oh, and she has some useful magic. In truth, Amilynn is a sycophant who wants to use Manda’s growing influence to further her own career as a mage.
Amilynn is an elemental adept. Her role as one of the Cloaks is to provide protection for the crew. Her summoned fog clouds hide their movement. She can blind adversaries with dazzling lights. A blast of wind can topple obstacles in the path of their pursuers. The flames she calls up can…well, she likes fire.
The Shadow Cloaks have worked together long enough to function as an effective team in the field. Thus far, keeping together as a crew of ne’er-do-wells has suited each of their purposes. Those purposes are, however, inherently selfish. A tragic, treacherous breakup seems inevitable.
Den of the Red Wolf 