The Black Thorns

Unlike other larger mercenary bands who primarily take on work protecting townspeople and rich noble patrons from bandits and other similar threats, The Black Thorns are monster hunting specialists. While their members are allowed to take on contracts unrelated to the slaying of monsters, the group at large performs this sort of work on a regular and consistent basis. Common jobs for Thorns members are extermination of pest-like creatures (such as goblins or mephits), escorts through dangerous monster-infested areas, and the slaying of larger creatures. It’s not uncommon for other mercenary groups such as the Flaming Fist or towns guard to employ the aid of the Thorns in monster-related problems.

Within the ranks of the Thorns it’s not uncommon for members to specialize - some people prefer to hunt monstrosities, while others maybe are aberration specialists. Each individual member is encouraged to explore what aspect of monster slaying they are most interested in and to work with other members to fulfill a greater goal. It wouldn’t be out of the question for a party to consist of several specialists, for instance if a member isn’t great at fighting, but is an excellent tracker, they would be paired up with a few more able-bodied individuals that could slay the monster once found.

Because of their work with and around monsters, the Thorns have a cooled cellar where they keep monster parts and components for magical crafting - their other speciality.

Monster hunting is a dangerous business, and while totally possible with just pure strength, it would be exceedingly difficult without the aid of magical means. This is why the Black Thorns are not only monster hunting specialists, but they are also adept magical tinkerers - for better or for worse.

Nearly every member of the Black Thorns have some sort of magical persuasion, and those who don’t employ heavy use of magical items. In an almost strange sort of competition and tradition, the Thorns like to experiment on themselves to attempt to augment their abilities as warriors and casters. How they choose to experiment varies from person to person, but a few of the most popular methods are through enchantment and the drinking of strange concoctions. Other members employ more traditional methods, such as simply studying, or making pacts with extra planar entities, or becoming devout to a particular god, but even these usually have some sort of twist that makes them stand out among other wizards, clerics, and warlocks.

Thorns members are encouraged to ask themselves - what are ways in which you can become stronger? How can you do it through magical means? Can the limits be pushed? This line of thinking leads many members to drink strange concoctions, become were-people and dhampirs, imbue themselves with magic to become sorcerers, etc. Some have even attempted to move enchantments from objects to people, though this particular method has been met with limited success, as many would-be permanent effects end up becoming temporary, but there is no real limit to what the Thorns will try!

In layman’s terms, you will find a lot of Fighters who multi class into other casting classes, such as Bards, Warlocks, and Clerics, but the combinations are infinite - just as long as spellcasting ability gets in there somehow.

Members of the Thorns are expected to meet a quota of work, granted there is work to be done. Assignments first get approved by the Inner Circle and then are distributed amongst the rest of the members for completion. Members are encouraged to form their own parties, and any additional loot found along the way is theirs to keep, granted it doesn’t endanger the rest of the Thorns. While Thorns members are permitted to go off books and take work outside of the company, it does not count towards filling their quotas.

Members are permitted to take leaves for specific events and/or experiments. In general, major holidays are celebrated amongst the Thorns and time is granted off for members to travel and visit their families. Time off is also automatically granted for members who are injured on the job while they recover. In addition, any member who is interested in augmenting their own power or performing some kind of experiment may be granted time off from their quotas and a small amount of funding to pursue this endeavor. Successful experiments and discoveries often lead to the mutual benefit of all those within the ranks, and as such is an important practice to the company.

If there are no contracts that a specific member can take on, by either lack of contracts or work related to their specialization, members are expected to help upkeep the Watcher’s Reach. This can include anything from cleaning, cooking, doing trade runs, helping members of the Inner Circle with their specific business, etc.

The fortress in which the Black Thorns reside is located on the northern edge of Dragonspine Mountains, just opposite the River Stojanow. Built snugly out of stone into the mountainscape, it’s a beautiful and secluded place that the members of the mercenary company call home. From there they have easy access to the road and a river pass that leads to the greater Moon Sea area where they conduct most of their business and trade.

The Reach’s grounds have a variety of amenities to keep them comfortable and stocked. Within the fortress they have a garden for food and for brewing components, a cooler/ice room/cellar to keep perishable goods fresh for extended periods of time (including monster parts), training grounds, bedrooms, a forge, a stable, a library, alchemy labs, etc.

Tactically, The Reach is a difficult place to enter, but simple to defend because of its elevation and how it is partially built into the mountain. The Thorns keep the place fairly well maintained, and will hire masons when larger repairs need to be done. This protects them from roving bands of bandits and other such dangers while in their stronghold. There are multiple entrances, but any hidden passages are well-kept secrets among members of the Inner Circle.

Decisions within The Black Thorns are primarily debated amongst and decided within the Inner Circle - a position of respect that a Thorns member can earn over time. Acceptance within the Inner Circle requires the consensus of 75% of the current members, and there are generally only 10-15 members at a time. There are currently 12 members.

To ensure quality control, all jobs must be approved by at least 3 members of the Inner Circle before they can be distributed among the rest of the band for assignment. A rotation system among the Inner Circle exists for doing paperwork of this nature, depending on availability. On average an Inner Circle member will spend one day every week and a half exclusively doing this sort of paperwork. This can sometimes lead toward certain mercenaries getting permission from the members who align with their interests the most.

Acceptance into the Inner Circle is a difficult endeavor that not only requires years of dedication to the Thorns, but exceptional skill as a mercenary. Each member of the Circle is expected to bring something unique and interesting to the table, and as such all the members are distinct specialists.

The current Inner Circle members are as follows.