Men of the Basilisk

The Men of the Basilisk was a society of wealthy merchants and nobles with a thirst for adventure.

Organization
The Men of the Basilisk was a rigorously all-male group, organized into cells whose jurisdiction was over the cities in which they were based. These cities were Daerlun, Iriaebor, Marsember, Saerloon, Selgaunt, Suzail, Urmlaspyr, and Westgate. Members were free to transfer from one cell to another at an annual meeting for all members held every winter in Teziir.

The society were headed by a group of eight overseers known as the Octad. Each member of the Octad was appointed by the cell in each city in which the Men had influence over, and democratically confirmed by the entire membership. They had set terms of office of no longer than two years and were not allowed to serve consecutive terms. Terms were staggered so as to select four Octad members at the same time. The Octad's duties were to determine the organization's overall goals and arrange the annual all-member winter meeting. There were responsible for coordinating communication between cells and, individually, to run their respective cells, but their highest priority was to ensure the society's secrecy.

Admission to the Men of the Basilisk was by secret invitation only, after a thorough background check. Prospective members must be wealthy, powerful, and unattached to other organizations.

History
, and the name of the group came from the admission ritual that consisted in looking in the eyes of a basilisk. The Men of the Basilisk had chapters in Cormyr, Sembia, Westgate, and Iriaebor. They usually met in large feasts one or more times each winter in Teziir in order to discuss their plans for the next year and make business. They preferred using subtle methods, like assassination, bribes, torture, and fear.

In 1370 DR, the Cormyrian chapter was seriously decimated by the War Wizards of Cormyr, forcing the surviving members into hiding. On the other hand, the Sembian chapter grew greatly, thanks to their new local leader Harlyn Grimmerhand. In Westgate, the Men, which had been long stopped in their business by the power of the Night Masks, increased their activities during the lack of leadership in the guild. In Iriaebor, the chapter had recently recovered after a setback by Lord Bron and the Harpers.