Great Goblet

The Great Goblet was an unscrupulous mercantile organization with a grudge against certain Waterdhavian noble families, circa the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR.

Organization
By the 1370s DR, the Great Goblet had nine members—seven human and two doppelgangers —but they controlled approximately 200 agents in a dozen cities and smaller towns across the Western Heartlands. Likewise, the agents controlled their own network of spies that reached into many more towns and villages. Few agents knew the identity of one of the nine or even their fellow agents, unless the need arose for a mission. Any particular chain of command rarely had any knowledge of Goblet activities in which they were not directly involved.

Tactics
Agents in the field that needed to contact each other made use of various forms of identification. A small drawing of the outline of a goblet was used on written communications or to designate meeting places or drop points. For visual recognition, agents often drew two lines down one cheek using blood, rouge, or some other form of red dye.

Agents often spoke in code when there was a possibility of eavesdropping. Passphrases for general introduction included "I'm looking for a lass called Jolorna," which, when answered by "That wench again? She's everywhere, by Tymora's smiling chance!" indicated that the seeker should follow the responder. But if the word "smiling" was omitted, the meaning changed to "mission accomplished". When an agent was in dire need, he or she complained about their footwear, saying "Gods, this boot! Ever since I stepped on that snake..." to which a fellow Goblet member replied, "You, too? Mine was a two-headed viper. Worse luck! I know a man who's superb at fixing heels, though." and either lead them to safety or give them directions to find aid for their broken heel.

Base of Operations
The Great Goblet was established and based in Scornubel. They also had a presence in Daggerford, and their reach extended into dozens of cities, towns, and villages in the region.

Possessions
Each of the nine members of the inner cabal had an identical golden goblet in which they kept either a finger or a toe belonging to Halonidas Dreie—a former member that tried to assert his leadership over the organization against the wishes of the others.

Members
As of the 1370s DR, the nine members were:
 * Ilverr Glaengath: Textiles dealer and horse breeder. Apparent leader for most operations.
 * Bleveth Carduth: Caravan master and moneylender, based in Elturel.
 * Dornyn Malaunger: A restless businessman jack-of-all-trades.
 * Hammar Breskult: Former captain of a mercenary company. Tactician.
 * Glaratha Starntempest: Former apprentice of Halonidas Dreie. Provided magical services.
 * Ileldra Starntempest: Former apprentice of Halonidas. Glaratha's sister. Magical research.
 * Durrusk: Doppelganger. Intelligence and agent relations.
 * Adelbran: Doppelganger. Mostly unknown.
 * Jossok Kaulder: Thief.