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Xanathar's Thieves' Guild, or simply Xanathar Guild, was a criminal and slaving organization in Waterdeep and Skullport run by a paranoid elder beholder.[4][1][2][3]

Geography[]

This criminal and slaver network was one of the most powerful on the Sword Coast, but often unintentionally acted as a buffer against other evil organizations. They operated out of Skullport, but were otherwise largely active in Waterdeep.[1]

Membership[]

Members of the guild were trained in stealth, discretion, and tactics with fighters, rogues, sorcerers, wizards, and experts, which comprised most of its numbers. An ever-growing organization, it utilized multiple mouthpieces to protect and conceal the identity of the Xanathar. To join, a member had to prove their ruthlessness, obedience, and loyalty by committing a serious crime—killing or selling a friend or family member into slavery—as well as paying 300 gp. The typical agent earned dues of 60 gp a month.[2]

Support generally came in these ways:[3]

  • Any member given an assignment would receive a bodyguard or assistant, such as a bugbear, wererat, kenku, or gazer, with secret instructions to spy on and assassinate the agent in case of failure.[3]
  • The guild provided safe refuges such as cellars in the sewers.[3]

Among the low-ranking guild members, no-one really knew who Xanathar was. Few had an inkling he was a beholder, and fewer still had spoken to him.[3]

Given that the faction was evil at the core, advancement through assassination was a popular "shortcut".[3]

Surveillance

Five dwarves that served as a surveillance system for the guild.

Some of the more unusual members of the guild in the late 1400s DR were a group of five dwarves that had been modified by the mind flayer Nihiloor to operate and serve as a surveillance system for the Xanathar.[5]

The Xanathar Guild was also known to employ a number of goblins and bugbears, some of whom were infected with intellect devourers, presumably by Nihiloor.[6]

Notable Members[]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 281. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Christopher Lindsay, Sean K. Reynolds (June 2007). Expedition to Undermountain. Edited by Bill Slavicsek. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7869-4157-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
  5. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  6. Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
  7. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 193. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  8. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  9. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  10. Christopher Perkins, James Haeck, James Introcaso, Adam Lee, Matthew Sernett (September 2018). Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7869-6625-7.
  11. Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
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