<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">The city's underground is dominated by two elite yet secret guilds The Nighthawks, a legendary guild of thieves, and the Phyllobates Terribilis a lethal guild of assassins.  The Nighthawks are run by, a harsh and brooding leader, who maintains control over his guild through fear alone.  The Nighthawks appreciate showmanship and skill, as well as a sharp wit and a strong brew.  The Phyllobates Terribilis, is overseen by the Temple of Sulerain (the Goddess of Slaughter).  Supplicants come to the temple with offerings to the Goddess and slip the name of the person that they wish for her to kill inside; the guild carries out their heart's desire in the Goddess's name.  Most believe that it is the Goddess herself who carries out the deed by her own hand.  The Phyllobates Terribilis live by a code "Stealth, Obedience, Fastidiousness, Mercilessness, and Silence".<br/><br/>Each guild is well aware of the other's existence and while the Nighthawks are unnerved by the Phyllobates Terribilis and the Phyllobates Terribilis consider the Nighthawks brash, sloppy, and arrogant they manage to stay out of each other's way.  War between the guilds would be bad for business, and nobody wants that.  When a Nathordo (Protector of the Order) of the Phyllobates Terribilis washes up dead in the city sewer the guild dismisses it as an inevitable hazard of performing the Goddess's work and he is honored as a sacrifice to the Goddess, the highest honor a Nathordo can attain.  However, when the death toll reaches three the Phyllobates Terribilis look to a worldly explanation.  The Phyllobates Terribilis believe that the Nighthawks are to blame and several members of the Nighthawks are dragged back to their headquarters dead, branded with the mark of the Goddess.<br/><br/>In order to prevent all out war the Nighthawk's leader and the High Priestess agree to put together a party to determine the cause of the deaths and to eradicate it.  Despite the fact that the party is exactly even, distrust is rampant and everyone wants blood.  If an enemy's cannot be found quickly each other's may suffice.</span>