The Conclave of Silken Whispers

In the city of Veldonia, hidden in the treacherous Slums district, there’s a mysterious group called the Conclave of Silken Whispers. In sharp contrast to the more famous guilds of the city, like the Ironheart Guild, the Conclave is a hidden presence, its existence revealed to a select few. They are said to consist of a cabal of information brokers, spies, and assassins, trading in secrets and deception.

The reach of the Conclave is rumored to extend far beyond the city walls, their agents said to reach into the courts of Wyverngate, onto the dense forests of the Ethovian Wildlands, and even down to the deadly tunnels of Ker Nethalas. Their actions are as diverse as the agents themselves, ranging from quiet manipulation and coercion to quick and brutal assassination. They say that the Conclave's power is born of an ancient agreement with beings of the Shadow Plane, allowing them to cast and manipulate the shadows at will, creating the appearance of reality as they choose.

The Conclave is spearheaded by a figure shrouded in secrecy, the Weaver, whose true identity is a closely held secret. The Weaver is rumored to have a preternatural sense of knowing their adversaries' next moves, always being one step in front in the delicate dance of power and politics that characterizes Veldonia. Those who attempt to defy the Conclave find themselves caught in a web of deception and betrayal, having their schemes undone by unseen forces, which makes most think that the Weaver must be some sort of very powerful Fatebender.

Membership in the Conclave is a lifetime vow, sealed in secrecy and in blood. Initiates are usually gathered in the city's underbelly; orphans, outcasts, and those wishing to leave a prior life behind. They go through intense training, perfecting their craft in the areas of espionage, warfare, and arcane knowledge. Loyalty is the ultimate virtue, and betrayal is dealt with swift and ruthless vengeance. Once their training is complete, members become experts in deception and infiltration, blending fully and effortlessly into any setting, be it the grand palaces of the nobility or the squalid dens of the criminal undercity.

Inasmuch as they operate in the shades, the Conclave performs a vital balancing role in the precarious equilibrium of power in Veldonia. They are at times commissioned by the city's ruling elite to conduct covert operations, and at others, serve as a restraint on the unfettered ambitions of powerful factions. Their motives, though, are unclear. Some think they aim to preserve the status quo, while others imagine they have a more nefarious purpose, pulling the strings behind the scenes to promote their mysterious agenda.