The Iron Ring
by George HrabovskyIntroduction
The Iron Ring is a rigidly run criminal organisation that seeks to make itself a power in the land. It will do anything to achieve that goal.
Joining the Iron Ring
The Iron Ring actively recruits members who show talent. The criteria for joining are:
The candidate has brutally killed at least twice. This may be a pre-adventure.
The candidate has no allegiance to any other group.
The candidate swears a Holy Oath.
If a member of the Iron Ring ever breaks ranks or reveals any information they gain the condition: Hunted by The Iron Ring.
There is no freelance activity allowed by the Iron Ring.
The Iron Ring operates the illegal Cult of Thanatos, and thus members may become a Cultist of Thanatos. The Iron Ring also operates the magical order, Scarlet Slayers.
The Iron Ring has training programs for those interested in strongarm stuff called the Thugs. The Iron Ring also has a group who undertake daring and dangerous burglaries, these are called Rakes. And there is a group that specialises in gathering intelligence information called the Black Cloaks. The member must choose at least one profession to enter.
Organisation
The Iron Ring is secretly operated by Bargle the Infamous from the Black Eagle Barony. For the moment this is Baron von Hendriks' chief source of intelligence information from the Five Shires, the Minrothad Guilds and Karameikos.
There are cells in all of the major cities. A cell consists of a leader of each profession with at least three lieutenants. Each of these oversees the training of new recruits as well as field operations.
Enemies of the Iron Ring
The chief enemies of the Iron Ring are: The Government of Karameikos, particularly the 3rd Guard Battalion (rumoured to be the Queen's Own Guard, and an intelligence gathering unit).
The government of The Five Shires.
The Kingdom of Thieves, a group of highly trained and flamboyantly led criminals.
The Veiled Society, a well organised and brutal criminal organisation.