The Planewalker's Guild

Guildmaster: Balthasar Thames (CG male human Wiz13)Faction/Sect Symbol: The Guild’s symbol is that of a golden doorway over a silver staircase, at the base of which lies a blue enamel river and brown enamel tree roots. The symbol is often embroidered upon a sash or worn upon a belt, amulet, ring, or most commonly a broach. Dues/Benefits: The Guild charges a monthly fee of 6 stingers which it uses to commission the exploration and mapping of certain planar locations, as well as to supply these maps and all relevant information to members at a nominal fee, or often no further cost. Faction/Sect Philosophy: Exploration of all known planes of existence. Primary Plane of Influence: The Everclimb (The Infinite Staircase), Sigil, The Transitive PlanesHistory: Irony is in no small supply since the end of the Faction War. Perhaps no greater example exists than the reemergence of the Planewalkers Guild within Sigil. The Guild first originated in Sigil over nine centuries ago, and at its height it held over three thousand members under its aegis. But as with all the guilds after the Great Upheaval, the factions' growing power within Sigil caused them to diminish in influence. Even though it predated many of the then-ruling factions, the Planewalkers Guild saw itself threatened by remaining in Sigil. The organization simply left to reestablish itself elsewhere.The Guild has existed as a thriving, but ever-moving, organization upon the Infinite Staircase since its departure from the City of Doors. Now, with the factions banished from Sigil, it has seen fit to abandon what was never really seen as a permanent home, given the ever-changing nature of the Staircase. The guild has now returned to Sigil and set up their headquarters within what some graybeards claim was once their original guildhall in the Market Ward. (This history was taken from previous writeup on the Planewalkers Guild. If the author or anyone knowing the author reads this, please eamil me so that I can properly credit the work. -Loki)Allies and Enemies: Guildmaster Thames and the Planewalkers Guild are far from the top of the Guvners' list of "Friends and Allies." Having set up shop in a Sigil from which the Guvners are barred is only the beginning. The fact that the Guild is now amassing lore previously denied them rankles just a bit. Most canny Planewalkers have learned to conceal their guild membership when on Mechanus or near other Guvner holdings to avoid "entanglements." Rumor has it that Guvner infiltrators have already permeated the Guild, trying to use it as a means of gathering yet more information. The Guild has managed to strike deals with many of the merchants and organizations in the Cage to offer a discount on supplies useful to planewalkers, such as spell components, weapons, mundane traveler's goods, and certain magical items. In exchange the Guild provides Planar Guides from amongst its membership and first-hand darks about the planes. Primary among these arrangements is the strong and growing relationship with Snail Outfitters, and a large amount of consulting and guide work for the Planar Trade Consortium. Snail Outfitters now exclusively uses Guild members as planar guides, a good source of ready contracts for canny planewalkers.There is currently friction between the Planewalkers Guild and the Guild of Doorsnoops, members of each seeing the other as infringing on their territory. Negotiations are in progress at the highest level to work out who has jurisdiction over what, but the rank and file members still exhibit rivalry. Sometimes it is good-natured, sometimes it certainly is not…Under Thames the Guild is pursuing a formal relationship with the Etherfarers Guild, facilitating an expansion of their influence on the Inner Planes.They are also negotiating an alliance with the Prime-based Seekers through their Library of the Spheres on the Rock of Bral. The Seekers are archivists, explorers and information brokers. Their knowledge of the myriad Crystal Spheres of the Prime puts them in a great position to assist planewalkers travelling from the Inner to the Outer Planes (or vice versa), and in return they want information.Members: The membership of the Guild is varied, representing many races, classes, and planes. The one trait they share is a love of planewalking (Prestige Classes from Manual of the Planes and the Planar Handbook are much more common within the Guild). For the most part, members tend toward neutrality or goodness. There are some who embrace the paths of evil, but they are a small percentage of the whole. Important Members: Current Guildmaster Balthasar Thames of the Planewalkers Guild (CG male human planar Wiz13) hails from a remote demiplane on the Ethereal. Balthasar's study of the arcane arts fuelled his rapid departure from his home when the Prime Material beckoned. He spent several years journeying through the Crystal Spheres before he turned his attention to other planes of existence. Preferring the more "intellectual and spiritual" planes he ended up journeying across the Great Ring. He joined the Guild while it was headquartered on the Everclimb (Infinite Staircase) and quickly rose to prominence. Balthasar's first act after being instated as Guildmaster was to negotiate a return to their original Guildhall in Sigil's Market Ward, and to negotiate a useful and lucrative arrangement with Snail Outfitters, among others. Mobilizing the best talent of the members, Thames is rapidly returning the Guild to the prominence of 900 years ago when it last occupied its hall in the Market Ward. As the guild negotiates more alliances and business relationships, it is gaining notice and respect. The power vacuum created by Her Serenity's expulsion of the factions has left rich grounds for the Guild to return and grow. Estimates of current membership come to approximately 5,000 known members scattered across the myriad planes; approximately 2,000 more than at its height before the Great Upheaval.Thames is well aware of the historical magnitude of what he is doing, and hopes his actions as Guildmaster will directly affect his members for the next 1000 years. Fancying a place in history as the man who brought true power to the Guild, he works constantly to increase its influence. He sees the return to Sigil as the most advantageous starting point for expansion, and is well aware of the symbolic value of returning to the original Meeting Hall. He hopes one day to expand the Guild's influence throughout all the known planes of existence. Thames is rarely seen without his wives: Alusa (CG Female Assimar Planar Ftr 10)- The senior wife, Alusa is from Arborea. She and Thames have been together for 27 years,. They were married on his home demiplane after meeting on the Infinite Staircase. Since both her culture and his own practice polygamy she had very little adjusting to do when the junior wives joined. Teloja (NG Female Tiefling Planar Brd 9) Teloja hails from Sigil, where she had a respectable career performing regularly at the Civic Festhall. She met Thames and Alusa at a Sensate revel 16 years ago and married him shortly thereafter. Her main musical instrument is the mandolin.Silar (CG Female Fire Genasi Planar Rog 9) The newest wife, Silar, met "the family" while travelling the Ethereal. Her career in creative property redistribution back in the City of Brass had come to an abrupt end recently and she was "seeking opportunities." Thames and his wives are utterly devoted to each other, a seeming case of "true love." It is said by some, generally those who link Thames with Hav'run Thain's disappearance, that his wives are all actually mentally dominated or charmed in some fashion. Particulary nasty variations of this rumor purport that he purchased them from the Illithids (Mind Flayers).The Chant: The previous Guildmaster, Hav'run Thain, the Krynnish Minotaur, and Vagis his kyrie consort, disappeared after a trip to Mechanus six years ago. At the time of Thain's disappearance Balthasar was in charge of Planar Cartography for the Guild. He was also assisting Snail Outfitters in developing several of their tours as well as orchestrating collaboration between the Guild and the Planar Trade ConsortiumThere was a brief power struggle between Thames' supporters and other potential candidates for Guildmaster. His platform of returning the Guild to its former stature and prominence by reoccupying their Sigilian Hall captured the imagination of much of the membership. His well-known relationship with the Lillendi (he once even took one as a lover) also played no small part in his ascension to power.Some question the choice of returning to Sigil. In the wake of the Faction War, the Cage is no longer quite as much of a crossroads as it once was. Many tarmy Planewalkers feel that there is another major shakeup looming for the city. After all, the portals got shut down and scrambled during the Faction War, and again when Vecna tried to break the Cage (see Die, Vecna, Die! by TSR), so the Rule of Threes is as yet incomplete… The Dark: Thames did not orchestrate Hav'run Thain's disappearance; the Guvners did. He and his consort are being held in the Fortress of Disciplined Enlightenment. The reasons for this hostile covert action are currently a dark known only to the Guvners themselves. Unfortunately for any seeking the Krynnish minotaur, the Guvners are well aware that rumor places him in their camp and have prepared for intruders. As soon as the opportunity presents itself they plan to spirit him away to another - lower profile - holding.Guildmaster Thames' sudden ambition and rise to power took the Guvners off-guard. Under his guidance the Guild gained resources and knowledge that the Lady's Edict denies to the Fraternity of Order. While not always overtly hostile, they have no love for Guild members and make no effort to conceal it.