Zerethis

In the claustrophobic alley of Potters Lane sits an ordinary door, passed often by the residents of the narrow lane as they go about their business in the Tomblador district. Behind that door lives a man anonymous to most, Zerethis, an ordinary and unobtrusive citizen that keeps to himself.

Zerethis (NE hm Rog 6) is one of the growing thieves' guild known as the Black Suns. Retired from more risky tasks executed by the guild, Zerethis now runs a safe house for rogues who need a secure location to lay low for a few hours, a few days, or even longer.

Just inside the pale yellow door is dark curtain to prevent the casual observer from seeing any further inside the home. Behind the curtain is a rickety staircase to Zerethis's second floor apartment. It is, like the owner, an ordinary space consisting of a living area combined with a kitchen, along with a bedroom, with another dark curtain separating the two rooms.

These ordinary surroundings skillfully hide the real purpose of the space. Beneath the stairs is a hidden basement for thieves on the run. A carefully concealed lever (DC 25 Search) underneath the first step raises the staircase to reveal another set of stairs leading down into darkness. A lantern with means to light it hangs a few steps down.

This basement space has food and water for several days at a time, and Zerethis regularly restocks this supply. There is enough oil to keep the lantern lit continuously for days, which is convenient for those forced to stay with Zerethis, since windows would reveal the hidden inhabitant.

Since the Black Suns are a secretive organization, most members do not know many of their fellow thieves, and this is the same for Zerethis. He depends on passwords given to him by those who visit to identify fellow members. The leadership of the Black Suns regularly change the password to help protect their asset.

Unknown to those that would seek asylum, the password they give Zerethis may lead them to safety or to their death. When a thief needs to escape the notice of the law for a while, the thief is evaluated by the leadership of the Black Suns. Thieves who prove to be incompetent or sloppy are given a password that tells Zerethis that his guest is to be eliminated. Zerethis typically does the deed with poison, but if that is not effective, he is skilled enough with his obsidian blade to finish the bloody task.