Lothe'lian Lodges

Within the realm of Lothe’lia there exist hidden monasteries dedicated to training the Empress’ agents. These Lodges are disparate in the lessons they teach, the philosophy they discuss, and even their laws. What they share, however, is a strict hierarchy, loyalty to Empress Lothelia, and endless secrets. Most lodges were created after the eruption of the Weeping Summit, during the long dark that followed, as the borders of the Lothelian Empire shrank as the monsters and men rose up. The few that were active before were originally monasteries dedicated to the study and perfection of combat as art, as well as training Empress’ Blades, the assassins that serve at the Lady’s right hand.

Training and Life in the Lodges
Regardless of the choice of Lodge, most teach some form of craft or profession (Useful for blending in amongst the other nations, though they sometimes miss the point of these lessons.) Time spent outside of learning an art is spent instead on training, Lodge Elves spend vast amounts of their lives practicing moves and styles that have been developing for thousands of years. During this training elves are sent on trips out into the world, in order to both expand the knowledge base of the trainee, as well as perform tasks in service to their empire. Often these journeys can last for years at a time, as complicated schemes are set up and executed in the name of the Lady of Patience.

Common Classes and Meta-Facts
The Lodge style of training supports a few classes and gestalt combinations, the most common of which are rogues, ninjas, monks, maguses, or even more esoteric choices like Legendary Games’ Kinetic Shinobi or Skinchanger, Path of War’s Mystic, and even a few Lodges promote development of alternate identities through Vigilantism or the Champion of Spheres Troubadour

You are not prevented from choosing a different class, though be aware the Reputation rewards for this faction are geared towards supporting a character of this type.

Lodge Rules

 * 1) Speaking of your nature as a member of the lodge to non-elves is forbidden. Repeated violations will be responded to by removal of the tongue.
 * 2) Orders from the Imperator must be obeyed.
 * 3) Imperial Artifacts must not be allowed to fall into the hands of men.
 * 4) No trace of your mission may be left behind. When possible, you must limit casualties unless doing so would compromise the mission.

Plausible Deniability
Travel costs are negated and you gain double fame for all sessions in Lothe’lia or  sessions. Barring a higher ranked Blade on a  session, you are considered to have the authority of the Imperator herself, and will be expected to present and act as such.

Safe-house
Your co-conspirators maintain complex networks of safe-houses within the cities of Lumora. So long as there are more than 10000 people in a given town you do not need to spend gold on lodgings. Many agents leave small caches of ammunition and simple weapons within these houses for agents deprived of gear for one reason or another. Every safehouse is warded against pursuers and scrying, allowing you to use them as safe harbor when your actions bring too much heat down on you.

Queen’s Eye
The Imperator has bestowed a token of her trust upon you, a complicated procedure has applied an enchantment to your vision allowing you to temporarily gain enhanced senses for a short time. As a bonus action you can activate this ability to gain the following benefits for one minute:


 * You can see into the Astral plane and through illusions.
 * Surfaces do not block your vision within 30ft, and you can see through walls and floors.
 * Smoke, fog, and magical darkness cannot block your sight either, and you never treat a creature as obscured from you in any way.

You may use this ability three times, and regain all uses whenever you complete a long rest.

Ilmaril’s Voice
The immortal queen herself has taken some notice of you, and you have been given a secret ritual to contact her for advice and assistance. You learn the spell Commune, and may cast it once without expending spell slots or material components, treating Ilmarill as your patron god for the purposes of the spell.

Royal Assassin
Sometimes, the dominoes need to fall just right. Your Queen has placed her trust in you to do it. You earn three times as much gold for ‘Contract’ sessions, and are provided a slush fund of 4000 gp on any session within the interests of Lothe’lia. This money cannot be spent to enrich yourself, only in service of your mission.