The Faith of the Hidden Mark

Requirements: Wyrd 2+, Larceny 2+, Stealth 1+, Streetwise 2+, Subterfuge 2+

Origin tales:


 * 1) In a freehold in Rome, there was once a Spring Monarch who gave up his crown as required but all the other monarchs did as he said, for he was very rich and paid them generously if they helped his cause. Silver Tongued Priscilla could not stand their arrogance and the decided to remove from the Spring King the source of his power and took his money in the dead of night. Yet as she escaped, a bit of glass left its mark on her. Fearing she could be found, she bargained with the wound itself to hide the scar. When the Spring King sought for one marked by the broken glass, Priscilla showed her wound, but it appeared far older than it should be and so the Spring King moved on.
 * 2) A mirrorskin was forced to mirror the opulence of their Keeper and grew to hate their arrogance. Everyday they prayed for deliverance before they were forced take their Keeper’s form and show off the trophies he carried that day. Finally, one day as the Keeper danced before the mirror he slipped and broke the mirror, cutting himself and the mirrorskin. The Mirrorskin ran but took their prized possessions, knowing their loss would cut far worse than any injury. The jagged cut was still on their form and became the symbol of their defiance for all their days.
 * 3) Once there was a changeling who had no respect for the rules. He worked the seedier side of the mortal authorities, laughing and running to the hedge whenever he got in trouble. One day, he was told that there was a Goblin Market that worked the seedier side of the Hedge. Unable to imagine how it could get any more free form, the changeling adventured to the market. He bought admittance to the Market with a bit of blood and the scar was given in return.

Legends:


 * 1) A common streetrat living on the streets has watched the rich grow fat of the labor of the common man.  With nothing left to lose he begins pacing the Palace grounds, watching the guards and their patrol patterns. The sandstone walls are far too slick to climb but he knows people. He trades secrets and favors. Eventually he has a Guard uniform. With that he sneaks into the Palace. He slips into the treasury and begins grabbing as many gold coins as he can carry out. He pauses though as he spots a precious vase. Knowing that would be his magnum opus he drops the coins and grabs the Vase and makes a dash for the door. The next morning the Sultan awakens to find his treasury in shambles and his prized magic vase gone.
 * 2) Once there was a young king who wished to rule over his lands as best he could. His advisors sought more power and did not put the good of his people first, but he did not realize it. They advised him to attack a nearby kingdom to enrich himself and so bring an age of enlightenment. Fox-Paw had been watching these nobles and realized they were advising the king into a slaughter for their own power would only grow as the King’s power fell. So Fox Paw the tricky Coyote disguised himself as a bishop and followed the king day and night, preaching old military tactics disguised as prayers. After three days, the King realized what would happen to his army if he sent it into the fields and disciplined his nobles, reigning in their power for many years. Fox Paws left, but not before taking his earnings from the worst of the nobles. He donated it to the church for the poor and moved on to his next target.
 * 3) Once there was a Goblin Lord who liked to kidnap mortals for the market. He’d sell them for profit and used the riches to make sure none could challenge his ride. Soon the entire market was under his control and the riches poured in. The Falcon arrived one day and made bargain with all the smaller shop keepers. For a season, none would buy what the Goblin Lord would sell. Enraged, he found the Falcon and ordered him to release the bargains the Falcon had made to keep the shopkeepers from buying the Lord’s goods. Cowed, the Falcon replied “I cannot give something for nothing. Still, as I have inconvenienced you, I will merely ask for one item in your shop and swear to never pull such a stunt against you again as well as give your stall all the items I have.” The Goblin Lord knew with his riches he could have what the thief took easily returned and accepted the bargain. The Falcon then took the Name of the Goblin for his own; all that he owned he had bound to his name and so he was left with nothing.

What We Do in the Shadows:

“All systems are flawed. This does not mean you give up on systems, it just means the system needs adjustment.”

Wherever people have power, someone will abuse it. Wherever there is money, someone will lack. And wherever there is something to protect, there will be someone to steal it. Enter the Faith of the Hidden Mark. A thieves guild like group motivated by principle, these Nobles sneer at the idea of Nobility. They are two disparate groups brought together by a single idea that they will not be oppressed.

For many, their Keeper ultimately started them on this path. The Gentry have absolute power and they abuse everyone beneath them. Some would-be Faithful cry out internally at the injustice of that oppression and find their escape in that passion. Others are tormented with things they could not have and decided upon their release that nothing would.

Of course, what freehold would willingly take in a group of thieves? Some won't, which is why the Faith sometimes keeps its membership secretive. Yet when welcomed or at least tolerated, they bring new items, new ideas and act as a check to the authority of any group that’s too powerful.

The Faithful have a duty to humble the arrogant. Stealing is good and their access to the Black Markets open doors for others, but their true calling is a desire to make those who abuse their power pay. A classic example of a member of the Faith is Robin Hood, stealing from the undeserving rich and giving it away. The Faithful can use money, sure, but it's not the point. The point is to make the ones they took it from worried. To make all the others wonder if they’re next and maybe, just maybe, clean up their act a bit.

Mask & Mein:

This is a semi-secret entitlement so the effects on the mask and mein are minimal. Their mask remains much the same save for a tattoo or scar where they bear the Hidden Mark. Some also gain an air of mischief.

Their mein also remains unchanged save for a single scar. This scar can be removed and placed anywhere else on the body though it takes a minute to adhere. It can be reshaped to give different meanings. All Merry Men can interpret the meaning to determine what the other’s specialty is, if the bearer so desires.

Bequeathal:

There are two main ways to join this entitlement. Changelings are drawn to The Faith of the Hidden Mark either by their willingness to go deep into the darker aspects of changeling dealing for what they want (The Merry) or by a drive to humble the arrogant and powerful (The Faithful).

For those with the desire, all doors can be opened. However, desiring the hidden fruits of the Hedge is not enough; you need to act on it. Changelings often fall into this when scouted by the Merry who is watching for that hunger. They’ll be tempted, cajoled, and eventually set up. The only way in is to go for the chance and steal what you want and in doing so earn the Hidden Mark.

For the other side, they earn the Hidden Mark through action against those they consider to be in power and in desperate need of humbling. They strike back at this injustice, though rarely with direct violence. Taking on the asshole with Wyrd 8 when you’re fresh out of the Hedge isn’t brave, it’s suicidal. No, they tend to strike where it hurts, at their things. Often the moment when the humbling has been administered is when the Merry will seek out the potential new recruit.

Token: The Hidden Mark [1-5]
 * Description: This scar is a badge of honour to any member of this entitlement. It's a mark gained on their first heist. The Black Market does not interact with anyone who does not bear the Hidden Mark. You have knowledge and access to the Black Market so long as you bear the mark. Further, it allows the Changeling to use the Black Market’s secret trod transportation services a number of times a day equal to this token’s rating. Mechanically, this allows you a quick journey from one place on Earth to another place on Earth through the Black Market. The second location must either be public or under your control. If you wish to pay for passage for other riders, it costs one use of the Hidden Mark per passenger.


 * Catch: Give an item stolen from someone you believe has abused their authority

':Drawback:' They cut themselves somehow with a piece of glass suffering 1L damage

Blessing
 * [1] This blessing lets the changeling regain 1 Glamour whenever she regains Willpower through her Needle in direct pursuit of her role. She may spend the Glamour immediately on anything she likes or store it in her heraldry token for later use. The token can store up to her Wyrd in Glamour. If she can neither spend nor store it, it’s lost. All stored Glamour empties at the end of the story.
 * [1] Choose one of the following specialties: Occult (Vampire), Streetwise (Mortal Black Market), Subterfuge (Con Artist), Larceny (Sleight of Hand), or Stealth (Moving Quietly) The chosen speciality also gains exceptional on three successes instead of five.
 * [1] Additional Thread.
 * [1] Honour Among Thieves: You can always find a bank of tokens from which you may borrow. You gain a free token with a rating of Wyrd/2 (Rounded down). You may, as a downtime action, trade one already loaned out for a new one. Losing a token in any way constitutes a monthly Clarity Breaking point with additional dice equal to the tokens rating. (Conditional)
 * [1] Everything Has a Price: As noted with the Hidden Mark Token, you have access to the Black Market and can buy Tokens and Goblin Fruit that cannot be found in the main markets. For example, no regular Goblin Market will sell 5 dot tokens or Hera Pears, but both can be found on the Black Market by those with this blessing. Also, anything sold at this market by you cannot not be traced back to you.

Touchstone: A street level criminal who was imprisoned for more than they commited

Clarity Curse: Clarity attacks suffered while unbalancing karmic scales add damage dice equal to ranks invested in this Merit.

WP: Commit a crime against someone more powerful than you and leave a calling card.