Cradle

## Overview

The Cradle is a mafia-like organization that controls Wolf's Den from the shadows. It is run by a female water genasi called Beaumont Mithanmyr. All members of the Cradle are rat lycanthropes, although that is a secret even most Wolf's Den residents don't know.

## Role in Wolf's Den

The Cradle functions similarly to a mafia. It is an open secret all locals know about and work to avoid confrontation with while its touch remains invisible to outsiders.

They protect Wolf's Den from anything that could threaten it and help run events behind the scenes so everything works smoothly. In exchange for this service they tax the residents for money, supplies, or in the rare case, blood, in what has been dubbed the Harvest, which is known to occur at least once a year, sometimes more. Those who cross the Cradle are known to disappear and all the locals know it so they're cautious and respectful when the Cradle calls on them. The citizens of Wolf's Den are both thankful and fearful of the Cradle.

## Bases of Operation

### Currently in Use

* Peony Bophubb's Locksmith Store Basement

## Relationship with the Destiny Weavers

The Cradle served as tentative allies to the Destiny Weavers during the attack on their joint raid on the Sunworn Hand's base of operations. Most of the Destiny Weavers are still generally tense and cautious around the Cradle, though a couple members still don't really know much about the Cradle.

## Split-Off Organizations

### The Sunworn Hands

A split-off organization of the Cradle run by Leif Mistright. It is much more violent and cut-throat than the base organization, more than willing to kill residents of Wolf's Den at the slightest provocation, including not being able to afford the taxes of the Harvest.

Their methods are more crass and unrefined than the Cradle's are, leading to them frequently getting caught red-handed and needing to flee. Despite this, however, their existence was generally unknown for many years, successfully operating under Beaumont's nose until the Destiny Weavers began investigating them. Because of this, there is some overlap between the Cradle and the Sunworn Hands' acts, and sometimes it can be unclear as to exactly who did what within all the rumors. Most of the acts committed by the Sunworn Hands are viewed by the public as being committed by the Cradle as a whole due to the Sunworn Hands' secrecy.

They are known to recruit children into their ranks, either by force or manipulation. Some of these children include Cassius and Azal. The Sunworn Hands displays no hesitance with sending these children straight into battle when needed, particularly when Cassius participated in the ambush against Zevas.

They served a Night Hag for a long while, assisting her in preying on the residents of Wolf's Den before the Destiny Weavers killed her.

After an ambush that the Cradle with the Destiny Weavers led against the Sunworn Hands, the group was disbanded and the majority of members were arrested or killed (or in the case of the children, returned to their families or taken to orphanages). Leif evaded capture, and it has recently been discovered by Den Hawkstorm that other members of the Sunworn Hands escaped as well.

## Known Affiliates

### Cradle

* Beaumont Mithanmyr
	+ Leader of the Cradle.
* Thori Flintmace
	+ High ranking member of the Cradle.
* Peony Bophubb
	+ Beaumont's friend, she reluctantly hosts members of the Cradle in her basement when they're in need of a discreet place to gather or hide.

### Sunworn Hands

* Leif Mistwright
	+ Ex-leader of the Sunworn Hands, ex-member of the Cradle, he ran the Sunworn Hands against Beaumont but managed to escape when things turned against him during the raid.
* John Ashglade
	+ Ex-member of the Sunworn Hands, ex-member of the Cradle, he was Leif's right hand man before being killed by Beaumont in an ambush against Zevas.
* Caydranth
	+ In the original timeline, Caydranth was an ex-member of the Sunworn Hands, ex-member of the Cradle, he worked directly with the Night Hag in some way, though displayed some nervousness around her. He was killed by Varick in the raid against the Sunworn Hands and attack on the Night Hag. Beaumont was surprised and disappointed at his disloyalty to her, and him choosing to side with Leif in the end. In the new timeline, however, he has barely even heard of the Cradle. It is currently unknown who replaced his role working with the Night Hag in the new timeline or whether or not they survived the confrontation against the Destiny Weavers.