The Shadowstars

**The Shadowstars** Guild is a faction comprising the bards, diplomats, actors, musicians, negotiators, craftsmen, artists, singers, and other performers and delegates. The home base of the Shadowstars is the **Grand Star Theatre** in Brielle.

### Faction Presence

**The Shadowstars** are also known for using their artistry to benefit the good of the world. Despite there being many different types of artist practicing their craft in many different ways, each Shadowstar understands the power of Words. Words can be infused with magic through various different ways to imbue a shadowstar with a magical gift, from illusion and manipulation, to healing and harming. Some Shadowstars have been known to accompany adventurers and use their magical songs or art to inspire them to victory, while others spread news throughout the realm. **Shadowstars** are often hired as ambassadors, diplomats and negotiators due to their ability to persuade and convince people to follow their way of thinking and put people at ease, with their magical silver tongues.

### Religion

Although not a religious organisation, the Shadowstars often pay homage to both The Spoken Word and She Who Makes the Path, as they feel both of these deities are key to being able to put on their various shows and tours.

### Domigo Thundergong

The faction earns a vast majority of its income from ticket sales for performances put on in the the theatre, it offers tickets that ranged from 5 cp for bench seats, 1 gp for a balcony view, to 30 gp for the luxury of a private box. The staggered pricing was suggested by the **Dramaturge** Domigo Thundergong, an active member of the guild, a famous scholar and bard. This move was considered genius by many in the business as the Grand Star Theatre began to sell out most of its seats and for the last decade has been a key attraction, bringing in travellers from all over Vari, despite the dangers of the wild. Although Domigo is considered a member of The Shadowstars, his tendency to try and earn profit through side ventures has given him a negative reputation within the guild in recent times.

### Accord

As bound by the Faction's Accord, **The Sanguine Syndicate** are responsible for the following remits:

* Entertaining the People
* Regulation of Art and Artistry
* Spreading the Truth
* Spreading Happiness

### Rank

* **Publicist** - New recruits are often used to spread the word of events, put up leaflets and promote the shadowstars in various ways.
* **Understudy** - An understudy is asked to backfill for the role of and learn from an artist in a production piece, or is a dedicated student of a particular art that has been noticed and wishes to perfect their craft.
* **Artist** - An artist has created or performed a significant piece of art, enough to grant them recognition. Once achieved the rank of Artist, each other rank above and including artist is cumulative.
* **Producer** - A producer's responsibility is to oversee art production. Producers plan and coordinate various aspects of theatre, art, music production and so on, such as selecting the script; coordinating writing, directing, coordinating dance, arranging musical score, editing; and arranging financing. A producer is often a key part of negotiations with other factions.
* **Dramaturge** - A proven artist and literary adviser or editor in a theatre, musical productions, opera. Their role is that of a councillor and advisor to all who wish to excel in the art industry. They are someone who researches, selects, adapts, edits, and interprets scripts, texts, and printed programmes (or helps others with these tasks), consults authors, co-writes music and does significant public relations work.
* **Intendant** - The owner of the business that is the faction, the Shadowstars, responsible for overseeing and where necessary financing all productions. All final decisions for large productions across Vari go through the Intendant, who will "sign off on" decisions such as whether to put on a controversial play, if a particularly new piece of music is fit for an ambassadors ball, if a work of fiction is likely to spread harmful lies, etc.

### Faction Benefits:

Your chosen faction provides you will a set of additional starting equipment, in addition to that which is granted by your class. Including gold.

* a musical instrument (one of your choice)
* the favour of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket)
* a work of your own art
* a costume
* a belt pouch containing 15 gp
* Feature: By Popular Demand

**By Popular Demand**

You can always find a place to perform, usually in an inn or tavern but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble's court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.

As deemed in the Faction's Accord, benefits are awarded for progression through the rank system of all factions in Vari.

* **Publicist:**
	+ **[ Silver Tongued ]** - The life of an artist has taught you to look for what people want in a situation and work them accordingly. You gain proficiency in Deception, Perception, Performance, Persuasion or Insight, three languages of your choice and two musical instruments of your choice.
	+ **[ Gift of the Decree ]** While speaking or preforming, you can enhance one word that you speak or sing to cast the **Command** spell once as an action, requiring no components or spell slot to do so. You cannot use the **[ Gift of the Decree ]** again until you take a long rest.
* **Understudy:**
	+ You gain proficiency in Deception, Perception, Performance, Persuasion or Insight.
	+ **[ Gift of Persuasion ]** - While speaking or performing, you can enhance one phrase that you speak or sing to cast the **Charm Person** *or* **Gift of Gab** spell once as an action *or reaction respectively*, requiring no components or spell slot to do so. You cannot use the **[ Gift of Persuasion ]** again until you take a long rest.
	+ You are given three **[ Shadowstar Earring ]** A gemmed and enchanted item that delivers and receives *Message* spells to and from the other connected Shadowstar earrings within five hundred feet. To send a message, the wearer must activate the earring by touching it with a hand; no activation is necessary to receive messages.
* **Artist:**
	+ You gain *expertise* in either in Deception, Perception, Performance, Persuasion or Insight, doubling your proficiency bonus with the chosen skill.
	+ **[ Gift of Illusion ]** While speaking or performing, you can enhance one phrase that you speak or sing to cast the **Major Image** *or* **Disguise Self** spell once as an action, requiring no components or spell slot to do so. You cannot use the **[ Gift of Illusion ]** again until you take a long rest.
	+ **[ Gift of Suggestion ]** - While speaking or performing, you can enhance one phrase that you speak or sing to cast the **Suggestion** spell once a reaction, requiring no components or spell slot to do so. You cannot use the **[ Gift of Suggestion ]** again until you take a long rest.
* **Producer:**
	+ Unknown
* **Dramaturge:**
	+ Unknown

The spells above that state "requiring no components" also refers to "V,S,M components"