The Athkatlan Stalker's Guild

The Stalkers were formed as a business venture to provide protection and “situation handling” for the numerous guilds.

Originally, the Stalkers were a simple group of mercenaries that numbered about 20. Their first major jobs were in the employ of the merchant guilds escorting shipments North to Waterdeep and South to overland East. They began to be a power when the Wizards Guild began to employ them for protection of their outposts and started doing away with their own military. The influx of gold from the wealthy Wizards Guild allowed the Stalkers to set up shop officially as a “Jack of all Trades” type organization. Soon many other guilds started mimicking the Wizards. It was easier to contract protection services from the Stalkers than it was to hire and maintain your own military forces.

After a while, other organizations tried to compete in the same areas as the Stalkers. This touched off a range war that lasted over 20 years. New businesses would open up and would soon meet with some sort of disaster. No one could definitely saddle the Stalkers with the blame but there was really no doubt. They would move in and hire away the better soldiers and see to it that the ones found lacking would gain employment, of a sense, through the Slaver’s Guild.

No one really knows when the Stalkers and the Slavers formed their true alliance. They still don’t work together in an official capacity. Most compare it to “professional courtesy.” They often help each other to mutually beneficial ends.

The Stalkers now number in the thousands and employ people from all walks of life. If you need anyone with any kind of skill the Stalkers can provide. The Stalkers often find themselves on both sides of the law. By the way, the law is of no consequence to them. They owe allegiance only to their contract and each other. One day a Stalker may be tracking down a fugitive for the City Council only to be hired to free the same person the next day. One thing is for certain though. Once a Stalker has been hired, they cannot take on another job for the Stalkers until they have fulfilled the one that they took up first. This keeps victims from “hiring” the Stalker that is chasing them to free them.

Failure holds a heavy penalty in this guild. One may NEVER give up on a job. Failure usually means being sold into slavery or worse. Stalkers will pursue a target to the ends of Faerun. Once they have been hired, you can be sure that they will work. Be careful not to confuse the Stalkers and the Slavers though. They’ve been known to come to blows on numerous occasions.

You may recognize a Stalker by a colored sash that they wear. It is tied twice around the waist and hangs down to their knee on one side. It is a badge of honor that is claimed at the completion of their first mission. Wearing a Stalker sash when you are not worthy is a great insult to a Stalker and they will see to it that the offending party is made aware of their insult.