Sebastian ‘Bas’ Briarberry (Halfling Thief)
-----------------
Guildmaster of Briarberry’s Boys (Screaming Griffon member),
Bas is the Protector of the Halflings in Selid-Din. This means he is
part of the Protector council (Paralament) and votes on new laws. Bas
is loved by the halflings. He also wears the Ring of the Halflings
(doubles his halfling racial bonuses and gives +4 reaction on all rolls
relating to halfling interaction) which makes him very popular in the
Halfling district. The Ring improves relations with that race and
grants all racial languages and bonuses/ penalties (Doubles them if you
are already of that Race, which Bas is.)
Bas also owns and operates the Adventurer’s Guild (a front for his Thieves Guild) that supports all adventurer parties with services such as Adventurung Insurance, identifies, spells and a safehaven as well as a place to find out about new adventures. Guild members pay dues and get the facilities and services of the guild. It includes treasure division, accounting and sales and purchases. The guild’s cut depends on the level of membership and the benefit packages. Rescue insurance is very popular with lower level parties. (A higher level group will rescue you, get you raised and try to recover your stuff - for a prepaid fee.)
Bas is a GuildMaster prestige class and his Leadership is staggering. He literally has 100’s of followers among the populace that owe the Guildmaster favors for favors that the Guildmaster has done (he is kept well informed...he is even aware of things happening at the highest levels of the city due to his infiltrators). He is also a Woundhealer and heals the halflings.
Bas is actually the repository for part of Bradobaris’s soul. Brandobaris hid his soul because Yondella is mad at him for stealing something (what is unknown). Bas has claimed to be a God in the past and the party all laughed at their loveable hobbit. Turns out, he is right. Bas NEVER attends Yondella services for fear of discovery.
Bas’s cohort is a Alchemist/Psion that inhaboits a Mind Flayer body and acts as his bartender. Bas is also wealthy and can spend money (250 Gp. per transaction, 4000 GP per session) without impacting his personal cash. Bas has the Leadership feat twice. He has many people in Selid-Din that owe him favors. (Since creating 270 1st level followers is a bit much)
Bas has helped a lot of people and has quite a loyal following. Bas has two cohorts.
One is Strom Wakeman, a Mind Flyer with a Human Mind (He is neutral). He was the adversary against the Illithids and helped the Screaming Gryphon defeat the plot to recreate the Illithid empire. He recently obtained the power to polymorph, and can now appear fully human (or other forms), if he chooses. He also has a mask that allows him to appear human. He is a 4th level Wizard and 8th level Psion (Telepath) he has the sustenance power, which he uses to avoid eating Brains. He works as the bartender in the Adventurer’s guild and is the hub of Bas’ information Network. He uses his telepathy to communicate to Bas’ followers and relay instructions and information. He has a ring of Mind Shielding (Psi based) that also protects from scrying (Bas gave it to him). He also uses misdirection and Non detection to protect his identity.
Bas recently acquired a 2nd Cohort, a Druid Magistrate who killed his adulterous wife and her lover. Bas, through his many connections, was able to get the charges dropped on the basis of insanity and sent him away to Manage Ralbane Estate for Sparhawk. (Sparhawk is not really keen on this, as he still views him as a murderer, It took Bas to use a hypothetical adulterous Morgana as an example before Sparhawk relented.)
Bas has several named followers, mostly they have been used in the Stanze Campaign to further the storyline (See the Octoberfest Games fiction I wrote) Brooke (6th level Rogue) married Cade (Al’s character) and so Bas has access to Cade for special assignments. Sully and Tupins are 4th level Halfling Rogues, and Dellins is a 4th level Halfling Rogue with a focus on Disguise (He once impersonated Cade) Sally is a 2nd level expert who works in an Administrative position in City Hall, and is an expert at providing records and documents for Bas’s endevours. Bartelby is Bas’s Houseman and Vallet. (Takes care of Bas’ Houses, etc.).
Bas, since the attack in his bedroom by Miedrin, is a bit paranoid and tends to rotate which house he will sleep in every night. He always has two Double Strength Golden Lions on either side of his bed (Figurines of Wondrous Power) and he is looking to add more traps to protect himself. He also has connections to the sewers (He and his halfling workers helped build them as they could fit in the tight spaces, so they have accurate maps and escape routes planned) and knows where and how to bypass the monsters (Gelatinous Cubes, Oytaughs, etc.) used by the druids to keep the sewers clean. I was working on getting a Bruiser or two, 6th level fighters, who I can have as guards at the Adventurers Guild. Bas frequently will give bonuses to his followers and magic items.
He will also help halflings who need a hand or are trying to start a business. He usually only takes a minor cut and has done this so many times that it has added up to be successful venture for him.
Bas also acts as the unofficial information broker in the city. He
has people everywhere who owe him a favor or are loyal to him, and the
information usually trickles in. He has a few plants inside the regents
keep just to keep tabs on things. (Scullery Maids, Serving Girls, etc.
) The thieves’ guild works differently in Selid-Din. Non guild
members who practice their craft often find themselves marked and
watched very closely, if caught (or sometimes if suspected) the local
Thief taker will capture them for bounties. Protection is the major
racket in Selid-Din. Shopkeepers who pay do not have problems, if
something is stolen, it is stolen back and returned to them. (Thief
takers confiscate the offending parties stuff)