Guild of Wonders

Guild of Wonders

(Organization)

Type

Assassin, spy, saboteur

Leader

Scion Lord Celedo Morilla

Headquarters

Westgate, Absalom

Scope

Inner Sea region

Structure

School

Members

Juartos Morilla, Donavar Morilla, Annasendra Varabelle

Source: Guide to Absalom, pg(s). 44–45

The headquarters of the Guild of Wonders is ostensibly an unmarked, poorly received tourism attraction composed of creative taxidermy that purportedly depicts cryptids and other beings, and is located in a shoddy building in the Westgate neighborhood of Absalom. However, its decrepit appearance masks its true purpose as a guildhouse for assassins, spies, and saboteurs.

Background

Although it has operated for centuries in Absalom, it has been tolerated by the Grand Council of Absalom only due to its strict code prohibiting guild activity within Absalom itself, except when permitted by the Grand Council. The guild is reviled by all Inner Sea region nations, even as they hire the guild for its services.

Ultimate control of the Guild of Wonders is in the hands of Guildmaster of Mysteries, Celedo of House Morilla, but the day to day work is handled by Celedo's nephews and niece.

While all three provide weapons, poison, and combat training, Juartos Morilla handles contract negotiations and finance, Donavar Morilla handles the more mundane issues of maintenance and student discipline, while Annasendra Varabelle teaches students the arts of perception and stealth. Each of these three hopes be named heir and to succeed Celedo as Scion.

In addition to the prohibition against guild activity in Absalom, the guild's by-laws prevent accepting contracts against Taldan nobles, children, or the clergy of Abadar, Asmodeus, and Calistria. (These types of individuals may be targeted in various ways, even harmed, but never killed.)

The Guild of Wonders is known for its Death Pacts, a contract signed and paid for in advance that guarantees a retributive strike in the case of the client's murder. The pact expires after a given period, upon which time the Guild instead posts the contract's fee as a bounty for the client's death.

Each pact always has one assassin and one spy, and if triggered, the pact allows its two team members to be temporarily exempted from guild prohibitions—including its official prohibition against actions within Absalom—until the pact is satisfied. If the rules are violated, the members are expelled from the guild upon completion and can never return to the Isle of Kortos.

Given her role and house affiliation, Gloriana Morilla may be a current or former member but this remains unconfirmed.