The Blink

Both a religious organization and a thieves guild, the Blink takes on two forms, and is divided into two sects. Publicly the Blink is a cloistered group of philosophers and monks dedicated to an anti-theistic tradition. Members of the cult work as monks and social workers, caring for the poor and sick; or as laborers, tending public gardens, vineyards, and maintaining village infrastructure. Privately, the Blink foster corruption, smuggling drugs, overseeing street crime and subverting other religious organizations dedicated to Ascended gods. Female monks most often train to become thieves, bookkeepers and overseers, while male monks are often gelded and trained in the arts of assassination.

Symbols & Icons The primary symbols adopted by the Blink are loose fitting, pale green robes. All members of the cult study from a text titled In the Valley of Power, a series of essays and tales about the cult's founder's encounters with mortals that falsely represented themselves as gods.

All members of the Blink, upon completely a Rite of Passage, are ritualistically branded and tattooed with the symbol of a closed eye, both on the bottom of their tongues, and on the base of a heel. Thieves are branded on the left heel, assassins are branded on the right.

Criminal Activities This group primarily works in the shadows, organizing crime and infiltrating organizations such as other cults and clergy to manipulate their members, foster corruption, and sow dissension.

Hierarchy This group only has a few tiers of authority. Cloistered groups will follow the instructions and teachings of a head monk known as a Basilisk, but otherwise the organization is widely structured, with most members being left to follow the anti-theistic precepts of In the Valley of Power. The Basilisk manages both thieves and assassins in her region, and will coordinate goals for both sects to achieve based on the needs of the monastery.

Codes of Conduct Secrecy is the biggest concern. Members who volunteer information to a non-member against their Basilisk's wishes trigger the magical brands on their tongue, turning their tongue to stone. Members who attempt to steal from the cult trigger the brand on their heel, causing them to feel intense burning and constant pain. This effect prevents the traitor from receiving the benefits of a long rest. These effects can only be removed at the behest of a Basilisk.