The story of the Nightblades is as much the story of Altheria as any of her
more prominent guilds. When the Blight forced the remaining survivors of the
dying world to flee, there was nowhere to go but the Last Bastion. With
thousands of refugees pouring into the ruined city, the hastily organized
militia was utterly overwhelmed. What would eventually become the Knights of
the Vanguard attempted to provide a pillar of stability amidst the chaos and
terror. Other organizations rose to support them, rallying together to
defend the only hope anyone had left. In the desperate rush to secure the
upper city as a safe haven, those that could not help fight back the
numerous threats, or had not the skills to help rebuild, often ended up
seeking shelter in the Lower City, where at the very least nothing dangerous
had yet emerged from the oceanward side.

But as more of the upper city was secured, and the things lurking in the
ruins and rubble were vanquished or pushed out to more remote parts of the
city and tunnels, the Lower City fell prey to an entirely different kind of
danger: criminals and violent gangs seeking to sieze power and vital
resources. Finding the upper city becoming too well-guarded, they turned
their attention to the unfortunates in the Lower City, who had not the means
to leave or protect themselves. Many who found refuge in Altheria were
simply trying to survive, attempting to preserve whatever was left of their
world. But some, seeing the chaos and fear, took advantage of those who were
vulnerable. In an alarmingly short amount of time, the Lower City had come
under the control of ruthless gangs and would-be tyrants. Even as Kellen
struggled to unite the disparate factions into a single City Council, the
criminal organizations of the Lower City were consolidating their power.

With the newly-formed city guard stretched too thin to defend them, the
innocents in the Lower City were easy victims, falling prey to extortion,
theft, protection rackets, and other far worse things. Even the Vanguard
could not aid them as the hit and run tactics of the criminals and the
network of cliffside tunnels made it impossible to win in a direct
confrontation. It could very well have been the end of the Last Bastion,
with the city watch alongside the Vanguard and other military guilds vying
with the criminal organizations for control of the Lower City.

However, where the guards had to maintain some semblance of lawfulness,
there were those who proposed a much different solution to the dire problem
facing not only the Lower City, but threatening to spill out across the rest
of Altheria.

And so things began to change. Gang leaders went missing or turned up dead,
and criminal activity was dismantled at the tip of an unseen blade in the
night. Rumors spread like wildfire across the city, of a vigilante faction
championing the city's most vulnerable citizens. Nightblades, the people of
the Lower City began to call them. Using the very tactics that had so foiled
the Vanguard, the Nightblades struck with a deadliness that left many
wondering just who or what they were, nearly wiping out the entire
foundation of criminal activity in the Lower City. Having infiltrated the
worst of the gangs, the Nightblades struck without mercy. It was as much
vengeance as justice.

And when the City Council met to reclaim control of the Lower City, the
shadowmage Casvienn Ahrn was among them, representing the city's
Nightblades. That he entered alongside the Vanguard guildleader, Arek
Ravenwylde, was not missed by anyone present. But rampant speculation proved
futile, for the Nightblades were as secretive as they were effective.

The Nightblades have eyes and ears everywhere. It is said that nothing
happens in Altheria without the guild knowing about it. Nightblades are
efficient and deadly, known for getting the job done, whatever it requires.
Members have a strong code of honor; among true Nightblades, one's word is
never questioned. Those in the guild do not advertise their membership.

The guild's location and leadership is a secret known only to its members.
It's said that they learn the Cant, a way of speaking that can obscure the
true meaning of what one is saying so only other Nightblades can understand.
Skilled Nightblades are even rumored to be able to manipulate the shadows
themselves using Umbral Arts, though whether this is fact or folklore is up
for debate.

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