Hi everyone! This is the fifth installment of my Obscure Eberron Lore series, highlighting little-known elements of the Eberron campaign setting only found in obscure corners of canon. Today, I’ll be featuring the I.W. Society, a secret organization of bards and other performers outlined in Morgrave Miscellany. I've read between the lines of that text and expanded a bit on the group's activities in the below summary.
The clandestine I.W. Society is a loose alliance of performers and artists spread across the Five Nations, with outposts in back rooms of taverns and inns. Like Sharn's Circle of Song, the I.W. Society offers resources and lodging to its members at no cost (or in exchange for a performance, or a reciprocal favor), and acts something like a bards' union, helping struggling artists find work and share knowledge. But in contrast to the Circle of Song, the I.W. Society keeps a very low profile; you could be close friends with a member for decades and have no idea the group even exists, until that member offers an invitation to you as your sponsor. Those who do know the organization exists have no idea what "I. W." stands for; some believe it might be the initials of the group's founder, or a hint at some kind of password used by high-ranking members.
That said, the so-called "Socialites" can be a useful source of aid or information even to non-members. A person in need might be able to make contact with I.W. agents through an interlaced network of taverners, stage managers, and barkers; if the Socialites hear the person's plea and offer a favor, they typically expect a favor in exchange at a future time.
But why the secrecy? And what kind of favors are we really talking about?
The I.W. Society has a pure and noble goal: to make the world a better place through story and song. But this abstract ideal is about more than singing around campfires; members of the Socialites include many smugglers, burglars, and even vigilantes. The organization was active throughout the Last War, using its resources to bring hope to the people of the Five Nations—through extralegal means, if necessary. This might mean breaking into the house of a corrupt local official, stealing evidence of an outrageous love affair, and then writing a play about it. When the official can't convincingly deny the allegation, perhaps his powerful allies who shield him from consequences quietly cut their ties. Thus, through the joy of storytelling (and just a touch of breaking-and-entering), justice is served.
Historically, Socialites who skirt the edge of the law have avoided actions which actively cause harm or spread terror. The sinister techniques of the College of Whispers are rejected in favor of those of Eloquence or Glamour. However, in the wake of the Mourning, the I.W. Society has begun to take its mission more seriously. Fostering collaboration and hope in this time of despair has become more challenging, and the Socialites hotly debate the prospect of taking more extreme measures.
In your campaign, the I.W. Society might fill the role of a well-meaning thieves guild, or even a stand-in for something like the Harpers from Forgotten Realms.
Next time: Sarmondelaryx, the Red Wyrm!