Cerulean Society (Possible spoilers)


Curse of the Crimson Throne


Hi! I'm DMing a CoCT campaing and my party is in Edge of Anarchy at the moment.
I'd like to introduce the Cerulean Society in my game but i'd like to ask some questions first:
1. Do the Cerulean Society have a role in future events of the AP?
2. I don't know how to explain to my players how a guild of thieves can be legal! I mean, theft is illegal, burglary is illegal... how can be a guild of thieves be legal!? I read the guide to korvosa but still i don't get it.


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The Cerulean Society takes no part in the Curse of the Crimson Throne AP as written, which allows you as a GM to use the thieves' guild as you see fit.

The Cerulean Society does not openly engage in illegal activity. It is known for running a protection racket, which means that noble families and all kinds of businesses pay it money for protection. The Society also collects money from small gangs all over the city. If families or businesses fail to pay, the Society puts their name on a list, which allows those small gangs to rob them. If the gangs don't pay up, they are eradicated.

In this regard the Cerulean Society does not do anything illegal and since it pays vice tax to the city, Korvosa allows it to operate in this shady manner.

Next to its protection scheme the Cerulean Society engages in other activities, which it does not openly admit to. They organize secret gambling dens (gambling as such is not prohibited, but it requires the organizer to pay taxes), they run an extensive drug empire and control most of the smuggling of illegal goods in and out of the city. They also deal in information and can be hired to gather intel or spread rumors.


So Cerulean Society does legal AND secret illegal activities. That makes sense now, thank you :)

I have one more question now:

Has someone used CS in his campaign? How?

Liberty's Edge

They do mention them in the third book. If the players defeat the crazy king of Old Korvosa, it leaves a power vacuum that the CS exploits, and they basically run the place. In Bahor's mansion, he has documents of the Society's illegal activities. With those documents, the players can blackmail them. I haven't used them in my game yet, but I plan to at some point. Possibly to reform the guild into a more honorable thieves guild using those documents and backing players up in political dealings.


Bahor has a pretty tight leash on the Cerulean Society if I recall. He, and the Arkona family, pretty much run the entire criminal underworld in Korvosa. At the beginning of Escape from Old Korvosa, Pilts Swastel (the Emperor) and the Arkona are kind of 'at war' for control over Old Korvosa. If either of the two are taken out, then come Crown of Fangs, the other has taken over the entire island. If both of them are taken out, then the Cerulean Society has taken control, which I believe is mentioned to actually be the 'best' choice possible.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

You could bring in the Cerulean Society as a possible ally in "Seven Days to the Grave" and "Escape from Old Korvosa". After all, with the city pretty much going to hell in a handbasket, every power group will probably try to make a play to gain power in some way. Since they are about as "lawful" as you come in a thieves' guild, they could also be interested in restoring order to the city ... with them in a more powerful position, of course.


Well, Cerulean Society isn't technically in the campaign, but the masters of it are.

The Cerulean Society is the major thieves guild in Korvosa, and because of that there are lots of plot hooks and uses for their services. I've allowed my PCs to fence items, buy blackmarket gear, and purchase information. They sold Lamm's severed head to the Cerulean Society (could be useful for information using Speak to Dead).

One of my PCs is a ninja, so she had contacts within the organization which helped her with various things. At one point we were "wanted" and being hunted, and they provided a safe house for several nights.

Plus what the other's said above. They probably have an interest in restoring order to the city.

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