Involving the Other Wiscrani Secret Societies

[Daviot]

Though the maps in the AP don't quite get it across, Westcrown is a staggeringly huge metropolis, the largest in Cheliax, and still one of the largest cities in the world.

And with that, there are several other groups and secret societies beyond the titular Council of Thieves active or based in Westcrown, which don't so much as show up in the AP. Hence a thread for ideas to that extent. The three can come to mind off the top of my head:

•The Westcrown Shadow Hunters (Bastards of Erebus, Cheliax: Empire of Devils), led by masked woman Bluehood, are attempting to clean the streets of Westcrown of the shadow beasts. They have a dead drop at an unnamed tavern near Vira Leroung, but that's about all we have about them.
•The Aspis Consortium (Faction Guide, Inner Sea World Guide, etc.) The Inner Sea's arguably first megacorporation, the Aspis Consortium are a many-tiered organization that seeks profit at all cost. The Faction Guide notes they have their strongest power base in Westcrown, though their meeting spots are highly guarded and variable.
•The Bellflower Network (Faction Guide, Halflings of Golarion) A 'underground railroad' seeking to liberate Chelish halfling slaves, the Bellflower Network has no traditional headquarters, but the Faction Guide mentions an Iomedean private pub called the Bell of the Sea that acts as a central meeting place for the organization.

Any thoughts and suggestions?

[Scharlata]

Daviot wrote:

•... Shadow Hunters ...

•... Aspis Consortium....
•... Bellflower Network...

Spoiler:

I made Jarvis Alebrecht the head of the Shadow Hunters, as a PC had a hool on hunting the shadow beasts since the first adventure and got into it with her (NPC) brother. In my opinion, the Shadow Hunters are underrepresented in the AP. So it would be a good idea to incorporate them more into the story - maybe as friendly rivals (and maybe some of the Children of Westcrown poses as "double agent").

The Aspis Consortium could be on the verge to break into Delvehaven to get the Morrowfall or be chasing Ilnerik as he owns the Totemrix. It could be fun to let the PCs find some dead bodies or fresh vampire spawn. Or maybe you could remodel the vampires (Vahnwynne, Jair or the Mazeflesh Man) as Ex-Aspisites, giving them levels in the new archetypes presented in the APG, Ultimate Magic/Combat [Vampire Hunter, Archaeologist, etc.].

The Bellflower Network could be the second devotion of Fiosa the halfing member of the Children of Westcrown. You could introduce the overlooked deity named Milani the Everbloom, who - in my opinion - plays almost no role in this AP, making me wonder.

Have fun

[The Thread Necromancer]

Does anyone know approximately where the "Bell of the Sea" tavern is?

[Andros Morino]

"In Westcrown there is a Chelish-owned private pub close to the docks that’s run by clerics of Iomedae called the Bell of the Sea. The ground floor of the Bell is a typical pub and restaurant, but the basement is a meeting place for central Chelish Bellflower tillers and functions as the harvest moon barn for all slaves freed from that area."