What is a Red Mantis “station” like?

[Wizard of Ahhhs]

After reading Mark of the Mantis I’m feeling inspired to make a homebrew campaign with PCs taking the role of Red Mantis assassins and trying to think of what a “station” (to borrow modern day espionage terminology) would be like since I assume there would be some of organizational presence in most countries along with something serving as a base of operations.

I was thinking that given the religious nature of the Red Mantis that perhaps a temple dedicated to Achaekek would be the most likely venue. In an evil kingdom such as Cheliax, perhaps the temple would be in the open in the same way an embassy might be. Or would they prefer total secrecy? What about in a good aligned kingdom? Would the PCs even know of its whereabouts or would their only contact with the larger organization be through a handler of some sort?

What might such a place be called? “Temple” sounds a bit too much like someplace where the unwashed masses would be welcome. I think it should convey more a sense of exclusivity - open to only a select few initiates. “Chantry” and “Lodge” come to mind.

Curious if anyone has thoughts/ideas?

[keftiu]

Operating openly is pretty antithetical to the Red Mantis - even on Mediogalti Island, I don't think their temple is open to the public, and those who wish to hire them are forced to do so indirectly. Even in a Lawful Evil nation like Cheliax, they might be just as likely to assassinate nobles and state agents, and so need to keep their heads low.

"Chantry" is an awesome word that doesn't get used enough; I love it for a religious safehouse. I'd imagine such a location to be well-hidden and warded from scrying at the absolute least, and to likely be one of several caches for weapons, documents, and other assassin-y goods.

[Morhek]

I think the Red Mantis might make better villains or rivals for your players, depending on what kind of assassins they want to be. The Red Mantis are pretty amoral in who they accept contracts on, but also their god is specifically geared to hate people trying to ascend to godhood. That might clash with the goals of a typical adventurer who might be a bit pickier with their clientele, or who is in it to acquire power and magic.

[Morhek]

As a belated addendum, if you wanted to look at the River Kingdoms they also have a tradition of clandestine assassins dating back to the fallen kingdom of Yenchabur where their ancestors came from. A small organisation of River Kingdom assassins might not appreciate a Red Mantis cult trying to horn in on their turf, which might make an interesting starting premise for a campaign.

[Wizard of Ahhhs]

keftiu wrote:

Operating openly is pretty antithetical to the Red Mantis - even on Mediogalti Island, I don't think their temple is open to the public, and those who wish to hire them are forced to do so indirectly. Even in a Lawful Evil nation like Cheliax, they might be just as likely to assassinate nobles and state agents, and so need to keep their heads low.

That makes sense, and it might work better for the campaign. It makes me think of the tv show "The Americans" - the heroes in that show never really know what is going on in the Soviet Embassy - the political machinations of their handlers are largely inscrutable which makes it hard if not impossible to trust them completely. Perhaps even for Red Mantis PCs seeing such a safe house would be an extraordinary event in itself.

keftiu wrote:

"Chantry" is an awesome word that doesn't get used enough

I think so too!! I stole it from the Tremere vampires of VtM but I feel like it would fit the Red Mantis too.

[Wizard of Ahhhs]

Morhek wrote:

I think the Red Mantis might make better villains or rivals for your players, depending on what kind of assassins they want to be. The Red Mantis are pretty amoral in who they accept contracts on, but also their god is specifically geared to hate people trying to ascend to godhood. That might clash with the goals of a typical adventurer who might be a bit pickier with their clientele, or who is in it to acquire power and magic.

Those are a lot of good points. The Red Mantis are (at least as I'm imagining them) an absolutely terrifying organization. The PCs should never feel like they can 100% trust their superiors. Some of the best spy thrillers deal with situations where the heroes have been "burned". I could see a fun plot line being where the Vernai issue a burn notice/edict such that all other Red Mantis are obligated to kill them.

Player motivation does seem like a potential issue - especially regarding godhood. Maybe a revenge plot line might help?

On a related note I had the idea that at one point the PCs might be ordered to put down one of their own who is trying to ascend to godhood themselves - sort of like Apocalypse Now / Heart of Darkness.

I feel like a big part would be finding enemies that are even more evil than the Red Mantis. The Skinsaw Cult come to mind as a possibility.

I think there's also a big question of how to encourage/force PC loyalty to one another. I was thinking they could start as new recruits on Mediogalti and go through various tests together.

Potentially there could also be a bonding ritual (conceptually maybe similar to the Vaudelrie of Sabbat vampires in Vtm) that incentivizes cooperation - perhaps through an ongoing minor boon. Or maybe it could be more stick than carrot - perhaps similar to the binding ritual used by the Moon Elf assassins in The Dragon Prince.

[Leon Aquilla]

Minor point of order but 'chantries' are the sanctums of mages in Mage: The Ascension, of which Tremere used to be a house of the Order of Hermes before their head diablerized Saulot, which is why they continue to use the word chantry.

[Virellius]

Leon Aquilla wrote:

Minor point of order but 'chantries' are the sanctums of mages in Mage: The Ascension, of which Tremere used to be a house of the Order of Hermes before their head diablerized Saulot, which is why they continue to use the word chantry.

As someone with a lot of Dragon Age knowledge, hearing that the Chantry IS the Mages has caused me to suffer mental damage. I need to read up on more VtM lore lol.

[jowawill]

keftiu wrote:

Operating openly is pretty antithetical to the Red Mantis - even on Mediogalti Island, I don't think their temple is open to the public, and those who wish to hire them are forced to do so indirectly. Even in a Lawful Evil nation like Cheliax, they might be just as likely to assassinate nobles and state agents, and so need to keep their heads low.

"Chantry" is an awesome word that doesn't get used enough; I love it for a religious safehouse. I'd imagine such a location to be well-hidden and warded from scrying at the absolute least, and to likely be one of several caches for weapons, documents, and other assassin-y goods.

I'm most certainly late here but a group of mantises, as well as a group of churchgoers, is called a congregation.

It feels very appropriate and can be easily shifted to indicate a place as well as an assassin cell.
If you want to additional code words "congregation" could indicate the cell as a whole and their gathering place could be a "hunting lodge" (which has some pretty obvious connotations). With context they make perfect sense but without context, which most wouldn't have, it makes no sense.