>>You do get gangs of robbers along trade routes, even in forests. The
>>region around Whitewall has (or at least used to have) regular Kitori and
>>troll caravans, so I find a persisting organisation raiding these quite
>>natural.
> Which in Orlanthi culture would be followers of Gargath not Lanbril.
I disagree. Gagarth is a Praxian phenomenon, not part of the Orlanthi culture. (Neither of the Praxian culture, but defining itself as not being part of the Praxian culture.)
Raiding foreign merchants/tax collectors is a honorable task in Orlanthi society. When going against darkness foes, there are quite a few suitable mainstream cults available (besides Finovan who qualifies for any kind of raiding there are e.g. Desemborth and Hedkoranth with special darkness foes).
The Safecrackers are a hero cult. They have the special ability to access items kept in Argan Argari safes. Their holy place is in Whitewall, where their patron first overcame an Argan Argari safe.
>>> I would agree in normal times WW doesn't have enough people to
>>> support a gang but once the clans gather to defend it in 1620
>>> there will be a horde of support people - merchants, servants
>>> and so on. Along with them will come thieves and other dubious
>>> characters. With the leadership concentrating on defending the
>>> city they won't have much time for dealing with a crimewave
>>> and sometimes they will want someone to do dubious jobs for
>>> them.
>>When Hardrard the Green made Whitewall once more the seat of the Volsaxi
>>King, there was sufficient population in Whitewall to allow a permanent
>>presence there.
>>"Criminal activity" against fellow Volsaxi (but from different clans)
>>may be in keeping with Heortling mores... It isn't the core of their
>>operation, anyway. And it is quite possible that the same gang operates
>>in Smithstone.
> An offshoot of a gang based in Smithstone makes a lot of sense.
The "religious" center of the cult is in Whitewall. The area of operation are all the places where troll caravans travel or used to travel, i.e. all of Volsaxar.
The gang has persisted since the Gray Age, although at times down to a single survivor. Since Tarkalor's victory over the Kitori, the gang has taken to define troll collaborators and rob them as well. Without permanent clan ties (in the past, at times, they may have been sheltered by a clan eager to get some of their tribute back), they hide in the anonymity cities and royal courts can offer. Their leaders have secret ties to the Krarshti criminal network that haunts Heortland.
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