Pale Dogs

Gangs control the Warrens. The larger, more prominent among them have the backing of various individuals within the criminal hierarchy. The largest gang of all, the Pale Dogs, is led by a mysterious man known only as Jirraith. No one knows what Jirraith looks like, or even what race he is. In fact, it is only an assumption that he is male. Those in his employ usually get their orders and payments through an intermediary. At least some of those who work for him must know how to identify him, but even they say they can tell him only by his unmistakable magical ruby ring.

Jirraith works directly for Menon Balacazar and uses the Pale Dogs as a kind of provingground. The particularly bloodthirsty members, once they have some experience with murder and deception, he sells to the Vai. Other promising members he gives to the Balacazars to use as guards and enforcers. The rest languish in the Warrens, but these dregs of the gang don’t last long.

Consequently, the Pale Dogs are always very young, and almost exclusively male. They prefer humans, although half-orcs and half-elves aren’t terribly uncommon. The Pale Dogs do not have a central headquarters. Instead, they consider the entirety of the Warrens as their territory. Their “authority” trumps that of any other gang in the area, although many other local organizations resent their youth and position and resist from time to time. The resistance ultimately proves futile, however. The size and powerful backers of the Pale Dogs make them impossible to oppose for long.

One can easily recognize members of the Pale Dogs by their shaven heads and black-painted fingernails. Some use bitter herbs to stain their teeth black as well. Aside from general extortion in the Warrens, the Dogs (through Jirraith) hire themselves out as muscle for other criminals. Most of the time, however, they just throw their weight around and terrorize neighborhoods in the Warrens and surrounding districts.