Life is harsh on the streets of Stormreach, and children grow up fast or not at all. A number of gangs of feral children prey on strangers to the city. In the shadows of the city, a ghost watches the savage children and recruits the cream of this motley crop for his gang—a twisted family known as the Fleas.
The leader of the gang is a ghost named Drifter. He has the appearance of a human boy of ten years of age, blackened and bloated from drowning. Despite his youthful appearance, Drifter is an old spirit and a skilled thief, and he trains his young protégés in the arts of stealth and deception.
Drifter does not discuss his history or reveal his true name, but most believe he was pushed into the harbor by a member of the Stormreach Guard and that his bones are still drifting in the water. Drifter hates adults, and though he grudgingly allows his “family” to work with the older gangs, he always expels members once they reach adulthood.
Sear (female gnome sorcerer) and Tick (half-giant wilder), two current high-ranking gang members, have developed significant supernatural abilities that make them formidable adversaries despite their age. Tick’s surprising physical and mental might have proven the undoing of more than a few unsuspecting adults.
The Fleas don’t claim territory. They move around the city, focusing their attacks on newcomers and travelers.
Fleas rely on their youthful appearance to distract and disorient foreign adults. A common ploy is for six to eight children to surround a traveler, begging and pleading for coppers or sweets; in the process, they use the aid another action to help one of their number use Sleight of Hand to cut the victim’s purse. If their guise is discovered, they scatter in all directions. Fleas also run simple con games on gullible foreigners. They are always looking for opportunities to scavenge or take advantage of others. If a group of adventurers engages in a battle in the streets, Fleas dart in and pluck loot from fallen foes while the heroes are still engaged in battle.
Even though they are children, the Fleas have seen more horrors than most adults. They have a maturity beyond their years, coupled with an innocent cruelty. They feel no remorse for their actions, and their only loyalty is to their adopted family. Because of their skills, Fleas advance to join adult gangs once they are old enough; as a result, other criminals watch over the Fleas or pay the Fleas to serve as decoys or lookouts.
The Fleas are typically homeless orphans. Drifter helps them establish safe havens around the city, hideouts they can slip into to escape pursuit. They make full use of their small size, and many of these holes are inaccessible to larger creatures. The gang has three primary dens, located in the Sloths, the Harbor district, and Locksmith Square. At any given time, the members of the gang are split between two of these locations.
The level of skill displayed by the Fleas is remarkable for children, reflecting Drifter’s strict training regimen and the fact that he picks his recruits carefully. Fleas who survive long enough typically advance to become full rogues instead of experts. Most of the Fleas are Small creatures and take a –2 penalty to Strength.