Venture Company

The Venture CompanyDeep Cover or Venture Trading Company, often shortened to simply Venture Co., is a goblin-runPearl of Pandaria, chapter 4 cartelMorin Cloudstalker (quest) notorious for plundering Azeroth's natural resources.A Time to Reflect Considered part of the Trade Coalition, the company operates throughout many parts of Azeroth, including Mulgore, the Barrens, the Stonetalon Mountains, and Azuremyst Isle in Kalimdor, Stranglethorn Vale in the Eastern Kingdoms, and Sholazar Basin and the Grizzly Hills in Northrend. During the Fourth War, the organization took control of the MOTHERLODE!! on Kezan. In addition to being known for their ruthless methods, the company has historically had dealings with various destructive organizations, including the Defias Brotherhood, the Iron Horde, and even the Burning Legion.
The group's bosses and cronies may seem honest, dealing in trades like mining and logging, but in reality, their coin is made from illegal clear-cutting, arms dealing, and animal smuggling.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 91
==History==
===World of Warcraft===
The Venture Company activities can be discovered in Mulgore, the Barrens, and Stranglethorn Vale. In the Stonetalon Mountains, they conducted lumber and mining operations, leaving every cliff barren in their wake.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 82 They were known for stealing many of the best goblin minds.Ziz Fizziks (quest)
During that time the Venture Company was known to trade with various shady groups. It had dealings with the Zanzil of Stranglethorn Vale, which had discovered a way to raise the dead through the use of poison. The Company stored some of the mixture at Venture Co. Tower and traded the formula to the Defias Brotherhood, especially to Klaven Mortwake.Klaven's Tower (quest)
===The Burning Crusade===
At the time of the Invasion of Outland, elements of the Venture Company entered into the service of Kael'thas Sunstrider, via his agent Engineer "Spark" Overgrind, the emissary of the gnomish High Tinker who accompanied Admiral Odesyus. Kael, via Overgrind, hired the Venture Company to recover the crashed Exodar, a portion of the Tempest Keep draenei were able to escape with when the aforementioned was hijacked by blood elves under Kael'Thas' command. It is unknown what happened to Geezle and the other members of the expedition.
===Wrath of the Lich King===
During the war against the Lich King, the Venture Co. was present in the Grizzly Hills of Northrend, where they tried to deforest the land.IGN: GC 2007: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Hands On In the Sholazar Basin, they also set up a strip mine, known as Swindlegrin's Dig, around the Suntouched Pillar, trying to remove all its crystals.
===Cataclysm===
After the Cataclysm, Venture Co. has lost control of the wells in Mulgore to the Grimtotem tribe but is still in control of the Venture Co. Mine. The company lost most of Windshear Crag in the Stonetalon Mountains to Alliance and Horde forces.
===Warlords of Draenor===
At the time of the war in Draenor, a number of goblins joined the Iron Horde as Iron Engineers on . It is not known how they got there, but it is likely they entered Draenor during the brief time when the Ironmarch force took control of the Dark Portal and the Blasted Lands. A joint operation between the Venture Co. and Iron Horde later took place at the Darktide Roost,Garrison Mission: Profitable Machinations probably implying that Blackfuse Company was its sub-group.
===Legion===
During the Legion Invasions, the oil platform at the Sludge Fen was defended by Oilrig Bombers, Oilrig Snipers and Oil Rig Engineers. It is unknown if they worked for the Venture Company normally occupying the area or the Horde-aligned Bilgewater Cartel.
An archaeology consultant from the Company was seen with Rohan Sunveil and Clarya Sunveil, in a camp near the ruins of Kal'delar in Val'sharah.
===Battle for Azeroth===
At the time of the Fourth War, the Venture Company can be found at the Jeweled Coast in Stormsong Valley on Kul Tiras running an oil rig. Their actions have caused them to come into conflict with the Tortollan Seekers living at the nearby Seekers' Vista. Having enlisted the aid of adventurers, the Tortollan Seekers turned the Company's own weapons against them and beat them back. Despite their victory Toki remarked that the Venture Company was a resilient foe and was sure that they would meet again.Battle Victorious They can show up on island expeditions looking for Azerite.
The company made a deal with the Bilgewater Cartel and the Horde to refine :Azerite for the Horde's war with the Alliance, but Venture's leader Mogul Razdunk backed out of the deal and Bilgewater's Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix sought revenge to get what they were owed.The MOTHERLODE!!: Raw Deal The Company also attacked Blackrock Depths and stole Ironfoe, earning the Dark Iron dwarves' and Alliance's ire.Blackrock Depths (quest) On Kezan, Razdunk started great dig sites in search of Azerite. Having never been able to ascend to Trade Prince, Razdunk was certain that becoming the world's foremost Azerite baron would bring him fame and fortune beyond his station.Mogul Razdunk (tactics) However, his actions in betraying the Horde and stealing from the Alliance caused adventurers to turn their ire upon him and they ventured to the MOTHERLODE!! to put an end to the leader of the Venture Company,MOTHERLODE!! successfully killing Razdunk.
The Venture Company later traveled to Tanaris to scavenge materials for their own use, however, the company came into conflict with the Horde and Alliance who sought to repair Feathers by using the machinery the Venture Company had acquired.Some Reassembly Required
They had a presence in Vol'dun and killed the goblin Dataguru Gryzix.Tooling Around Vol'dun
A group of thieves led by Verd Twiceswindle‎ stole leather from Sheza Wildmane in Thunder Bluff and camped in a hut in eastern Mulgore.Sheza's Prized Leather
Soon after Mechagon Island was discovered by the Horde and Alliance, the Venture Company would arrive in order to exploit the land for every ounce of profit they could make.Unprofitable Ventures In return, adventurers were tasked with driving them off the island.A Direct Approach
===Exploring Azeroth===
According to Zekhan's report after the Fourth War, the tauren in Mulgore were still facing the Venture Company mining operations.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, pg. 89 The Darkspear ambassador also mentioned that there were still goblins running the company, and they must have similar dreams as Mogul Razdunk had.
The Venture Company's mining and clear-cutting operations in the Grizzly Hills have resumed by the time of Muradin Bronzebeard's expedition following the war against the Jailer. The company once again had full control over Venture Bay as the conflict over the region ceased.World of Warcraft: Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 29 In Sholazar Basin, they also reported that the Venture Company still continued their operations at the Suntouched Pillar. Magni feared that eventually they would do as much harm as the Cult of the Damned to the region, however unintentionally.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 119
===Dragonflight===
After the discovery of the Dragon Isles, the Venture Co. higher-ups sent Grimla Fizzlecrank to see what the company's prospects could be on the islands, but upon seeing the beautiful landscape Grimla decided "not this time".
In the Eastern Kingdoms, the Venture Company continued to maintain the oil rigs at Crystal Shore in the Cape of Stranglethorn, routinely under the inspection of Prospector Arty.Anyway, I Started Bribing
==Members==
===Named===
Name 	Role 	Status	Location
 	President of the Venture Company 	 	
Rocketzan, MOTHERLODE!!	 	 	
 	Enforcer 	 	Crapopolis, MOTHERLODE!
 	Overseer of the Boulder Lode Mine, inventor of the samophlange 	 	Boulder Lode Mine, Northern Barrens
 	Foreman of the Venture Co. Operations Center 	 	Venture Co. Operations Center, Northern Stranglethorn
 	Enforcer 	 	Venture Co. Mine, Mulgore
 	Overseer of the Venture Co. Mine 	 	Venture Co. Mine, Mulgore
 	Taskmaster, actually an undercover Shattered Hand agent 	 	Venture Co. Tower, Northern Barrens
 	Leader of the Venture Co.'s operation on Azuremyst Isle 	 	Traitor's Cove, Azuremyst Isle
 	Overseer of the company water wheel in the Stonetalon Mountains 	 	Windshear Crag, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Overseer of the Sludge Fen 	 	Sludge Fen, Northern Barrens
 	Foreman of the Sludge Fen 	 	Sludge Fen, Northern Barrens
 	Merger specialist 	 	Island Expeditions
 	Supervisor of the Sludge Fen oil platform 	 	Sludge Fen, Northern Barrens
 	Armor salesman 	 	Formerly Cragpool Lake, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Underling of Ziz Fizziks who remained in the company to spy on them	 	Formerly Windshear Mine, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Foreman of the Venture Co. Tower 	 	Venture Co. Tower, Northern Barrens
 	Foreman of Windshear Crag 	 	Formerly Windshear Crag, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Chief Scientist 	 	R&D, MOTHERLODE!!
 	Foreman of the Venture Co. Tower 	 	Venture Co. Tower, Northern Barrens
 	Tinkerer 	 	Sludge Fen, Northern Barrens
 	Weapon merchant 	 	Formerly Windshear Crag, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Surveyor 	 	Cape of Stranglethorn
 	Taskmaster of Windshear Crag 	 	Windshear Crag, Stonetalon Mountains
 	Engineer 	 	Sludge Fen, Northern Barrens
 	Chief Engineer 	 	Island Expeditions
===Unnamed===
These members of the Venture Co. are found in the northeast part of the Barrens, the Sludge Fen:
*Venture Co. Drudger
*Venture Co. Peon
==In the RPG==
===Background===
The Trade Coalition is huge, far-reaching and massively complicated. In addition, numerous other, smaller goblin companies, created and run by entrepreneurs called moguls (the hands of the trade princes) operate throughout Azeroth. Perhaps the most famous of these smaller businesses is the Venture Company, founded and ruled by Mogul Razdunk.Lands of Mystery, pg. 75, 78 The corporate group is a collection of greedy entrepreneurs who keep both eyes on the bottom line at all times.Dungeons & Dragons Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 191 Mogul Razdunk owns and runs the Venture Company.Dark Factions, pg. 116
The headquarters of the Venture Company is located in Undermine. Ratchet also serves as a base of operations for many members of the company.Lands of Mystery, pg. 30 Though the city is governed from Undermine by the trade princes, Ratchet is (or was) run by members of the Venture Company.World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 17 The Venture Company is in competition with Gazlowe of the Steamwheedle Cartel who is the ruler and Overseer of the city. While the city operates under the watchful eyes of the trade princes, Gazlowe has considerable free rein. The Venture Company employs a complex device known as a Truth detector in the City of Ratchet when they were making an important deal with a new supplier and wanted to ascertain whether or not the supplier is trustworthy.More Magic & Mayhem, pg. 191
The Venture Company is known for spearheading the efforts to reestablish trade routes across eastern Azeroth, to connect isolated goblin trading posts. A growing number of shops in Azeroth have signs declaring that they are owned and operated by the "Venture Company," which the proprietors claim is headquartered in a faraway city ruled by goblins.Lands of Conflict, pg. 23, 29 The Venture Company sometimes hires heroes to build new trading posts in the wilderness — a job that could take them anywhere in the world.World of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 362 The Venture Company is infamous for its massive numbers of goblin shredders.
The trade princes have recently caused problems for the Venture Company, and it is looking increasingly likely that the goblins will turn on each other soon.Lands of Mystery, pg. 44 Ziz Fizziks, a goblin who works with the trade princes, works to retrieve plans that a disloyal goblin stole and sold to the Venture Company.Lands of Mystery, pg. 45
===Projects in Central Kalimdor===
The goblins of the Venture Company threaten to reduce the entire Central Kalimdor section into an uninhabitable wasteland.Lands of Mystery, pg. 27
Mulgore is rich with iron and tin, which has attracted the attention of the Venture Company. With the centaur gone, the Venture Company has taken advantage of the tauren's peaceful nature and have set up mining operations throughout the region.Lands of Mystery, pg. 41 The Venture Company's presence here is for profit, plain and simple. Driven by profit, the Venture Company mines for the iron and tin in eastern Mulgore, depleting the land's natural resources, and hoarding the region's water supplies. They are disturbing the balance of nature in the region, and drawing the anger of the tauren.Lands of Mystery, pg. 40 Although the tauren have tried to share their land, the continuous encroachment and lack of respect shown by the Venture Company has resulted in escalating conflict in the region.Lands of Mystery, pg. 39 The Venture Company buys poached hides from Palemane gnolls near Palemane Rock.Lands of Mystery, pg. 40 The goblins intended to capitalize on the peaceful nature of the tauren and steal the resources of their home, and that plan has begun to fall apart only recently. It is believed if the goblins are pressed hard enough, they will eventually get the picture and withdraw.Lands of Mystery, pg. 39 Baine Bloodhoof, the son of Cairne, leads an investigation into Venture Company operations to the east of the village.
Agents of the goblin-run Venture Company have also been sighted in the Stonetalon Peak area, searching for potential tracts to deforest and streams of precious ore to plunder with their mining machines.Dungeons & Dragons Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 208 They have a significant presence in the Stonetalon Mountains, chopping down trees and burning huge stretches of forest in the Windshear Crag basin. The goblins of Stonetalon are among the finest engineers of their race, and their inventions have allowed them to remove massive chunks of the forest in a few short months. The Venture Company is gradually destroying the remaining trees and taking the remaining resources from the earthWorld of Warcraft The Roleplaying Game, pg. 44 There has been a near-complete annihilation of sections of the Stonetalon Mountains (the Charred Vale in particular) with lumber-cutting machine by the Venture Company.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 100 The Venture Company's expeditions and mining operations changed much of the landscape to dusty, barren canyons and desolate cliffs.Lands of Mystery, pg. 45 If this process continues, Stonetalon could soon become as much a wasteland as Desolace in the south or the Barrens in the east. This endeavor draws ire from the night elves and tauren alike, who find the deforestation barbaric and dangerous. Many of the tauren still hold the unrealistic hope that the Venture Company can be reasoned with, and this belief prevents progress. While the majority of the night elves and tauren take defensive roles, the Grimtotem tribe strikes back against the goblins.Lands of Mystery, pg. 44
The Venture Company has an operation in the Sludge Fen, in the Barrens' northern hills.Lands of Mystery, pg. 29 They also can be seen in Boulder Lode Mine, close to the shores of the Southfury River (and the oft-overlooked western entrance to Orgrimmar).
===Relationship to Steamwheedle Cartel===
Members of the Venture Company are said to "run Ratchet", and that one of their major operations is in the city.Lands of Mystery, pg. 30 It is also said that the trade princes govern the city, and allow Gazlowe free reign to rule under their watchful eye. Thus Gazlowe is affiliated with the Steamwheedle Cartel, and the trade princes. It is also said that the trade princes have recently caused problems for the Venture Company, and that it looked increasingly likely that the goblins would turn on other.Lands of Mystery, pg. 44 Thus it appears that the Venture Company is a powerful competitor in the city, but how they "run" the city is unclear, perhaps they have some control over the city as a mafia, manipulating the elected officials and Lawkeepers.
In addition as noted above the Venture Company is run by a mogul, the hand of a trade prince. This would imply that Razdunk and the Venture Company has either betrayed its trade prince or one of the princes has betrayed the others.
==Notes and trivia==
*Though the Company is largely run and managed by goblins, it employs a few gnomes in high engineering positions. This is symptomatic of the group's diversity hiring policies, as it provides employment to all of the sentient races of Azeroth as laborers, even usually hostile ones such as Dark Iron dwarves, undead, ogres and gnolls.
*Even though Venture Company has been called a cartel by Ahmo Thunderhorn, its leader Mogul Razdunk is not a Trade Prince,Mogul Razdunk (tactics) and according to Gazlowe after the Fourth War, the company has not been recognized as a goblin cartel.
*According to Magni Bronzebeard, while the Alliance and the Horde did a lot of damage to the lands of Azeroth during their conflicts, the damage the Venture Company does to nature is unprecedented.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 29
*Pinchwhistle Point in the Spires of Arak was originally called "Venture Cove" during the Warlords of Draenor beta, indicating the Venture Company might have been intended to play a role there.
==Speculation==
Since the Company had acquired a way to raise voodoo drones from the Zanzil trolls, it is possible the various undead members of the group in the Grizzly Hills are not former Forsaken but zombies as well.
==Gallery==
Baxxel Geartooth TCG.jpg| in Hearthstone, reused TCG art of Baxxel Geartooth.
Tinkerer Sniggles HS.jpg|Tinkerer Sniggles in Hearthstone, with the symbol of the company on his shoulder.
==References==
==External links==
 
Category:Goblin organizations
Category:Steamwheedle Cartel
Category:Wrath of the Lich King
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