Heiyue

Heiyue () is one of the largest criminal syndicates in the Eastern Quarter in Calvard.
== Background ==
Prior to the collapse of the holy empire of Iska, Heiyue was once one of the nine clans that served its emperor, known as the Navagraha collectively. Following Iska's collapse, Heiyue became a criminal organisation with roots in Calvard and to the east, particularly with the Eastern Quarter. According to Kaela MacMillan, they were originally created to help eastern immigrants as a mutual aid society. While primarily located in Calvard, they have foreign branches at least in Crossbell and Ored. Arios MacLaine states that they are wholly responsible for controlling Calvard's underworld, although divided in several different units. They are later established as being one of several major criminal groups operating in the republic, but their dominant position alows them to set red lines on concepts such as trafficking and drug proliferation. The rise of powerful organisations such as Almata threaten the status quo of the underworld however.
Heiyue was originally governed by 9 ruling families. The Lu family was the most prominent and held the most influence. The Lai family were the second largest and held ambitions to take over the most prominent position. Through use of scheming and assassination, the Lai family systematically destroyed one of the other eight families, reducing the number to eight in total.
They are led by a council of elders. Agents of Heiyue are typically trained in hand-to-hand martial arts and wear eastern styled black or dark coloured suits. Gekka is the favoured martial art, and its usage has become synonymous with Heiyue as a whole. Cao Lee, who wears a bright lavender suit, may be an exception. Heiyue also deploy elite masked assassins who can use stealth techniques to seem to appear from nowhere.
40 years ago, Heiyue was under the thrall of Taikun, a demonic entity who ruled over Langport from the Hei Long Stronghold. After plotting, this individual was imprisoned there until their detah.
At an unspecified point in the past, Heiyue and the jaeger corps Red Constellation came into conflict in the Eastern Quarter. Whilst the exact circumstances of the conflict are yet to be determined, it is known the Red Constellation withdrew and Heiyue are considered the 'conquerors of the Eastern Quarter'. Cao states that a deal was made, and there is no grudge, but that the elders still get angered at hearing their name. Today, Heiyue and their proxies have influence all over Calvard, but particularly in Langport, where they own hotels, banks, tour guides, shops and restaurants. Fan Lu is the CEO of the Nine Dragons Bank for example.
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One branch was established in Crossbell to take over the black market from Revache. Cao Lee, representative of the Crossbellan branch of Heiyue, disguised Heiyue's building as Heiyue Trading, Ltd. in the Harbor District. The SSS investigate the trading company in hopes of finding a connection to the mysterious assassin, Yin. 
Heiyue's appearance in the city soon puts Revache in an increasingly defensive position as they lose ground to the syndicate. The agents of Heiyue and their subcontracted assassin Yin, the 'Demon of the Eastern Quarter' are more than a match for those of Revache. Pushed to ever-increasing desperation, the mafia turn to a drug, Gnosis, to increase their abilities, allowing them to raid Heiyue's office and overpower them. The sudden strength of their adversaries is enough to temporarily put a stop to Heiyue's operations in the city, but not for long.
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With Revache all but dismantled, Heiyue are swift to fill the vacuum of power, quickly acquiring their former rivals' assets and properties, with the exception of the old headquarters which is instead bought by the Red Constellation who have arrived in the state. The grandson of one of the elders, Xin Lu, is also dispatched and placed under Cao's care. Cao enlists the SSS to help introduce Xin to the city and he takes a liking to them.
Heiyue are hired by President Samuel Rocksmith at the West Zemuria Trade Conference to provide additional security, and they make short work of the True Warriors anti-immigration terrorists that attack the conference. They are also stated as to have been involved in the arrest of Republican terrorists in Altair.
The Red Constellation later raze the city, blowing up the rebuilt Heiyue headquarters. Heiyue retain their network of information and pass on information about resistance efforts mounting in Mainz. Heiyue become opponents of the new independent Crossbell and their agents help in the eventual plan to retake the city.
Cao relieves Yin of her contract with Heiyue, but states that they will need her power for their future plans.
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Cao makes a brief appearance helping Lloyd Bannings and Rixia in the Geofront via a monitor on a terminal. Heiyue appears to be supporting the resistance efforts against the Empire at this time, though Lloyd and Rixia both suspect Cao is doing this to look good once Crossbell is free from Erebonian rule.
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Heiyue have relocated their base of operations in Calvard. They are working behind the scenes to deliver information and supplies to the SSS and their allies trapped by Operation Birdcage; new Class VII are co-opted into helping them do this, unaware of the true purpose.
After the Great Twilight, Cao re-evaluates his position. Cao later makes a deal with Ouroboros and Governor General Rufus Albarea to hold back potential obstacles from stopping him access the trial for the Auric knight El-Prado. Heiyue engage new Class VII in a fight in the Geofront but Estelle Bright and Elie MacDowell come to their aid and distract them for a short while.
Cao continues to keep his allegiances fluid throughout the rest of the conflict. Heiyue and the CID form a partnership by the end of the game, with Heiyue providing assistance in exchange for intelligence.
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Heiyue, under Cao's direction, appear to join forces with Supreme Leader Rufus Albarea when he interrupts the re-independence ceremony and stages a coup. Agents of Heiyue are active in trying to hunt down Lloyd and company, eventually facing him at the Sun Fort. They are defeated and retreats.
Later, it is revealed their alliance with the Supreme Leader was a ruse. Cao, knowing that the resistance would prevail against the Supreme Leader, changes sides once more and begins assisting the resistance in throwing out the Ebon Defense Force.
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Heiyue have been trying to recruit Aaron Wei, but he has no apparent interest in them. Their elder Gien Lu pretended to work against Almata but had a secret pact with them as part of a plan to turn Aaron Wei into Taikun, which was exposed by the Arkride Solutions Office. As a result of this, Gien decides to step down.
In Oracion, Heiyue sends Cao Lee and Rixia Mao to take place in the Carnival. If the player does not side with them, they fight the party in the Central Stratum of the ruins underneath Oracion. In the Lower Stratum, after having fought Shizuna Rem Misurugi, assassins from Heiyue's Lai Family attack the Arkride Solutions Office, however Shizuna defeats them.
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It is revealed that the Lai Family had been cooperating with Almata. Heiyue is in a state of internal conflict following the exposed treachery of the Lai family and the resulting doubts about the Lu families capacity to keep on governing. Keeping the Lai family's morale in check is its ace, Gouran.
It is revealed in this game that Heiyue consists of 8 houses, but there were originally 9 until the Lee house was destroyed by the Lai family 20 years ago. Two surviving heirs were left behind; Cao Lee, and Fen Lee, which is the true identity of Gouran. Cao was taken in by the Lu family and raised by Gien Lu, while Fen lee was kept in the Lai family as a hostage, and later made a warrior with a falsified background and name due to his talents.
Cao, with the cooperation of Gien, organises a way to establish faith with the Lu house, and arranges for Fan to be arrested on charges of tax evasion, and for Gien to be poisoned by a slow-acting drug which takes him out of action. Secretly, Cao takes a series of initiatives and manipulations to reinstate the Lee house, having become aware of his surviving brother. He hires Shizuna and Later places Gouran as the head of the family so that Cao can scheme behind the scenes where he is more comfortable.
After meeting in Edith, the Lu family agree to re-establish the Lee family to fill the gap left by the disgraced Lai family. After Ashen is affected by the Erosion, several Heiyue agents and assassins become convinced Van and Aaron murder Cao and move to confront him. They are restored to their senses after a battle.
== Organisation ==
In addition to 6 other unnamed houses:
=== Lai House ===
* Gouran (later joined Cao's reinstated Lee house)
=== Lu House ===
* Gien Lu (elder)
* Fan Lu (son of Gien)
* Ashen Lu (associated; daughter of Fan)
* Xin Lu (son of Fan)
* Cao Lee (representative; responsible for heading Heiyue's Crossbell branch; later left the Lu House to reinstate and head the Lee House)
** Lau (underling of Cao in Crossbell)
** Yin (contracted by Cao in both Crossbell and Calvard)
=== Lee House ===
* Feng Lee (Head)
* Cao Lee
== Other ==
* Kouhan - serves Heiyue executives in the capital eastern restaurant.
* Mau - owns the Heiyue- affiliated restaurant in Edith. Belongs to a third neutral family.
* Kuan - a tour guide in the service of Heiyue
* Fu Ming - Nine Dragons Hotel Receptionist
== Gallery ==
Heiyue (Zero).png|Original premises
Crossbell City (Heiyue Branch) (CS III).png|Heiyue's new building in .
Crossbell City - Heiyue's Building Interior (Reverie).jpg|Interior
Heiyue Assassin uniform concept art (Kuro).png|Lu Family Assassin concept art
Nine Dragons Group logo concept art (Kuro).png|Nine Dragons / Kowloon logo
Lai Family mask (Kuro).png|Lai family assassin mask
Category:Heiyue
Category:Calvard Organisations