Enemies/ Unknowns

#### SLL

The Shadow Lords of Leng are an oligarchic power monopoly comprised of six extremely wealthy families or individuals, most of which are hedonistic, violent, and either directly or indirectly influenced by demons. At least one of them is likely a greater demon in the categorical rather than titular sense.

*Important Individuals:* King Egine (Lord of Shadows), the Lord of Roses, Admiral Kruja (Lord of Chains), Arbanon Progoni (Lord of Waves), Chernyakhov (Lord of Bones), Charles Arta (Lord of Tarnovo)

* **Penumbra Syndicate:** Led by Egine, Lord of Shadows and candidate for leader of the Host of Leng. The Syndicate is a smuggling organization at the behest of all six lords which enables much of the excess of the SLL. Egine’s name alone is known, their face has never been seen.
* **Circle of Thorns:** Murderers’ Collective led by the Lord of Roses, the Thorns act as enforcers and secret police for the Communes. They also break unions, workers collectives, and reform organizations that wish to fix Leng’s broken political climate. The Lord of Roses is a candidate for leader of the Host of Leng, and no one has ever seen their face.
* **Red Ship Slavers:** Led by the Lord of Chains, a charismatic bandit leader and former slave of the Lord of Waves, The RSS are the most repugnant organization on the continent. They traffic in people, selling labor and lives to unscrupulous nobles and monsters. They operate out of the wealthy, walled city of Tarnovo and Atillapest, the capital when the Penitent Legion does not control it.
* **The Bastards’ Court:** The Lord of Waves, Arbanon Progoni, rules his “playground”, the port city of Durres, as a patron of sorts, allowing his many children, bastards one and all, to fight amongst themselves for the right to succession. Progoni is one of the candidates for General of the Host of the Plateau, but an outside one because of the brazenness of his actions. His Court are drug-runners that compete with the Syndicate to export drugs to other nations, and even with the RSS for slaves. Has a Long-standing feud with the Lord of Chains.
* **The Gilded Knights:** Known by many names, the Gilded Order of Knights are the personal guard of Charles Arta, Lord of Tarnovo and executive member of SILVER. The Knights are corrupt, but are also the closest thing to a peacekeeping force in the anarchist communes. The Lord of Tarnovo has tried to have all the other lords assassinated because their reputations are “bad for business”, and now exists in an uneasy peace with the Penitent Legion to control two of Leng’s most powerful cities, Atillapest and Tarnovo.
* **The Returned:** An \*extremely\* expensive mercenary organization with no lines left to cross, the Returned are all undead, and are led by the vile Lord of Bones Chernyakhov, a warmongering lich of the lowest order. They compete constantly with the Penitent Legion for jobs, and on the battlefield are led by the Lord of Bones’ five Captains, all personally slain and raised: the Blood Knight, the Wraith King, the Shattered Revenant, the Walker of Lost Paths, and the Crypt Hulk, who guards its Lord personally. Chernyakhov caught the last agent of the Order to break into the heart of the plateau, and confessed before slaying and raising the agent that it was not the demon, but that one of its captains could have been considered one once.

#### Freelancers Guild Laqueos Branch (Moderate)

Led by the first son of the Papierstadt family of the Kingdom Under, Otto the Witty, and co-staffed by Seneca and Lucius, escaped experiments of the elven king. Supporters include the prophet Ummah, whose powers are demonic in origin but whose contract holder was rendered inert by the guild, leaving her free to choose. The group have been deemed, with the possible exception of Ummah, low-to-moderate risk.

The Guild also has an active offshoot group currently assisting the Happy Trails caravan company, led by two POIs, Gerik of Shenhua and Rokbar One-Horn. This offshoot is suspected of corruption and has a threat rating of moderate. However, no less than six numbered demons (including a high-ranking member of the Host of Laqueos and several of their most powerful lieutenants) have found death at their hands. The Order is unsure whether they should be preserved as an asset or purged.

The following demons have been slain or bound by the group:

***Beleth, 13th:*** Temporarily bound with the assistance of the Madrasan Mage College and the Numidian Moon Cult, still within the confines of the corrupted Ptolemaic Archives.

***Praes Amii, 58th:*** Killed in the Salamander’s Pit outside Magribiya

***Flauros, 64th:*** Killed during the Host’s Siege on Magribiya

***Decarabia, 67th:*** Bet its life on a musical challenge with a new member of the Branch, lost.

*P**rince Seere, 70th:*** Departed Magribiya having defected from the Host after the binding of Beleth, now associated with the Penitent Legion.

***Duke Dantalion, 71st:*** Killed in a skirmish outside Solaris

***Earl Andromalius, 72nd:*** Killed by Karvin Sag of Antioch (Deceased)

#### **The Penitent Legion**

In a binary of the SLL and the Penitent Legions, the Order chooses the Penitent Legions. In any scenario where the SLL can be deposed without allowing a supposedly repentant Archdevil to rule instead, the decision is clear. Three individuals of note dwell within the Legion.

Ba’al Zbl: By his own admission the former “1st Demon” (see the 72 Demons) and self-proclaimed traitor to his kind, Zbl is a dangerous, extra dimensional entity that likely corrupts the world by its very existence. Formerly an angel of the highest order, Zbl was exiled from its home for slaying three of its kin, and has spent every moment since killing evildoers to atone. Threat Level High

Captains

* Vassago: The 3rd Demon, a cloud giant exiled from Hyperborei for the pursuit of forbidden Magicks, and former apprentice of Agares, the Commander of Hyperborei’s Freelancers analogue, the auxiliaries. Interested in Zbl, and has no vested desire for either good or bad. Target for assassination. Threat level High.
* Focalor: Leader of the Knights of 12 of Bagahatur, and a worshipper of Zbl. Focalor is complicated because of his international relevance. 41st Demon who is by all accounts deeply unpleasant, but joined the Legion after the Slaugher of Jin Tai, the action which ended the Autre Mining Rebellion. The Slaughter launched a widespread rebellion that, accompanied by the return of the Horde, threatens to tear apart the Third Kingdom and the continent as well. Son of Kublai the Younger. Mortal, possible taint. Threat level moderate.
* Seere: 67th Demon, apprenticed to Zbl, formerly a member of the Host of Laqueos. Devil. Threat level low.

#### SILVER (Society of Investors, Lendors, Vendors, Entrepeneurs, and Representatives)

A group of corporate bigwigs with a hard-on for profit and little interest in the world at-large. They end up finding a lot of trouble in their unending pursuit of the bottom line, and sacrifice a lot of cannon fodder to accomplish their goals.

SILVER isn’t a high priority target, but their profit blindness makes them vulnerable to manipulation by unfriendly entities. Zeno al Sur and Charles Arta are known demon consorters, the Lady of Edessa has struck a deal of some sort with the Secretkeeper Raziel, and Silvius al Ugarit is currently in talks with one of the Desert Stars, a group of archfey with dominion over nature in and around the Laqueos area.

##### Notable members (Porphyros)

**Euclid al Sur:** Halfling Chief Executive of Cronewatch

**Thales al Sur’awal:** Human Chief Executive of the Witchgamut

**Zeno al Sur:** Halfling Praes Pro Tempore of the Elder Thing

**Silvius al Ugarit:** Half-elf Admiral of the Porphyros Merchant Marines

##### Notable Members (Abroad)

**Brahim Ibn Brahim Gudulah:** Clan Head of the Gudulah and member of the Samhaja Group, Magribiya

**Albereich Papierstadt:** Chief Executive of Papierstadt Paper, Patriarch of the Papierstadt Family, King of the Kingdom Under

**Charles Arta:** Halfling Lord of Tarnovo and member of the SLL

**Beatrice I Nicator:** Angeltouched, Greater Lady of Edessa

**Fafnir, the Dragon of Brabo:** Ordermaster of Freelancers, Pressburg Branch. Honorary member.

#### Covens of Porphyros

##### Ritualists

Black market coven of witches that make most of the talismans and magic items propagated across Porphyros, operating out of Ugarit. They have access to High Magic, but are wary of using it. Their society is decentralized, with the only seniority being master-apprentice.

Known Members (former or current): Hanno of Ugarit

Classification: Low Priority Target / Neutral

##### **Curse-Singers**

Another black market group, the Curse-Singers operate chiefly in Sur, Ugarit and Saydun, and provide assassination and bardic services. They are led by three Night Hags, who ask for payment in dreams and favors rather than money. Opposed to the White Cauldron.

Leader: The Siren Royal (Identity Unknown)

Classification: High Priority Target

##### **White Cauldron**

A coven of "good witches", members of the White Cauldron brew potions and teas for travelers, often serving in Porphyros as healers for small villages. Not often prosecuted unless they interfere with SILVER's business dealings. The organization appears to have not had a leader for some time, although it is structured in a strict hierarchy and by all rights should have some sort of official. The members claim the next election will decide their new head, but there has been a gap of 10 years without leadership for reasons unknown. Suspected demon of absence or extraplanar corruption involved. Investigation warranted.

Known members (former or current): Jayna the White (senior member), Julia Farkas (senior member), Isabella the Bard (has consorted with targets from the Freelancers)

Classification: Ally / Neutral

Sinopia

Cell-groups of eco-terrorists with ties to the Gustavus Complex. Overarching leadership believed to be located within Murcia. Formerly led by Nicolau the Wildfire, before his imprisonment by Grandmaster Nadal and the Great Turtle Murcia.