The Syndicate

*The Syndicate* is a powerful organisation founded an undetermined amount of time ago that managed to forcefully absorb all the archaic territories of western *Centriegol*, establishing itself as the figurehead and primary authority of the largest and arguably most powerful country in history (*The Hub*). Their most recent conquest involved the once indomitable Kingdom of Hyretix, which later became an insignificant portion of the Hub's land.

The Syndicate's primary headquarters is the simplistically named *Facility*, wherein highest command can drive all Syndie outposts nationwide via a highly elaborate communications system involving a watch-like radio device equipped on each soldier. Furthermore, it is where the better part of Syndie Cadets are trained, and where the four *Heads* reside.

The Syndicate has established three divisions of separate function within itself (Military; Medicine; R&D), each captained by a 'Head' (Head of Military or 'General'; Head of Medicine; Head of Arms), and all encompassed are dominated by a militarily elected Head of Men, who claims supreme authority over all of the Syndicate's duties and appoints present charges to those he or she sees fit.

The Syndie philosophy is one of an *Illuminated*, expansive, stable stratocracy, with the goal of unifying as many nations as possible to ensure longevity. The Syndicate is not averse to housing many bipedal Cryptids, and have gone as far as to prove many could co-exist in society as more than simple labour workers. Over time, Syndie researchers have given select *Anthropoids* civilian status, renaming their species to *Anthropoyd*s*.*

Much like many believers in *Victus*, the Syndicate shows great contempt for *Mortos* worshipers, and are willing to dispose of them regardless of the extent of their practice. This cruelty extends to their own people, too, as Syndies have become notoriously dictatorial and violent, demeaning the city's original police force and abusing their power to intrude on any civilian businesses or livelihoods.

## Military Structure

The military structure employed by the Syndicate is one that faintly mimics conventional methods, while also having undergone a myriad of unique changes.

The Syndicate utilises a heavily meritocratic chain of command, that starts as soon as a Cadet graduates from training under a designated Drill Officer, which can be of any rank according to need. A Cadet can become a soldier in as little as two weeks, or as long as six months, after which a failing Cadet is usually executed under suspicion of non-compliance. Newly trained soldiers are typically promoted to Private status, allocated among a currently existing or newly developed platoon of Privates under one Corporal, who will monitor their training and coordinate them during deployment. There are exceptions, however. Cadets who already possessed and demonstrated a certain level of prior experience may be promoted instantaneously to higher ranks, depending on said skills' magnitude.

The core attributes most valued in the Syndicate are combat effectiveness, leadership capabilities and loyalty to the Syndicate, all of which add up to a soldier's value and rank. Promotion is a concerningly challenging accomplishment, due to lacklustre rank management, which consequently demands a considerable display of worth if a troop hopes to climb the ladder of promotions.

The current ranks in place are as follows, from highest to lowest:

* General (Head of Military)
* Brigadier
* Colonel
* Lieutenant
* Sergeant
* Corporal
* Private

Regardless of a soldier's rank, everyone is expected to serve in regular deployment, with only vague dismissal of the General and Brigadiers, who are often withheld as last resort. This is because the Strategic Team operates most if not all of the intellectual and planning duties within the Syndicate, contrary to the convention of high officers doing so instead. Each rank is also expected to supervise an assigned group of lesser rank soldiers, a platoon, to ensure regular training, as well as to coordinate them during battle operations.

As per the Syndicate's strict meritocracy, each designated rank has an interior numerical ranking system to gauge who has greatest authority within their own step of the ladder. The First Sergeant, therefore, will always hold more power over a Second, Third, Fifty-seventh or Two-hundredth Sergeant.

## Trivia

* The average running time for Head of Men is twenty years.
* The Syndicate has a coalition of sorts established with the *Celestials*, gaining aid from them during times of *Crimsoneer* activity. Recently, they were entrusted with the Fifty-Seventh *Guardian.*
* The Syndicate's ethic around its workers is clearly divisive, as they deem soldiers of the highest order. Beneath them is the medical team, which works primarily in the *Ward* (and are referred to as 'midlets'), and at the bottom are the nicknamed 'shrimps', which handle the more menial duties such as cooking and cleaning.
* *Zylith* has implied that the Syndicate once tried to hold a treaty with the *Denizians*, only for the arrangement to go sour due to a lack of loyalty.