The Verdant Company (Criminal Syndicate)

The Verdant Company is an underground criminal syndicate whose power could rival that of a medium-sized kingdom. *The Green Hand*, as it’s known through the continent of Eluan, has many enterprises and interests: smuggling, extortion, contraband, illegal mining, gambling, prostitution, and assassinations, to mention a few.

Their headquarters are located in Lyria, the empire’s capital, and it is from there that the Green Conclave, the syndicate’s ruling body, delivers orders to the numerous cells that operate all over the continent.

The Verdant Company originally emerged as an underground security organization that protected individuals disregarded by the authorities. In other words, the commoners and merchants paid the syndicate for protection from criminals and greedy aristocrats. As time passed, the company grew in power and riches, but soon spread their operations, becoming those things they had originally had fought against.

Their power grew and spread so much that the imperial authorities carried out a crusade against them 50 years ago. The syndicate was weakened and almost destroyed, however; they survived and learn from the ordeal.

Secrecy and discretion became their motto in Lyria, and they recuperated and expanded their power, only now they operated behind a veil.

The syndicate was then divided into cells, each operating independently from the other, but focused on only one goal, meaning that one would focus on contraband whilst another on extortion, that way they would never clash and if one fell, the other would be unaffected. Each cell has a leader that reports to the city’s Kingpin**,** who in turn reports to the Conclave. The Kingpins have some degree of freedom as long as they carry out the orders they receive and keep the riches flowing.

### The Green Conclave

The Conclave comprises five members whose identity is only known by the syndicate’s upper echelons. The conclave meet in Auttrus, a prestigious forge, which is owned by Ahnhi, an elf blacksmith, and monk, one of the five and the Conclave’s current leader. Other members are:

Khoryv, a tiefling artificer who runs his own workshop and store. He focuses on selling mechanical clocks, owls and other “toys”.

Shilah, a human rogue who owns The Blue Mandrake; an arena for fights and sports.

Pelaya, a gnome bard who performs in the most exclusive venues in Lyria, and who also offers special private shows for powerful nobles.

Krumah, a half-undead necromancer who is one of the city’s most recognized undertakers, serving the less well off inhabitants of Lyria.

### The Conquest of Thamarya

For years the Conclave harboured the desire to infiltrate the city of Thamarya, the richest in all the empire and possibly the whole of Eluan. The task proved difficult because the merchants, and authorities were very organised and kept foreign influence to a minimum.

For the taking of Thamarya, the Conclave sent Hukumu Panthus, a powerful rakshasa who thanks to his common sense, intelligence, efficiency, and reputation for cruelty when required, was made Thamarya’s kingpin.

Panthus charmed Thamarya’s ruler, King Archibald Velön, who then named Njord as Harbourmaster -a foreigner from the Frostlands with no sense of loyalty to the city, and no scruples. He allowed the Verdant Company to use the ports, which marked the syndicate’s first step into the city. From there on, their operation spread.

### Power and Reach

The Verdant Company has over ten thousand members spread out through many territories, making it a force to be reckoned with. Because of the expanse of their territories, it is not uncommon for the Conclave to send emissaries to cells when the flow of goods and results decreases. These representatives have the power to remove a leader or kingpin and even execute them if foul play was discovered. If the problem proves to be more severe, they will send the Aveugles, an elite team of blind assassins who are utterly loyal to the conclave, to handle the matter.