Confederation of the Rift

*"Take what you will, and that will be the Law."*

The **Confederation of the Rift,** sometimes called the **Marauders,** is an alliance of pirates who operate in southern Aquila. Though the so-called "Wilds" between Aphelion, Voshe, and Apus have long been a haven for outlaws and smugglers, the Confederation were the first to establish themselves as a serious unified power in the triangle-shaped region. They hold a monopoly on virtually all criminal activity in the southern waters, with all affiliated captains agreeing not to interfere with each others' operations and contributing a small yearly tithe.

The marauders are headquartered on the island of Miranda, a pirate haven in the outskirts of Zenda. In the 40s, the young and respected captain Finn Hamm gathered all the major pirate crews who had been operating in the area, most of them former privateers who were left without careers after the conclusion of the most recent war between Dreiton and Dashari. There, they signed the Miranda Pact, agreeing to band together in a confederation of equals as well as establishing a "pirate code" by which all members were expected to conduct themselves. In the following years, the marauders aggressively seized control of every lucrative criminal enterprise in the Triangle, either pressing the small-time buccaneers into service or bribing their crews to mutiny and install more cooperative ringleaders.

Though all the marauders are technically equals in the eyes of the Code, the Confederation is de-facto organized into a feudalistic structure in which the minor captains owe allegiance to wealthier "lords" who claim dominion over individual swathes of the Confederation's territory, and they in turn owe their fealty to the infamous Captain Hamm - often called the king of the marauders in all but name. Indeed, Hamm's own flag serves as the banner for the entire confederation, and no pirate who values their life dares intrude upon his turf and interfere in his hunt. That said, the marauders fundamentally operate under a meritocratic "might makes right" doctrine, with each captain only serving at the pleasure of their crew. Hamm is regularly challenged by upstart lords who seek to usurp his throne at the top of the vast nautical empire, though none have survived his bitter cold steel to date. Some believe that an unholy pact with eldritch spirits explains his uncanny ability to cheat death at every turn, though those who speculate too loudly on the matter tend to disappear.

### Known members

#### Finn Hamm

* **Crimes:** Mass murder, terrorism, smuggling, piracy, racketeering, human and contraband smuggling, arms trafficking, syndicalism, withcraft, torture, continuing criminal enterprise (kinpinning), general villainy, etc etc
* **Nationality:** Sivellan (Granchian)
* **Headquartered:** Miranda, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Cutlass, dagger, dragon\*, witchery
* **Aliases:** Viper, Prince, Gomez, the Captain, Boss
* **Other information:** Captain of the *Adipocere.* The founder and presumed ringleader of the marauders. Considered the most wanted criminal in southern Aquila and an extremely dangerous criminal mastermind. Records indicate he was a privateer aboard the *Kingfisher* in service to the Exchange before going rogue. Former associates allege that he possesses an uncanny ability to peer into one's mind and sense their true intentions, as if he can hear others' inner monologues if their thoughts are not sufficiently protected - making him a master manipulator.

* Believed by some investigators to have been born under the name Bianca Valentino. Certain sources refer to him as a "Templar hunter." Additional reports and rumors allege that he carries an ancient Zendan curse which permanently deprives him of any sleep and constantly plagues his mind with thoughts of murder and torment at all times, though it grants him a small measure of immortality and presumably is the source of his psychic abilities. It is said that he must die two times before the sun rises on the next day in order to permanently be killed, and is vulnerable to silver bullets, wooden stakes, "devil knots," and beheading.

#### Sofia Radvyn

* **Crimes:** Grand larceny, embezzlement, loan sharking, state extortion, piracy
* **Nationality:** Kazimir
* **Headquartered:** Cozilles, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Dagger, throwing knives, traps
* **Aliases:** Red Rabbit
* **Other information:** Captain of the *Hare,* now mainly serving as Hamm's second-in-command. She manages the Confederation's finances, ensuring all members meet their quotas and pay their taxes, and overseeing the proper maintenance of their rackets. Radvyn has variously served as first mate of the *Adipocere* or as acting boss of Miranda while Finn is "hunting." They share a deep bond, the details of which are known only to them.

#### Reeve

* **Crimes:** Dueling, assassination, highway robbery, arms trafficking, hooliganism, filibustering, and arson
* **Nationality:** Daguo
* **Headquartered:** Hassigos, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Musket, crossbow, ballistics
* **Aliases:** Lazy eye
* **Other information:** Usually regarded as the deadliest marksman in the Confederation. She is a former bounty hunter and soldier-of-fortune on permanent retainer for Hamm. She can most often be seen maintaining order in Miranda and mediating disputes between captains when not serving as the Boss's personal assassin.

#### Jojosamu

* **Crimes:** Witchcraft, devilry, religious profanity, building occult shrines, kidnapping, trafficking
* **Nationality:** Khotan
* **Headquartered:** Kokojillo, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Arcane focus
* **Aliases:** Rand, Jackal, Caveman, Bishop
* **Other information:** The unofficial "spiritual adviser" for the Confederation. Hailing from the cold outskirts of Hamamitsu, he is a master of the arcane arts and is constantly searching for occult artifacts from Aphelion to Apus. His motives are unknown, though he is said to frequently conduct grotesque rituals of black magic with Hamm in the cabin of the *Adipocere.*

### Virgil

* **Crimes:** Menacing, racketeering, assault, murder, torture of state officials, piracy
* **Nationality:** Bobyrujsk
* **Headquartered:** Miranda, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Broadsword, dragon, cleavers, brass knuckles
* **Aliases:** Poet
* **Other information:** Captain of the *Comet.* A notorious strongman and one of the most influential captains in the confederation. He owes a life-debt to Hamm, who murdered his former masters and set him free. He is known to share the Boss's hatred for Templars.

### Zee

* **Crimes:** Identity theft, forgery, impersonation of state and church officials, filibustering, industrial sabotage
* **Nationality:** Occan
* **Headquartered:** Cozilles, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Dual cutlasses, musket
* **Aliases:** Numerous
* **Other information:** Captain of the *Dark Avenger.* Known as a master of disguise, sabotage, and subterfuge.

### Piper Ward

* **Crimes:** Stalking, poaching, assassination, terrorism
* **Nationality:** Occan
* **Headquartered:** Hassigos, Zenda
* **Weapons:** Crossbow
* **Aliases:** Huntsman
* **Other information:** Infamous for kidnapping, setting free, and then hunting targets. Quartermaster of the *Adipocere.*

\**Dragon* refers to a heavy sidearm commonly wielded by marauders, similar to the blunderbusses employed by the Dreiton military. It is a deadly short-range blasting arm usually carried for self-defense or close quarters combat and can be used with one hand with a slow reload time.