The 7th Syndicate, also known as Societas Septem Umbrae, is a notorious and highly organized criminal enterprise that thrives on power, wealth, and control. Their ambitions stretch far beyond mere survival in the shadows of society; they seek to dominate entire swaths of the city’s economy and wield influence over both legal and illicit activities. By manipulating political figures and exploiting systemic corruption, they aim to establish themselves as the true power brokers in the region, all while instilling fear and maintaining an iron grip on the criminal underworld.
Goals and Operations[]
The 7th Syndicate’s core ambition is to expand their vast criminal empire, generating immense wealth through activities such as smuggling rare and illegal goods, running extortion rackets, conducting high-stakes blackmail operations, and engaging in sophisticated financial fraud schemes. They are meticulous in their operations, seeking to gain leverage in legitimate industries, infiltrating influential guilds, and securing control over key trade routes.
Their ultimate vision is to maintain a shadowy reign that influences not only criminal dealings but also governmental and mercantile institutions. By owning or controlling essential sectors of the economy, they can manipulate supply chains, drive markets, and even shape laws in their favor. This control extends to the political landscape, where bribery, threats, and assassination keep lawmakers in their pockets.
History of the Crimson Syndicate[]
The 7th Syndicate’s origin story is steeped in blood and betrayal. It began as a coalition of rogue merchants, exiled nobles, and outcast mages who found common cause in their thirst for power and vengeance. Led by their enigmatic founder, who remains a figure of legend, they quickly carved out a niche in the city’s criminal underworld, eliminating competitors through brutal tactics and strategic alliances.
As their influence grew, the Syndicate’s structure evolved into a highly disciplined organization. Each new wave of leadership further expanded their reach, creating a dynasty of crime bosses that operated with military-like precision. Throughout the years, they have weathered turf wars, political purges, and betrayal from within their ranks, yet each time, they emerged more ruthless and powerful.
The Syndicate’s history is littered with violent confrontations. They are known for orchestrating complex power plays, from destabilizing rival organizations to inciting revolts within corrupt city guard factions. Their notorious penchant for betrayal—both of allies and enemies—has solidified their reputation as an unpredictable force, feared even within their own circles.
Hierarchy and Membership[]
The 7th Syndicate functions through a strict hierarchy where loyalty is bought with wealth and fear. The Council of Shadows, a group of the most influential and dangerous lieutenants, governs the Syndicate, while smaller cells manage individual sectors of the organization’s criminal empire. Members rise through the ranks by proving their ruthlessness, cunning, and ability to outwit enemies both within and outside the organization.
Each division within the Syndicate oversees specific operations. There are Enforcers, who maintain control over territory and oversee violent enforcement; Smugglers, who handle the transport and trade of contraband and illegal goods; and Alchemists, who run clandestine laboratories, producing poisons, addictive substances, and magical enhancements for sale on the black market. Additionally, Spymasters gather intelligence on rivals and potential threats, ensuring that the Syndicate always stays several steps ahead of its enemies.
Recruitment is selective. The Syndicate only accepts those who have proven their worth in the streets, from rogue thieves and assassins to fallen nobility looking for a way to regain influence. Those recruited are subjected to a harsh initiation process, where loyalty is tested and failure is met with death.
Headquarters and Safehouses[]
The 7th Syndicate’s operations are spread across a series of hidden strongholds, ensuring their resilience and secrecy. Their main headquarters is located deep within the city’s underbelly, a fortress-like compound that is invisible to the public eye. This stronghold is heavily fortified with both mundane and magical defenses—patrolled by armed guards, enchanted traps, and arcane wards that can detect intruders. Within its walls, Syndicate leaders plan their next moves, maintain their wealth, and forge new alliances.
This compound houses multiple black-market facilities, from weapons caches stocked with enchanted and stolen arms, to clandestine laboratories where their Alchemists produce powerful potions and experimental substances. The location is also home to the Syndicate’s private interrogation chambers, where enemies and traitors meet their grisly end. Inside the halls of their headquarters, high-ranking members convene in opulent chambers to discuss expansion strategies and maintain their web of influence.
Beyond this central fortress, the Syndicate maintains a network of safehouses across the city and beyond. These hidden bases serve multiple purposes: as hideouts for wanted criminals, staging grounds for raids, or clandestine meeting points where they negotiate black-market deals away from the prying eyes of the law. Many of these safehouses are disguised as legitimate businesses, from taverns and gambling dens to quiet apothecaries and tailor shops. The constant movement between these locations makes it nearly impossible for authorities to track them down.
Infamous Activities[]
The 7th Syndicate’s influence permeates nearly every facet of the city’s underworld. They orchestrate high-profile heists on royal treasuries, abduct and ransom prominent figures, and monopolize smuggling routes that stretch across continents. Their extensive network of spies and informants ensures that no valuable secret remains hidden from their grasp, which they use to manipulate or blackmail politicians and nobles alike.
One of their most lucrative ventures is the trade of rare magical artifacts, many of which are banned or heavily restricted by local governments. These artifacts are often obtained through high-stakes heists, violent raids on rival groups, or manipulation of archaeological digs.
The Syndicate is also heavily involved in the illicit alchemy trade, producing substances that range from potent narcotics to elixirs that enhance magical abilities—though often with dire consequences. They are the leading suppliers of these dangerous substances in the black market, maintaining a stranglehold on those desperate enough to seek power at any cost.
Reputation and Future Ambitions[]
Despite their feared presence in the criminal world, the 7th Syndicate remains a source of both fascination and dread. Stories of their ruthlessness circulate through the city, painting them as a nearly unstoppable force—one that even rival gangs hesitate to cross. The law enforcement agencies tasked with bringing them to justice are often infiltrated or intimidated into silence, ensuring that the Syndicate continues to operate with near impunity.
In the future, the 7th Syndicate seeks to expand its reach further, both geographically and politically. Their long-term goal is not just to dominate the city’s underworld but to influence the wider region, manipulating economies, governing bodies, and international trade. As they continue to grow in power, their next step may be to challenge the very thrones of kings and queens, rewriting the rules of the game for those who seek control over the world’s wealth and power.
The leader of the 7th Syndicate is a shadowy figure known only as "The Veil." Renowned for their cunning and strategic prowess, The Veil maintains strict anonymity, operating through trusted lieutenants to execute plans. Their identity remains one of the city's greatest mysteries, with even the most skilled magic users unable to pierce the layers of illusion and deception that protect them.
Rumours[]
The Council of Shadows' Secret[]
Whispers say the Council of Shadows, the ruling body of the Syndicate, isn't entirely human. Some claim that a few of its members are in fact demons, long-bound by ancient pacts to serve the Syndicate. It's said their influence is what allows the Syndicate to survive so many betrayals and rise from the ashes after every downfall.
The Mysterious Founder[]
The founder of the 7th Syndicate is a shadowy figure known only as "The Crimson King." Some say they were once a noble with a legitimate claim to the throne, betrayed and cast out by their own family. Others believe the Crimson King is not a single person, but an entity that has passed from one leader to the next. Rumor has it that the founder still walks among them, disguised, watching from the shadows to ensure the Syndicate’s legacy lives on.
Forbidden Alchemy[]
There are dark rumors about the Syndicate’s Alchemists. Some say they have perfected a form of magic-infused alchemy that can reanimate the dead, turning former enemies into mindless soldiers. It's also whispered that they are in search of a mythical elixir that could grant immortality, though it's uncertain if such a thing even exists.
The Hidden Vaults of Wealth[]
There are rumors that the Syndicate’s hidden vaults contain unimaginable wealth: not only piles of gold and silver, but also rare magical artifacts, stolen relics, and even the bones of ancient kings. It’s said that only a few individuals know the vault's location, and many have vanished while attempting to find it. Some believe that the vaults are protected by powerful curses, meant to guard the Syndicate’s treasures from those who dare seek them.
Rituals of Power[]
The Syndicate’s leaders are said to engage in secret, blood-soaked rituals to ensure their continued reign. These ceremonies are rumored to involve dark magic, ancient deities, and sacrifices. It’s unclear what they hope to gain from these rituals, but some say that the Syndicate’s longevity is tied to the power these rites bestow upon its members.