Whispered Ones
The Whispered Ones
The Whispered Ones is an organized crime syndicate originating from Valis, only becoming a force to be reckoned with on Tunis after the end of the Godswar. While deeply entrenched in the less-than-legal activities on both continents, the Whispered Ones do not seem to be interested in expanding their control over criminal trades as much as they leverage their criminal organization to exert political pressure on the kingdoms in which they operate.
History
Little is known about the true force behind the Whispered Ones, with all that is currently understood about the organization coming from the deep cover agent Cyriel Tyndellor (deceased). Tyndellor's research into the origins of the organization has tied the leadership and overall direction of their activities back to the Rakshasa of Kerrdora. Supposedly the organization was founded by the Rakshasa shortly after The Shattering. Realizing that Kerrdora's ability to stay hidden from the rest of the world was waning and that discovery was inevitable, the Rakshasa began recruiting operatives to keep an eye on the various Empires on Valis (The Unhallowed, The Uradum and Thadis, respectively), hoping to give the Rakshasa enough lead time to prepare for their inevitable discovery and potential violence.
This preparation turned out to be prudent when a raiding party from The Unhallowed encountered several Rakshasa while scouting the Shattered Peaks in 121 AS. Seeing the previously unknown Rakshasa as a threat, the Unhallowed launched an attack against Kerrdora in 180 AS. However, thanks to information provided by the Whispered Ones, the Rakshasa were able to sabotage the offensive (delaying the attack by over five years), allowing Kerrdora to prepare and repel the Unhallowed attackers. In the years leading up to the end of the Godswar the information provided by the Whispered Ones proved invaluable in the protection of the Rakshasa's ancestral homeland.
Seeing the initial mission of the Whispered Ones as a total success, the Rakshasa shifted their directives into a more active phase. Expanding out from Valis into the Empires of Tunis, The Whispered Ones grew into a sophisticated network of intelligence operatives. Using their criminal activities as a front, the Whispered Ones true purpose is to ensure that no empire on Sytheria will be able to successfully endanger the Rakshasa. Leveraging their intelligence and criminal networks the Whispered Ones put pressure on the governments of the world to ensure that the Rakshasa people are safe through the use of blackmail, extortion and quite often, assassination.
Goals
The ultimate goal of the Whispered Ones is seemingly the protection of their Rakshasa masters. That said, most members of the organization either care little for the organizations ultimate goal or are totally unaware of its true purpose. The Whispered Ones are known for displays of opulence and social grace, preferring to misdirect, discredit, blackmail, and/or frame those who cross them. They tend to avoid overt violence (as it draws unwanted attention), but quickly resort to kidnapping and assassination when manipulation fails.
Relationships
The Whispered Ones tolerate other criminal organizations running in similar areas until their interests are threatened. As one of the largest criminal organizations in the world, most smaller criminal families know to give the Whispered Ones a wide berth and that is is better to work with them than to oppose them. While the Whispered Ones are loathe to engage in violent altercations, even with other criminals, they are not beyond leveraging their many relationships to crush the competition or outright assassinate their leadership. If the Whispered Ones are active in a town it is known that they will control the local black market as well.
The Whispered Ones exist because of their many relationships with people of power. Existing for over four centuries, the Whispered Ones have built up a massive intelligence network, often leveraged to give its operatives blackmail materials. Even militant kingdoms like the Kingship of Arrania understand that the Whispered Ones are to be tolerated and not actively opposed. That said, the organization is not above hanging overly ambitious operatives or assets out to dry if they believe their activities are not in their best interest.
Figures of Interest
Leadership
No one knows who the true leadership of the Whispered Ones is. The actual heads of the organization reside in Kerrdora, their identities unknown even to other members of the Whispered Ones. The organization operates as a loose network of localized cells, each run by its own gang boss, typically without direct oversight from central leadership. If a gang boss receives orders from on high, they know it is in their best interest to comply with those orders in the most efficient way possible. Rewards for such successes are great, however failure is not tolerated on any level.
The Silence
The Silence are a rumored group of operatives (assassins) among the Whispered Ones who report directly to the central leadership in Kerrdora. They are believe to be the "cleaners" of the organization. If they appear within a town, then the local leadership is put on notice. Little is known about The Silence's methods, only that their aftermath is bloody and the offending cell rarely survives the encounter.
Members
There are currently no known members of the Whispered Ones.
Contractors
The Whispered Ones will often take on external contractors for particularly hazardous operations. Typically these contractors do not know they are working for the Whispered Ones, and if they do know often there are "safety measures" put in place to ensure compliance and loyalty.
