Post by numberhawk44 on Jun 19, 2017 22:25:07 GMT
The (somewhat sarcastically named) Niceanian Order is an international crime syndicate which provides a sense of brotherhood and unity between the hordes of petty thieves, cutthroats and other miscreants of the world. The organization functions by compelling new members to swear an oath of fealty the the "Brotherhood of the Thief" and by extracting small membership dues to pay for grander projects
History:
Nobody really knows where or when the Order got its start (though members would have you believe it was founded by a long-forgotten god of thievery and mischief), but mentions of it date back several hundred years and it has probably been around for far longer. Originally starting in the great port-cities, it soon had members in cities and towns all over the world. The organization is so large and informal that, despite a fairly strong central governing body, nobody knows for sure the true size of the Order (though it is almost certainly in the millions). Over the course of its long history, the Order has used its power, influence and wealth to greatly affect the course of history. Kings that have attempted to crack down on crime find their soup poisoned and a more amenable heir installed. Generals marching against the interests of the Order have woken up to find that their entire army was bribed to desert. In a few notable instances, the Order has called together its members into armies and raised fleets out of various pirate vessels, and quite literally gone to war with those who oppose it. This hasn't happened in nearly a century and there are many who think the Order's best days are behind them, but they still remain a potent force in international affairs, functioning as a kind of informal "nation within nations".
Structure:
The Order is ruled by a Council of Seven representing the seven most notable illegal professions: thieves, pirates, cutthroats, assassins, corrupt officials, smugglers, and gamblers (which includes whoremongers). This council, while often fiercely debating itself, presents a united front to the outside world and makes the biggest decisions affecting the Order. Below them are the Princes of Thieves, one for every country. They organize the Order's operations and finances for their respective nations, and are the ones the most powerful people in said country go to to negotiate, thus protecting the Council. Below them are the Dukes, which oversee regional operations. There are then several levels of more minor administration, mostly concerned with collecting dues, but this structure varies regionally. The Order's primary concern is acquiring wealth, which it uses to advance its interests.
History:
Nobody really knows where or when the Order got its start (though members would have you believe it was founded by a long-forgotten god of thievery and mischief), but mentions of it date back several hundred years and it has probably been around for far longer. Originally starting in the great port-cities, it soon had members in cities and towns all over the world. The organization is so large and informal that, despite a fairly strong central governing body, nobody knows for sure the true size of the Order (though it is almost certainly in the millions). Over the course of its long history, the Order has used its power, influence and wealth to greatly affect the course of history. Kings that have attempted to crack down on crime find their soup poisoned and a more amenable heir installed. Generals marching against the interests of the Order have woken up to find that their entire army was bribed to desert. In a few notable instances, the Order has called together its members into armies and raised fleets out of various pirate vessels, and quite literally gone to war with those who oppose it. This hasn't happened in nearly a century and there are many who think the Order's best days are behind them, but they still remain a potent force in international affairs, functioning as a kind of informal "nation within nations".
Structure:
The Order is ruled by a Council of Seven representing the seven most notable illegal professions: thieves, pirates, cutthroats, assassins, corrupt officials, smugglers, and gamblers (which includes whoremongers). This council, while often fiercely debating itself, presents a united front to the outside world and makes the biggest decisions affecting the Order. Below them are the Princes of Thieves, one for every country. They organize the Order's operations and finances for their respective nations, and are the ones the most powerful people in said country go to to negotiate, thus protecting the Council. Below them are the Dukes, which oversee regional operations. There are then several levels of more minor administration, mostly concerned with collecting dues, but this structure varies regionally. The Order's primary concern is acquiring wealth, which it uses to advance its interests.
