Oxaniae/Umbral Syndicate
The following faction is created by the player of Yardie and spans six years of play and storytelling. As it is not an MHO or a CHE, it does not have any official affiliations or standings and is part of establishing Yardie, the other characters affiliated with him, and the stories shared by other players. I have little issue with anyone who wishes to join, partake in, or blend their stories or characters with what I've written, but I would ask that you contact me for clarification or details before anyone attempts to outright change what I've written. You can always contact me if there are any questions, comments, or concerns.
The Umbral Syndicate
A rough translation from Faendryl: the Umbral Syndicate is merely one organization in a web of families, cultists, factions, and citizens who latched onto older viewpoints of all things Faendryl. Disenchanted with what they perceive as capitulation, the banner of various affiliated groups operates along different avenues, beyond the Basilica's watchful eye. The Umbral Syndicate commits to the darker, more nefarious tasks within the veil of secrecy, operating in assassinations, coercion, subterfuge, and conspiracy. While Wriendiel Sillroth operates as the leader of the current iteration, its origins are rumored to span centuries.
Origins
The origins start with a children’s story.
Among the different Houses of the Faendryl, one hidden House became a tale mothers told their young children to scare them into compliance. The group operated underground, shrouded by darkness and mystery, a tale meant to set the youth on the straight and narrow. Known as the Senary, the prospect of those who strayed from the will of the Patriarch was only a myth, something outgrown with age and experience.
Of course, the influences of the Senary transcended myth. They echoed sentiments of many, from those who vied for power to those disenchanted with the Patriarch's movements involving the will of the Faendryl. The latter manifested over time and through events, from the banishment of the Elven Nations to the murder of Cheslycha Sukari Faendryl. Ashrim served as more than inspiration; it was the height of Faendryl supremacy, a sign to the other nations of a power held in check due to mercy.
Although the exact origin of the Umbral Syndicate remains unknown, it is widely speculated that the decree of the 39th Patriarch, Korvath Dardanus Faendryl, brought them together. After the arrest of Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl for his errant summoning in Ta’Illistim, Queen Myasara had Rhythus’ severed head delivered to the Patriarch. The silent majority of families anticipated revenge. Instead, the Patriarch delivered a message of unity, siding with Rythus’ beheading and rejoicing in sharing the art believed to be theirs. From there, the word of the Patriarch fell upon death ears and movements to establish a new order spread underground.’
Much like Geniselle Anaya Faendryl, the first Matriarch of the Faendryl, they move to usurp power, amass support, operate in secret to manifest power, hone magic, and eventually bring the Faendryl to its once-held glory through unforgiving might.
Recruitment
No one knows the extent of recruitment, affiliations, and neighboring factions that extend beyond their reach. The best way to describe the group is like an ant colony, vast, deep, and branching out underneath with no traceable roots. Entries and recruitment are rumored to be connected with certain aristocratic families, secret meetings, and clandestine letters. However, operations of a more direct manner, such as kidnappings, coercions, and other more sinister means that foster cooperation, are not beneath their operations.