A Guide to the Dementlieuse Underworld
The underworld of Port-à-Lucine is a tangled web of crime syndicates, smuggling rings, gangs, revolutionaries, and black-market dealings. Those who step into this world should tread carefully, for power shifts rapidly, and betrayal is common. Below is an overview of the major players and opportunities within the criminal underworld.
Crime Syndicates
These are the true powers of the underworld—well-organized criminal enterprises that oversee vast networks of illegal activity. Each has its own interests and ways of operating, often using gangs and smugglers to carry out their business while keeping their own hands clean.
- The Brain – "The Brain" is an enigmatic crime lord who opposes the Lord-Governor and his Council. No one knows their true identity, only that they have operated in the shadows for decades. They run a crime syndicate engaged in various illicit activities.
- Black Pieter and Le Cercle Sinistre – Black Pieter commands one of the largest and most brutal syndicates in Port-a-Lucine. His men have a hand in nearly every illegal operation, from smuggling to murder-for-hire. Many thugs roaming the streets at night ultimately answer to him, though the gangs they form are often at odds with one another. He is known to run a smuggling operation from an abandoned inn in Quartier Ouvrier.
- Other Crime Syndicates – There are whispers of other rising crime lords, and secretive figures like the Lord of the Secret Paths. The balance of power in the underworld is ever shifting, with room for upstarts to rise—or fall.
Smugglers
Smugglers serve as the lifeblood of the underworld, moving illicit goods in and out of Dementlieu. From opium and magical contraband to stolen firearms and luxury goods, smugglers either work directly for crime lords or pay them to use their routes and store their wares.
Gangs
Gangs make up the most visible and chaotic aspect of the underworld. They constantly battle for control of the streets, engaging in racketeering, gambling, drug trade, and prostitution. These groups are often employed as enforcers for larger crime syndicates but are just as likely to engage in turf wars with one another.
Revolutionaries
Not all criminal elements seek only profit—some have political motives. Revolutionary groups often rely on underworld connections for funding, weapons, and support. While some remain true to their ideals, others drift into outright banditry.
Outliers and Specialists
Beyond the structured syndicates and gangs, there are independent figures and groups who interact with the underworld while pursuing their own goals. Some operate within the highest echelons of society, acting as intermediaries between criminals and the elite.
The Black Market
The Black Market is where crime syndicates, smugglers, and independent operators do business, trading everything from stolen goods to magical artifacts. It is a dangerous yet essential place for those seeking rare and illegal wares. Violence is generally kept in check, but disputes are not uncommon, and some who enter never return.
Getting Involved
For those seeking to enter the underworld, gangs offer the easiest entry point, though they are also the most volatile. Smugglers provide valuable services but face constant risk from the authorities. The crime syndicates rarely accept outsiders unless they prove themselves useful. However, ambition, cunning, and ruthlessness can open doors—whether as a hired blade, an informant, or a rising power in the criminal world.
The underworld is a place of shifting alliances, hidden knives, and whispered deals. Play your cards right, and you may carve out a place for yourself. Misstep, and you may not live long enough to regret it.
