The Forthaves Vinegar Company
A criminal enterprise consisting of Sizailh, Birou, Morgiana
The Forthaves Vinegar Company
by
Valentine
The Forthaves Vinegar Company: Sizailh, Morgiana and Birou
Structure
The Forthaves Vinegar Company, more commonly known as the Forthaves is a criminal enterprise and the brainchild of Morgiana the Illusionist, existing as multiple nesting entities within itself. To the general public, the FVC is one of many interchangeable traveling merchants, sponsoring shows of stage magic and storytelling, selling trinkets and the occasional snake oil. To the criminal underworld, it appears to be one of many such enterprises that serve as a front for low level pickpocketing and confidence scams, barely worth notice among dozens of similar groups. In reality, these twin deceptions allow the Forthaves to carry out their true goals with less interference from both legitimate and criminal actors.
Despite its grandiose title, the Forthaves membership is small, consisting of Morgiana herself, the sellsword Kathalia Bisclavret, the Eladan Similherez Gwaeron Sulime Dethemir and the wandering trouvere Marie deCygne. Two Korrigan children, the Teuz cutpurse Sizailh and the Kriores grifter Birou consider themselves, mutually, the protege's of Morgiana and are often factored into the activities of the group in minor roles.
The "company" lacks any proper organization, hierarchy or bylaws, operating as an equal partnership, but usually moving on the direction of Kathalia or the whim of Morgiana.
At the center of the Forthaves is the mysterious Mssr. Orum, who is widely believed to by the ultimate mastermind behind the thieving company. Little is known about Orum, and only Morgiana has seen his face in his criminal role, but rumours abound of a wealthy Tolosan ship captain, a Norman merchant or an exiled Ubarite prince backing the small, but successful criminal enterprise. It is Orum's patronage that elevates the Forthaves reputation above their peers, an unknown factor that enters the calculations on whether to work to counter the group.
The moniker of the "fifth thief" is given Morgiana's donkey, Sesame, who pulls her cart.
Relation to the Argot
There comes a time in the life of any sustained criminal enterprise, the Forthaves have attracted the attention of the argot, the loose collection of cultural and economic ties that intertwine through the criminal underworld of Gallia and its neighbors. In Naoned, the Court of Miracles is overseen by the The House of Pride, while two powerful syndicates, The Coquillard and The Malandrins all but controlled organized criminality in the area.
The Forthaves technically operate under the umbrella of Patav Lourdaud's operation, but are functionally independent, subject to little control or oversight as long as their tribute to the Coquillard and the House of Pride is paid in full on time, together accounting for 50% of their "declared" haul each month.
Culture
The twofold front provided by the Forthaves Vinegar company allows its members to focus on pulling off daring and dramatic activities throughout the Lethan underworld, often spectacular in their execution and ambitious in their scope for such a small outfit.
For their part, Sizailh and Birou operate under the assumption that Morgiana is an Ubarite princess, and while she has not actively encouraged this, she is in no hurry to refute their misunderstanding. The group are a tight knit family, each operating to protect the others with a strong sense of loyalty.
Public Agenda
The gang's day to day activities largely center around Morgiana's flights of fancy and whims, rather than a specific confidence job or money-maked endeavour. One day the company sells small bottles of its namesake, while other times it serves as a "sponsor" for Morgiana's showcases of dance or stage magic, while generating a healthy haul for the city's pickpockets and cutpurses.
This flexibility has made the Forthaves an unpredictable wild card in the criminal underworld of Naoned. When pursuing their larger ambitions, the group typically target the corrupt and the villainous, robbing crooked merchants, slaver captives and similarly situated individuals and entities. Most notable is their rumored link with the notorious highwayman, Bleiz Eus Frehel, fencing their goods through the Court of Miracles. No direct link between the Forthaves, Mssr. Ourum or Bleiz Eus Frehel has been conclusively proven.
Assets
The Forthaves assets are largely fluid, changing dramatically from month to month in a flurry of rented, stolen or borrowed items. The most stable asset of the group is Morgiana's Cart, a carriage made from a massive, reclaimed beer barrel. The interior is surprisingly spacious, with ample storage space as a result of Teuz construction techniques and a small amount of Arkane manipulation.
At times, the Company will set up a false business or dwelling throughout the Viscounty of Naoned, depending on their needs, and are thought to have a few long-term safehouses in abandoned buildings across the region.
History
Following her flight from the Caliphate of Ubar, Morgiana traveled across the Mor Kreizdouar, to Serenissima, before eventually ending up in Marselha, surviving on a combination of performances and grifts to keep her one step ahead of the assassins of the Sons of the Sands. Here, she recruited two orphaned Korrigan thieves, Sizailh and Birou to perform an elaborate con against the Malandrin Crime family.
At the time, an outbreak of the Yellow Plague had struck the city, and the Malandrin-backed merchant council, eager to protect themselves, had begun hording lifesaving medicine and selling it at exorbitant prices. Morgiana orchestrated a complicated plot. The thieves would hit the homes of the plague dead, and, upon their capture by the city or rival gang, offered up a "miracle cure" that allowed them to escape unharmed, in reality a result of Morgiana's careful planning and staged scenes. Using this miraculous concoction, a mixture of red wine vinegar and various herbs, as a hook, the Forthaves launched the second part of the con, trading the vinegar for the alchemical concoctions, disseminating them among the vulnerable population.
Taking the name, and front of the Forthaves vinegar company, the group quickly made their exit to the cities of the North, ending up in Letha, where they were brought to the attention of the Coquillard. Kathalia, Gwae and Marie joined the group shortly afterwards in Aleth
Foreign Relations
The Coquillard and The Malandrins
The Forthaves are under the nominal control of the Coquillard criminal organization, paying regular tribute to and following the dictates of the crimelord Gourmand. Morgiana's flourish for the dramatic and wildly independent streak has made enemies with her parent criminal enterprise and among their rivals, the Malandrins. The arrangement is not entirely a willing one, but so long as Gourmand is paid and Morgiana doesn't step on the wrong toes, the Forthaves are given some freedom within Naoned. The Forthaves previously worked against the Marselha based Malandrins, a relationship that quickly soured, forcing Morgiana to flee North to Letha.The Sons of the Sands
- The Iram based Sons of the Sands has declared itself the enemy of the Forthaves, albeit not by name, placing a heavy bounty on the head of its most prominent member.The Wolf of Frehel
- It is rumored that the Forthaves are regularly in league with the legendary highwayman, the Wolf of Frehel in a not entirely sanctioned partnership to take down particular targets.Giving You What You Deserve!
Founding Date
1234 SI
Type
Illicit, Gang
Alternative Names
The Forthaves
Leader
Ruling Organization
Parent Organization
Location
Notable Members
Comments