The Order of the Cup
Thriving in the rich underworld of Aberston, the Order of the Cup is by far the largest 'criminal' network anywhere in Belerion, with associates in almost every location through the known world. Spies, Assassins, Mercenaries, Courtesans, Traders, Orphans, even some corrupt guardsman are all counted among the Order of the Cup, and provide crucial skills to enable it to deliver it's plans.
The Order of the Cup, has implied by the name, was originally a holy order within the The Ecclesium, whose sacred mission was to provide alms to the poor, however The Ecclesium began taking more and more for itself, to the utter disgust of one of the priests; Brother Benedict had witnessed on several occasions, his brothers-in-prayer 'claiming' valuable donations in the name of the The Ecclesium that seemed to only ever make it back to the The Monastery of the Ecclesium if they were ever to be seen again.
Dismayed at this most unholy betrayal, he hatched a cunning plan. He wrote two letters, each identical, testifying before their almighty god to everything that he has witnessed. He took one copy to the Archdeacon, and informed him that the other copy was secure in Lady Evilyn's vault as a security measure.
He provided the Archdeacon with an ultimatum: either he publicly disavows brother Benedict, thus giving him freedom from his godgiven duties (and, unbeknowst to the Archdeacon, a boon to his underworld reputation), or the letter will be sent to the Lord Provost, as well as made widely available to the public, ended the monks' gravy train. In exchange, the monks will continue to get a cut of any earning the Order makes, ensuring their protection should the need arise.
Of course, the archdeacon was only too happy to oblige, wringing his wrinkled arthritic hands as his head bobbed in conspiratorial agreement. Little did he know that by releasing 'Brother Ben', as he is now known, from his vows, he would go on to grow the Order of the Cups into the worlds largest network of well-meaning criminals: courtesans extracting damning details about senior figures to influence their decisions for the benefit of the poor; Traders to transport "found" items of value great distances to their associates in exchange for "hard to come by" items, such as medicines, and spies lurking in all the great houses and halls of power providing a steady stream of intrigue that could rival that of Lady Evilyn herself.
The Order of the Cup, has implied by the name, was originally a holy order within the The Ecclesium, whose sacred mission was to provide alms to the poor, however The Ecclesium began taking more and more for itself, to the utter disgust of one of the priests; Brother Benedict had witnessed on several occasions, his brothers-in-prayer 'claiming' valuable donations in the name of the The Ecclesium that seemed to only ever make it back to the The Monastery of the Ecclesium if they were ever to be seen again.
Dismayed at this most unholy betrayal, he hatched a cunning plan. He wrote two letters, each identical, testifying before their almighty god to everything that he has witnessed. He took one copy to the Archdeacon, and informed him that the other copy was secure in Lady Evilyn's vault as a security measure.
He provided the Archdeacon with an ultimatum: either he publicly disavows brother Benedict, thus giving him freedom from his godgiven duties (and, unbeknowst to the Archdeacon, a boon to his underworld reputation), or the letter will be sent to the Lord Provost, as well as made widely available to the public, ended the monks' gravy train. In exchange, the monks will continue to get a cut of any earning the Order makes, ensuring their protection should the need arise.
Of course, the archdeacon was only too happy to oblige, wringing his wrinkled arthritic hands as his head bobbed in conspiratorial agreement. Little did he know that by releasing 'Brother Ben', as he is now known, from his vows, he would go on to grow the Order of the Cups into the worlds largest network of well-meaning criminals: courtesans extracting damning details about senior figures to influence their decisions for the benefit of the poor; Traders to transport "found" items of value great distances to their associates in exchange for "hard to come by" items, such as medicines, and spies lurking in all the great houses and halls of power providing a steady stream of intrigue that could rival that of Lady Evilyn herself.
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