Faction of Terota
Region of Influence: Their home territory is in the former state of Aya, but their influence can be felt across the realm of Terota and wherever they may set up shop in Myzelis.Symbol: A Red Diamond
Cartel Imports and Exports is a faction that is the global arm of the Cartel Confederation of Terota, whose main objective are to set up shop in as many cities as possible across Myzelis in order to buy, sell, trade items of both legitimate and illicit nature. They are controlled by the Commandante of the Cartel Confederation, Yaotl Castro, and are regarded as an extension of power to the Commandante to make serious money for the country by exploiting the wants of people around Terota and now Myzelis. Their headquarters in the Confederation is the tallest building in Porto Ahau, which is lovingly called the Maior Fodido, which is in the district that experiences the least amount of flooding.
Base of Operations
The Maior Fodido (may-or fo-dee-do) is a tall sky scraper type building that was originally constructed by the Arenian Empire in celebration of the annexation of the Ayain-Valian Commonwealth pre-war. It's around 300 feet wide at it's base and about 900 feet tall. It's also one of the few buildings in the city that doesn't suffer from improper maintenance and it's glass shines in the sun. It's architecture is meant to be a fusion of Arenian and Aayin culture with the base of the building designed to look like an Aayin Ziggurat, and Arenian post-industrial slim skyscraper design for the body with a spire at the top where at night will emit a bright light, lighting up most of the city. Much of the building is empty office space, with occupied space being busy with people pushing papers and the tapping of typewriters echoing throughout the rooms.Outside of Terota, the Cartels would establish themselves in densely populated port cities and operate throughout the surrounding region through them. Typically making their home in an unassuming out of the way building or, if relations are good with local authorities, establish themselves in a rich estate.
History of the Cartels Imports and Exports
The Cartel Import and Exports existed since the formation of the Cartel and was the brainchild of Itiiti Letei, the first Commandante of the Confederation, that operated mainly in Talarena shipping goods to both Juntas and Water Barons. They later expanded to shipping goods to the Aredián Republic and Karieban Federation, which made a large amount of money due to the established laws of both powers creating a market that only the Cartels could provide to. The piling up of capital accrued by the Cartels have also put them in the position to explode into the markets both underground and legitimate throughout Myzelis.Goals of the Cartels
The main objective of the Cartels is to make as much money for the Confederation as possible and acquire valuable assets. The secondary objective, if the first isn't possible especially, is to also create or search for environment that is a better market. Such as illicit goods being easier to offload in corrupt or rundown cities and regions, or a market where everything is overpriced and can be undercut with cheap smuggled goods or with dummy companies. Another objective a part of their structure is also to sell/give Life Insurance policy's to VIP's to work as leverage against them, like with bribes, to operate with even more freedom.Leaders of Cartel Imports Exports
Besides Commandante Yaotl Castro who is the head of Imports and Exports, there are four sperate Supervisors who are high ranking members from each of the four different Cartels in the Confederation to make sure their interest are being served, even if it undercuts their colleague.Supervisor Marcos "Primer Louco" Albella Garcia of the Vida Nova Cartel, an eccentric Arenian mage who survived the Great War because of his prison sentence leaving him in an isolated unknown location. After he broke out with other prisoners, he was able to continue the perfection of his arcane craft, sometimes using his fellow ex-convicts as subjects for experimentation. He doesn't believe ethics should play a part in scientific and arcane progress and is a male High Elf Transmutation Wizard.
Supervisor Viorel "Serra" Dragomir of the Vento Vermelho Cartel, an Apian who was a low ranking officer in the Arenian Military who doubled as an Arms Dealer to criminal organizations before the Great War. She served jail time in Apian prisons which were infamous for being especially rough, only avoiding execution because of the chaos of the apocalypse. She doesn't care for the morality of where equipment goes and what it's used for, as long as it's sold for the right price. She's a female Mountain Dwarf Battle Master Fighter.
Supervisor Ivo-Ikal "Olhos" Vidal of the Ambiente-Iktan Cartel, an Ayain who grew up around Porto Ahau that worked with the Cartel at a young age to grow and distribute agricultural products and rose into prominence when he beat a competitor to death for selling on his Cartels territory. He believes that the strongest should lead society, and is a male Lizardfolk Circle of Wildfire Druid with four eyes.
Supervisor Estel "A Rainha" Novellas of the Regalo Cartel, a Charstanian woman who grew up in a Junta in Guria and was brought into the Cartels because of her talent spotting counterfeits which translated well into creating them. She's obsessed with fashion and art pieces in general and would collect different pieces to satiate her appetite for things that look good, and typically uses her earnings to purchase more or commission the theft of them. She's a female human Glamour Bard.
Membership and Structure
The insignia of the Cartel is called the "Diamante de Sangue" or "Blood Diamond". It's a relatively simple depiction of a red diamond, which is based off a symbol of the Valian resistance against Imperial Annexation in 2121 ISC. The simplicity and unassuming nature of the diamond makes it a perfect symbol to encrypt physical messages, such as encrypting a message on a crate, wall or really any surface by splitting the message into three points apart from each other in the shape of a diamond.Valiños in particular area of operations work closely together to keep things rolling and profits flowing. Higher ranking Valiños known as Cavaleiros Capitães or Knight Captains direct lower ranking Valiños known as Capataz or Foreman, who in turn direct Knights and Escudeiros which who are lower rank members. In most situations Valiños stay underground as a criminal organization and won't use real names with anyone, even each other, unless a deal has been made with the government, or members of it, in the territory they're doing business in. Even then, they would prefer codenames and nicknames and if they encounter other members they're not familiar with they would commonly speak in Thieves Cant to not out themselves.
Appearance
There are two things uniform with appearance about the Cartels is their tendency to wear pre-war armor and clothing, which is typically just old T-Shirts with shorts/pants and armor from Imperial Correctional Facilities and the Deposita 5 Lab Coat. The Deposita 5 Lab Coat is a long white coat with the Blood Diamond stitched onto the breast pocket, then an amount of chevrons on the sleeves that indicate rank and the color of the chevrons indicating Cartel. Colors being Blue for Vida Nova, Red for Vento Vermelho, Green for Ambiente-Iktan, and Gold for Regalo. They are typically only worn by people of the Knight rank and higher and is awarded to them after becoming Knights. Otherwise their equipment can be a combination of things that they have scavenged, made, purchased or stolen. They also love to wear sunglasses and have face coverings, like bandannas, that match the colors of what Cartel they're from.Becoming a Valiño
Joining the Cartels Imports and Exports for someone who lives within the Confederation means to apply in the offices of the Maior Fodido in Porto Ahau, where interviewers would essentially interrogate the applicant on their qualifications and past history. The institution being personally overseen by the Commandante means most Valiños from the Confederation are qualified to operate. Local recruits are typically picked from the local talent pool who are either talented free agents or easily manipulatable or something in-between, and are given the rank of Escudeiro (scoo-die-row). Escudeiro's are not officially a part of a Cartel and more like contractors with the prospect of being full members. Once one can be trusted and has shown promise, they are given the choice of being a member of one of the main four Cartels and must complete the ritual that corresponds with the one they chose.Vida Nova Cartel: The Graduation Exam. An exam based off the pre-war meritocratic governmental structure of the Arenian Empire that not only requires competence in Arcana but also competence in conducting business and important transactions and although not as difficult as it's predecessors, it's still infamously hard in the notoriously uneducated populous of the Confederation.
Vento Vermelho Cartel: Proof of Blood. The Escuderio must prove competence in equipment, such as armor and weapons, and the dealings of the common products that are traded. Then they must survive one on one melee combat with no weapons or magic for one minute against an Enforcer, or someone of similar skill, who is armed with a bludgeoning weapon.
Ambiente-Iktan Cartel: Survival Instincts. This ritual involves dropping an Escuderio in the middle of nowhere, typically in a tough environment, with no weapons, armor, or spellcasting focus and pass by making it to the Cartel member who dropped them there, who is typically the same person who may have brought them in or worked with them in the first place.
Regalo Cartel: Fine Goods. This ritual can be completed by selling a batch of obviously counterfeit products and avoiding arrest or death. The Escuderio may use a disguise but not spells or weapons and the entire test is seeing if they can avoid capture once caught in the act, which they most certainly would be. If they actually manage to sell it for good money then it would be regarded as impressive.
(Most Valiños work for a bit of time with the Cartels and would show loyalty that is obvious to them once officially joined, which can be disingenuous or not, whatever the case though it must be shown to the face of their colleagues that they are loyal. There is no class archetype requirement for Imports or Exports, however a member would likely have at least one of these skill proficiencies: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Stealth, Intimidation or Sleight of Hand. A player whose character joins a Cartel in a campaign may talk to their DM about how the initiation would go, probably with relevant skill checks to find out if it goes well or just through narration and time passing to make it go by quickly. A simple reason as to why they may continue or begin adventures that aren't relevant to Imports and Exports is because they are now considered a private citizen to do what they want or assigned to scouting for other markets and getting the lay of the land.)
Tenets
Valiños have three basic concepts they are expected to follow in order to be successful.- Be Loyal
- Be Powerful
- Create Wealth
Organization
The organization isn't split into subfactions in a functional manner as the Commandante manages Imports and Exports personally to make sure it can operate more efficiently. However, the four Cartels of the Conselho exert enough influence through their Supervisors to occasionally skew the objectives of Knight Commanders to their Cartels favor, the big four being:- Vida Nova Cartel: Specialize in the transactions of goods concerned with arcana, such as rare magic items, spell components and materials for arcane research both legal and illicit. They also sell Life Insurance enabled by their large stockpile of diamonds in Deposita 5 which makes them consistent income. Members of this cartel can usually use some kind of magic, if not at least know enough about the arcane to sell products efficiently.
- Vento Vermelho Cartel: Mainly conduct large scale arms deals, in Terota it would often involve a stock of arms and armor from the pre-war Imperial Armory along with some of their own designs. They also concern themselves with offering their services to deal with security issues, or create security issues, depending on what the client is looking for.
- Ambiente-Iktan Cartel: This cartel controls the trade of agricultural products, both legitimate and illicit. They mainly attempt to disrupt markets with the sale of cheap goods, especially of goods with cash crops like tobacco, cocoa and sugar. Alternatively, or usually at the same time, they're willing to sell any type of dangerous substance to a market if it's ripe for the taking.
- Regalo Cartel: Usually they manufacture counterfeit luxury goods, disrupting markets with a flood of cheaper yet similar products to whatever fetch's high prices and have only gotten better at their craft over the years. They also occasionally commission the theft of expensive, or seemingly expensive, art pieces such as paintings, jewelry and even large sculptures to either hold for a ransom/sell or for some of the more eccentric members of the cartel, keep for themselves.
Ranks and Responsibilities
The Cavaleiro Comandante or Knight Commander is trusted to direct a realm wide operation smoothly for the Commandante Supremo back in the Confederation, and are expected to regularly check up on the Capitão Cavaleiro's who are imbedded within cities across the realm, typically with the help of aides or even check personally via Sendings or meetings. This position is only awarded to some of the most qualified within the organization who have captured the personal attention of the Commandante with their skills, achievements and loyalty. When awarded this title, they are Knighted by the Commandante themselves in a ceremony dating back to the origin of Valians more than 5000 years ago, and are treated as a compatriot and comrade to the Commandante no matter their origin. They are given a ceremonial sword of Valia, a very rare magic weapon befitting of the recipient that also has a diamond worth 1000GP imbedded within the middle of the hilt. They're Deposita 5 lab coat is also given a total of four chevrons on the sleeves, and the Golden Eagle of Valia carrying diamonds in each of it's Talons on the back. If the ceremony wasn't enough to cement loyalty, then the 10,000GP per month salary likely would.Right in the Knight Commanders blind spot are the Supervisors who are representatives chosen by the Cartel they originate from to make sure their interest are being served as equally as their colleagues, which ironically enough end up making the opposite the case and the Supervisors would often exert their influence on Knight Captains to favor their cartel's transactions over another, at least temporarily. The Supervisor role originated from a dispute between the Conselho and the Commandante on Imports and Exports activities and the question of who is being favored more by the organization, and decided upon a compromise of sending Supervisors to observe the operations as outside observers. In practice it means Supervisors are both feared and revered, and often hand out rewards to those who prioritize their interest but those who fail to be discreet about it would likely to be punished by the Knight Commander.
The position of Capitão Cavaleiro or Knight Captain is awarded to those who have proven themselves both competent and loyal to the Knight Commander and are given the responsibility of managing operations personally within a city that has been chosen to operate in. When awarded with this promotion, the Knight Captain is given a white lab coat with the symbol of the Blood Diamond on it's breast pocket, the lab coat originating from Deposita 5 and is typically enchanted with the effects of the Cape of the Mountebank, Cloak of Protection, and Cloak of Many Fashions with two Chevrons on the sleeves. Knight Captains who aren't personally overseeing things in a city are then likely to be traveling around finding prospective markets, contacts, and generally getting the lay of the land so to speak. They are also given a considerable salary of 1,000GP a month by their Knight Commander.
The role of Executor or Enforcer is given to members who are proved to be combat veterans, and typically run security for the assets and operations of the Cartels Imports and Exports and can range from being former soldiers or mercenaries to warriors of an almost superhuman caliber. If needed they can also conduct certain clandestine operations of a bloody nature, either loudly or discreetly depending on the Enforcer. When they are given this role they are also awarded an enchantment on their Deposita 5 lab coat that is typically Coat of Protection but could instead be Coat of the Mountebank if they have served for a number of years. Salaries for them range on the low end of 500GP a month to 1000GP a month by the Knight Commander distrusted by the Captain.
Capataz or Foreman for Imports and Exports are essentially lower ranking managers of an operation who provide their Knight Captains with information about the local market, give information on the local competition and organize and manage labor. Foreman are typically chosen with the Knight Captain's discretion, a lot of times they would be trusted info brokers that the Knight Captain has worked with in the past or sometimes a local who they have reason to trust, at least with payment. Salaries typically range from 150GP to 250GP given to them by the Knight Captain.
Cavaleiro or Knight is a rank and title given to those who have passed their initiation ritual with a cartel and have officially become a part of one of the Cartels. When awarded with this rank, they are given the white lab coat of Deposita 5 with a cloak of many fashions enchantment imbued into it. They are trusted as someone who can complete more complicated tasks given to them by a superior and is trusted as someone who can mange themselves on their own. They would often be assisting the Enforcers, Foreman, or Knight Captains depending on the particular talents of the Knight in question. Salaries typically range to 100GP to 200GP a month and are given bonuses when completing extra tasks by the Knight Captain and Knight Commander.
Escudeiros or Squires can be a combination of hired locals and people from the Confederation who have shown promise in becoming a valuable part of a Cartel rather than just a regular employee or Contractor. They could be apprentices of Enforcers or a messenger/informant for the Knight Captain who eventually go through their initiation ritual for whatever Cartel they sign up with. Typical salaries range from 25-50GP a month by the Knight Captain.
Finally there are the Contractors, which is a term used for people working with the Cartels but not actually a member of them and are often simple laborers but can also mean people who participate in the Cartels information nets like messengers or informant. It can also be used for talented specialist hired by the Cartels to accomplish difficult tasks, such as carrying out a hit, performing espionage on rivals and other sorts of miscellaneous task. Laborer's are typically paid a little more than average at about 50SP to 80SP a month to insure loyalty and contracts for specialist can range from anywhere between 100GP to 1000GP one time payments upon completion by the Knight Captain or even Knight Commander depending on the work.
Valiños Elsewhere in Myzelis
Most Cartel Import and Export groups that exist outside Terota typically stay underground and incognito so as to not reveal any identities or locations and is uncommon to find Knight Captains and people of similar rank simply wandering around and would stay within their warehouses or purchased property. With contractors, Knights, and Enforcers around their shadow markets and area of operations. The Knight Commander also stays concealed for the most part, even if they made a deal with the government most Valiños, and in turn most people, will likely never see them. Also if the relations are good within a government to government level, they would be known in that region as the Confederation's Trade Company. The warehouses or whatever buildings they may use to operate are filled with people, typically local contractors, moving product and distributing it across the city/region they're located in to local buyers. Lower rank members are also consistently intimidated by their superiors, by their equipment they would bring from home, foreign attire, and lack of hesitancy to use violence as a solution to problems.
Founding Date
05/05/2255 ISC Capital
Deposita 5 Demonym
Valiño(s) Leader
Yaotl Castro Leader Title
Commandante Supremo
05/05/2255 ISC Capital
Deposita 5 Demonym
Valiño(s) Leader
Yaotl Castro Leader Title
Commandante Supremo
Type
Illicit, Cartel
Related Professions
