Brüd Crime Family

The Brüd crime family, led by the enigmatic Azernathy Brüd, stands as one of the most influential underground organizations in Tatharia Capitolina. Unlike many criminal organizations, their influence spans both the shadows and the public sphere, often blurring the line between legitimate enterprise and illicit activity. The Brüd family operates behind a facade of respectability, with Azernathy as the face—a benefactor, scholar, and businessman with philanthropic ventures. Despite being openly accused of leading a criminal empire, Azernathy has never been charged, reflecting both his cunning nature and the immense influence his family wields.

Structure

The Brüd crime family is structured in a hierarchical yet subtle manner, designed to ensure that the connection between the top leaders and the operatives is nearly impossible to trace. At the top sits Azernathy Brüd, the unchallenged leader and mastermind. Below him are trusted lieutenants who each manage a branch of the family's operations, keeping them separate and compartmentalized:

1. Azernathy Brüd:

   The head of the family, maintaining an air of legitimacy while orchestrating the family's affairs with an iron will.

2. Gorvald the Shade:

   Oversees the family’s dark magical research, ensuring they stay ahead in arcane power and knowledge. He operates covert cells dedicated to various forbidden branches of Magic, including necromancy.

3. Resphine the Whisper:

   Manages the intelligence and espionage operations, gathering
information on both potential rivals and allies. Resphine also ensures that blackmail material and leverage are always ready should the need arise.

4. Thalor Quent:

   In charge of the family's legitimate business operations, ensuring a steady stream of income that can be laundered and reinvested into both legal and illegal ventures.

5. Lysandra Vex:

   Oversees several shell companies and money-laundering operations, making sure the family’s finances appear legitimate and untouchable by law enforcement.

Public Agenda

The Brüd crime family officially denies its existence as a criminal organization. Azernathy Brüd, in particular, works tirelessly to cultivate an image of respectability, bolstered by his investments in educational institutions, charitable foundations, and cultural initiatives in Tatharia Capitolina. His public persona is that of a wealthy philanthropist who has given generously to the city's cultural and intellectual pursuits, including substantial donations to the Laboratorium.
Despite the suspicions that surround him, Azernathy's involvement in the community and his substantial charitable contributions have earned him a level of public goodwill that shields him from scrutiny. Many people, especially those who benefit from his generosity, refuse to believe the allegations leveled against him, viewing them instead as baseless accusations from jealous rivals.
Still, the family’s reputation is colored by the frequent imprisonment of lower-ranking members—foot soldiers, enforcers, and even some lieutenants who have been caught carrying out criminal activities. However, the higher-ups, including Azernathy himself, always seem to avoid direct implication, with layers of deniability protecting them from any legal action.

History

The origins of the Brüd crime family can be traced back to Azernathy Brüd himself. Unlike many of the other crime syndicates in Tatharia Capitolina, which often grew out of extended immigrant families from the faraway Kingdom of Aermond, the Brüd family was the creation of a single, highly ambitious individual. Azernathy used his extensive academic background and financial acumen to establish what initially appeared to be a successful trading enterprise. This business served as a front, allowing him to fund and mask the early stages of his criminal activities.
Azernathy began by recruiting individuals who shared his ambition and lacked moral scruples—people willing to operate in the shadows to expand their influence and power. Over Time, this small group evolved into a sprawling network, encompassing everything from smuggling operations to black-market arcane dealings. Unlike the typical familial structure of other crime organizations, Azernathy's syndicate was built on loyalty through fear and calculated incentives, with Azernathy himself as the sole operator bearing the Brüd name.
Under Azernathy's leadership, the Brüd crime family grew into an intricate machine of influence, power, and fear. His unique combination of arcane knowledge and financial genius allowed him to establish the Brüd family as both the most influential criminal syndicate in Tatharia Capitolina and as one of the city's most respected philanthropic entities. Through careful manipulation of his public image, Azernathy has managed to keep his illicit operations hidden behind a veneer of respectability, ensuring that his true activities remain concealed from all but the most astute observers.

Table of Contents

Type

Illicit, Cartel

Leader

Azernathy

Subsidiary Organizations

• Avaini Crime Family

Location

Tatharia Capitolina

Notable Members

• Castor Vitani
• Lysandra Vex

Related Species

• Human