Midnight Dawn
One of the biggest crime syndicates in all of Al'Uvium the Midnight Dawn has existed since before the Rending. They have operations in nearly every major city on the three main continents and satellite operation on the Continent of Thawl and The winter Wastes. They have a complex relationship with power supporting it where necessary, subverting it where possible and seizing it where opportunistic. They are not a thieves guild but do employ a number of thieves and have from time to time run afoul of the guild for their lack of adherence to the thieves code, but for the most part the organizations have a live and let live philosophy.
organization making the slave trade a business interest the Midnight Dawn had no real stake in so when the opportunity to hurt them arrived the Midnight Dawn made special arrangement to assist any effort to end the Beastkith slavery. These seemingly benevolent acts gained the Midnight Dawn many loyal Beastkith members over the years. During the limited actions of the Drow/Duergar Conflict the Midnight Dawn were the primary weapons dealers to both sides. When the conflict spread to the topside elves and Dwarves the Midnight Dawn also provided mercenary and spy services ensuring that the conflict raged as long as possible.
The founders
The Midnight Dawn was founded in the Goddless Age after the sacrifice of Driff. Then known as True Midnight, they were a loose collection of thugs who liked working together to increase loot and reduce risk. Little is known about the original group or who suggested forming a union first. What is known is that of the original 5 members 3 were human brothers named Halpso, one was a halfling named Nimble (this may have been a nickname, records are unclear), and the final member was a changling whose name is lost to history. Each of the party brought a skill that would later become pillars for the organization. The Halpso brothers were brutes, thugs and highwaymen they were said to have had a drop of giant blood due to their large statures (need citation), Nimble was, by all accounts the best cat burglar and thief in the 5 kingdoms, and the changling was unmatched in the world of spys and assassins. With their talents they had a firm lock on many aspects of what would become the basis of the business model for True Midnight.Wars
It is believed the 5 founders of the True Midnight died within the golden kingdom during the Great Rending. Luckily the organizational structure they had established across the then 5 kingdoms was enough to maintain their existence. A new leadership emerged out of this rubble and saw opportunity in the wars that were being fought all over Al'Uvium as nations and warlords and organizations struggled to find their footing.This is a new dawn for Al'Uvium and a new dawn for us. we have always found our place in the shadows of midnight, now we will come out of darkness into the Midnight Dawn
An Half-Elf lieutenant in the True Midnight seized authority and began her push to control not just crime but also to infiltrate the halls of power. During the separation wars the now rebranded Midnight Dawn saw opportunity by secretly allying with both sides of any conflict. In this way they were able to tie whomever the victors were to them. The plan worked and by the time of the Beastkith revolt they had several kingdoms under indirect control. They continued their manipulations through the revolt, mostly by aiding the beastkith; the slavers guild had always been too proud to partner with any other
Substances
Euthinasium
The Midnight Dawn is known for their brokering of hard to find items. None so much as Euthinasium or its more common name, Mages Bane. It is believed that the alchemical compound was developed by The Midnight Dawn as a way to control uncooperative persons but its popularity has grown so much that they now mass produce it and distribute it all over the world. Euthinasium has replaced Spore Venom as their number one cash drug, not including coffee.Spore Venom
was originally The True Midnight's cash drug of choice. The sale of it helped build the Criminal Empire and that wealth was largely responsible for the organizations ability to survive the Great Rending. Refining the technique for creating the Spore Venom and increasing its addictiveness became a major focus for the Newly established Midnight Dawn. People were hurting and needed release in the aftermath of the cataclysm. Massive cave systems were purchased to grow the shrooms and large scale breeding programs begun to ensure the best stock of venom in pursuit of greater and greater gains. No consideration was given to the individual cost associated with becoming addicted to this substance.Coffee
The Midnight Dawn controls approximately 80% of Al'Uviums Coffee plantations and makes for the best cover they have for any illicit profits. Their plantations dot the countryside of nearly every kingdom and nation to make distribution simple.
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