The Hollow Syndicate

The syndicate is composed of three hierarchical bodies. The first is the priesthood, the original part of the organization, which holds the highest authority. They mostly stay in the deepest part of the Hollow Canyon, where they commune in the pitch-black caverns, regularly practicing Hollow magic, concocting medicine that dilutes the senses, and recording their experiences in scripture. As agents of the faith, their word is expressed only by their high priests, who possess years of knowledge and experience. As such, their authority is absolute. Those who are acolytes and regular priests serve as silent servants of the faith, taking a vow of silence to focus on their scripture writing as their voice.   The Second body is the system of enforcers governed by a criminal hierarchy. A mixture of Humans, Elves, and Harengon with varying skills from common thief to professional criminal. Each member is trained in criminal activity and stealth-focused combat, with the nine strongest individuals given a number as their new name, establishing them as an authority second only to the high priests. The priesthood requests any of the nine leaders, and that number organizes other members to complete it as an acting supervisor. Each numbered member has their internal gang that takes on the names of 8 Empty Beasts. Those who become members of the syndicate are selected to be members of the numbered gangs based on their skill or potential.   Only the highest-ranking head, Number 0, has the power to debate against the priesthood's requests. Their authority is that of the head of the organization, but they are obligated to either protest or obey a command from the high priests. Even if Number 0 were to refuse the order, the other numbers can overrule the refusal if ordered by the priesthood. Numbers 1-8 each have an equal standing with each other, but they faithfully obey the orders given by number 0. Each number is based on the 9 Hollows, with some within the Syndicate speculating that these leaders embody certain aspects of their namesake Hollows.   The third body of the syndicate is its base members. Petty criminals, outcasts, and refugees who work the land to feed and shelter the community as a whole. They have no authority to speak of and are obligated to honor the faith's monthly sermons or become acolytes of the faith.

The organization is an isolated community of refugees, religious followers, outcasts, and low-born criminals. Everyone who takes shelter in the Hollow Canyon. They are known to be hostile to visitors from other factions, such as the Kingdom of Owenar. For the syndicate, unfortunate lives were influenced by governing forces such as the Kingdom. Thieves who were trying not to starve or vengeful fathers killing their son's murderer. Despite their perspective of right, they were all persecuted by the law. The organization's hierarchy is built on merit, skill, and/or religious experience. Every individual is expected to contribute to the community, as the dangers of the outside world make survival necessary. Their contribution can come from many forms of action. From helping with harvesting crops to defending other syndicate members. As an autonomous organization, trade in the community is either through exchanging goods or favors. Actions such as violent acts against those who seek refuge in the Hollow Canyon are socially condemned as the community believes strongly in never seeing others as less. A sentiment in a society of people who were seen as less. As it is for the community, the syndicate follows that social behavior. Their role and camaraderie form bonds or rivalries with their teammates.   On many occasions, members have fought against each other to assert dominance. However, it must be noted that lethal force is restricted unless both sides agree. Dissent against any numbered members is considered sacrilege, as the priesthood had chosen them to lead. As the locals and syndicate members say, "the tarantula never stings its legs." A phrase used by the locals to remind themselves that they are all part of the same body. In addition, it is considered forbidden to enter the priesthood's deepest caverns. It is speculated that they do not want guests to venture into the deepest darkness without preparation. Only those who have experienced sensory deprivation are allowed to enter. Any violation of these rules or the tenets of the faith is judged by the high-priests, who submit a punishment based on the severity of the crime. The worst punishment administered is called "the final sight." The victim is induced with powerful drugs that permanently rob the user of all senses except for the ability to touch, leaving them to wander the land with nothing to guide them. A brief moment of acidic pain from the drugs turning dissenters into men who are trapped in a world of eternal darkness. When it comes to actions outside of the community, like stealing something in the streets of Arcshire, there is no punishment set by its members unless it exposes or compromises the organization in a critical state. Their community's survival in a desolate land like the Hollow Canyon makes thievery and black market trade necessary. Even so, with an organization of criminals, they are expected to organize their criminal activity to remain efficient and prevent unnecessary attention. That is not to say that killing soldiers and adventurers is also likely. Their focus on their community's lives has led most of them to discriminate against others who follow government laws. They show no malice towards their demise, but instead seek vengeance when one among them is killed. When they venture outside the canyon, they must work in the dark while wearing religious masks to conceal their identities. Only numbered members are permitted to show their faces publicly. Their reputation as dangerous criminals deters lawful soldiers and dissenting team members. The leaders of the enforcing faction of the syndicate wear spidersilk armor crafted from the webbing of the Hollow Canyon tarantula. Each piece is uniquely designed based on the wearer's numbered identity.   The syndicate takes in the religious practices of the "Faith of Finality." An exiled practice of worshipping the realm of nothingness outside the Universe. Centered around the icon of the Hollows, beings of the realm of nothingness. The icon is a specific Hollow, Argalax'is, that supposedly overpowered the herald of the Universe, known as Zaherius. Still, the Hollow was defeated by the celestial gods and transformed into the world of Ixala. Its remnants still linger across the globe. In addition, the faith also names eight other Hollows whose names were revealed in the visions of prophets. The Faith of Finality requires all members of the syndicate and the citizenry to partake in religious ceremonies and a monthly sermon from their scripture called the "Voices of the Inevitable." A collection of written experiences by the high priests of history that molded the mythology of their faith. Every waxing and waning moon, its members consume sensory-depriving medicine in the ritual of "void sense." Allowing them to experience emptiness and record what they felt or saw. The priesthood then deciphers those recordings to foretell new meanings and prophecies. When communicating in the outside world, they leave encoded markings for others to find. These markings are symbols written in scripture from past ceremonial experiences: each one signifying warnings, orders, and secret passageways.

To the eyes of the common folk, the syndicate acts only as a criminal organization that causes disorder. Their business with the illegal trade of Saltwood sap to create the addictive drug After-burner earned them a negative reputation as murderers and drug peddlers, even more so when they caused violent diversions for the secret harvesting of pure sap from the Saltwood Forest. Angering the druids who protect the forest's ecosystem. While the violation of the law is unquestionable, the syndicate's motives have always been to ensure the survival of its community, which the law did not protect. Whatever valuable items they gather are sold in the black market for food and materials for the community, but it's not uncommon for such thievery to result in some of them storing whatever wealth is left. Internally, the syndicate aims to learn all that can be deciphered from their sensory-deprived visions. To unlock the Hollows' secrets and future events leading to the universe's inevitable death. To gather this encoded information, the priesthood needs time and resources. The sutaining of the community ensures that there will be enough souls to fulfill their mantra "all is Illusion, nothing is truth."

The exact number of members of the syndicate is unknown. Their isolated hideout in Hollow Canyon makes assessing their demographics and population difficult. Base members are known to wear basic garments or stolen clothes with face-concealing masks and an assortment of different weaponry. Most involve stealth, such as knives, fighting gloves, bows, throwing daggers, and smoke bombs. The numbered members are given spider silk armor that signifies their number and carry a weapon that matches their specialty in combat, things like high-quality steel blades and magic conduits such as staffs, tomes, and focusing gems. Other standard equipment among members is potions that dilute certain senses and filter cloth masks that help one travel across the poisonous fumes of the Sorchwood Forest. Their amassing of wealth in the black market makes their level of funds unknown, but it is estimated to be a combined wealth equal to that of a noble.   The priesthood commonly wears robes of spider silk dyed black and dark purple. The robes are woven with decorations as the acolyte or priest experiences more from their sensory deprivation rituals. The high priests wear age-old robes from past leaders to inherit their legacy. Their only equipment is their magical conduits to practice Hollow magic, alchemic concoctions of potions, or sacred daggers for defense. They do not possess any wealth than that as it is part of their faith to remove attachemts to wealth.

The Hollow Syndicate's origin is only known by its founders, who have long since passed away. What is known is that they first appeared in the imperial-controlled Westenra around the year 132 of the Dark Ages (DA). They were found raiding an imperial escort meant to supply a nearby military settlement. During this time, their numbers and activities were small as the defenses of the Fuxenarian Empire were difficult to counter. After the empire fell, and the human tribes divided the land, their numbers grew as more people became outcasts. Word circulated throughout the land that they had managed to settle in the Hollow Canyon. Ensuring their protection from retaliation thanks to the canyon's geological position. Their activities became frequent. Killing and stealing from tribesmen, causing disturbances that none were able to track past the Scorchwood Forest. When the Kingdom of Owenar came to Westenra, the rise of outcasts grew as constitutional law, market guild exploitation, and social disparity influenced individuals to seek refuge.   In the year 588, after the Dark Ages (ADA), the syndicate introduced a drug into the black market known as "after-burner." This concoction of Saltwood tree sap and venom from tarantula fangs crystallized to be ignited into an inhalable smoke. The drug became so popular that the syndicate's wealth skyrocketed, and the Kingdom of Owenar began enforcing a crackdown on the drug's sale. Initially, the tree sap for the drug was harvested from the dying trees of the Scorchwood forest. Still, it was considerably dangerous and contaminated due to the Scorchwood curse that plagued the land. By 611 ADA, the syndicate had been found supporting civil unrest in the Flintwood Alley district of Arcshire, the Owenarian capital. Being the most impoverished district of the city, the criminal influence sparked a conflict with the reigning government that the syndicate hoped would give them more recruits. After the demand for after-burners overcame the supply, the syndicate sought safer and purer harvesting from the untainted Saltwood Forest. Setting their plan in motion in 622 ADA, they created diversions and sneak attacks against the defending druids of the Saltwood Grove to allow their harvesters to collect pure sap. When they retreat, the syndicate avoids retaliation thanks to the dangers of crossing the Scorchwood Forest, as it did in their favor against enemies of the past.   In 624 ADA, after the syndicate's most influential period, the criminal network of Arcshire sought to eliminate the Hollow Syndicate's influence. They raided the city's after-burner storage, cut ties with its members, and killed those who drew their blades against them. The syndicate soon turned to rivals against the city's guild of weavers and courtesans, the Silk Widow Tribe, governed by the family of assassins, House Araneae—a poetic conflict of the silk widow spider against the Hollow Canyon tarantula. Their conflict, which continues even today, separates the strength of influence between the capital and the Hollow Canyon. In 644 ADA, when Queen Lauren II's husband, Reynald Warrick, suffered an intense addiction to after-burner. His affliction led him to fund the Hollow Syndicate for more of the drug secretly. Leading to him being caught and her Queen denouncing his titles and divorcing him in 650 ADA to quell outrage. This put Reynald in a state of frenzy, as his reputation had ruined the power and influence of his small noble family. Desperate for more of the drug, he drained his family's wealth to satisfy his addiction. To relieve his misery, he blamed his former wife for his collapse and killed Queen Lauren II in 653 ADA during her wedding to Alexandre Stormmoon. Leaving the Owenarian monarchy under the regency of the new husband until their 1-year-old daughter, Lauren Owenar III, came of age to rule in 669 ADA   Before the Second Salted Steel War, in 970 ADA, a small fire in the Alban Market Guild hall caused the death of its guildmaster, Carmela Alban. Evidence of markings and a burnt purple mask has led people to believe that the syndicate was involved. Despite the uproar of killing a noble, the succeeding head of House Alban, Hector Alban, declared it an accident and refused to allow any further investigations. To this day, suspicions grow as to Hector's motives, but they were slowly dissipated after he became a war hero in the Salted Steel war to come.

The Hollow Syndicate operates and resides in the Hollow Canyon, a peninsula stretching east of the mainland continent of Westenra. The Canyon is a desolate mesa of rock, sand, and dirt where very little croplife can sustain itself. As such, the organization takes residency in the caverns that riddle the canyon. The largest concentration is in an underground town known as Hollowkeep. The exact location of this town is unknown to all except the syndicate members and a rare few individuals outside the territory. Its location is a closely guarded secret, and any rumor of its whereabouts is eliminated by destroying any physical evidence, such as maps, written accounts, or even the voice that spread the rumors. Outside of the canyon, they have partial control over the Scorchwood Forest, where they collect tree sap for drug peddling. In addition, the forest acts as an obstacle against foreign interventions such as the Saltwood Grove. The dangerous fires and toxic smoke make it difficult for the druids to catch them when the syndicate causes havoc on their lands. Even more so with the Kingdom of Owenar, which can't muster an invasion force against the syndicate's criminal activity without losing men. An effective barrier that guarantess the isolated safety of the Holow Syndicate.

The Faith of Finality states that the universe was created by Ocxuleg, a fully-formed Hollow, as an accident—a momentary setback of something existing in a space of nothing. As written in their scripture, Argalax'is, the herald of the empty, set the universe's stars in motion to fade into darkness before the celestial gods defeated him. His destroyed body formed the world of Ixala upon which mortals reside. The mountain is his bones, the water his blood, the sky his breath, the caverns his wounds, and the final blow that killed him created the Hollow Canyon upon which the syndicate resides. To the faithful, life is but the intervention of divinity to give false meaning to existence. Believing in their scripture, they concluded that the inevitability of the universe's death meant that all sense of order and complicity is meaningless. Focusing instead on deciphering the secrets of the hollows through the visions they attain from their rituals, experiencing the pure emptiness of sense, and witnessing the voices and symbols hidden in the dark. Through these rituals, they collected the knowledge of Argalx'is and the 8 Empty Beasts. The Hollows that attained forms of being after achieving reality-altering feats.  

Iacnovhul, the first beast, and lord of darkness. He exists in every shadow, and his breath floods the world with night.

Viktgen, the second beast, and lord of names. Every word spoken resonates in its body; all names are within his dominion.

Ve'pixs, the third beast, and lord of power. Through his strength, all magic originates. His followers are gifted with Hollow magic, the source of power itself.

Ocxuleg, the fourth beast, and the lord of curiosity. The Hollow's boredom drove it to create the first light, which in turn gave birth to the universe.

Zeherius, the fifth beast, and the hollow of light. A corrupted Hollow who sought hope in existence rather than emptiness.

Vralk'Vher, the sixth beast, and lord of blood. A conduit of flesh that imbues incredible strength and will.

Z'as'lu, the seventh beast, and the lord of instability. Wherever chaos ensues, this Hollow tips the scales in favor of disorder. Manipulating small moments into catastrophes

Ytulko, the eighth beast, and the lord of loss. When one faces defeat, this Hollow can influence their trauma and make them act unreasonably while devouring their raw emotion.

Argalax'is, the herald of the empty, and creator of Ixala. A culmination of the sacrifice of being from the 8 Empty Beasts, this Hollow empowers nothingness to devour the stars until they fade from existence. Prophesied to resurrect as the final light of the Universe goes out.

I. The First Edict: The Inevitable "Hear now the word of the Empty: All that is, is fleeting. As shadows stretch and fade, so too shall all existence wane. Cling not to the mirage of permanence, nor seek solace in the lies of eternity. For in the end, all shall return to the boundless void from whence it came."   II. The Second Edict: The Path of Nothingness "The truest wisdom lies not in the clamor of the world, but in the stillness of the Empty. Through the sacred rites of void sense, we peel away the layers of illusion and draw closer to the heart of truth. Cast aside the distractions of the senses, and let your mind be a vessel for the revelations of the Hollows."   III. The Third Edict: The Herald of Truth "Bow before Argalax'is, Herald of the Empty, the icon of our liberation. Remember his sacrifice, his descent into the abyss, and the birth of Ixala from his demise. Let his fate be a constant reminder that even in destruction, there is a terrible beauty."   IV. The Fourth Edict: The Voices of Fate "Attend the sermons of the High Priests, and study the ancient words of the 'Voices of the Inevitable.' Within these sacred texts lie the echoes of forgotten ages, the prophecies of what is to come, and the wisdom of those who have walked the path before us. Let their voices guide you through the darkness. Let the coming of waning and waxing moons be our sign of ritual"   V. The Fifth Edict: The Ninefold Dominion "Acknowledge the power of the Nine Hollows, the primal entities that dwell beyond the veil.   Iacnovhul, the Lord of Darkness, whose shadow consumes all light.   Viktgen, the Lord of Names, whose voice shapes the very fabric of reality.   Ve'pixs, the Lord of Power, from whom all magic flows.   Ocxuleg, the Lord of Curiosity, whose yearning birthed the universe.   Zeherius, the Hollow of Light, a warning against the seduction of hope.   Vralk'Vher, the Lord of Blood, whose essence binds flesh and bone.   Z'as'lu, the Lord of Instability, whose touch unravels order.   Ytulko, the Lord of Loss, who feeds on despair and drives our emotions of defeat.   Argalax'is, the Herald of the Empty, whose coming heralds the end of all things.   Understand their dominion, and fear their power."   VI. The Sixth Edict: The Bond of Kin "Protect your brothers and sisters within the Syndicate. We are bound together by shared suffering and a common purpose. For in unity, we find strength against the world that despises us."   VII. The Seventh Edict: Defiance of the False Light "Resist the allure of false order and the tyranny of the self-righteous. Men of justice, with their deluded faith and iron fist, stand as a monument to the lies we reject. Defy their laws, and undermine their authority, for they are an abomination in the eyes of the Empty."   VIII. The Eighth Edict: The Shadowed Path "When you walk among the uninitiated, conceal your true nature and purpose. Let the world see only the mask you choose to wear. For the truth of the Empty is a flame that would consume them."   IX. The Ninth Edict: The Chosen "Respect the authority of the Priesthood, for they are the voice of the Hollows. Honor the Numbered, for they are the strong arm of our will. Dissent is a poison that weakens us from within, and shall not be tolerated."   X. The Tenth Edict: The Rites of Secrets "Guard the sacred knowledge entrusted to us. Protect the mysteries of the Hollows, and the visions granted through the rites of communion. The secrets of the Empty are not for the eyes of the profane. Only those who have embraced the darkness may tread the path to true understanding."

At the heart of the Hollow Syndicate lies a priesthood that wields absolute authority and guards the tenets of a faith rooted in the worship of nothingness. This reclusive order forms the Syndicate's highest echelon, tracing its origins to the cult's inception and the worship of Argalax'is, a being of emptiness.   The priesthood functions as the spiritual core of the Syndicate, dedicated to interpreting and propagating the beliefs of the "Faith of Finality." Central to their practice is the "void sense" ritual. Through years of intense study and experience, High Priests hold the power of lawgivers, their pronouncements shaping the Syndicate's actions and worldview. They are the gatekeepers of forbidden knowledge, meticulously preserving and expanding upon the esoteric teachings in the "Voices of the Inevitable" and the mysteries surrounding the Hollows. Within the deepest caverns of Hollow Canyon, they conduct rituals, notably the "void sense" ritual, which involves the consumption of sensory-depriving medicines to induce a state of perceiving only nothingness. During this state, they seek visions and hear voices, which they meticulously record in personal scriptures.   The priests maintain a strict hierarchical structure that reinforces their authority within the Syndicate. High Priests occupy the summit, while lesser priests and acolytes fulfill supporting roles, often observing a vow of silence to focus on scriptural duties and ritual assistance. The High Priests study these personal scriptures and seek to identify those closest to deciphering the secrets of the Hollows. Those who demonstrate a profound understanding of the Hollows' symbols and mysteries, often after years of dedicated practice, ascend to the High Priesthood. This isolation within the Syndicate's dark heart allows the priesthood to concentrate on its spiritual calling, preserving the sanctity of its rites and the purity of its beliefs.   Beyond their spiritual duties, the High Priests also serve as the ultimate arbiters of the Syndicate, judging and punishing transgressions against its laws and tenets. The most severe punishment, "the final sight," demonstrates the extent of their power. The priesthood is the spiritual and intellectual driving force behind the Hollow Syndicate, shaping its identity, dictating its practices, and guiding its members toward the ultimate embrace of the nothingness they revere.

Hollow magic is considered by the faith to be the origin of magic itself. Its focus comes from the experience of void sense and the incantations found in warlock magic. Those who regularly use this magic must rest undisturbed in senselessness. Incomplete sleep can result in mental damage due to the inability to control the energies they have channeled. Hollow magic's nature depends on the worship icon one takes in their first manifestation of power. Each icon belongs to one of the 8 Empty Beasts, the Hollows formed before Argalax'is's demise—their relation in scripture manifesting in the form of the user's first power. As the student evolves into a master, their magic becomes more refined and similar to the magics of the 8 Empty Beasts. For example, those who take on the icon of Viktgen, Lord of Names, can conjure psychic attacks, deceive the minds of the weak, and attain knowledge of the names of the unidentifiable. Once an icon is chosen, the contract has been made, and the user is subservient to the Hollow's will. The only way to remove oneself from the contract is to deny oneself sleep for 7 days and suffer a mental psychosis in the process. Doing so under the watchful eye of the priesthood is considered heresy of the highest order. Resulting in the punishment of "the final sight."