Rise of the Underworld

Criminal Activity

In 1402 DR, following increasing trade restrictions imposed on Umizu’s merchants by the Speakers for the Ancestors, a black market began to take shape in the shadows of the Star Arcade and Trade Discal. Umizu’s economy had always thrived on flexible commerce and aggressive mercantile expansion, but in the structured governance of the Citadel, they found themselves stonewalled by bureaucracy, tariffs, and politically entrenched merchant houses from Sensa Empire and Siabsungkoh. Frustrated with these limitations, Umizu’s most opportunistic traders and smugglers turned to alternative means, establishing a hidden network known as the Silent Current—a trade syndicate that specialized in circumventing official regulations, smuggling contraband, and discreetly dealing in Wildspace goods and magical artifacts of questionable origin.

At first, the Silent Current operated discreetly, avoiding direct confrontation with authorities. However, as their influence grew, so too did their ambition. Magical forgeries, illicit spell components, and black-market planar relics became common within the syndicate’s dealings. To secure its foothold, the organization infiltrated various trade guilds and financial institutions, ensuring that legitimate businesses often relied—knowingly or unknowingly—on Silent Current supply lines. By the late 1360s, the black market was no longer an underground rumor; it was an open secret among merchants who either benefited from or feared its reach.   The rise of the Silent Current forced the Speakers to take action. In 1368 DR, a coordinated effort led by the Planar Watch, the Shieldbearers, and investigative agents from Yongjing and Yeonido resulted in a large-scale crackdown on smuggling operations. Many high-profile arrests were made, and several Umizu trading houses were permanently barred from holding economic positions of power. However, while the crackdown weakened the Silent Current, it did not eliminate it. The organization merely adapted, becoming more secretive, more ruthless, and more selective in its operations. To this day, many believe that the Silent Current still thrives beneath the surface, its influence embedded in the foundations of the Citadel’s economic system.