Tag: criminal-order
Tea Lodge Network of Rhyl
Posted on October 28, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Tea Lodges of Rhyl manage family finances, arrange travel to Kaald, some marriages intertwined, refuge seekers, tea, and said to span race. Maple syrup from freelanders and Kaald. It experienced a renewed influence and power in the events of Tea House Revival of CY 9126 – 9130.
Symbol: A simple yellow tea cup; “Nothing happens in the north that is not discussed over tea.”
Areas of Influence: The Lodge Tradition in Rhyl is strongest in the east of the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl. In Rhyl, the ancient Tea Lodges will be found in the areas outside of The Rhylan Grants and old kingdoms that were located inside the forest along its edges. Mostly this consists of the areas to the east of the plateau all the way to the mountains and up to North Gate Garrison.
The women of the Tea Lodges of Rhyl have a disdain of the culture around the War Brides of Rhyl and you will not find many in their ranks.
Criminal Activity? Some believe the Tea House tradition is even leveraged as a smuggling channel – though what it would smuggle is dubious… the efforts of The Red March make for severe penalties – not to mention extreme ethical quandaries.
The Bitter Leaves
In fact, the Tea Lodge members include a band of smugglers who call themselves The Bitter Leaves, an old organization and technically part of the Criminal Presence in Rhyl. They are located in the east of the duchy, but their network is the entire duchy; They avoid direct clashes with other criminal elements. They handle refuge seekers into Kaald (through a secret route!?), girls seeking to avoid arranged marriages, a few rare foodstuffs and trinkets for the wealthy, and money and supplies from clandestine fundraisers. They never use the Bank of the Silver Stacks.
The Order of the Green Garters
The Order of the Green Garter is a women-only order nominally of camaraderie and accomplishment within the Tea Lodges of Rhyl. Long has it been said it is involved in marriage, politics, and even revenge through its agents of the Garter Blades – they often train young noble women to fight. There’s rumors that those men who try to abuse their position often find themselves in compromising positions or worse. There are Rumors they are tied to hag activity historically. These agents of the Tea Lodges of Rhyl gain some of the Witchwood each harvest to enhance their… powers of persuasion.
Active Lodge Locations
- Tea Lodge of Alstaad (Northgate)
- Tea Lodge of Fortun
- Tea Lodge of Fortun
- Tea Lodge of Red Spring
- Tea Lodge of Redmark
- Tea Lodge of Rhylan (capital)
- Tea Lodge of Saltmarch
- Tea Lodge of Sheffet
- Tea Lodge of Ten Stacks
- Tea Lodge of Twin Springs
The Dead Hand (syndicate of Rhyl)
Posted on October 15, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Dead Hand is the only syndicate of Criminal Presence in Rhyl. Most think of them as nothing more than a smuggler gang, and they prefer it and foster that. They mostly operate on the edge of Lake Caolite in the city of Solavia’s Landing; Their mark/symbol is a reference to their prominence on the lake’s edge in Rhyl (also called the “Emeraldheart”).
Symbol: A black hand grasping a green heart
Reputation: The name seems to stem from their reputation for ‘dead man switches’ – traps left on dead bodies to foil pursuers. They also have a proclivity for rather nasty and creative unmanned traps. The syndicate is known for hiring out to send “messages” and they use traps rather than live assassins. They avoid noble targets and focus on groups & institutions, and business espionage.
They stay away from anything military or that would draw the ire of any authorities – their operation is low key and minor… though more prolific than most realize.
The Culture Within: There are two cultures within the enterprise – the petty smuggler one and a higher order of “The Syndicate”. The first is somewhat simple and petty, dealing with ports and smuggler routes and processes. The later is organized and focused and deals in more high end goods – even interfacing with other criminal enterprises to ensure no one draws the ire of the authorities.
The “Dead Mans Hand”: Rumors and whispers abound about providing materials to House Narcosa on the Salt Shore – bodies (and/or parts) for their necromantic experiments.
Locations
- City of Correl (Rhyl)
- City of Rhylan (capital of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl)
- Flat Peak Ridge (hill folk settlement of Rhyl)
- Klyben (primary trade city of Rhyl)
- Saltmarch (Salt Shore, Rhyl)
- Solavia’s Landing (Rhyl)
- The Salt Shore (Rhyl)
Ultra-Low Profile: Though they have a presence in Meargensdale Vale, they keep a low profile to not be in open conflict with local trade or criminal interests or those of the Northern Merchant Cities.
Prohibited: They are NEVER along the Red March – any who violate this are killed.
- Past Problems: The group in North Gate Garrison has been wiped out a few times in the past – violating the restriction of dealing with military grade supplies.
Gangs of Klyben (Rhyl)
Posted on October 11, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Gangs of Klyben maintain a very delicate balance with being useful smugglers and petty theft, but do not draw attention to themselves as a destabilizing or chaotic influence to the detriment of The Red March and the constant battle against the Lich Lords forces at North Gate Garrison. They only operate out of the City of Klyben in The Grand Duchy of Rhyl.
Shrine to Irrigi? In rhyl, the center of trade is the City of Klyben and it is almost certain that a shrine to Irrigi – The Grasper of the Found Baubles can be found in the Klyben Sewers, paid homage to buy the few small gangs of criminal operation here.
The gangs stay away from the competing Occultists organizations: The Ten Box Chemists (Rhylander Green Conjurists) and Quizman’s of Klyben.
Gang Territories of Klyben
The Ghost of Nehemiah is seen in the Klyben Sewers by the Gangs of Klyben as well.
The Alley Jammers
The Alley Jammers gang operates in the North District of Klyben.The Pocket Rats
The Pocket Rats gang operates in the South District of Klyben.Klyben Trading Guild (Rhyl)
Posted on September 26, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Klyben Trading Guild oversees trades and procedures of the Trade/Vocational (Craft/Artisan) Practices and commerce are found here. They advocate strict adherence to the letter of the Law and Legal Procedures in Rhyl. The operation of the Ponderosa Market of Klyben is overseen by the Klyben Trading Guild.
Loans & Banks: The Bank of the Silver Stacks clashes with Klyben Trading Guild (most of the money lending and loans is done through them in Rhyl). The families for the Rhylan Grants are said to have secreted fortunes and loan money locally as well.
Troubleshooters: It is said that, at least in Klyben, the trade guild has its own enforcers and a type of gang of troubleshooters. These individuals are not technically criminal, though do represent a group that operates on the fringes or even outside the law sometimes.
- Teamsters
- Cartwrights
- Hostelers
- Smithy
- Mason
- Carpenter
Scow District of Karolak
Posted on July 9, 2025
The Scow District is the refuse store and spillover to the west of the Dock District. The district is west of the main port, and a lot of garbage and sewer is emptied into the river there. Its an old district thats run down now – built on top of ruins and populated by street scum, derelicts, and a criminal population mostly – though a lot of indigent
dock workers and peddlers live there too.