Azure Crown
Structure
Regional Head
Captains
Lieutenants
Soldiers
Public Agenda
The Azure Crown seeks to gain profits by exploiting gaps in existing markets (most often in illicit trades)
Assets
Unknown total, exist on most continents and in most realms
History
While the initial founding of the Azure Crown is unknown, what is known is that the first rumours of ‘Underworld Kings’ are reported to originate during the Imperial Civil War of 1376 BE-1380 BE. While the new Emperor reunited the Empire, groups of criminals aligned towards mutual profits followed in his wake, slipping into recaptured territories as local forces were forced to stand down. By the beginning of the Long Summer the Azure Crown had spread all across the Empire, seeking to worm its way into other states along the borders.
As the Regional Heads worm their ways into local politics they discover a simmering layer of unrest. When the Imperial province of Ashesavethyr began to have localized unrest problems, it was the Azure Crown who poked and prodded it to see just what this unrest could become, though it was put down before anything could become of it. Despite this minor setback the Azure Crown continued to expand, building up relationships with the Kalurai on Orhindur and in many port-towns on Il’Arthel.
All of the senior leadership of the ‘Crown knew that things were changing, reports from all over Ioral spoke of average temperatures rising and climates rapidly deteriorating, so when the Crisis of the Woods began it was not a major shock to them. What was a shock, however, was the sudden diaspora of Yurai fleeing from Central Ahuduir, flooding the coastal nations and, in turn, their people smuggling efforts. Following 38 LS the Azure Crown would move a hundred thousand Yurai off of Ahuduir to other continents as the Wood Elves attempted to find a new home for themselves.
While the Long Summer began to stretch onwards, the Azure Crown thought little of it as profits continued to go up, that is, until the First wave of Collapses. The Grand Tribe of Guzord, the Order of Oaths, and every western Ahuduir Human nation collapse into anarchy over a twelve year period. Cities are razed by hungry peasant mobs, farmland dries into near unusable wasteland and tens of thousands starve. When Regional Heads suddenly start to disappear and word of entire nations collapsing spreads, the attitudes of the ‘Crown begin to shift.
‘Was this it? The end of the World?’ These were the thoughts of many across the world as the Long Summer dragged on, with no end in sight. Great Conclaves of Sages were called all across Ioral, debating long into the night on what course of action the world should take. As the Great Famines begin and the Astraum tear themselves apart in Civil War the ‘Crown is throwing all that they have into finding a method of survival, not just for themselves, but for as many as possible. While the Azure Crown may have been founded on the ideals of mutual profits, it is hard to profit when everyone is dead.
Taking lessons from the Qivdaram as they flee underground, the Azure Crown begins to plan for subterranean cities, a last ditch effort for survival. As they do so, their information network stumbles across many other groups also planning the same endeavours across Ioral. Instead of allowing for many disparate groups to try and fail, the ‘Crown brings together these groups into the Melorisar, ‘The Last (Sane) People’. While officially forming in 102 LS the seeds for the organization go back as far as 73 LS. By 100 LS these compounds have been constructed, capable of holding hundreds of thousands in suspended animation, guarded by Automatons and a host of alchemically altered beings, known as the Elari. While some members of the ‘Crown would enter suspended animation, many others would remain to attempted at aiding others in their fights against the end of the world. Mostly these actions would amount to little, however, in 179 LS the Azure Crown would join a coalition known as the Ortun’Vash. These Sages and Shaman from across the world had come up with their own plan after studying the changes of the ‘Summer, it seemed somewhat of Divine Power and, to undo that more power would be needed. In essence, they were to create a new deity, bound directly to the world but not comprising it. As the Long Summer consumed everything the Azure Crown would Sheppard these individuals everywhere they needed to go to seed this new god, even providing protection to the young saplings.
These efforts would pay off, however, as this new god, Tirsloch, would be able to, slowly, undo the effects of the Long Summer, starting in 460 LS. While the sacrifices of the ‘Crown would not be remembered, they would continue to serve communities that they found themselves a part of for the rest of the Long Summer. By the time of the Crusade of Bronze & Bone the Azure Crown had become ‘The Devil you Know’, or ‘The Lesser Evil’, something that most governments allowed to exist, even legitimizing in some regions. Most did this due to the simple fact that the ‘Crown had specific methods of behaving and a rigid code of honour that they always abided by, unlike other underworld elements.
During the Crusade of Bronze & Bone the Regional Head of North-Western Ahuduir, a Charai going by the simple name of Alejandro, intervened during the Battle of Sinaes. Practically usurping control over the city’s guard while the Erunur War Swarm attempted to breach in, it was the Azure Crown’s own people who held back the tide while they ferried people out of the city. If it were not for the sacrifices of the ‘Crown, the local Guard and volunteers, very few would have escaped the city. While Alejandro would go on to become a semi-mythological figure in the Siraen Culture, his actions would also see the ‘Crown’s reputation change to many across the world.
To this day the Azure Crown remains one of the most prevalent criminal organizations on Ioral, though many of their local Chapters are better respected and loved by locals than even local governments.
As the Regional Heads worm their ways into local politics they discover a simmering layer of unrest. When the Imperial province of Ashesavethyr began to have localized unrest problems, it was the Azure Crown who poked and prodded it to see just what this unrest could become, though it was put down before anything could become of it. Despite this minor setback the Azure Crown continued to expand, building up relationships with the Kalurai on Orhindur and in many port-towns on Il’Arthel.
All of the senior leadership of the ‘Crown knew that things were changing, reports from all over Ioral spoke of average temperatures rising and climates rapidly deteriorating, so when the Crisis of the Woods began it was not a major shock to them. What was a shock, however, was the sudden diaspora of Yurai fleeing from Central Ahuduir, flooding the coastal nations and, in turn, their people smuggling efforts. Following 38 LS the Azure Crown would move a hundred thousand Yurai off of Ahuduir to other continents as the Wood Elves attempted to find a new home for themselves.
While the Long Summer began to stretch onwards, the Azure Crown thought little of it as profits continued to go up, that is, until the First wave of Collapses. The Grand Tribe of Guzord, the Order of Oaths, and every western Ahuduir Human nation collapse into anarchy over a twelve year period. Cities are razed by hungry peasant mobs, farmland dries into near unusable wasteland and tens of thousands starve. When Regional Heads suddenly start to disappear and word of entire nations collapsing spreads, the attitudes of the ‘Crown begin to shift.
‘Was this it? The end of the World?’ These were the thoughts of many across the world as the Long Summer dragged on, with no end in sight. Great Conclaves of Sages were called all across Ioral, debating long into the night on what course of action the world should take. As the Great Famines begin and the Astraum tear themselves apart in Civil War the ‘Crown is throwing all that they have into finding a method of survival, not just for themselves, but for as many as possible. While the Azure Crown may have been founded on the ideals of mutual profits, it is hard to profit when everyone is dead.
Taking lessons from the Qivdaram as they flee underground, the Azure Crown begins to plan for subterranean cities, a last ditch effort for survival. As they do so, their information network stumbles across many other groups also planning the same endeavours across Ioral. Instead of allowing for many disparate groups to try and fail, the ‘Crown brings together these groups into the Melorisar, ‘The Last (Sane) People’. While officially forming in 102 LS the seeds for the organization go back as far as 73 LS. By 100 LS these compounds have been constructed, capable of holding hundreds of thousands in suspended animation, guarded by Automatons and a host of alchemically altered beings, known as the Elari. While some members of the ‘Crown would enter suspended animation, many others would remain to attempted at aiding others in their fights against the end of the world. Mostly these actions would amount to little, however, in 179 LS the Azure Crown would join a coalition known as the Ortun’Vash. These Sages and Shaman from across the world had come up with their own plan after studying the changes of the ‘Summer, it seemed somewhat of Divine Power and, to undo that more power would be needed. In essence, they were to create a new deity, bound directly to the world but not comprising it. As the Long Summer consumed everything the Azure Crown would Sheppard these individuals everywhere they needed to go to seed this new god, even providing protection to the young saplings.
These efforts would pay off, however, as this new god, Tirsloch, would be able to, slowly, undo the effects of the Long Summer, starting in 460 LS. While the sacrifices of the ‘Crown would not be remembered, they would continue to serve communities that they found themselves a part of for the rest of the Long Summer. By the time of the Crusade of Bronze & Bone the Azure Crown had become ‘The Devil you Know’, or ‘The Lesser Evil’, something that most governments allowed to exist, even legitimizing in some regions. Most did this due to the simple fact that the ‘Crown had specific methods of behaving and a rigid code of honour that they always abided by, unlike other underworld elements.
During the Crusade of Bronze & Bone the Regional Head of North-Western Ahuduir, a Charai going by the simple name of Alejandro, intervened during the Battle of Sinaes. Practically usurping control over the city’s guard while the Erunur War Swarm attempted to breach in, it was the Azure Crown’s own people who held back the tide while they ferried people out of the city. If it were not for the sacrifices of the ‘Crown, the local Guard and volunteers, very few would have escaped the city. While Alejandro would go on to become a semi-mythological figure in the Siraen Culture, his actions would also see the ‘Crown’s reputation change to many across the world.
To this day the Azure Crown remains one of the most prevalent criminal organizations on Ioral, though many of their local Chapters are better respected and loved by locals than even local governments.
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