The Beggar Court
A child stands on a city rooftop, watching a patrol of the city watch on their way to raid a warehouse in the maritime district. The child blows a silver whistle, but no noise seems to come out.
Meanwhile, sitting in his headquarters, The Beggar Prince hears the warning and smiles before relaying the message to a lieutenant, who rushes off to warn the smugglers of the impending raid. The Bronzecloaks will find nothing of value on this raid, the Beggar Court disappearing into the city again, its invisible hand always felt, but never seen. The Prince nods in agreement as he recall the Court's unofficial words ever alert, ever present.
Structure
The Swallows, often known as the Beggar Court or Court of Miracles, are a secret, underground criminal organization operating within Whiteport. They work as a criminal cartel, engaging in illicit crimes ranging from smuggling, prostitution, drug trafficking, bribery, robbery, blackmail, and in some cases even contract for kidnappings, blackmail, or even assassinations. As such, the organization's operations are extremely murky. The leader of the Beggar Court is known as the Prince of Thieves, a title assumed by the leader of the guild upon discarding their old name and taking up command of the organization.
The Prince is served by a number of Captains in the organization who manage its various affairs. These individuals have reached their current position for their ruthlessness, strength, intelligence, efficiency, and loyalty to the current prince of thieves, while simultaneously existing as their greatest rival. The current Prince of Thieves, who acquired the title some twenty-odd years ago, has managed to extend his control throughout the organization and has cultivated an elite cadre of captains with almost extreme loyalty to the current Prince. There usually exist anywhere between three and a dozen members of this group, who refer to themselves as the "Lords" and each tends to manage one part of the guilds operations, such as security, smuggling, running the various gangs which work for the swallows, and handling assassination contracts. The current Prince of Thieves has largely culled the captains whose loyalties were suspect, mostly through a violent turf war about a decade ago, and has since cultivated a group of loyal officers to serve as his underlings. Most notably, the Prince is served by his "consciences," two individuals of unclear backgrounds who serve as the Prince's right hands, a local Whiteport bruiser called Black Davis who acts as the organization's enforcer and runs some of the gangs in the city. Another individual, called "the Darkling" runs the organization's assassins and intelligence gathering.
Culture
Although the Beggar Court is a criminal organization, it would be overly simplistic to label it as an evil organization. Since its founding, the Beggar Court has ascribed to a set of principles loosely boiling down to honor amongst thieves, and under various Princes has been to varying degrees concerned with public welfare, and as a result has always had a complicated relationship with Whiteport's law enforcement, who usually adopt a live and let live approach, allowing the Court to run its affairs with token interference as long as its affairs do not attract to much public attention or harm to innocents. The Court, which operates as a criminal cartel, is a collection of various riffraff and includes the dregs of Whiteport, and is therefore tolerant of virtually everyone and has very few taboos, but it rejects violent criminals and those who break the rules which govern it, called the Beggar Code. Its membership is diverse, not discriminating based upon an individuals race or background, and operates as a meritocracy. Members range from local thieves and pickpockets who grew up as sentinels of the Court or as urchins on its coin, brutes and thugs conscripted from Whiteport's local bars as hired muscle and smugglers, to elite foreign assassins who operate in the city and take the expensive contracts which the Court offers. As a rule, the members of the Beggar Court do not harm or steal from one another, as doing so would be a violation of the Beggar Code and would result in expulsion from the organization, and generally actively cultivate a reputation as "noble" thieves or bandits, above harming innocents and the poor and holding firm to their code amongst each other, and oftentimes acting as patrons for the lower orders, which makes them popular, especially among Whiteport's slums.
The Beggar Court has consolidated most of the organized crime in Whiteport under its leadership, and as a result has generally imposed relative peace on the city as a result of the enforced peace and cooperation between the city's various gangs (and although internecine violence does occasionally occur between rival gangs under the Court's auspices, the Court is careful to keep such violence limited and avoid catching innocents in the crossfire to avoid drawing too much attention to its activities). As a result, many of the Bronzecloaks view the Court as a necessary evil, as a tool which keeps violence and crime under control and moderates the city's worst members, as well as a public safety net, and so recognizing the popularity of the Court's leaders and these factors instead choose to turn a blind eye to its affairs and activities (often with a nice donation to help divert their attention), so long as these activities are confined to the criminal underworld and don't draw attention or cause more than the typical amount of trouble, and the Court is only happy to oblige this relationship.
This relationship does occasionally break down during transitions of power, as when the Prince of Thieves is removed from power or steps down without a clear successor, a violent power struggle often ensues between the city's gangs loyal to his various captains.
Public Agenda
Publicly, the Beggar Court, often appropriately named the Silent Hand or Silent Court, does not exist. Its members blend within the rest of Whiteport's society or live under the eyes of the law, hidden in plain sight, and the organization actively cultivates myths of its reach, presence, and influence, noted in its unofficial motto "always alert, ever present." At the highest levels, the Court generally seeks only to continue its operations undisturbed, continuing to expand its business and make profits for its members.
As a result of the immense profits enjoyed by the Beggar Court, the Prince of Thieves often also cultivates a reputation of magnanimity. Money is regularly donated both to Whiteport's poorest members, especially in the slums and the areas where the Court operates most frequently and openly, as well as to the various bureaucrats and many of the local city officials and watchmen, and as a result the court has earned its other nickname "the Court of Miracles," for its ability to offer a miracle for many of the city's poorest. This has the dual purpose of serving the public welfare as well as building a loyal network of supporters and informants throughout the city. The Prince of Thieves attempts to appear gentlemanly and noble, aspiring to a public appearance of an underground gentility who act as the true nobles and rulers of the city but still hold honor and order highly.
The Court also works to advance its member's public interests. It is runs illegal gambling operations, especially related to the races and competitions in the Hippodrome, and will occasionally interfere in these games to its members benefits. Most obviously, the Court works to protect its members and interests, sheltering criminals wanted by the law (though again, only those who abide by the Beggar Code), removing (through bribery or assassination) those who look to closely into its business or get in its way, and providing additional muscle, support, and funding to its subsidiary gangs and member's legitimate operations.
Assets
The Beggar Court's reach is long, and it hasn't gained the unofficial motto "always alert, ever present" without basis. First, the Beggar Court has extensive manpower for a criminal gang, and its members number in the hundreds, its supporters in the thousands. Although the resources of its members are diverse, most are at least competent criminals and cutthroats, and are therefore dangerous, and a small body are accomplished, renowned criminals. These individuals are especially dangerous, as the Court Boasts some of the finest burglars, pickpockets, and assassins, and recruits from a sizable pool of thugs, and under its meritocratic culture, the most capable individuals tend to rise highest. Moreover, through the organizations work, it has a network of information on many of Whiteport's most powerful and influential people which it can leverage as blackmail, as well as a network of informants and spies who report back to the organization and keep it ahead of the law.
Next, the Beggar Court has significant material resources. As an extensive smuggling network, the Court Boasts a few ships which it can operate for its own aims, as well as warehouses within the city guarded by its own operatives where it can conduct its business in private. The Court also has a number of fortified safehouses throughout the city which act as local headquarters (as well as operating as local public houses where contracts can be offered and ale and food are always stocked and free for members) in addition to the Court's main headquarters, and underground stronghold in a closed off portion of the city sewers.
The Court's criminal activities also generate a sizable amount of profit, usually in the form of gold coins, which the Court generally keeps on hand, and can dispense as bribes, loans, gifts, or payment for any other assets the Court needs.
History
The Beggar Court has existed in Whiteport for generations, tracing its roots (with a generous degree of truth) back to Whiteport's very founding, wielding varying degrees of power and influence, sometimes waning and disappearing for a decade or two before reappearing, other times practically running the city in secret.
The Court's current Prince has reigned for almost twenty years, establishing a semi-mythical presence in the city, and consolidating power after the disappearance of the past Prince in 1525 AC. Shortly after, the Prince of Thieves purged most of the opposing leadership within the Guild, beginning a violent turf war called Bleeding Street Years from 1529-1532, during which time the Prince asserted total control over organized crime in the city after eliminating almost all of his rivals and disloyal captains.
Always Alert, Ever Present
Type
Guild, Thieves
Alternative Names
The Court of Miracles, The Silent Hand, the Silent Court
Demonym
the Beggars, Poor Men, Silent Hand
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Plots
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