The Rat Court

This criminal organisation works across all parts of Reef, while based in Rasht  it seeks to expand its empire further. The Rat Court is perhaps the most powerful organized crime syndicate on Reef, its reputation being one of violence and silence.  The group recruits people from all walks of life and seeks to gain influence over those smaller players in the cities to better collect assets for its top personnel. 
The Rat Court is made up of multiple local courts that pays tribute to the High Court, something that local court leaders retire to when their term is up. While not much is not about how the High Court functions its believed that they work to ensure that the resources needed to gain power are moved around. These resources are often political capital and favours, as while the man on the street is hustling protection money, the Courts are working with Reef's VIPs to circumvent the laws and rules so they can gain more power and influence. 
The group while violent when necessary prefers blackmail and intimidation, their enforcers are generally led by one or two actual officers, who recruit those out of work on raiding/trading ships, this flexible structure helps the group avoid massive costs and ensures that those individuals do rise up the ranks in a ship they have already planted the seeds of a relationship, or started a list of ways to blackmail them. The Rat Court has interests in practically every area of the crime, the exception being slavery or Necromancy. Even slavery adjacent activities like pimping, or supporting those who hide/meddle with the dead is completely off the table, those in charge know that getting involved in such business would bring the eye of The Seer Senate down on them instantly, something they have so far avoided.

Structure

The High Court Rules all, it's based in the warren of tunnels under Rasht. Made up the best Rat Royalty this group is headed by the founder the Rat Queen herself, the exact nature of this being is unknown, however, her rule has been consistent for over a century and knowledge of her is extremely limited. The Courts are set up in various locations, the most powerful being those in Rasht itself and Caspi. Some local courts are huge enterprises, others might only have a handful of operatives in a smaller town. Generally, each court is lead by a Rat King/Queen, this royalty will often be given control over a small court before moving up to larger courts, till eventually 'retiring' to the High Court where they will oversee operations.  The local operatives feed into courts hoping to be noticed, either becoming a King or becoming a 'specialist' for a court, these may be magicians or particularly gifted extortioners. Some of the most powerful people in the whole organisation have never even come close to being head of a court but are used as advisers to the High Court.

Culture

The Culture is one of measured response, while those on the ground are meant to think on their feet, much of the strength of the Rat Court is the fact that it does not instantly resort to violence. Should one part of its empire be struggling it will call in favours, open blackmail files and perhaps kick in the door of those who can change its fortunes. To balance this out, the Rat Courts are obsessed with building up their political capital and resources. No Court wants to find itself in debt to the other courts, and no individual wants to discover that their mistake consumed so much capital.  As a result, its officers tend towards caution and listening, often charismatic, they are not the kind of people who will be found bragging about their exploits in a bar, they are however the patron who buys a foolish captain who brags about their illicit work another beer. 
Initiation to the organisation is most often through those who bring knowledge of value to them, though quietly the method used to obtain this knowledge is judged. The Rat Court rarely tolerates a snitch in their own ranks and many a fool has given knowledge trusted to them and found only a slit throat waiting for them. What they appreciate are those who through cunning, thievery, blackmail or well-executed thuggery obtain secrets they can use. Membership is for life, and the only known way to avoid their reach is leaving to the worlds below.

Public Agenda

Outwardly the Rat Court often projects an image of 'The Union' as it relies on workers from the docks and fleet for much of its work. It maintains the lie that it connects with a number of unions, a concept brought to Reef less than a century ago, The Union's public face is one that helps labourers organise for better work across multiple sectors. While rival unions exist, enough have allied with The Union that they have an endless supply of manpower. In addition, this investment means they have the ability to bring strikes, conduct industrial espionage and access to nearly all of the fleet. The Union itself is run as a charity and does a lot of good work, this only deepens the Rat Courts control though. 
Quitely it is theorized that the Rat Court may be one of two things. The most popular theory is that the Rat Queen is an exiled god, whose power comes from coin and influence, she seeks to expand this power so she can one day rejoin her homeworld and destroy those who banished her. Only talked about by the more senior Reef politicians and learned scholars is the idea that the Rat Court is another arm of the Seer Senate, the organisation working as a pressure valve for the frustrations of Reefs political class. By offering a way to attack their enemies without outright war, the peace is preserved on Reef.

History

The Rat Court is perhaps older than its current incarnation. 'The Rats' were a common enemy of the Corsair Kings at the height of their power, though the group certainly wasn't as organised or focused as it is now. The seat of power though is unchanged the group still to this day have their base deep inThe Twists.
The Rat Court did expand rapidly after the signing of The Pact, of the criminal groups it alone seemed to realise that there would be demand for an organisation that networked between all groups involved. Having found their niche they collected the freed slaves of the dominion and found those whose talents matched their interests, helping many slaves get home before returning, sometimes years later to make connections.

We can get anywhere

Founding Date

Around the beginning of the current age

Type

Illicit, Other

Alternative Names

The Union

Demonym

Rats

Location

Rasht