The Gristle Syndicate

Tier II, Strong Hold

The Gristle Syndicate is a guild of blastmongers—processors and purveyors of fish, shellfish, eels, and Greebeast byproducts—that dominates the food supply of Awarth. From greasy chow served to workers to rare, high-value cuts destined for elite feasts, the Syndicate handles it all. Their network spans salting sheds, smokehouses, and bustling markets, and their methods are ruthless: undercutting competitors and intimidating independents are part of their operations. While Greebeast flesh brings them their greatest profits, they pride themselves on their versatility, processing every scrap of their haul to maximize profit and control the city’s stomach.

Turf

The Saltbone Yards (HQ) in Ashrow is their primary facility; a grim labyrinth of brine vats, smoking sheds, and chilling halls. They maintain "Wharfhouses" in Riftlight Pier and Greewerks.

Notable Assets

• The Knuckle Line: A network of syndicate-affiliated "fixers" and "buyers" who ensure rival businesses suffer mysterious fires, disappearances, or "accidents."
• The Fleet: A small but critical group of rugged fishing and cargo vessels operated directly by the Syndicate. These brine-battered trawlers and smoke-belching riverboats are designed for hard use on Awarth’s toxic rivers and treacherous coastal waters.

Quirks

• "Every Catch, Every Cut" Doctrine: Syndicate culture mandates 100% utilization. Waste is seen as sacrilege and punished with brutal fines—or disappearances.
• Flesh Brokers: Syndicate agents sometimes sell "mystery meat" of suspicious origin when times are hard—leading to grim jokes about "Blastborn stew."

Allies

Greefolk, The Slicksters

Enemies

The Esoteric Archive, Brethren of the Hearth

Culture

The Gristle Syndicate operates like a machine fueled by precision, efficiency, and a cold pragmatism that leaves no room for waste. Their workers are taught to see every catch—be it fish, eel, or Greebeast—as a resource to be utilized fully, from the finest cuts to the last bone. Hard, disciplined labor forms the core of their culture, with loyalty earned through shared toil in their salting sheds, smokehouses, and processing plants.

Every Catch, Every Cut

Type

Guild, Merchant

Notable Members

• Maevra Grevilin