The Montchagnon Family of Endmere
The Free City of Endmere is ruled by a Council of four ministers - each one the family head descended from one of the original The Four Founders who directed the rebuilding of the city after the Great Strife. In the twenty-two hundred years since the end of the Strife and the beginning of the return of Endmere to its former glory, these families have grown in power, wealth, and influence not just in Endmere, but in the broad region encompassing the Free CIties and the Frontier. It is a well-known fact that not all of the activities that have brought this wealth and power were legitimate, but none have ever dared bring the illiciit dealings of the families to the light of day, much less to a court of law.
The Montchagnon Family, currently headed by Councilor Gillianette Montchagnon, is known for its control of the fine textile and jewelry markets of Endmere. The family's involvement in the textiles trade covers all aspects of the marketplace, from acquisition of raw materials to the production of fabrics, garments, and household furnishings such as rugs, draperies, and bed linens. Garment production ranges from the everyday clothing worn by the commoners of the city and beyond to the fine fashions chosen by the elite of the city who wish to show off their wealth and their (sometimes questionable) taste.
Likewise, the Jewelry trade involves acquisition of raw materials including gold, silver, mithral, adamantite, semi-precious stones, and precious gems - the latter in both cut and uncut forms. Production of ornamental jewelry and the sale of that jewelry is controlled by the family as well. As with clothing, quality of finished goods ranges from simple ornaments within the price range of an employed commoner to ridiculously priced tiaras and necklaces worn to augment the "high fashion" of Endmere's elite.
It should come as no surprise that not all of the trade engaged in by the Montchagnon family is legitimate. The ever increasing desire of the elite rich of Endmere - and their increasing desire to part with their gold to pay for new things - means that the family is willing to obtain "interesting" materials regardless of the morals or ethics involved. It is commonly believed that every criminal fence in the city that handles jewelry pays a percentage of their take to the family in exchange for being allowed to continue their trade without legal harassment. It is also widely believed that members of the family are senior members of the Endmere Thieves Guild - and that they direct the operations of the guild to acquire certain items from time to time. Even the honest jewelry professionals in Endmere know about one particular piece - a tiara crafted of gold with mithral inlays, inset with tens of thousands of gold pieces worth of flawless diamonds and star sapphires. This piece has been stolen and clandestinely resold so many times that it is rumored to have sat upon the heads of every upperclass woman in Endmere. Ironically, it is referred to as Gillianette's Crown, not because she ever owned it - hers is probably the only head it has not yet adorned - but because she has taken cuts of sales on the item so many times she could own it four times over.
As shady as the Montchagnon jewelry trade is, though, it is in the fine garment trade where their most despicable actions occur. As the rich demand more and more exotic decorations on their apparel, the Montchagnon's reach farther and farther into Cartyrion to find them. Rare animals are hunted and slain for their skins... or sometimes just for their teeth or claws.
Recently, there has been a demand for sprite wings to decorate fashion headpieces. As a result, the Montchagnons have established an entire poaching operation to seek out these lesser fey in order to take their wings - and their lives in the process. Initially, the sprites of the coastal regions were rounded up simply by establishing a bounty on sprites. When the supply in the coastal lands was depleted, they moved operations to the Central Plains, where they have significantly impacted the population of lesser fey, but have now also alerted the Fey Council in the Feywood. Nevertheless, most recently, they have extended operations into the Feywood itself; it is rumored that a poaching ring operates out of the town of Spirit Lake. Sprite wings taken there are sold to designated merchants who are skilled at keeping contraband hidden from the Elf Patrols that are looking for perpetrators of the crimes against the Fey.
Some have been caught, but much illicit trade gets through, and as long as there are self-conscious rich folk willing to pay for "high fashion" regardless of the ethics of its production, there will be poaching. And as long as there is poaching in the Frontier lands, the Montchagnon family will ultimately be profiting from it.
The Montchagnon Family, currently headed by Councilor Gillianette Montchagnon, is known for its control of the fine textile and jewelry markets of Endmere. The family's involvement in the textiles trade covers all aspects of the marketplace, from acquisition of raw materials to the production of fabrics, garments, and household furnishings such as rugs, draperies, and bed linens. Garment production ranges from the everyday clothing worn by the commoners of the city and beyond to the fine fashions chosen by the elite of the city who wish to show off their wealth and their (sometimes questionable) taste.
Likewise, the Jewelry trade involves acquisition of raw materials including gold, silver, mithral, adamantite, semi-precious stones, and precious gems - the latter in both cut and uncut forms. Production of ornamental jewelry and the sale of that jewelry is controlled by the family as well. As with clothing, quality of finished goods ranges from simple ornaments within the price range of an employed commoner to ridiculously priced tiaras and necklaces worn to augment the "high fashion" of Endmere's elite.
It should come as no surprise that not all of the trade engaged in by the Montchagnon family is legitimate. The ever increasing desire of the elite rich of Endmere - and their increasing desire to part with their gold to pay for new things - means that the family is willing to obtain "interesting" materials regardless of the morals or ethics involved. It is commonly believed that every criminal fence in the city that handles jewelry pays a percentage of their take to the family in exchange for being allowed to continue their trade without legal harassment. It is also widely believed that members of the family are senior members of the Endmere Thieves Guild - and that they direct the operations of the guild to acquire certain items from time to time. Even the honest jewelry professionals in Endmere know about one particular piece - a tiara crafted of gold with mithral inlays, inset with tens of thousands of gold pieces worth of flawless diamonds and star sapphires. This piece has been stolen and clandestinely resold so many times that it is rumored to have sat upon the heads of every upperclass woman in Endmere. Ironically, it is referred to as Gillianette's Crown, not because she ever owned it - hers is probably the only head it has not yet adorned - but because she has taken cuts of sales on the item so many times she could own it four times over.
As shady as the Montchagnon jewelry trade is, though, it is in the fine garment trade where their most despicable actions occur. As the rich demand more and more exotic decorations on their apparel, the Montchagnon's reach farther and farther into Cartyrion to find them. Rare animals are hunted and slain for their skins... or sometimes just for their teeth or claws.
Recently, there has been a demand for sprite wings to decorate fashion headpieces. As a result, the Montchagnons have established an entire poaching operation to seek out these lesser fey in order to take their wings - and their lives in the process. Initially, the sprites of the coastal regions were rounded up simply by establishing a bounty on sprites. When the supply in the coastal lands was depleted, they moved operations to the Central Plains, where they have significantly impacted the population of lesser fey, but have now also alerted the Fey Council in the Feywood. Nevertheless, most recently, they have extended operations into the Feywood itself; it is rumored that a poaching ring operates out of the town of Spirit Lake. Sprite wings taken there are sold to designated merchants who are skilled at keeping contraband hidden from the Elf Patrols that are looking for perpetrators of the crimes against the Fey.
Some have been caught, but much illicit trade gets through, and as long as there are self-conscious rich folk willing to pay for "high fashion" regardless of the ethics of its production, there will be poaching. And as long as there is poaching in the Frontier lands, the Montchagnon family will ultimately be profiting from it.
Type
Family
In response to the prompt Describe a famous criminal organization and the unlawful acts they commit in your world.
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