The Sanguine Syndicate

The Sanguine Syndicate, better known to the public as the Sanguine Company, is the largest criminal enterprise based within Stormwind City and its surrounding territories, including various locations surrounding Baradin Bay. Though having stepped away from the spotlight of its reputable fame in recent months, a vast majority of the criminal underground still regard Sanguine as the pioneers of the expansive business it redefined in what is now referred to as ‘The Golden Age of Crime’.

Origins
As the summer months bled into August, the tall and lanky Riseva, boss of the Freewind Cartel, had found a like-minded match in former Lieutenant Kenyth Seyne of the Stormwind Guard. Their meeting was by no accident, having crossed paths on a number of occasions due to the counterbalance of their chosen professions. An ambitious man, ever eager to exploit the wealth and freedoms upon the side of the law he fought to exterminate for long; Kenyth officially turned from his oaths, and signed as a dedicated employee of the Freewnd Cartel at the peak of its power.

In a short time following his employment, Mr. Seyne was given the moniker “Goggles”, and was soon a common sight at Riseva’s side. The two soon found their niche, benefiting from each other’s talents and trust. Riseva kept to the sidelines as the orchestrator of business, as Kenyth carried out the dirty work of breaking fingers and gouging eyes. There were many seasoned members of the Cartel who disliked Kenyth for the favoritism exhibited by the head of the Cartel, and as result, the loyalties within Freewind began to wane. When the Cartel hit its first rough patch as a result of inner tension and outside pressure from rising syndicates, it was the inseparable rogue and mage duo that were left sitting together, discussing the flaws of their plan, with minds for the future.

The crippling tension within The Cartel came to a head when the current Second turned against Riseva in a desperate push for authority with several loyalists to his cause. Their failures set Freewind apart from the cancerous sect within their ranks, and allowed for Kenyth to assume the emptied position, appointed without question by Riseva and the collective of her most trusted loyalists, Murcee and Jayleth. Though it was obvious to a great many of the Cartel without saying, Riseva and Kenyth’s relationship extended beyond the means of work, friendship, and trust. Priorities shifted, and the two would often become more invested in maintaining their romance than they did company expansion. In short time, Freewind transformed from a single-led organization to a co-lead business. Many praised the transition, though the true test existed strongest between Riseva and Kenyth in balancing a life as both business partners and lovers alike.

The End of Freewind Cartel
The failures of Freewind were matched by surroundings hardships. The planet had recently been near Shattered; the elemental invasion to follow. A personal tragedy gripped hardest with the loss of Riseva and Kenyth’s child, and the desperate act that led to the rogue’s curse wrought unmistakable changes and tension between the couple. Emotionally beaten, financially broke and left with little after the Cartel’s imminent collapse, there was much to point the finger of blame at. Riseva had removed herself from the fore of the Cartel’s operations, struggling to cope with the loss of her child. It was all Kenyth could do to balance a broken wife and company alike. Kenny’s bitterness at not receiving the credit he felt due while his wife’s personality took a destructive turn for the worse, eventually strained at their marriage until it hung by a thread.

When Riseva stubbornly declared her intentions to renew her position in the criminal underground, despite her husband’s protest, the two fought, and eventually split. Kenny would go on with an attempt to find a straighter, cleaner path of business he called the Sanguine Syndicate, and Riseva would press on to fulfill her wish by turning to a former officer and old friend, Murcee.

Despite a rocky separation, Riseva and Kenyth would begin work respectively on their new callings, and begin to strike up civil, even pleasant conversations. Though Sanguine, like the Cartel, had a slow and rocky start, it managed to flourish with the help of its officers. Viktor Romel, formerly known by the moniker ‘Velgim’ played an influential role in the early stages of the company’s development, serving as Kenyth’s close advisor and loyal friend.

With ambitious minds at work, the downfall of their tentative allies was nearing. Sanguine experienced an influx of members and began to truly flourish, earning notoriety while its members all worked beneath the law’s notice without the sacrifice of efficient business. The Sanguine Tailoring and Textile Co. was established as a legal operation to throw off suspicions of the syndicate’s darker dealings.

Eventually, the division of power proved too great between Sanguine and the remnants of Freewind. After an unfortunate, unexplained accident, Riseva Seyne lost her life to a worgen's claws. Though speculated that Kenyth had performed the assassination of his estranged wife, it has never been officially proven. Kenyth Seyne was left half the man he used to be, yet continued to lead his company despite the emotional struggles he faced. The remnants of Freewind's restructure beneath Riseva, now then without its boss, turned to join Kenyth’s operation, further expanding Sanguine’s talent base.

Over time, Kenny’s heart hardened and an efficient persona slowly began to come into view. However, despite this, personal matters continuously plagued his leadership with pockets of absence and bouts of crippling depression. He was, however, a good boss in many people's opinions.

The Early Years
In October of the same year Kenny had come to power, Sanguine continued its momentum as the largest syndicate operating in Stormwind, absorbing all the previous accounts of Freewind. Though, he’d not be allowed to rest easy for long before bumps in the road ahead molested the wheelhouse of success. Much as it had been the poison that defiled Freewind, the thirst for power came from close friends and associates, Geldwin and Jurnei. Through the messy bout, wrestling for control by majority rule, Kenny was forced to restructure the company’s officer core with stripped numbers. Already, just barely through its infantile state. To reduce the risk of running into another mutiny, he appointed his most trusted advisor, Viktor Romel, officially as his Second in command. The transition proved to be to his benefit. Viktor was a practical man, of education and cunning. Most of all, he was loyal, and with him at Kenyth’s side, he’d never run the risk of betrayal. And though he’d not be the one to stab a man in his back, Viktor too was of an ambitious mind with an eagerness to push the company to its fullest potential.

The structure surrounding Kenny was most notable as lazy; the women of Freewind who had done little in terms of work, and largely of creating lover’s drama amongst themselves and the men they kept in their lives. There had been no talk of plans of the future, and Kenny had been too easily absorbed by conversation to mend his loneliness to set the course for business. Viktor was new to his role, and yet, he’d been carrying the weight for long. The way Sanguine was headed; it would merely exist the same as the Freewind Cartel, if only with a changed name. And so, with a plan to build the ranks with abled bodied men eager to take on the world, he began by hiring Stormwind newcomer, Varro Desanti.

A no-name Tirasian hailing from someplace in Baradin, Varro hit the roster like a wrecking ball through a house of straw. The abrasive nature of his volatile personality made him difficult to receive for a great many of the pre-existing associates. He was brash, and compulsive, and stood the embodiment of a classic bruiser who spoke crudely of women and shattered the boundaries of once sacred hierarchy. He was hated, though Viktor couldn’t be happier. He would be the tool to set the new standard, pushing out the weak and feint of heart. His influence transformed other newly hired associates like Kroryn, Dalik, Jailas, and Avieb who made up the body of Sanguine’s enforcers.

In late November, to appease those calling for Varro to be punished for various misdeeds and unsavory comments, Kenny put a bullet in Varro’s leg. The act was received as unnecessary to Viktor, who reasoned against the punishment after the deed was done. Favoritism was called into question, and the unresolved argument between Viktor and Kenyth would mark the first of many.

The Rise of Sanguine
(WIP)

A Hostile Takeover
(WIP)

War in the Streets
(WIP)

Aftermath of Conquest
(WIP)

The Rebirth of Legacy
(WIP)

A New Way, An Old Way...
(WIP)