Ad Astra

((I am not sure whether I must call this a spoiler or not. This is the Harmonium's IC account of things, some of it may be false :P. In any case, any Harmonium character or a character with Harmonium connections could get their hands on a copy of this. Oh, Criminal Profiles, expanded edition, might be coming soon too :P))

CLASSIFIED

This is the account of Hildmor d'Kridis, some of his known accomplices and the organization in general. While its accuracy may be questionable and many of its statements are yet to be absolutely confirmed it is precise enough to allow the investigative personell understand our adversary and finally corner them one day. Here is the summary:

The (Undersigil) Cartel

Class: Organized Criminal Group, Secret Society.

Headquarters, Home Plane: Unknown, possibly several.

Numbers: Total numbers unknown. Prior to the war Cartel was known to have slightly more than a hundred members in Sigil. Only 34 members excluding the Cartel's leader have been exposed in Sigil by now. For all other Planes, acccounts vary from ridiculously small amounts to thousands.

Ranking and division system: Unknown.

Leaders and prominent members: Hildmor d'Kridis, many unknown others.

Alleged Crimes: Smugglery, Murder, Theft, Espionage, Tax Evasion, Assassination, Obstructing Justice via Bribe and(or) Blackmail, Conspiracy against The Triad, Support of the Revolutionary League, Illicit Substance Selling/Buying, Arson, Kidnapping, Torture, War Crimes, Piracy.

Ideals: None. Members are diverse in moral and political aspect but the organization in whole is amoral yet neutral when it concerns politics.

Long term goals: Unknown.

Allies: Unknown.

Brief History:

125Ha: Arrival of Hildmor d'Kridis on Sigil's scene. He seems very adaptive, quickly studying the intricacies of Sigil's law system just enough to pass the tests and gain a lawyer's license. The mage enlists to work for the Merhkant family of Sensbane among their various employees as their private investigator and lawyer. Unreliable rumours suggest that he also assassinated several rivals of his employers. He also meets Fargul Bernadotte and they begin to work together, hiring infromants and additional mercenaries. As a lawyer, d'Kridis also accepts various freelance cases, the most notable of which is the case of a criminally insane priest Conrad charged with double murder whom d'Kridis defended with exceptional prowess. While Conrad was found guilty of his crime...he was only sentenced to a session of public whipping. Later d'Kridis would claim is that his contract with the insane man only stated that he would "keep him out of any institution".

126Ha: Hildmor d'Kridis and Fargul Bernadotte begin to pay varied individuals for information as well as hire mercenaries for jobs on the Planes and in Sigil. d'Kridis no longer works for the Sensbanes even if they seem to keep a business relationship. d'Kridis and his men recieve several regalias from our Faction for their help during the massive outbreak from the Abyssal portal in our headquarters. We did not know who we were dealing with. d'Kiridis and Bernadotte both join the Free League, their fame growing along with the controversy. The first Cartel is established as are its first legal fronts for their smuggler ring . It has no more than a dozen or two permament members and deals in information and Planar goods(smuggled). The gang also hands out both major and minor loans to adventurers and smalltime businessmen. At the same time, the Shadowsworn crisis begins...The City and its denizens realize they're in danger and The Cartel are no exception. The Cartel takes a step into the drug trade.

127Ha: During the crisis The Cartel did everything to use the city's dangerous situation for its better. Hildmor d'Kridis campaigns to make the Bazaar the official headquarters of the Free League and though the campaign in itself fails due to the usual lack of activity of the Indeps he gains a lot of trading and Factional contacts. He used the war to meet and establish minor agreements with many of the Factols. At the same time, The Cartel gains permament territory in Undersigil as well as its current name. The organization expands rapidly both on the Planes and in the City of Doors. Whilst the Cartel commits its heinous crimes in the night, d'Kridis and his men who took part in the war against the Shadowsworn are often regarded as heros by civillians, barely hiding their real occupations. Hildmor d'Kridis is awarded another medal of honor, this time by the Council of Factol's. This is just another example of Sigil's deep corruption. The people regard gangsters as heros while the Factols shower them in medals...By the end of the year Cartel's known assets include legal export and import of Prime goods in Sigil, Tradegate, Grenpoli and a few minor cities. By the end of the year the Cartel becomes the leading organization of the Syndicate, an alliance of various criminal and mercantile organizations of Undersigil. Rumours of directed spelljammer pirate hits against Cartel's rival begin circulating around the Cage.

128Ha, current year: After the end of the crisis, The Cartel's expansion is also slowed down. The Tharizdunite Cult of Undersigil begins to take note of its growing power and attempts to either wipe the Cartel out or absorb the organization. For the Undersigil Village and the Cult itself it turns out to be a disaster, the Cartel eliminates most of the Cult and destroys the Temple of Tharizdun. The forces of the Cartel were led by a Hextorite only known as Raven. The Cartel retaliates with brutal efficiency. That gives our Faction a reason to finally step in and take the Undersigil Village from the grasp of the criminals and establish our own lawful authority. The Cartel grudgingly complies as The Fraternity along with our members begin to investigate its financial crimes. The organization's leadership seemed to have quickly found that out and Cartel's legal expansion within the City has stopped. A month later, d'Kridis is banished from the City for eternity for framing the Fraternity's high standing official Owen who was behind an investigation on the criminal's legal businesses and properties within the City. The Cartel comes to a rash decision, its agents killing almost every member of the Harmonium or Fraternity involved in the investigation or the court process, provoking the war. During the first month of it both Cartel and our Faction have been suffering minor losses. Sigillian wing of the Cartel went undercover. The only Cartel members are openly are the ones residing on planes and in Cities hostile to The Harmonium or beyond our knowledge or reach. By this day, there have been no further battles, arrests or assassinations.

Editor: I have to say that it seems Hildmor d'Kridis is not only the known founding leader of the Cartel but also some sort of an 'urban legend', an open representative of his organization both to its friends and foes. While he's its face, I am almost sure he's not the one truly in charge, atleast not anymore.