The actual Cabal members, particularly those with the title Veiled Magistrate and upwards, will typically also have servants or mercenaries working for them. Depending on the situation, these may be kept entirely in the dark regarding the Cabal's operations, acting as a convenient front to avoid suspicions. They are alternatively given a very limited insight into that particular member's endeavors, being given generous pay in return for loyalty, and for not asking unnecessary questions. Those in the latter group are also rather openly told that any lapse in loyalty or secrecy will be retaliated against harshly. These servants, and the Cabal members themselves, are fully made fully aware that even the slightest betrayal or lapse on secrecy is punished harshly, with the Cabal having no qualms with murdering entire families and burning their holdings to the ground in order to avoid being exposed publicly.
Those who are coerced into serving naturally assist in the Cabal's endeavors because they are forced to do so. The Nightsworn Concalians have their own reasons, connected to their people's current predicament. As for the Cabal members themselves, they are people who believe themselves to have either been wronged by, or unjustly denied something they believed they deserved, by the current status quo of the world. The Cabal will subtly approach them and start fostering the person's sense of injustice and grievances with the current power structure, often exploiting the person's personal grievances, to slowly indoctrinate the person into aligning with the Cabal's beliefs, before being officially invited to the organization. By the time they've become a member, the Cabal aims to have them fully believe that the current system, encompassing both society and the world's workings, is deeply flawed and unjust, to the point where only through first completely dismantling the current system can one build something better. The Cabal refers to this procedure as opening the person's eyes to “the hidden truths”, which they themselves fully believe in.
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Those who become members of the Cabal are heavily indoctrinated into the Cabal's beliefs. This includes their reverence for their enigmatic guide – the Nightsinger, whom they themselves hold next to know knowledge about – but whom they credit with being the one whose opened their eyes to the so-called “hidden truths” of the world, ultimately making them realize how irredeemably unjust and unfair the current world order is. The Nightsinger is thus seen as a patron of hidden wisdom, who exposes the flaws and hypocrisies of the world and its existing power structures, and as a guide who guides their path to an envisioned better future. The Cabal's ultimate goal is to topple the existing power structure and replace it with this envisioned future—a future they believe to be fair and just, albeit one where they must hold the most crucial positions of power to maintain this supposed fairness and justice. Unbeknownst to the Cabal itself is the fact that the organization's very founding was a result of the Nightsinger's subtle machinations and manipulative words, and that, to her, the Cabal is but a convenient tool she created in order to reach her own goals.
The members of the Cabal sees the current world order, and its institutions, as a pervasive corruption that plagues all. It is a structure that perpetuates inequality, injustice, exploitation, and widespread suffering, for all except those who created and perpetuate it. A system where the hardworking who deserve better are pushed down while their superiors claim the rewards. Many of the Cabal's members harbor a deep sense of personal grievance, believing themselves to have been slighted by the current status quo, and that they've been denied something they believe themselves to have rightfully deserved. Their view can often be rather twisted, as they can often hold themselves be in rather privileged positions but still believe their efforts have made them deserving of more than what they've been given. The Cabal has fostered such a deep disdain for the current status quo that its members believe that only by completely dismantling the current system and institutions can a new structure be built – a fairer structure where all are given what they justly deserve. Or at least, what the members of the Cabal believe everyone deserves. The Nightsinger, through her masterful machinations, has managed to engrain this though of injustice so deeply into the Cabal's members that they extend their grievances not only to the people in positions of power, but to also be the fault of the very deities themselves, including Marcandria's Diostri. Society is according to them a reflection of the deities' wills and teaching, and as such, the root cause of the festering injustice that permeates it is also to be attributed to these deities.
@@ -34,6 +40,56 @@ dateCreated: 2023-01-23T20:52:16.031ZThey deeply value secrecy, and view subterfuge and manipulations as the most effective tools to topple adversaries. They are fully aware that they'd stand little chance should the rest of society unite against them, and thus see it as paramount to remain unknown by the adversaries and in a position where they can pit their enemies against one another. It is of absolute importance that the Cabal's overarching plans remain hidden, and they will quickly silence any perceived threat to it, even if it's among their own members. Consequently, each member is only given minimal insight into the Cabal's endeavors, and minimal knowledge regarding their fellow associates. This means most members are anonymous to one another, which serves to shield the Cabal as a whole in the event of a member's compromise or betrayal. The Cabal additionally see operating in the shadows as a way of seeing the true colors of the world, the world's “hidden truths” as they'd call it. By skillfully manipulating events from the darkness, the Cabal believe themselves to be able to witness individuals' most vile and self-serving tendencies, reinforcing their belief in the inherent corruption of the current order, while being more than happy to use the threat of revealing such personal secrets as leverage when extorting or coercing.
The Cabal prides itself on its pervasive influence throughout Marcandria, and boasts of an intricate web that touches every facet of society. They fully believe that the Cabal has planned for every possible outcome. Even if an endeavor should go awry, they firmly believe the Cabal to be so in control that they've already accounted for such an outcome, and that the endeavor failing will be inconsequential within the grand scheme. The Cabal credits most of their overarching plans and schemes to be results of the guiding hand of their enigmatic guide--the Nightsinger. The Cabal places great emphasis on keeping their members convinced that so long as they follow the guidance of their enigmatic guide, then she will reveal the best path forward and guarantee their eventual success. She is, to them, their faultless guide through the depths of darkness, who leads them towards the dawn of their envisioned future. For who better to guide one through the darkness than a deity who seems to have such mastery over it?
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he world is corrupt - unfair and unjust beyond any hopes of repair. Only by tearing the current status quo down completely can something better be built in its wake.
+Other common sayings:
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The Nightsinger's aliases/titles: The Veiled Mistress, The Mistress/Lady of the Night. The Unseen Hand. Our Guide (through the Darkness). Nightsinger.
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Driven by unwavering devotion to their enigmatic guide and fueled by a profound belief in their cause, the Castigian Cabal is determined to dismantle the prevailing power structures—both in society and in the world's workings—that they perceive as corrupt and unfair. Their ultimate aim is to replace these structures with a society they deem fair and just—a society where those who uphold it does not limit, deny advancements, or hinder an individual's pursuit of personal aspirations.
+The Cabal aims to accomplish this by first seizing control of a wide array of resources and influential positions. Simultaneously, they strategically work towards degrading the integrity of institutions they do not intend to control, as well as undermining the endeavors and wealth of influential individuals who are not part of their ranks. They aim to orchestrate the collapse of institutions and powerful entities outside their control, and as the unfolding chaos ensues, the Cabal intends to position themselves with an extensive network of resources and influential positions, ensuring their members collectively dominate what remains and what will come after. With this consolidation of power, they will embark on a comprehensive reconstruction, molding the world according to their envisioned future, where they hold positions of unrivaled authority.
+The Cabal is acutely aware that they stand little chance in reaching their goals should all the other influential factions in Marcandria decide to unite against them. Maintaining secrecy is a goal in itself for the Cabal. They go to great lengths to ensure their plans and schemes remain unknown, and that the existence of their organization remains unnoticed. While their actions may elicit reactions within Marcandrian society, they meticulously avoid leaving evidence that could point back their members, or evidence that could indicate the action to have been part of a larger scheme. The Cabal strives to keep their adversaries divided and in conflict with one another. The Cabal is always seeking to expand its membership base, and are therefore always on the lookout for people who could prove useful to the Cabal, and with something the Cabal can use to subtly indoctrinate them into their ranks. Likewise, they constantly aim to find new secrets they can exploit to coerce people into serving their cause.
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The Cabal actively seeks to recruit influential individuals from other factions, often luring them with promises of prominent positions in their envisioned future. Recruits who believe they have been unjustly denied advancement by their superior are often offered their superior's position in return for committing themselves to the cause. Those who are approached but refuse to join the cause are either killed off or forced to cooperate through the use of coercion and threats. The Cabal does not hesitate to exploit their leverage, employing tactics that endanger the possessions, reputation, and loved ones of non-compliant individuals. The organization has a demonstrated history of following through on such threats, but they must also exercise caution to avoid attracting unwanted attention. The Cabal is in a constant need of new recruits to expand its reach and influence, and thus will always have numerous ongoing schemes that aim to either convince individuals to join as faithful members or force them into servitude through coercion and threats
+The Cabal seeks to control those who cannot be swayed through covertly instigating infighting or conflicts between them and other factions. By weakening adversaries or diverting their resources, the Cabal aims to usurp their positions or render them too preoccupied to interfere with their plans. Each of the major faction presents a unique scenario, due to how each of them are organized and how deep the Cabal is able to infiltrate their existing ranks. A tailored strategy for each of the other major factions is thus required in order for the Cabal to achieve their aims for each of these factions.
+Most of the Cabal's schemes revolve around either elevating their members' positions or diminishing their adversaries'. These schemes encompass increasing members' influence and available resources, securing higher positions within other factions where they also hold membership, or bringing adversaries to ruin to open up coveted positions that a member of the Cabal may fill. These endeavors collectively aim to enhance the Cabal's relative influence and resources, ultimately contributing to the fulfillment of their overarching goal—bringing about their envisioned future.
+Individual members also harbor personal aspirations, primarily centered on securing the highest possible positions in the Cabal's envisioned future. Opportunism often motivates initial recruits, prompting the Cabal to perpetually engage in schemes to persuade new members to become fully committed to their cause.
+In contrast to the Cabal's aspirations, Shar, their enigmatic guide, harbors distinct goals. Discontented with the other deities' ploy to seal off the world from the realms beyond, thus rendering beings from those places, including the deities themselves, unable to directly influence the world, Shar seeks to exploit the seal's imperfect and deteriorating nature. Her aim is to create a significant breach in a location closely aligned to a place where she holds great strength—the Shadowfell. Through this breach, Shar intends to make herself the dominating influence in the world, causing it to fall into entropy—to crumble and succumb, leaving only disorder, darkness, and loss, where all are ultimately forced under her sway. Unbeknownst to the Cabal, Shar views them as mere tools to be discarded when they are no longer of use, with no intention of fulfilling any of her promises to the Cabal once she has what she's after. It is ironic that, just as the Cabal covertly manipulates individuals to serve their interests, Shar manipulates the Cabal itself to further her own agenda.
The Castigian Cabal is