Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Main page/organizations (section)

=== ''Gznors Věc'' (The Gnomish Syndicate) ===

Gnomes have long been second-class citizens in the lands of humans, halflings, and elves.  With few permanent settlements that they can call their own or places where they make up a majority, the race has been marginalized to living in certain sections of cities and in some places they are prohibited from taking employment in all but a few professions.  Many have taken to adopting a wandering lifestyle, moving in caravans from town to town and plying their trades, but moving on when they have worn out their welcome or when they sense hostility from the local population.

The rise of ''Gznors Věc'' (Zrd., "Our Thing", "This Thing of Ours") is a direct result of the persecution that Gnomes have experienced. While the vast majority of Gnomes have put up with their lot in life with humor, grace, and patience, there are a small fraction who decided that if they will not be allowed to integrate into society, they will take control of what they can through criminal means. Most people of other races know little or nothing of The Gnomish Syndicate - which is exactly how the leaders want it. But within Gnomish society - particularly anyplace there is a large population of Gnomes living in a city of humans, halflings, or elves - the existence of ''Gznors Věc'' is spoken of in whispers only with those that one trusts with their life.

The Syndicate controls all aspects of illegal trade within Gnomish society, allowing the community to have the things that their non-Gnomish masters try to prohibit - for a price. The syndicate is ruthless in taking its slice of the pie, and many a poor Gnome has found themselves indebted to the syndicate beyond their means - a situation that never ends well for the individual.

Syndicate chapters tend to operate locally and independently within a geographic area, although they maintain communications with each other to share information. The chapters also tend to form alliances and business relationships with non-Gnomish criminal organizations that specialize in activities that the Gnomes prefer not to engage in. In particular, Syndicate chapters tend to be more than happy to pay in gems and coins for these other organizations to handle any physical issues that need dealing with. But the Syndicate can protect its own if needed, and most non-Gnomish organizations have learned give a healthy respect the groups talents for illusion, subterfuge, traps, and ambush.