The Revolutionaries are an underground organization attempting to overthrow the Black King from his hold on the former country of Pemembras. They are primarily centralized in the former capital city, Borrel, although they act throughout the borders of former Pemembras.

Ideology and Goals

Pemembras has a long history of incompetent, corrupt, and otherwise poor leadership. The Revolutionaries do not want to continue to see the rich and powerful rule. Instead they desire a parliamentary system, where the common people would have powerful say in the government. They believe that the average working person – not the wealthy businessmen and bankers – should be in charge of the laws, justice, and ruling of Pemembras.

The Revolutionaries believe:

  • A council (parliament) should rule, made up of representatives from around Pemembras, not a singular city.
  • As the larger population, commoners should maintain the majority of the power, not the wealthy merchants and bankers.
  • This government should be held accountable and should fight for the benefit of all, not a chosen few.

History

The Revolutionaries first began shortly after the Black King’s coup, where a handful of people whispered that there was a way for governments to fall. These were the early stages, before the group had an idea of a parliamentary system. It first began with quiet grumblings and a desire to see change.

After the First Maithan War, when the Black King conquered Bevenkras, the Revolutionaries’ numbers grew as they found their ideology. They named themselves the Revolutionaries, as a revolution is not only the overthrowing of a government, but also the introduction of a groundbreaking new idea. The first whisper of their adopted parliamentary system ideology came from trading ships visiting regions where the poorest beggar had a voice and representation. Although initially met with skepticism within its own rankings, the concept of a council led by commoners gained traction.

The Revolutionaries began to sabotage the Merchant’s Council and their figurehead King Tepen, testing its strength quietly and under the cover of darkness. As the Pemembran oligarchy floundered with the fall of the Merchant of International Trade, the Revolutionaries gained popularity and traction as citizens realized that the weakening government could be taken down. The Revolutionaries may have eventually replaced the oligarchy had the Black King not invaded on Aspairoon 21st, 772.

During the Second Maithan War, the Revolutionaries changed tactics, attempting to sabotage both the Merchant’s Council and the Black King enough that the Revolutionaries could wrestle control of Pemembras once the two enemies destroyed each other. The Revolutionaries sabotaged supply trains, interfered with messages and more, while attempting to minimize loss of Pemembran life. Their limited funds and arms prevented the Revolutionaries from being little more than pests. They spread their message across Pemembras, but the people, once receptive, barely listened, too concerned with fighting off the Black King.

After Pemembras surrendered to the Black King, the Revolutionaries, ignored during wartime, instantly became popular. Only its use of a clandestine cell system kept it from becoming discovered and destroyed by the Black King through this sudden period of growth. Now, six months after the end of the Second Maithan War, the Revolutionaries have become an underground but active force against the Black King throughout Pemembras. With each success, the boldness of their attacks increases.

The Revolutionaries hope to weaken his hold on the country until the Black King is forced to admit defeat. The sheer unpopularity of the Black King has grown their numbers, although the exact size of the Revolutionaries are not known. The Revolutionaries know that they cannot match the Black King’s military power, his wealth, or his influence, so they must remain underground, attacking quickly and silently, through sabotage, bribery, and boycotts. However, the Revolutionaries are not the only ones who wish to see the Black King fall, and they are finding powerful allies.

Although a near impossible target, they believe the Black King’s death would quickly lead to the chaos needed for the Revolutionaries to seize control.

Organization

The Black King had successfully rose to power in 765 by using a clandestine cell system to prevent discovery. The early Revolutionaries copied this method so that no member knew anyone outside of his or her own sub-cell. Not even the top cell has knowledge of all of the sub-cells below it. This is to prevent the entire organization from being wiped out if a mole infiltrates their ranks, or if a member turns traitor. Due to its success, this organizational system continues to this day.

The Revolutionaries are believed to be led by the Seven Stars, a council made of members voted in by the highest cells. However, many believe that this is factually incorrect and is only promoted to throw off the Black King. Who the leader or leaders are remains a mystery, as the Revolutionaries focus on the actions of their members, much like their belief that the people are more important than a single monarch.

The exact number of Revolutionaries is unknown due to the clandestine cell system. However, the membership is thought to number around 3,000-7,000 members, depending on the source. Some believe that the Revolutionaries number fewer than 1,000, while others suggest well over 10,000. A large percentage of former Pemembras citizens support the Revolutionaries, although, again, the exact number is not known.

Activity

The Revolutionaries are mostly active in Borrel, which is both their seat of power and the current location of the Black King, who has put the city under military occupation. They primarily act against the Black King by encouraging Pemembran nationalism and sabotaging Maithas in many ways. This varies from destroying supplies; delaying or destroying ships and caravans; intercepting, modifying, and destroying correspondence and intelligence; spreading anti-Maithas propaganda; and encouraging and organizing boycotts, riots, and protests.

Although the Revolutionaries do not yet attack openly or purposefully seek the death of Maithan soldiers, they have progressively grown bolder as their numbers swell. It is of popular Pemembran opinion that if the Revolutionaries began attacking in earnest, the Black King would take out his fury on the Pemembran people. The other fear is that the Black King would begin to consider the Revolutionaries a larger threat, and treat them as such, meeting violence with violence with innocents caught in the way.

For now, the Revolutionaries keep their actions small but effective, reminding the impatient that tiny, consistent waves can erode away the tallest cliffs just as effectively, if not more so, than one giant tidal wave.

Membership

To become a Revolutionary, one simply needs to ask the right careful questions at the right times. The offer to join is never blunt or an outward statement of invitation. Becoming a member can be simple and easy, but rising up the hierarchy of cells is another matter.

A lower cell is charged with small tasks that appear useless and even bizarre without the knowledge of what the other cells are being organized to do. As one rises among the cells, the missions change from delivering a coded message or stealing sacks to organized arson or destroying a government ship. Only the highest levels are in charge of planning.

To rise among the levels of the Revolutionaries, one must collect sponsors by attracting the attention of those higher up who know of one’s cell. This can be a difficult task, and few rise above the more…expendable ranks.

Popularity (or lack thereof)

Pemembras

The Revolutionaries are growing in popularity in Pemembras, especially in Borrel. However, much of the population, while they agree with the Revolutionaries’ goals, believe that they cannot defeat the Black King and his army. Other believe that the whole concept of the common people being in power is no more than an opium dream and that the Revolutionaries are causing nothing but unwanted trouble.

Maithas and the Black King

Maithas in general considers the Revolutionaries to be nothing but a rebellion soon to be squashed. After all, if the Black King can take down three countries, a little band of arsonists should be nothing.

The Black King is ever cautious and treats the Revolutionaries as a serious threat, since he himself overthrew a monarchy through similar means. However, his government is careful to make sure that they do not appear to be threatened, only annoyed. To consider the Revolutionaries dangerous would be admitting that the Maithan government does not have everything under control like it pretends to.

Croon, Darid, and Farsni

Croon has released no official statement regarding the Revolutionaries, but it is almost certain that Croon has been aiding the Revolutionaries monetarily. It is most likely that if the Revolutionaries were successful in ridding themselves of the Black King, that Croon would swoop in and take over disorganized Pemembras.

Darid and Farsni are annoyed when trade is disrupted, but generally don’t care too much, as the Revolutionaries pose no threat to either province.