The Benevolent Brotherhood (Hermandad Benevola) is a clandestine trading faction of Glastumville that smuggles goods along the routes of the valley of the Barrado Balacán. The Archontean imperial apparatus does not fully authorize it but tolerates it out of logistical need.
| Type | Faction (smugglers) |
| Leader | Wicktrimmer |
| Seat | Glastumville (formerly Ritornello) |
| Motto | ”Wicked is Good” |
| Spanish entry | Hermandad Benevola |
Description
Formally Cofradía Benevola in Decadian usage, commonly “the Brotherhood of Wicktrimmer”. Its motto, “Wicked is Good”, recasts Decadian morality: “wicked” means opposing the imperial tax apparatus, and “good” is whatever circulates freely. It supplies goods more cheaply than the imperial Factorial Merchants.
Internal doctrine:
- Horizontal loyalty — members owe each other more than the Empire.
- Routes as collective property — route knowledge is rotated so there is no single weak point.
- Fixed tariff — the same toll for all; no extortion.
- Information as minor merchandise — it sells route information but keeps the routes themselves internal.
Operations
- Glastumville — current seat and center.
- Ritornello — former commercial seat, destroyed by the Egg of Ritornelo at the close of the first cycle. Much of the trade archive was lost, minor members died, and operations were reorganized around Glastumville. Wicktrimmer, previously second, then took full command.
- Routes to Gosterwick — minor trade at the foot of the Great Waterfall.
- Sublevels of the Ardis Vala Mega-Dungeon — suspected clandestine operations with contacts among dungeon factions.
Relationships
- Wicktrimmer, also called “Wicked is Good”, is its present head; he keeps routes running without drawing the Decadian apparatus’s attention and balances smuggling with services to the valley.
- Factorial Merchants — imperial rivals charging higher official rates.
- The provincial church (Imperial Church) tolerates it because cheaper goods reduce popular discontent.
- Custodes Oculis Solis watch the routes but do not close them while the Brotherhood keeps its internal tariffs.
- Eusebia Phokas, an imperial figure, coordinates her operation with it.