"Chaos does not cultivate profits."

Karimlan is the biggest organization in Lune, a shadow group known only to a select few non-members up until it changed heads and rapidly grew in power and influence. So powerful in fact that whispers of its existence have started to reach the ears of ordinary denizens.

It started out as a thieves guild made up of siblings, eventually evolving to deal with stealing information rather than material wealth. A century after its establishment, Karimlan has grown into so much more, branching into several specialized divisions within its ranks.

It has its fingers in many pies, people in every corner and sector with power imaginable; however, because its members don't exactly flaunt their membership and the organization's ever opaque goals to the public, there are a lot of misunderstandings on what Karimlan really is to outsiders. Some call Karimlan a shady crime syndicate, while others dub Karimlan as the underworld's enforcer. The allegations are neither true nor false on their own.

In the simplest of terms, Karimlan seeks to control the underworld, the dark underbelly of Lune's society where the criminals and the less fortunate lurk and live. This has always been its mission ever since its foundation, even if the goal seemed unclear for a long time. Even when it started off as a thieves guild then as an information guild later on, it never veered too far from this rather long-term goal.

As it was established in a chaotic time, Karimlan's second—and more commonly known purpose—is to be a force of stability as it benefits the most in a functioning society. Chaos, after all, does not cultivate profits.

First and foremost, loyalty to the organization. A man who stabs his brother's back—figuratively and/or literally—forfeits his life.

Second, one should always act with honor. Simply because Karimlan operates in the shadow does not mean to shed humanity and become an indiscriminate monster.

Lastly, there is always hierarchy to be followed and respected—though that does not mean it does not value the ability to think critically and creatively in its members. In fact, mindless obedience is highly frowned upon. After all, Karimlan members are highly trained personnel.

Most Karimlan initiates start off as people who are not going to be missed or searched for if they go off grid; the beggars and homeless, the orphans, the ones who want or need a new start in life. Most are scouted and recruited as adults, but if they are younger then they are educated first in Karimlan-ran schools and given the choice to join the organization when they come of age. Under normal circumstances, the young adults usually don't have any idea the organization or the individual recruiting them is part of Karimlan.

Preliminary initiates are then trained based on their strengths and assets and designated to the appropriate division. If they are particularly talented, a Regent—an Archon's successor—may even personally train them; however, if they turn out to be lacking, they are soon let go.

The probationary period varies from person to person. It may take months or years before they are deemed worthy to join—or not join—Karimlan. The initiates are given a hint to Karimlan's identity and plenty of warning before the final rite is conducted as their last choice to back out. If they agree to join, Karimlan's emblem will be tattooed on their body. Depicting a dragon serpent starting to curl menacingly around the moon, the tattoo is embedded into the skin with a special substance called "sinagtala," which disappears and only shows up again when under direct starlight. This tattoo is done by only a handful of people explicitly trusted by the upper echelon, imbuing some sort of magical password in the process. Still, as an added measure, the Archon of Solace or his Regent is often present during this time to stand as witness.

Karimlan's headquarters is called Las Hacienda de Cecilia but most members just call it Celia. It isn't located anywhere in Lune but in a pocket dimension owned by the head of Karimlan, with the main residence walled and only accessible by having the tattoo. There are several doors leading to it scattered throughout Lune but they are only there if one knows where to find them and how. As such, those who try to infiltrate Karimlan or the Architect's residence will find it an impossible task even if they somehow manage to mimic how the tattoo works.

Celia spans 5,300 hectares or ~13,100 acres. Basically a small city by itself, it houses not just Karimlan's members but also their families—often without knowing it's a separate space and Karimlan being presented as some other kind of job or organization to said family members—if they choose to, with housing and accommodations usually provided for. It has schools from kindergartens to highschool, a hospital, parks and malls, even arable lands where Karimlan can plant crops.

Most of Karimlan's operations, plans, and meetings are conducted in a building just outside the inner wall but the crucial and sensitive ones which involve usually only the higher ups happen in the Architect's residence.

Karimlan has long been a shadow organization, its existence rumored but never confirmed. Branches, nameless facades, and shell groups have always been its form of communication with others whenever there is a need to, but never, ever as just Karimlan. The public doesn't even know its name, most have taken to call it the Monopoly of Shades.

Because of the mystery surrounding Karimlan and its goals, most who have heard whispers of its existence are wary if not downright fearful towards it. Known only as the puppeteer behind the powerful, capricious with everchanging tides; Karimlan's image is all speculation at best. Neither it nor its members care. "Let them hate, as long as they fear," is the unofficial motto after all.