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The '''Coalition''' was a criminal organization exclusive to [[Demi-Human|demi-humans]], and the largest and most significant of its kind in [[Offetstine]] in the years before its disbandment. It was led by [[Raja]] from its time of inception until his sudden disappearance, at which | [[Category:Criminal organizations]] | ||
{{Infobox criminal organization | |||
|insignia=[[File:Coalition_logo.png]] | |||
|caption=The insignia used by the Coalition from 1981 to its fall in 1997 | |||
|date_founded={{Date and age in years and months|1833-02-10}} | |||
|date_dissolved={{Date and age in years and months|1997-03-20}} | |||
|founder=[[Raja]] | |||
|num_members=<abbr title="approximately">~</abbr>60{{Amend}} (<abbr title="circa">c.</abbr> 1996) | |||
|admittance=[[Demi-human|Demi-humans]] | |||
|relations=[[Serpents]] ''(rival)'' | |||
}} | |||
The '''Coalition''' was a criminal organization exclusive to [[Demi-Human|demi-humans]], and the largest and most significant of its kind in [[Offetstine]] in the years before its disbandment. It was led by [[Raja]] from its time of inception until his sudden disappearance, at which concerns regarding governance amidst the organization's membership spread until they grew untenable, and the Coalition disbanded. | |||
The exact character of the Coalition did not align much with that of a traditional crime syndicate, nor with that of a gang. | The exact character of the Coalition did not align much with that of a traditional crime syndicate, nor with that of a gang. As a nascent organization, its stated goal was to provide care to members of the Offetstine underground who were not otherwise able to care for themselves, usually underage innocents, people who were cast aside from human society. However, as the organization grew and developed, its primary purpose also shifted. Eventually, the Coalition declared itself a home to demi-humans ostracized from society, especially those with cruel or chaotic predilections. | ||
In its height, the Coalition fashioned itself the organization through which society in the [[Greater Offetstine Area]] was controlled. Through its fronts, whose businesses often bore relation to legal or financial matters, the Coalition had amassed a signlficant amount of political power which, especially in the decades leading up to its disbandment, it was keen to utilize. High-ranking members of the Coalition often [[Shadow politics|lobbied]] for policies that facilitated the operations of the Coalition, in the process often improving the living conditions for otherwise marginalized demi-humans in Offetstine. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
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=== Expansion === | === Expansion === | ||
In 1901, the Coalition adopted its Latin motto and classic sigil, depicting an eye and wreath of berries and assorted foliage, pivoting away from its original | In 1901, the Coalition adopted its Latin motto and classic sigil, depicting an eye and wreath of berries and assorted foliage, pivoting away from its original "holdover" imprint of a dexter hand and more abstract wreath. As the holdover imprint was never used officially by the Coalition, the classic sigil is widely considered the first symbol used by the organization. | ||
TODO | TODO | ||
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=== Rebrand and revitalization === | === Rebrand and revitalization === | ||
Through the 1970s and up to the mid-1990s, the Coalition took inspiration from the rise in computing and telecommunications technology as a method to facilitate its operations. Due to the [[Masquerade]] preventing effective communications through more open means, the sparsity of demi-humans through the [[Greater Offetstine Area]], and the overarching need to keep communications private and secret by virtue of the | Through the 1970s and up to the mid-1990s, the Coalition took inspiration from the rise in computing and telecommunications technology as a method to facilitate its operations. Due to the [[Masquerade]] preventing effective communications through more open means, the sparsity of demi-humans through the [[Greater Offetstine Area]], and the overarching need to keep communications private and secret by virtue of the Coalition's criminal nature, the Coalition became early adopters of computing technology to facilitate their operations, and it reflected in their branding and methodology during this period. | ||
It is assumed by some analysts that the fundamental nature of the Masquerade, disallowing any event from occurring that would reveal the existence of magic or demi-humanity to the broad human population, prevented any less secure networked protocol from being adapted by the Coalition in the interim, by virtue of rolling it back out of existence as it would have given away the existence of the Coalition to increasingly pervasive digital surveillance. It is also assumed that the paranoid adoption of encryption at the time was directly influenced by requests and recommendations from the Offetstine [[Veilkeepers]]. | It is assumed by some analysts that the fundamental nature of the Masquerade, disallowing any event from occurring that would reveal the existence of magic or demi-humanity to the broad human population, prevented any less secure networked protocol from being adapted by the Coalition in the interim, by virtue of rolling it back out of existence as it would have given away the existence of the Coalition to increasingly pervasive digital surveillance. It is also assumed that the paranoid adoption of encryption at the time was directly influenced by requests and recommendations from the Offetstine [[Veilkeepers]]. | ||
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During this period, the Coalition commissioned and rapidly adopted new encryption and steganography standards, ultimately culminating in the form of the [[CREST]], The cryptographer and computer scientist hired to develop the original version of CREST in 1988, Serena Markov, eventually became [[Modeste Daniau]], a vampire and high-ranking member of the Coalition. | During this period, the Coalition commissioned and rapidly adopted new encryption and steganography standards, ultimately culminating in the form of the [[CREST]], The cryptographer and computer scientist hired to develop the original version of CREST in 1988, Serena Markov, eventually became [[Modeste Daniau]], a vampire and high-ranking member of the Coalition. | ||
Earlier, in 1981, the Coalition abandoned its traditional sigil in favor of its | Earlier, in 1981, the Coalition abandoned its traditional sigil in favor of its "swish" logo. It was selected after a brief call for submissions for "new branding, to reflect this new age of demi-humanity", to represent its transition from a formal crime syndicate to a lax yet formidable gang and safe-haven for more violent demi-humans. The modern logo, abstractly representing a narrowed eye and the letter C, the initial of the organization, was chosen because it would be easy to graffiti and lined up with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dot-com_bubble dot-com] branding of the "new" Coalition. | ||
The logo change was part of a larger transition toward a branding that emphasized freedom and self-actualization, advertising the Coalition as a place where chaotic and violent demi-humans could be themselves. This transition marked the rapid expansion of the Coalition for the following years, and as such this period was broadly considered a brief renaissance of the Coalition, and despite their newer, more laid-back branding, helped cement their identity as a criminal empire. | The logo change was part of a larger transition toward a branding that emphasized freedom and self-actualization, advertising the Coalition as a place where chaotic and violent demi-humans could be themselves. This transition marked the rapid expansion of the Coalition for the following years, and as such this period was broadly considered a brief renaissance of the Coalition, and despite their newer, more laid-back branding, helped cement their identity as a criminal empire. | ||
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=== Disbandment === | === Disbandment === | ||
On March 20, 1997, reports began to trickle down through the | On March 20, 1997, reports began to trickle down through the Coalition's power structure that [[Raja]], the founder and leader of the Coalition, had disappeared. While Raja never showed himself to any other members of the Coalition as a matter of principle, his proxies all seemed to corroborate the suspicions, having either disappeared with him or returned to their old life and refused to acknowledge their involvement with the organization. | ||
As Raja was immortal by virtue of being a vampire, there were rarely concerns in the organization about what would happen in the event of his death or disappearance. Due to this lax attitude about his succession, the sudden threat of his disappearance caused many members of the Coalition to panic, and spurred a distrust in the management of the organization. Debate surrounding the future of the Coalition and its righteous heir remained at the forefront of Coalition | As Raja was immortal by virtue of being a vampire, there were rarely concerns in the organization about what would happen in the event of his death or disappearance. Due to this lax attitude about his succession, the sudden threat of his disappearance caused many members of the Coalition to panic, and spurred a distrust in the management of the organization. Debate surrounding the future of the Coalition and its righteous heir remained at the forefront of Coalition members' minds for the following several days, and many individuals attempted to lay claim to the former territory of the organization. | ||
Among these replacement organizations, dubbed | Among these replacement organizations, dubbed "Neo-Coalitions", the most successful was the [[Ringleaders]], led by the dinosaur-folk [[Numa]]. However, comparatively minor splinters and stragglers had their own success. Criminal organizations that competed for territory with the Coalition, such as the [[Serpents]], also swept up many former members of the Coalition at this point. | ||
During the disbandment, Coalition front organizations either closed down or continued to operate on their own, occasionally transferring hands to human civilians. In less than a year following the disbandment of the Coalition, the Offetstine underground seemed to approach equilibrium once more. | During the disbandment, Coalition front organizations either closed down or continued to operate on their own, occasionally transferring hands to human civilians. In less than a year following the disbandment of the Coalition, the Offetstine underground seemed to approach equilibrium once more. | ||
Latest revision as of 22:22, 27 August 2024
The Coalition was a criminal organization exclusive to demi-humans, and the largest and most significant of its kind in Offetstine in the years before its disbandment. It was led by Raja from its time of inception until his sudden disappearance, at which concerns regarding governance amidst the organization's membership spread until they grew untenable, and the Coalition disbanded.
The exact character of the Coalition did not align much with that of a traditional crime syndicate, nor with that of a gang. As a nascent organization, its stated goal was to provide care to members of the Offetstine underground who were not otherwise able to care for themselves, usually underage innocents, people who were cast aside from human society. However, as the organization grew and developed, its primary purpose also shifted. Eventually, the Coalition declared itself a home to demi-humans ostracized from society, especially those with cruel or chaotic predilections.
In its height, the Coalition fashioned itself the organization through which society in the Greater Offetstine Area was controlled. Through its fronts, whose businesses often bore relation to legal or financial matters, the Coalition had amassed a signlficant amount of political power which, especially in the decades leading up to its disbandment, it was keen to utilize. High-ranking members of the Coalition often lobbied for policies that facilitated the operations of the Coalition, in the process often improving the living conditions for otherwise marginalized demi-humans in Offetstine.
History
The Coalition was established in 1833 by Raja, a vampire and mage whose exact identity remains unknown to date.
Foundation
TODO
Expansion
In 1901, the Coalition adopted its Latin motto and classic sigil, depicting an eye and wreath of berries and assorted foliage, pivoting away from its original "holdover" imprint of a dexter hand and more abstract wreath. As the holdover imprint was never used officially by the Coalition, the classic sigil is widely considered the first symbol used by the organization.
TODO
Rebrand and revitalization
Through the 1970s and up to the mid-1990s, the Coalition took inspiration from the rise in computing and telecommunications technology as a method to facilitate its operations. Due to the Masquerade preventing effective communications through more open means, the sparsity of demi-humans through the Greater Offetstine Area, and the overarching need to keep communications private and secret by virtue of the Coalition's criminal nature, the Coalition became early adopters of computing technology to facilitate their operations, and it reflected in their branding and methodology during this period.
It is assumed by some analysts that the fundamental nature of the Masquerade, disallowing any event from occurring that would reveal the existence of magic or demi-humanity to the broad human population, prevented any less secure networked protocol from being adapted by the Coalition in the interim, by virtue of rolling it back out of existence as it would have given away the existence of the Coalition to increasingly pervasive digital surveillance. It is also assumed that the paranoid adoption of encryption at the time was directly influenced by requests and recommendations from the Offetstine Veilkeepers.
During this period, the Coalition commissioned and rapidly adopted new encryption and steganography standards, ultimately culminating in the form of the CREST, The cryptographer and computer scientist hired to develop the original version of CREST in 1988, Serena Markov, eventually became Modeste Daniau, a vampire and high-ranking member of the Coalition.
Earlier, in 1981, the Coalition abandoned its traditional sigil in favor of its "swish" logo. It was selected after a brief call for submissions for "new branding, to reflect this new age of demi-humanity", to represent its transition from a formal crime syndicate to a lax yet formidable gang and safe-haven for more violent demi-humans. The modern logo, abstractly representing a narrowed eye and the letter C, the initial of the organization, was chosen because it would be easy to graffiti and lined up with the dot-com branding of the "new" Coalition.
The logo change was part of a larger transition toward a branding that emphasized freedom and self-actualization, advertising the Coalition as a place where chaotic and violent demi-humans could be themselves. This transition marked the rapid expansion of the Coalition for the following years, and as such this period was broadly considered a brief renaissance of the Coalition, and despite their newer, more laid-back branding, helped cement their identity as a criminal empire.
From 1994 to 1997, the Coalition began to provision cell phones with modified firmware to its high-ranking officials, eventually planning to distribute them to all members of the organization to facilitate effective private conversations as cell phones were expected to grow more common over the years.
Disbandment
On March 20, 1997, reports began to trickle down through the Coalition's power structure that Raja, the founder and leader of the Coalition, had disappeared. While Raja never showed himself to any other members of the Coalition as a matter of principle, his proxies all seemed to corroborate the suspicions, having either disappeared with him or returned to their old life and refused to acknowledge their involvement with the organization.
As Raja was immortal by virtue of being a vampire, there were rarely concerns in the organization about what would happen in the event of his death or disappearance. Due to this lax attitude about his succession, the sudden threat of his disappearance caused many members of the Coalition to panic, and spurred a distrust in the management of the organization. Debate surrounding the future of the Coalition and its righteous heir remained at the forefront of Coalition members' minds for the following several days, and many individuals attempted to lay claim to the former territory of the organization.
Among these replacement organizations, dubbed "Neo-Coalitions", the most successful was the Ringleaders, led by the dinosaur-folk Numa. However, comparatively minor splinters and stragglers had their own success. Criminal organizations that competed for territory with the Coalition, such as the Serpents, also swept up many former members of the Coalition at this point.
During the disbandment, Coalition front organizations either closed down or continued to operate on their own, occasionally transferring hands to human civilians. In less than a year following the disbandment of the Coalition, the Offetstine underground seemed to approach equilibrium once more.
Culture
TODO