Infinitum: Prologue
An Alternate Order of Power
Within an ordinary world, a powerful organization controls modern governments like pawns in a web of power, greed, and deceit. Invisible to most civilians, it is the nexus of intelligence, security, and retrieval, holding unparalleled reach and influence.
Born centuries ago through the emergence of Founding Houses and their unrivaled quest for colonial expansion. Headmasters wield ruthless authority over their network. Leveraging their influence through information, Houses gain the upper hand in secret agreements. This grants them the power to dictate transactions, operations, and financial gains.
I. Colonial Roots and the Emergence of Houses
When European navies first charted the coasts of distant continents, they brought more than cannon fire and colonial decrees. With them was the thirst for power, fueled by ambition and the seeds of monopoly.
Trade winds and ocean currents became the lifeblood of a new economic order, one in which raw resources and exotic goods flowed between countries and colonies without hindrance.
It was in these ungoverned margins (port cities, free-trade enclaves, and newly founded settlements) that the concept of Infinitum took shape.
Originally a loose confederation of private trading companies and mercenaries, the organization formalized its structure as governments proved unreliable for business and easily corruptible for proft.
By the dawn of the 18th century, five notable Houses had formed around specialized functions:
House Gekkehuis-Ehrling, composed of the organization’s European bloc, mainly Benelux and Nordic countries, procured charters for Freeports: autonomous cities where no tariff was too high and no smuggler unwelcome. A Founding House considered to be the commercial titan of the organization, its Adepts monitored shipping lanes, arbitrated merchant disputes, and maintained warehouses whose inventories fed global markets.
House Takahashi, derived from Shinobi families who have mastered intelligence and transportation. Their samurai-trained Adepts infiltrated foreign courts, decrypted enemy communications, and operated undetectable vessels.
House Fairbourne, the English bloc’s envoy, wove networks of influence among governments and courts. Known for laying the grounds of the organization along with the rest of the Houses while using political leverage to broker treaties, secure legal immunities, and establish Infinitum as a legitimate corporation in the eyes of the civilian world. The power they wield is similar to the empire they serve.
Alongside these pillars are two lesser yet notable Houses, influential and important, but often eclipsed by the Founding Houses:
House Orlov were oligarchs of Slavic roots who offered their vast impenetrable lands as rentable foxholes in exchange for military contracts and warlord alliances.
House Luna, a select lineage of Saguiguilids (slaves) whose pedigree includes unparalleled skills in precision marksmanship, close-quarter combat, and retrieval operations. Often chosen to handle the most difficult and dangerous tasks, the Adepts of this House are agile and accurate.
Rooted in history, the Patriarch was a trusted servant to Governor General and Headmaster Ibarra. Through House Luna, strict order and peaceful terror reigned throughout his rule strengthened trade and commerce in the strategically located archipelago. These gave them a special spot in the organization: trained lapdogs and their fierce loyalty to fetch and kill.
Infinitum’s original purpose was simple: ensure that colonial commerce and political agendas could continue uninterrupted. Yet as empires waxed and waned, the organization adapted and grew more sophisticated.
II. Structure and Hierarchy: The Elder and the Herald
“Without rules, we are nothing but animals.”
If they were to become a legitimate and feared entity, the Founding Houses agreed to create the Codice Iudices, a code of conduct, leadership, and governance.
A vital clause of continuity was the distribution of power among Founding Houses by installing an Elder to oversee the organization.
A decade of rule to lay down plans and enact them before giving the reins to the next House to continue, alter, or remove ineffective programs.
Headmasters act as the point of authority in a House and usually have their child or a relative as an Adept to ensure loyalty and trust. Adepts can be promoted to Headmaster or the next Elder.
Chosen not by bloodline but by age, demonstrated capability, and mastery of combat, commerce, and logistics, an Elder is both an executive and a statesman. Installed for life or until abdication, the Elder:
Represents Infinitum in civilian and military arenas, attending state functions, private balls, and clandestine summits.
Preserves tradition by upholding countless codes, some forged by winning wars, others penned by tradition and ratified by the Gray Council.
Ensures Continuity by mentoring successors, forging alliances, and navigating shifting political landscapes.
Holds Ultimate Veto Power in organizational councils where Houses debate strategy, resources, and the occasional act of retribution.
An Elder’s authority is balanced by the Herald, the right hand who fulfills both martial and administrative duties. Hand‑picked by the Elder for unwavering loyalty and exceptional skill, the Herald:
Serves as Personal Bodyguard, foiling assassination plots and quelling insurrections.
Acts as Secretary and Chief of Staff, managing the Elder’s schedule, dispatches, and the delicate flow of information among Houses.
Embodies the Moral Conscience of the House, reminding the Elder of oaths, codes, and the human cost of political calculus.
Collectively, the Elder, Herald, Adepts, and Headmasters form the Squadra, and act as Congress to oversee Infinitum’s decision‑making process.
III. The Civilian World and Infinitum’s Mandate
Across the globe, civilian governments cannot claim total autonomy. While armies and diplomats represent nations, they often lack the agility to respond to covert threats, transnational crimes, or the rapid extraction of assets. Infinitum fills this void.
In return for its services, governments grant the organization legal exceptions: diplomatic immunity zones, free‑port enclaves, and direct lines of communication with intelligence agencies.
Contracts range from simple retrievalsuch as rescuing a kidnapped governor’s child to complex security operations involving cyber‑surveillance and counter‑terrorism. Yet the most prized commodity Infinitum offers is perfected discretion.
Once a job is closed, no paper trail remains. No civilian judge can subpoena a ghost file.
This symbiosis, however, demands constant vigilance. Infinitum’s actions can tip political scales or spark international incidents. Consequently, the Elder must tread with the grace of a diplomat and the reflexes of a predator.
IV. A World on the Brink
Tonight, as fleets of Freeport vessels glide through moonlit harbors and caravans slip across desert dunes under silent watch, Infinitum’s Houses prepare to convene in Palma.The Squadra will chart the organization’s new mandate: safeguard civilian order, expand secure trade corridors, and prevent the rise of rogue warlords.
Above it all reign the Elder and the Herald, two souls forged in adversity, bound by duty, and tempered by shared sacrifice. They stand at the threshold of a new era, one defined by unity rather than rivalry, integrity rather than profit, custodianship rather than dominion.
Yet in an instant, these dreams became a nightmare.
