Dragons of Tirenia: The Benevoli and the Black Dragons

Sunny Southern Tirenia has more farming villages, and fewer cities, than the north. It is famous for its historic culture, and the advances that were made in philosophy, literature, the arts, science and mathematics. But today it is famous for a more insidious menace - crime. While small feudal landowners might officially have say, organised crime is rife in the south. The 'Benevoli', the Benevolent Men, portray themselves as businessmen and community leaders. But they are involved in protection rackets, smuggling, gambling, prostitution, embezzlement, and many other illegal businesses. Most of the local lords are under the thumb of the Benevoli, and those who attempt to stand against them are destroyed through scandal, intimidation, or murder.

The secretive leaders of the Benevoli are each responsible for crime throughout a large swathe of southern Tirenia. And, unknown to all but their most trusted underlings, they are black dragons. Rather than infiltrate political structures, as the other dragons have done, the blacks have taken over the society of the south through controlling its criminal elements.

Related image
Art: 'Portrait of a Man with a Roman Coin.' Hans Memling, c. 1474.

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