I suppose none of you people out there have ever hear of Gor Nastiens? Translation might be helpful: The Dark Workers. No, these are not a trade union involved in the forging of darkness protecting their rights. It seems we will need a bit more than just the translation. Here's the transliteration (nifty word, eh?) from Red World to English vocabulary:
The mob, the mafia, gangsters (minus the guns)

The Xannast Lords were not always known by that name. When the Seven Cities Empire of the South was first founded, each of the cities was run by one of the great lords. Of these cities, only four remain on contemporary map, the capital being Okthin. This was the first of the southern cities.

As wars grew more frequent and strife betwixt the southern lords increased, they saw the need for there to be one king to rule over them. This would both prevent total disintegration while also helping to end the friction that constant collaboration caused between the lords. They chose a man known for his wisdom, who took the name Ataxanihi, the First Great One. He ruled all of the seven cities from the capital, Okthin.

Okthin, however still had its own lord, sovereign over the city. As the monarchy continued, friction developed between the king over all the cities and the lord of the city in which the king resided. By the next generation, both of kings and lords, the city had divided ever more and more, until at last armed conflict seemed inevitable. The lord of Okthin, hearing of a plot for the violent overthrow of his throne, went into hiding. He would periodically appear, mostly when he needed men or money from the city, but knew that if ever he stayed too long the king would get him killed.

So began the Xannast lords, though they were not yet known by that name. The lords of Okthin through the generations ruled an underground organization of supporters, forever hoping to win back the city for themselves. It is said this is why the chief Wizard of Thyron always came to crown the king in Okthin; his presence would prevent rebellion, as he had a great following.

Soon the nobility of the Xannast lords was gone, and he became only a leader of a cutthroat band of every criminal in the city, at least every criminal to speak of. Those crooks who did not come under his sway usually died or vacated; an observer would never know the difference.

For many generations the leadership of this band remained in the bloodline of the original lords, and the power in craft that came with it stayed. However, after a series of overthrows, the Xannast lord became only the chief assasin. But their role in history was far from over....

Cool. Fantasy gangsters.

For many generations the leadership of this band remained in the bloodline of the original lords, and the power in craft that came with it stayed. However, after a series of overthrows, the Xannast lord became only the chief assassin. But their role in history was far from over....

The Xannast Lords plague the history books with their attempted usurpations. In fact, it has been said that half the reason the Southern Empire had any standing army at all (with few militant rivals around them) was in case of rebellion by these powerful lords.

Their direct impact was even more profound than the implications of their existence. From their ranks came eventually the great hunter, Caeron, grandson, though illegitimate in both parental cases, of one of the later Xannast Lords. But more of him in separate works...

The Xannast Lords greatest move ever, in fact led by Caeron's grandfather, was when they undid the whole empire in one fell swoop. Every few years, there was a council of the various lords of the cities which convened in Okthin. This included the Emperor and the all of the other lords, including the Wizard of Thyron.

This meeting proved the end of the Xannast Lords of Okthin. Between the dawn, when the lords arrived, and the evening, two lords were slain, the Wizard of Thyron abducted, and one other lord wounded. Also, to the dismay of mankind, the Emperor was found dead in his own quarters, a knife between his ribs. Later the Wizard's body was found mangled in the streets, with a shape like a V with a dot in the middle carved into his torso. This is the shape of the letter that makes the Z sound, for the beginning of Xannast.

But the Xannast Lords were not done. Their organization appeared within two months operating in Thyron, wreaking havoc on the population. As the Empire crumbled into feudalism, and from feudalism to anarchy, the Xannast Lords continually relocated as soon as whatever host city they had been in ran out of important enough people to murder, and out of money to steal. Soon no city had anyone of royal blood left, but then disaster struck.

Gor Nastiens quarreled, and the ranks were purged as a new leader took command. But this new dynasty lasted only four days, as the new leader was slain and yet another took control, running another purge. After two consecutive purges, all order was lost, and in the western city of Meldüs was utterly destroyed int he resulting chaos. Only the ruins of its stone buildings now remain, swallowed by the woods.

Soon Gor Nastiens reformed, but never to the same assassin prowess it had once had. It soon shipped out over seas, establishing itself on Steren Island, soon dominating its ports, until one fateful day when a certain hunter came along... but that is another story...

*Is still digesting this information* That's very well thought out, Reiyen. You've obviously figured all this stuff out.