Umbral Nexus

The Umbral Nexus was a shadowy organization formed by the same corruption that brought about the Shattering. During the age of the Verdant Breath, Flauria was by and large a peaceful and fairly just world, with many of its denizens content. However, many was not all; injustices and hardships did occur. As the corruption of the darker planes began their work, twisting minds and hearts, weakening the world before the Shattering, the Umbral Nexus formed.

Loosely at first, the dark corners of the world coalesced into a network of spies, assassins, and thieves. They sought to undermine the status quo of the world, which they found complacent and soft, letting the whispers of darkness guide them. Yet during the Shattering, and even more as the first year of the Shatterblight Wars claimed so many lives, the Umbral Nexus was galvanized into a true faction by a charismatic tiefling, Araspira. She saw that for all their faults, standing with the mortal races against the three enemies was necessary for the survival of Flauria.

The Nexus served as messengers, carrying missives when stealth was required. They infiltrated and executed countless traitors, mortals that sided against Flauria with the devils, or the demons, or the dragons. They were not asked to, nor would they have signed, the Burning Pact, as their alliance was tenuous and methods reviled by many, but they were effective, and necessary.

After the Shatterblight Wars ended, the Nexus morphed into something of a mercenary outfit, employed in shadow, sometimes for less savory deeds. They again became a loose network, this time by design, operating in cells. They became couriers and collectors of information, as well as exotic items, running the blackmarkets of Flauria.

Calling them allies with the Embers is typically a stretch, though the two factions do still find themselves working together on occasion, and a rare Ember also belongs to the Nexus from time to time. In truth the Umbral Nexus is not an evil organization, but they are a selfish one, attempting to amass all the wealth they possibly can. Though no one outside of the Nexus seems to know why.