Rundeen

The Rundeen are a slaving and mercantile consortium which operates in the southern Sword Coast and the Chultan Peninsula.

History
A Tashalaran merchant company that operated during the Shoon Imperium, when the Knights of the Shield tried to expand their influence to the Chultan peninsula, they were rebuffed by a group calling themselves the Rulnadeen. Upon investigating their new opponents, the Knights realized that it would be much more simple to agree to the merchant's demands and join them as members of their group rather than get rid of them. Being more experienced in trading with foreign powers, several Knights quickly became high-ranking members of the Rulnadeen while they themselves achieved a foothold in Calimshan. When the Shoon Imperium finally fell in 450 DR both the Knights and the Rulnadeen saw an opportunity to fill the power vacuum left. The knights tried to take take over their southern partners but were prevented from doing so. Angry, the Rulnadeen gave an ultimatum to the Knights who had joined them: sever all ties to the Knights or leave forever. Most chose to leave but it was the Rulnadeen who had the upper hand in Calimshan. Affiliate memberships in exchange for dues were offered to various merchant houses and a protection racket was set up for trading ships. Soon, only ships protected by the Rulnadeen were safe to travel in Calishite waters and without imperial soldiers only the affiliated mercantile groups were safe from the political turmoil on land. Almost all traders not affiliated in some way found themselves unable to trade at all and it wasn't long until the Rulnadeen had a monopoly on all trade into and out of Calimshan and the Chultan Peninsula.

Of course, this drew the attention of meddlesome outsiders and in 1349 DR Harper assassins had killed 3 of the 5 Grand Yrshalem as well as 50 of the groups agents and representatives. The monopoly in Chult had been broken and their activities in Calimshan had been disrupted. In retaliation, The Rundeen captured, interrogated and executed any and all harpers they could find, vowing to never offer quarter to a harper again.

Goals
The Rundeen desire profit above all else. Pretty much every avenue of making money is explored, though legitimate trading and slaving seem to be the most profitable of these options. They have contacts throughout Faerûn and make most of their profits sending local goods to far-off lands. Rival mercantile groups can expect to find themselves victim to piracy and banditry while the most promising merchants are offered affiliate memberships which bring great benefits in exchange for a portion of their profits.

Although eliminating Harpers is a secondary goal, it is always the highest of priorities when they are discovered.