One of the most powerful and infamous secret societies of all time, the Tsui Tong are the literal masters of the city of Kai Shan, and control much of the surrounding province of Kao Shan as well. A powerful criminal organization with over 3,000 members, the Tsui began as a secret society dedicated to overthrowing a corrupt overlord. In this, they were aided by the hero Wo Mei. But in later years, the Tsui became corrupt themselves, engaging in robbery, murder, extortion and terror.
The Tsui have an information network unequalled even by the Ministry’s Secret Police. Within their stronghold, the Black Rock Fortress of Kume, located in the central city of Kai Shan, they have amassed great records of events, people and places. Part of this fuels their ever-expanding blackmail and extortion business, but the Tsui are also information brokers, selling secrets to the highest bidder. It was to the Tsui that the one-day Emperor Wo Mei went, to locate the Impossible Palace and recover the Silver Flower Sword of Tan Ming.
The Tsui are also a powerful political force. Often, the bureaucracy has called upon the Tsui for information or to control rebellion in the frontier provinces. In turn, they have demanded and received a number of concessions. No Imperial troops are quartered in the city of Kai Shan; there is no magistrate or guard, and the Tsui run the city pretty much as they like.
Within the province, they are free to conduct their gambling operations as they wish, opposed only by the Kuo-tan secret society. Recently, this freedom has been curtailed by the Emperor Kai Chin and his Kuo-tan allies, leading to speculation that the Tsui may soon strike back at the Jade Throne itself.
The Tsui are recognized by the symbol of a black handprint on the face, or a black scarf knotted around the neck. The scarf is also used as a strangler’s weapon, a common Tsui method of assassination.