The Elite

The Elite is the largest villain organization and arguably the second-largest parahuman organization in the United States.<ref name="intro">The largest villain organization and arguably the second-largest parahuman organization in the United States, the Elite got their start in San Francisco as ‘Uppermost’, an organization of rogues organized by rogues, involved in production and entertainment, managed by parahumans. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

Modus operandi

The Elite do not pursue traditional villainous enterprises, instead seizing an area on the economic or political level before undermining local opposition using sabotage, connection to organized crime and blitzkrieg-style strikes while remaining consistently off the public’s radar by subterfuge or careful manipulation of the media.<ref>The Elite does not pursue traditional villainous enterprises, though they may temporarily maintain connections to organized crime if it suits their purposes. If they have any pattern, it is to seize an area on the highest level -economic or political-, then undermine local opposition on the fundamental level with sabotage, blitzkrieg-style strikes, remaining consistently off the public’s radar by subterfuge or careful manipulation of media. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

The Elite than forces other villains and villain groups to be beholden to the Elite and nobody else.<ref name="villain_rogue">The Elite expect villains and groups to be beholden to the Elite and nobody else, Rogues are folded into the organization, and resistance is systematically crushed. Once an area is firmly under control, these resources are leveraged to expand elsewhere. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> Rogues are folded into the organization<ref name="villain_rogue"/> to function as performers, Thinkers, designers and innovators,<ref name="numberman">The Elite, a villain group expanding a subtle control over the western seaboard of America, putting pressure on rogues to bring them under their thumb as performers, thinkers, designers and innovators. He could see the numbers, extrapolate from the data to gauge their rate of growth. They were developing too slowly to be useful, not developing fast enough to outpace the predicted end of the world. They’d reach Brockton Bay in about a year. There would be time to decide if countermeasures were needed in the meantime. - Interlude 21 (Donation Bonus #1)</ref> while the Elite also control a lot of corporate 'hero' teams from behind the scenes.<ref name="los_angeles">Being on the West Coast, LA is caught up with the Elite, which is the second largest cape group in the US and the largest villain group, though it's villainy is ambiguous. I won't say much more, but they appear in brief in Worm. Long story short is that they snap up all of the rogues (ie. if Brockton Bay were on the west coast, Parian would be leveraged into joining one of the Elite's subsidiaries) and they control a lot of corporate 'hero' teams from behind the scenes. They're organized crime with an emphasis on organized and a varying emphasis on crime, depending on the city. - reddit comment by wildbow.</ref>

As the Elite take control of an area, resistance is systematically crushed. Once an area is firmly under control, resources are leveraged to expand elsewhere.<ref name="villain_rogue"/>

Structure

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States where the Elite control territory in red.

The Elite consists of a loose pyramid-style structure of cells, with the top cell managing interests on the national scale from San Francisco.<ref>The organization forms a loose pyramid-style structure of cells. The head cell, based in San Francisco, manages interests on the national scale, while each step down involves a step down in scale. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> Each established cell is independent and able to operate however it sees fit.<ref>“A little bit. Depends on who you’re talking to, and where you find them. Different subsidiaries, different branches, each led by one of the head members. The Gentleman, Agnes Court, Blueblood, Regis Rex, Bastard Son… and the others, a bit of shuffling in the works, while we decide what happens when Uppercrust passes. Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Each group has their own style, and that’s alright, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the rest of us.” - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread II [Worm Quest] - Page 82</ref> Some, such as the one headed by Uppercrust, are strictly corporate ventures. Others, such as Bastard Son’s are considered only slightly better than the Slaughterhouse Nine.<ref name="violence">"Exactly what it says in the files. Varies from case to case. Bastard Son's gang is very nearly as bad as the Slaughterhouse Nine. Uppercrust are strictly business, with no villainous activity we can detect. Others fit in at different points along the spectrum. I would recommend you do some investigation, get a sense for how this particular group operates, and then get in touch with me when you've decided what you're doing. You can call in a favor, I won't hold it against you, given the situation, you just need to decide what that favor will be. A permanent increase to your roster, building, staff, addition to a department? Or even a serious strike squad, if you think you have a good battle plan."​ - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread II [Worm Quest] - Page 82</ref>

The Elite control territories across the Western seaboard, maintaining presences in:<ref name="Anchorage"/>

• The states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Florida.<ref name="Locations"/>
• Tentatively, the state of New York.<ref name="Locations">The Elite currently control territories across the Western seaboard, maintaining presences in:
  

◈ California
◈ Nevada
◈ Arizona
◈ Washington
◈ Idaho
◈ Oregon
◈ Florida
◈ N.Y. (Tentative)
◈ Other (various cape cities, tentative) - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

• Tentatively, various cape cities,<ref name="Locations"/> including the city of Anchorage.<ref name="Anchorage"/>

The Number Man speculated that the Elite would reach Brockton Bay around June 2011.<ref name="numberman"/>

PRT Response

While the PRT designates the Elite as hostile, the Elite and PRT are not open adversaries. In fact, interaction with the Elite, or even cooperation, is a hotly debated subject within the PRT, from the lowest to the highest levels; the Elite do reduce crime numbers where they are active, but they also aggressively target rogues and powerful parahumans the PRT would rather support. The PRT’s current stance is to address the Elite on a case by case basis.<ref>At the same time, however, despite the ‘hostiles’ designation in the files, the Elite are not open adversaries of the PRT. Cooperation or interaction with the Elite is a hotly debated subject within the PRT, from the lowest to the highest levels; the Elite do reduce crime numbers where they are active, but they also aggressively target rogues and powerful parahumans the PRT would rather support. While official judgment is pending, the present stance is to address the Elite on a case by case basis. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

History

The Elite started in San Francisco as Uppermost, an organization composed of rogues, involved in production and entertainment.<ref name="intro"/> In 1998, Uppermost asked the PRT for assistance in managing the NEPEA-5 bill, which sought to curtail parahuman involvement in business and media, and was arguably targeted directly at Uppermost.<ref>In 1998, Uppermost reached out to the PRT for assistance in dealing with a bill (NEPEA-5) that sought to curtail parahuman involvement in business and media, arguably targeted directly at Uppermost. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

After a great deal of consideration, the PRT’s head office turned down the offer for assistance. NEPEA-5 was passed, and Uppermost disbanded.<ref>After a great deal of consideration, the head office turned down the offer for assistance, the bill was passed, and Uppermost disbanded. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> Many former members of Uppermost joined either the Protectorate or Wards to manage the fines and fees that followed the bill’s passage and avoid bankruptcy.<ref>Many members of Uppermost found their way to the Protectorate and Wards as a way of avoiding bankruptcy and to manage the fines and fees that followed the bill’s passage. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

However, Uppermost’s core group took a different course. They divided themselves, and set up their own businesses within the new laws, while keeping in contact outside the PRT’s and public’s knowledge.<ref>The events that followed have been pieced together from hearsay and investigation - Uppermost’s core group divided and started up their own businesses and independent directions, still in the open, in keeping with NEPEA-5. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> By the time this became apparent, the members had combined assets, employees and businesses as a loose confederation, under the banner new group dubbed the Elite, quintupling Uppermost at its peak.<ref>Unbeknownst to the PRT and the public, this group of members were still in contact. By the time it became apparent what they were doing, the new group, dubbed the Elite, had combined assets, employees and businesses quintupling Uppermost at its peak, and formed a loose confederation. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> Many core members have since been supplanted by a more ruthless leadership, titling themselves after elements of aristocracy,<ref>Many core members have been supplanted by a more ruthless leadership, titling themselves after elements of the aristocracy. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> combined with ostentatious as possible costume choices.<ref name="27.2">There were capes I knew to be the Elite: Nonpareil and Patrician, Agnes Court and Blueblood. They were the opposite of faceless, taking great pride in their appearance and their powers. The Elite were an organized crime syndicate, shutting down anyone who tried to use their powers for profit, unless those people worked for them. - Extinction 27.2</ref>

During Golden Morning, the Elite attended the meeting at Cauldron’s headquarters,<ref name="27.2"/> but decided to spend resources to build a new society gather than fighting Scion, attacking civilians in the process.<ref name="demise"/> The Undersiders set Leviathan on them in retaliation, leading to their demise.<ref name="demise">“This is common sense. No matter. The Elite, though?”

“They were attacking civilians.”

“They were nonviolent. Refugees in the vicinity of the portal were evacuated. The Elite then made contact with possible settlers who they thought would be interested in paying a premium for good shelter, for resources and supplies. If not paying with cash, then paying with skills. Doctors, talented artists, scholars… it was one of our best bets for re-establishing a hub of development across all of the Earths.” - Cockroaches 28.5</ref>

Anchorage

In a bid to finalize their hold on the western coast of North America, the Elite send a small team to Anchorage, rooted in the company Estrella.<ref name="Anchorage">The Elite have set up in Anchorage, in a bid to finalize their hold on the western coast of North America. The team appears to be small, rooted in the front company ‘Estrella’. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>

Members

Name	Description
Leadership
Agnes Court	Attended Cauldron's meeting.<ref name="27.2"/> Could grow organic structures that hardened to stone, able to build a city in two and a half days.<ref>Agnes Court, I thought. I’d studied all of the major players in anticipation of the end of the world, I knew who the Elite were, and I knew who had built this. She fit somewhere between Labyrinth and the Yàngbǎn’s Ziggurat. Organically grown structures. Seeds that swelled into pillars, stairs, houses and bigger things, given enough time in proximity to their master. The wood-like substance hardened to stone of varying colors after she terminated the growth. In the span of two and a half days, she’d grown a walled city, one with an elaborate castle at the northmost end, with shelters and what looked like a sewer system, if I was judging the perfectly round hole in the cliff face below right. It was gushing water. - Cockroaches 28.5</ref> Killed by Leviathan.<ref>“Court grows things exponentially, given time,” Tattletale said. She frowned. “Grew things exponentially.” If that was the case, then we’d lost a possible asset. Fuck this, fuck the Elite for bringing things to this point. - Cockroaches 28.5</ref>
Bastard Son	Runs one of the more violent cells, called only slightly better than the Slaughterhouse Nine.<ref name="violence"/> Speculated to be one Entourage's possible sponsors.<ref name="Sponsor"/> Speculated to operate in Las Vegas.<ref name="Vegas"/> Operated in Oakland at one point.<ref>Apex received a phone call, this time from Bastard Son, one of the Elite. With Poe gone, Bastard Son is working to put the Elite on the map, and as it happens, the Digital Boys have a standing arrangement with the Elite, giving them first dibs on new members. Bastard Son has heard about Apex, who divulged her strengths and weaknesses to the Digital Boys, and sends his people to seize her, alive or dead. - WD Oakland</ref>
Blueblood	Attended Cauldron's meeting.<ref name="27.2"/>
The Gentleman	Speculated to be one Entourage's possible sponsors.<ref name="Sponsor"/> Speculated to operate in Las Vegas.<ref name="Vegas">When you’re not at risk of being overheard, you say, “The Elite are in Vegas.” “I know. The Gentleman, I’m fairly sure, and Bastard Son, if the Elite don’t have him placed elsewhere. I’ll be in touch when I’m established,” she tells you. “Collaboration can’t hurt.” You nod curtly, but you can’t elaborate, because other employees are walking past you, in the opposite direction. - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread II [Worm Quest] - Page 94</ref>
Nonpareil	Attended Cauldron's meeting.<ref name="27.2"/>
Patrician	Attended Cauldron's meeting.<ref name="27.2"/>
Regis Rex
Uppercrust	Operating from New York, but is dying from the same medical problem that led to his trigger event.<ref> ​ "They've also got a cell here in New York. One of their leaders, Uppercrust, is dying. Same medical problem that led to his trigger event. He was the easiest to work with - one of our contractors for the large-scale force fields at sensitive port locations. His failing health was a small factor in why Brockton Bay was hit as hard as it was. Can't get around to his work sites. Now you've got splinter factions vying for his seat." - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread II [Worm Quest] - Page 82​</ref> Runs one of the least violent and most professional cells.<ref name="violence"/>
Uppermost	Speculated to be one Entourage's possible sponsors.<ref name="Sponsor"/>
Anchorage
Entourage (Gabriella Vargas)<ref name="Entourage1"/><ref>“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming. For those of you who don’t know, my name is Gabriella Vargas, Executive Officer of Estrella.” - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread II [Worm Quest] - Page 74</ref>	CEO of Estrella. A young Hispanic woman with long-range duplication abilities.<ref name="Entourage1">➥ ENTOURAGE; Gabriella Disposition: Villain (?) Last known location: Anchorage CEO of Estrella, also a duplicator with apparent long range duplication abilities. A gregarious, charming young Hispanic woman. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> Speculated to have the Gentleman, Upppermost or Bastard Son as a sponsor.<ref name="Sponsor">Elite sponsor not yet known. Given frequency of her associating with certain other parties and businesses, the database suggests that Gabriella may be a direct subordinate of: The Gentleman Uppermost Bastard Son - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread III [Worm Quest] - Page 18</ref>
Erik Granholme	A low level member R&D personnel employed by Estrella. A Tinker with an emphasis on drones and remote tanks with a crystal core.<ref>➥ UNKNOWN; Granholme, Erik Disposition: Villain (?) Last known location: Anchorage Low level R&D personnel employed by Estrella. Apparently a tinker with emphasis on drones and remote tanks with crystal core of some sort. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref>
Speaker of the House (Marion Dirks)<ref>“Cadence, I believe?” Marion asked. “Yes.” “I go by Speaker of the House. This is Upperhand. Marion Dirks and Don Fraser, respectively.” - PRT: Department Sixty Four, thread III [Worm Quest] - Page 1</ref>	Human resources director of Estrella. A former singer and actress<ref>➥ UNKNOWN; Dirks, Marion Disposition: Villain (?) Last known location: Anchorage Human resources director of Estrella. Powers unknown. Ex-singer and actress. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> with the powers to stun and deafen people depending on how long they have heard her speak.<ref>[05:01] <~Wildbow> Listening to speaker of the house builds up a latent cascade of mental/sonic energy. Stuns/deafens people at will based on how much they've heard her talk. [05:01] <~Wildbow> (Amount resets after use) - Discussion with wildbow, archived on Spacebattles.</ref>
Upperhand (Don Fraser)<ref name="Upperhand1"/>	Financial manager of Estrella.<ref name="Upperhand1">➥ UPPERHAND; Fraser, Don Disposition: Villain (?) Last known location: Anchorage Financial manager of Estrella. Powers unknown, a heavyset man, reports suggest the ability to turn opposition into ‘hamburger meat’. - PRT Quest (Anchorage)</ref> A Trump that can copy the general nature of powers with an output, and produces his own output in form of powerful hyper-gravity.<ref>Upperhand Trump. Could copy the general nature of powers with an output, and produced his own output in form of powerful hypergravity, pulverizing targets. - parahumanList, bolded edit by wildbow.</ref>

Trivia

• Both Parian<ref name="los_angeles"/> and Panacea<ref>As I think on it, I really like the notion of Panacea joining the Elite. They're very much like Marquis, and through them she could remember her dad. The progression from being a rogue with nationwide backing, being assured she's in good hands and thinking she might find relief from the pressures of her power, to realizing she's working with people very much like her father would be an interesting one.

reddit comment by wildbow.</ref> are mentioned as possible targets for the Elite by Wildbow.

• The Elite featured in an early draft of Worm, titled Circus and the Elite.<ref>Rex. He's one of the Elite, who could be called the bogeymen of the superhero community. They're an organized crime cartel run by a cadre of top-tier supervillains. Rex is one of those supervillains. Him walking up and asking to talk to me is the equivalent of an entire convoy of mafia bigwigs showing up on a small time dealer's front step. - Before Worm (2008)</ref>
  • Regis Rex shares part of his name with Harmon Rex.<ref>“My name is Harmon Rex, and there's-”
    
    Before he finishes, I'm already running. Within three seconds I've kicked off my sandals, bare feet slapping against cold sidewalk hard enough to bruise. It doesn't matter. I need to get away. - Before Worm (2008)</ref>

References

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