The Bal Molagmer

The Past.
In the past, the Bal Molagmer were a secret guild (somewhat like the modern-day Twin Lamps) of thieves, that "stole from the rich and gave to the poor". The age of this guild is unknown, but after doing some research I've come to believe that it formed before the Battle of Red Mountain and before the War of the First Council altogether. Perhaps its roots lie somewhere in Summerset, who knows? The reason for me to believe so is the fact that the Bal Molagmer used to carry hot rocks from Red Mountain, which probably used to be their initiation ritual. The volcano has never been a safe place, but it became even more so after the Battle of Red Mountain. I doubt that someone would dare to approach it just to collect rocks. Then again, the rocks could be just a legend, made up by those, whom the Bal Molagmer helped. During the late First Era and the Second Era, the Bal Molagmer prospered, having no rival guilds. But in the beginning of the Third Era the influx of outlanders placed a lot of power in the hands of the Thieves' Guild, while the growing nationalism of the Dunmer and the rise of Great House Hlaalu allowed the Camonna Tong to become a buffer for the thieves from the west. The outlanders felt safer with the Thieves' Guild, while most young Dunmer chose the Camonna Tong out of national pride. Nobody wanted to join an all-Dunmer organization that didn't have any political ties. Obviously, the Bal Molagmer were soon swept away due to conflicts with the Thieves' Guild and lack of newcomers.

The Present.
In the waning days of the Third Empire, a group of enthusiasts in the Thieves' Guild are trying to resurrect the old order of gallant bandits. Their efforts are commendable. The information has been spread - the Bal Molagmer are coming back. For now, the newly restored guild within a guild has not encountered any obstacles, because the Thieves' Guild and the Camonna Tong have locked their teeth at each other's jaws and can not notice a potentially new power growing in one of them.

The Future.
Unfortunately, the Bal Molagmer have picked a wrong time to return. The Dunmer criminal arena is firmly held by the Camonna Tong and supported by Great House Hlaalu and to some extent even by the Morag Tong. With the fall of the Empire, most outlanders will be drawn out of Morrowind and the Thieves' Guild will either crumble, or destroy itself and its enemy in one blow, turning an invisible conflict into an all-out war. When the Empire disintegrates, House Hlaalu will lose most of its power and the political scene of Morrowind will be in chaos for quite some time. One would need to support and be supported by one of the Great Houses to form a guild and none of the Great Houses need such an unpredictable and I dare say illegal organization under their wing. The Bal Molagmer will probably be completely forgotten in the coming centuries.

-- Darth Blade