Imperial Fishing Club

The Imperial Fishing Club (釣皇倶楽部) is an Erebonian-based organisation based upon the prestige and love of fishing.

Background
Founded by Lakelord III when he gathered several fishing enthusiasts, the Imperial Fishing club's headquarters can be found in the Imperial capital, Heimdallr in the Leica District. The Lakelords themselves are a noble family whose fortunes mainly stem from their history of prestigious fishing and legendary catches. The Club's activities provide feedback for the equipment produced by the Lakelord Corporation.

Amongst the ranks of the Club are several elite fisherman, including the Lakelord family itself. The strongest members are known as the 'Elite Four' and have personal titles of their own. By beating one of these elite fishermen, a challenger receives various 'killer' titles of their own.

Although they are Erebonia based, they did operate a branch in Crossbell prior to its annexation. At an undetermined point in the past, Harvard Fisher, a well known 'avid angler' left the Club and founded the Fisherman's Guild, which remained a point of contention between the two organizations for most of their coexisting history.

Wherever the Imperial Fishing Club fish, they test the water quality as a means of 'giving back' to the community. This idea was implemented by Lakelord III.

With the Fisherman's Guild activities temporarily suspended for months due to a restraining order, their branch in Crossbell City is taken over by the Imperial Fishing Club in an effort headed by William Lakelord III to expand their reach and influence. The building's owners though the building was unused, so they formed a new contract with the Imperial Fishing Club.

The members of the Guild make a boathouse in Crossbell's marshlands a temporary headquarters while they figure out a way to get their property back. Lloyd Bannings is asked to act as a mediator between the two organizations and the Special Support Section start an investigation into the matter. Lloyd must face the Elite Four of the club, along with LakeLord III himself to win back the branch office, catching the Guardian in the process.

Rean Schwarzer is introduced to the club via Kenneth Lakelord, a fellow student at Thors Military Academy. Although Rean does not join the club formally, the two maintain friendship and share a love of fishing. Across the Empire, as Rean develops his fishing skills, Kenneth provides him with rewards and fishing titles.

Rean also frequently encounters Annabelle, another avid fisher who is on the run to avoid a marriage to Lakelord III but slowly falls for his brother Kenneth instead. This comes to a head when Rean and Kenneth must face off against Lakelord III and Narses in Trista after Lakelord II feels slighted. Rean catches Trista's guardian and claims victory, winning freedom for Annabelle.

As an instructor at Thors Branch Campus, Rean has the opportunity to meet Lakelord II who once again invites him to join them, seeing he has connections to both organizations and his status as the Ashen Chevalier, as it would increase the prestige of fishing in the public's eye.

In the last two years, relations between the two rival fishing organizations has improved dramatically, to the point where Club members are guests at the Crossbell branch of the Guild. Exhibition matches are played between the two with one being held along the South Ostia Highway. Lakelord II is present, who is eager to defend the Club's reputation after the previous matches are closer than he would have liked and wants to make the Guild Grovel at his feet. Rean Schwarzer successfully reels in Ostia's Guardian, ending the competition.

The Imperial Fishing club and Fisherman's Guild join forces in the Great Twilight to investigate the severe changes in fishing ecosystems. Large numbers of guardians are appearing across the Empire and Crossbell and they eventually track down the source to the 'Grand Lakelord', the legendary fish that evolved from a rainbow trout and appears only in times of great change in the Empire. It was the sighting of this fish that gave the Lakelords their name and it has been the ambition of theirs to catch it, although they are content to see it caught. on the day of the Great War, at Mishelam Lakeside Beach, Rean is able to do so, earning himself the same title as John Lakelord, "Angler God."

Lakelord III, who hadn't been seen since the end of the war, has reputedly been touring the central part of the continent with the Elite Four. During this time, they encountered and fished against an unknown Calvardian fishing organization with the results being much closer than Lakelord II would care to admit, a reason for his enthusiasm for the exhibition matches.

Annabelle and Kenneth Lakelord prepare a variety of fish based food items in their efforts for the Imperial Wedding, supported by the Imperial Fishing Club and the Fisherman's Guild.

Membership

 * William Lakelord III- founder and current leader, rank of 'Fishing Emperor'
 * John Lakelord I, rank of  'Angler God'
 * Lakelord II, rank of 'Fishing Emperor'
 * Kenneth Lakelord- member, rank of 'Fishing Emperor'
 * Annabelle- member
 * Narses, the Crazy Wave- Elite Four
 * Sharkman, the Sea Edge- Elite Four
 * Triton, the Silver Orca- Elite Four
 * Kaguya, the Dragon Queen- Elite Four
 * Euclice- member
 * Harris- receptionist at the Leica District Headquarters
 * Old Man Rod- has 'ties' to the organisation
 * Rean Schwarzer- honorary member with rank of 'Angler God'
 * Various other unnamed members