ORGANIZED
The Italian “Four Families” won the war that happened five years ago between them and the other crime syndicates, and have seized control of most of the assets of those families, making them the true power. Within the four Italian family hierarchy are the Pieranelli’s, by far the most powerful Italian crime family on the West Coast. With the other crime syndicates vaporized or having retreated from California, and with five years of consolidation having already taken place, Vincent Pieranelli, the head of the family and considered the “Big Don” by everybody, has led the organized crime organization to new heights of profitability. Vincent “Big Don” is only thirty-five, but is a genius at business and strategy. The Pieranelli family owns and runs Entertainment Conglomerate, Inc. which has major holdings of every entertainment media, including half the news broadcasts on the air in California. He widely used the news to uncover corruption of officials owned by the Four Families’ rivals, and then replaced those people with puppets of his own. Thus the Pieranelli’s are never endangered by law enforcement, which has mostly gone the way of corruption.
THE GANGS
An individual known currently only as “Unionizer” has done something very scary. Apparently a huge fan of the movie “The Warriors” Unionizer has successfully done what that movie’s early premise called for: A total alliance between the gangs. It is rumored that Unionizer is actually the leader of either the Crips or the Bloods, but it was those two gangs formalizing a truce, unheard of previously, that sparked all of the rest of the gangs to be approached individually by Unionizer and to agree to be part of the alliance.
This is a very recent development, and the police are frightened out of their wits by it. Even more frightening is that the gangs have broken off their affiliations with the Four Families, and the peace brought about by Vincent Pieranelli by conquering all of the other syndicates may come to a bloody halt soon if the unified gangs aren’t quickly brought under control.
Nobody seems to know who Unionizer is, or what his exact agenda may be. Even when law enforcement captured high ranking members of gangs, nobody has claimed to have ever met Unionizer or know anything about him.
But it is evident that he clearly exists and is leading the alliance of gangs. What happens next, remains to be seen.
Zulu Gang
The Zulus are a large scale street gang based locally in south-central L.A. They are one of the fastest growing gangs in America, made possible by two factors: their leader is the Metahuman named the Gibbon, who gives them influence and raw muscle power that other gangs simply don't have, and the fact that they have access to weapons and gear that far outstrip their rivals. Where they get their greedy paws on the latter is not widely known.
Because of these factors, the Zulus are particularly vicious and bloodthirsty. They are widely engaged in all sorts of criminal activities, from drug trafficking, gun-running, gambling, prostitution and protection rackets. Much to the authorities' chagrin, many disenfranchised youths from the inner city are joining up with the Zulus because the gang gives them a sense of purpose, and a sense of control over their own destinies. This is a worrying trend indeed.
Even more worrying is the fact that the Zulus have evidently agreed to join the Unionizer's gang alliance.
Free Stylers
The Free Stylers are not a street gang in the proper sense but operate more like a corporate gang. Their primary aims are financial power and the overthrow of the Corps and the Government. The Free Stylers do not operate according to typical gang tradition but use differing and variety strategies and modes of operation. Mostly they appear to be structured along a lose military hierarchy.
The initial membership of the Free Stylers was made up of other gang bangers but has since evolved to include membership from various social strata and walks of life. The Leaders of the Free Stylers are yet to be revealed but it is suspected that the metahuman Dynamo has some connection to the group.
NINJA CLANS
Yes, they exist. In the shadows mostly. But they are there. Boo!!
Ijubuyan Clan
The Ijubuyan clan has existed in secret in Japan for centuries. The current incarnation of the clan is led by Edward Covings, Jr. AKA The Tamer (PC), who was raised by them after the murder of his father. To gain revenge on his father's murderers and reclaim his father's company GIC, The Tamer moved the clan to Los Angeles, where they reside, doing the Tamer's bidding. The Ijubuyan clan members are obsessed with seduction skills and use many ancient arts, all of which the Tamer himself has mastered, at bringing an individual to the point of no longer being able to resist and becoming a slave to the clan.
OOC NOTE - While players can feel free to make mention or use the clan in their storylines, the Ijubuyan members are all fiercely loyal to the Tamer, who has been with them for seventeen years in their native Japan. Therefore trying to usurp control or manipulating the clan will be extremely difficult, though Tamer's player says you are free to try.
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