The Serpent Gang
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The Serpent Gang is the largest criminal organization in the city of Alfein, but by no means the only one. The Serpent Gang has a heavy presence in Sybus' Kiss and a small one in the Shadows as the lawlessness of that region is difficult for even them to overcome the powers thereof.
Background[edit]
The Serpent Gang is lead by the mysterious General Venom, who is believed to be a former leader in Winterweir's armies before his face was deformed by a rival from the Church of Tyros. Cost everything by his deformity and false charges, he fled to the Underworld where he aligned himself with the Crimson Oath and soon became a powerful warlord. Others speculate that General Venom may be a shape-changed Dragon or a Slythin pretending to be a human.
The Serpent Gang is noted for the fact that it takes a calm and professional approach to business that puts it at odds with most of the organizations in the criminal Underworld. General Venom proclaims that he has a Code of Honor and this means that he'll only kill you if you genuinely refuse to pay up or have misrepresented yourself in his business.
This professional approach has allowed the Serpent Gang to absorb many smaller gangs and also install its own leaders, which enforce their 'Code' with ruthless efficiency. The only force that theoretically could stand up to the Serpent Gang is the Shadow Network and they have yet to make a move in the region.
Activities[edit]
The primary businesses of the Serpent Gang are gambling, prostitution, somas drug dens, and usury (which is illegal in Winterweir for anyone but the Church of Veethor but happens a lot anyway). It also has ties to slavery but tends to sell 'permanent personal companions' rather than hard labor as others do.
The Serpents Gang has influence beyond the Lower Class as well with General Venom's underlings working very hard to gain bribery or blackmail holds on important figures in the city's government and the nobility. Their control is far from complete but gives them a powerful influence in the halls of justice.
Disturbingly, General Venom has his own clan of assassins called the Ensignia. A group of stealthy warriors trained the arts of murder and martial arts from the Island Nation of Lartan, the Ensignia clan has somehow become permanently employed by the General.
Headquarters[edit]
General Venom moves around the city constantly and only speaks directly with his personal Lieutenants known as the Vigos. The Vigos are a group of nine criminal masterminds that help control the various gangs under his control. Each is a dangerous and supernatural force by himself.
