Games of Chance (OOC; Open/Semi-WiP; Crime RP)

[Cylarn]

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A Crime RP by Cylarn

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Calypso Resort: Fiefdom of the Sordi Crime Family

Calypso is a beautiful place; a fifty-mile Caribbean atoll lined with white sand, clear water, five-star lodgings, and much more. This is not a place for a suburban family to take an odd vacation to; this is a resort for the wealthy, the famous, and those who have a name - and a voice. Unfortunately, that's how Calypso has always been. On one weekend, they might be booked for a rockstar's wedding, while the next might play host to a poker tournament in the famed Euboea Casino, which is strictly black tie only. That opulent trap tends to deviate the eye from what is truly going on.

The truth, my friends, is never that simple. Calypso is the personal fiefdom, if you will, of the Sordi Crime Family, and they run it with an iron fist. They own the atoll, the shops, the casino; everything. CEOs come here to get away from peering cameras and enjoy the dark, hedonistic side of like, just like HBO. The Sordi get their drugs from Mexico and South America, and they distribute it throughout the Caribbean, effectively controlling the drug trade in that region of the world. Murders, kidnappings, stories of imprisonment on the island; it's there if you look hard enough, past what the Sordis were able to scrub away with money and lawyers.

The guy at the top is "Big Sonny" Sordi. Calabrian by birth, but raised in the States up through the Depression and World War II; he is at least one-hundred-and-one. The rumor is that he got chased out of Brooklyn in the '50s for sleeping with a Lucchese Capo's wife. After that, Sonny fled to Cuba and grew from a soulless goon to a Made Man by '56, and he has been involved in organized crime throughout the Caribbean since. He opened up the resort in '80, and he has been at the helm of a rapidly-expanding criminal empire since. Pot, guns, skin, organs (supposedly), endangered animals, blackmail; they have a diverse portfolio.

Big Sonny had a severe heart attack a year ago, and it has since left him bed-ridden and hooked up with tubes. Word from my sources inside says that he lives in top penthouse of the resort, but isn't that just...cliche. Anyways, they control everything on that island; security, stores, attractions - everything. You've got brand-name boutiques and stores, restaurants, casinos, bars, beaches, scuba shops, and so much more there.
They all pay more than half of their earnings to the front corporation that owns the resort; trust me on my sources, folks. Sordi put in the best security of all time; gun-toting thugs, attack dogs, helicopters, and a camera per block. It's all in international waters, and as long as the checks keep getting cashed, it's going to stay that way.

As for the layout, you've got multiple areas. The atoll itself has a bay called the Tropic Bay. The charming port town that the tourists see when they first come in, Port Calypso is on the bay, in all its commercialized colonial splendor. Going to the southern end of the atoll, you'll find Atlantica Beach, which is known for its white beaches, clear water, and unusual number of lurking sharks. The Sordi Villa lays back behind some jungle on the opposite shore, and it's where the Sordis keep their private estate. There's an Airport for private aircraft, and beyond that, extending to the tip of the atoll, is the Santino Giuseppe Sordi Nature Preserve. How much of an asshole do you have to be to put your name on a stretch of jungle? Anyways, the resort runs guided and unguided hikes, bike rides, hunting trips, and other stuff back here. On the other side of Port Calypso, towards the top tip of the atoll, you have the resort proper. Up here, you have the casino, some restaurants, the Bungalows, and the Poseidon Hotel.

Anyways, I have to get going. If you're serious about going to the atoll, you're on your own. It'll be a game of chance, if not games. With an "S."

Are You Confused?

You've just read a lot of exposition, and little about the direction of this RP. That's fine; I've got the handy-dandy, out-of-character description of this RP, along with the disclaimers, rules, roles, and everything else that's pertinent for this RP. TLDR: The RP takes place in modern times, on a fictional resort in the Caribbean, one that just so happens to be run by (mostly) Italian mobsters. My intention is for this RP to be a crime-based thriller/drama/action RP, conducted in an episodic format. You (the players) will take the role of a member of the Sordi Family/organization. This could be a son/daughter of Sonny Sordi, a nephew, employee, friend, or what-have-you. The base line is this: they have to be connected to the family in some way, such to an extent that they would have at least a basic level of knowledge/employment in some less-than-legal enterprises.

There are available roles, for those who are interested. A role is not required, though a role signifies an important place within the Sordi Family Hierarchy. On the information page below this one, I will include a run-down of our hierarchy, though I implore everyone to read this and understand the importance of their roles. As it stands currently, the spot for Boss is taken, though Sonny Sordi will be incapacitated for most of the RP.

If you are thinking that everyone will be forced to cooperate and work with one another, think again. Sonny Sordi is in what amounts to a medical coma, the Feds are getting to be a problem, debt is starting to pile up, and everyone in the Sordi organization has little trust for one another. With Sonny's iron, unifying hold relinquished, the hierarchy is about to experience a significant upheaval. Not every Caporegime wishes to respect the Underboss's right to succeed Sonny, nor does every Soldier feel that his (or her) Capo deserves to keep their cash cow. The tension is starting to mount, and one small incident could spell doom for the family.

Code: Select all

[b]Real Name:[/b]

[b]Alias (If Applicable):[/b]

[b]Age:[/b]

[b]Gender:[/b]

[b]Appearance (Picture or Description:[/b])

[b]Identifying Marks:[/b]

[hr][/hr]

[b]Skills:[/b]

[b]Primary Specialty:[/b]

[b]Personality:[/b]

[b]Weaknesses (Pick at least 2):[/b]

[hr][/hr]

[b]Ethnicity:[/b]

[b]Nationality:[/b]

[hr][/hr]

[b]Likes:[/b]

[b]Dislikes:[/b]

[b]Fears:[/b]

[b]Role in the Family:[/b]

[b]Official Occupation (If Any):[/b]

[b]Personal Biography (5 or more paragraphs):[/b]

I have decided to add up a separate application for any specific "business" ventures that your character might be running, whether it be on or off-the-books. Feel free to set up as many as you please.

Code: Select all

[b]What is the venture (One paragraph or more detailing the venture):[/b]
[b]Is it legal:[/b]
[b]How many personnel are involved with it:[/b]
[b]Anything else:[/b]


[Cylarn]

Rules, Facts, and Such

The atoll, 50 miles around from end to end, serves both a wealthy clientele as well as the staff that live there. A main road system, Tropical Highway, connects the resort from the hotel to the airport/heliport, with additional service roads in separate locations for ease of travel. Due to the commercial potential to be had, most of the districts feature high-end shops and stores that characters may or may not own or operate.

1. Port Calypso - A charming town with two functional ports, one for guest reception and another for resupply. Much of the building styles seen in this location capture British and Spanish colonial architecture. Employee housing, in the form of inexpensive - but comfortable - bungalows, is in this location. The most popular spot here would be Harry's Tavern, where off-duty employees and tourists alike come to drink craft alcohols, eat expensive appetizers, and listen to live music.
   
2. Poseidon Bungalow District - Folks that like their privacy can afford a bungalow on the beach, or at a spot inland. The beaches are just as good as Atlantica, and thanks to the diligent cleaning crews and security personnel, it is difficult to tell that a majority of tourist-on-tourist criminal activity occurs here.
   
3. Poseidon Hotel District - Home to the fifty-story Poseidon Hotel, as well as a number of smaller boutiques, pools, restaurants, and other properties. Rivaling the hotel's glass, rectangular frame, the Euboea Casino resembles styles found in Monte Carlo. There are no slot machines here; formal attire only, high-stakes baccarat, private poker rooms, and live entertainment.
   
4. Sordi Villa - The private home of the Sordi Crime Family, walled off on 70 acres of land from the rest of the resort. Strictly off-limits, without an invitation. It's an opulent villa with enough room to house Sonny, his family, and his closest associates.
   
5. Atlantica Beach - The main pleasure beach. Scuba/snorkel rentals, beach bars, and jellyfish, oh my!
   
6. Airport/Heliport - Location for private air transportation.
   
7. Santino Giuseppe Sordi Nature Preserve - Almost a third of the island, the Preserve is home to numerous imported animal populations. Guided and unguided hiking, hunting, and other outdoor activities go on here.

The staff of the Calypso Resort is broken up into several distinct - but equally important - divisions:

• Service - Maids, kitchen staff, bellboys, janitors, maintenance crews; these people keep the lights on, the bugs out, and the roof from leaking.
  
• Security - The dedicated "professional" security force for the resort, almost all Sordi Associates. The are recognizable by their nice suits, earpieces, and holier-than-thou attitudes. Lifeguards and medical staff are also on the Security budget.
  
• Management - Human resources, finance, recruitment; they handle all employee affairs.
  
• Merchants - The collective department overseeing all stores and commercial activities within the resort.
  
• Recreation - What is a resort without recreation? The Calypso Recreation Department includes personnel ranging from hunting guides and water aerobics instructors, to world-class performers and casino dealers.
  
• Communications - Communicating to the outside world from the relative seclusion of an island is no problem, if you got the right guys for it. Comms is responsible for keeping the Wi-Fi running, the flow of e-commerce constant, and ensuring that nothing scandalous leaves the island.
  
• Logistics - By boat or by plane, people come to Calypso all the time. Not only does the Logistics Department keep the boats and planes on track and orderly in the ports, they ensure that the flow of supplies - and contraband - continues to flow between the island and its neighbors.

I. As the OP, I hold all rights and authority over this RP.
II. My designated Co-OPs are an extension of my authority, and they may with my authority unless told otherwise.
III. Yes, it's realistic fiction. Yes, you'll most likely have to own a gun. Yes, you may have a lot of guns IF you provide a damn good explanation. Please be reasonable in your arsenals, and be sure that you can explain how you got these items.
IV. The act of killing another poses risks to your character's safety, and one false move could spell doom. No redos.
V. This isn't a PG-rated RP, but have some decency. Take your sex-chat somewhere else. To clarify, IMPLIED sexual encounters are tolerated, and you will be expected to manage the balance between intriguing substance and common decency.
VI. OOC chat is open for conversation.
VII. Put substance in your applications, in your writing, in everything. You're crafting a character that you'll use in order to assist in telling what will be an interesting tale. Show yourself some respect and put your heart into your work.
VIII. One-liners, powergaming, and other repulsive RP tactics are not welcomed here.

• Protection Racket - An operation in which a business pays a sum of money to an organization for (usually) physical protection, usually under threat of victimization.
  
• Caporegime - Also called a Capo, this is a Made Man who leads and oversees as group of Soldiers (Soldati). The Capo carries much influence and power within the family, and runs their own schemes.
  
• Soldato - The first level of the Mafia hierarchy; Soldati are responsible for making money and working for their Capo. They are trusted associates who have been with the family for a while. Most Sordi Soldati are Made Men.
  
• Made Man - A full-fledged member of the family; they have the full backing and support of the family.
  
• Associates - The lowest-tier members of the family; they are not made, and are entrusted with basic tasks and acts of crime.

1. The Sordi Crime Family originates from Calabria, Italy; thus the dominant ethnic background (especially for those who were born into the family) is Italian, though muscle of Irish, Greek, Albanian, and other nationalities might be found in their ranks.
   
2. What is the status of women in the organization? Deviating from the norms at the time, Sonny regularly allowed women into the ranks of the Sordi Family to serve as they please. The practice is still in place, though women in the Sordi Family must go to great lengths in order to prove themselves to their male counterparts.
   
3. The Sordi Crime Family is just as bad as you would expect. Contract-killing, drug-smuggling, cock-fighting, human trafficking, bank hacking; there is nothing that the Sordi won't do, short of overtly backing foreign terrorists.
   
4. Your backgrounds will vary in terms of content, but remember that your character is already aware of their criminal affiliation. Undercover cops and remorseful criminals aren't going to be approved unless I am consulted beforehand. Be creative with your character, and be sure that you can provide a plausible explanation as to how they got wrapped up with the Sordi Family.

[Cylarn]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Player-Characters

Major Non-Player Characters

• Santino "Big Sonny" Sordi - The Don of the Sordi Crime Family; Big Sonny is a resourceful young man who has survived every tribulation thrown at him, usually utilizing a mix of cunning, brawn, and charisma. He earned a reputation for not only surviving World War II,
  but for miraculously emerging from assassination attempts unscathed. Currently rendered in a vegetative state due to a heart attack, and his near-mortality has his organization growing nervous. A father of numerous children with different women, he has taken several of his children into the higher echelons of his organization. Age 102.
  

Minor Non-Player Characters

Enterprises of Note

Neptune Hotel Group - A hotel chain operated by Giuseppe Sordi, and the parent company of the Poseidon. The NHG is a sophisticated enterprise, that puts value into both discretion and subversion.

[Lunas Legion]

Why hello there. Time to do some reading up on the Italian-American mafia.

[Cylarn]

-snip-

Good to have you aboard!

[Rygondria]

Oh boy a Mafia rp, i am in.

[Mincaldenteans]

Very interesting! -goes into ponder mode-

[Rudaslavia]

May I reserve a spot as consigliere?

[Cylarn]

-snip-

Do what you gotta do.

-snip-

-snip-

Welcome aboard.

I am likely going to reserve a Capo spot for Sonny's third son (who will either be with Resort/Casino Security, or running a hunting business on the atoll). I am going to put together a hierarchy of duties at the resort, such as kitchen staff, security, activities instructors, the lot. Feel free to float out any suggestions for the makeup of the resort. Remember that the business venture app applies to both legitimate and illegitimate enterprises, and approved businesses will be featured prominently in the RP.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

You flattered me. Which is the perfect way to get me on board of an RP. I'm in.

[Cylarn]

-snip-

[The Clockwork Cities]

I'm pondering the idea of doing someone who was older (say around 40) and has come from a external mafia who left following a heated leadership dispute that caused the gang to slip and was brought on due to their skills and recognition from the boss, how would that work within this mafia?

[Cylarn]

-snip-

If the family in question had been a Sordi ally, then possibly. That being said, Sonny would take into account your character's past, their assets, and what trouble they might be bringing with them. I'm guessing that your character will already be a Made Man?

[The Clockwork Cities]

-snip-

If the family in question had been a Sordi ally, then possibly. That being said, Sonny would take into account your character's past, their assets, and what trouble they might be bringing with them. I'm guessing that your character will already be a Made Man?

Yes, with quiet a few skills to boot, he only left because he did not agree with the new leader and left the country/state as a whole. Leading onto him finding work within Sordi.

I'm also pondering what nationalities would work best with this, I was thinking ex Triad from California or something along those lines

[Cylarn]

-snip-

Traditionally, the Mafia refrains from recruiting anyone without an Italian heritage. I'm not saying that an ex-Triad wouldn't be employed by the family, but that their ethnic background would disqualify them from being "made." While Italians and Italian-Americans are definitely the largest composition of the Sordi Crime Family, a sizable fraction of the organization is made up of muscle with Irish, Greek, Jewish, and Eastern European roots.

[Rygondria]

One of my business idea's was either a Nightclub that is a front for diamond smuggling or a Yacht club that is used to hold smuggled black market animals.

[Shark isle]

I am interested. I have improved since the last time I joined one of your RPs.

[The Clockwork Cities]

-snip-

Traditionally, the Mafia refrains from recruiting anyone without an Italian heritage. I'm not saying that an ex-Triad wouldn't be employed by the family, but that their ethnic background would disqualify them from being "made." While Italians and Italian-Americans are definitely the largest composition of the Sordi Crime Family, a sizable fraction of the organization is made up of muscle with Irish, Greek, Jewish, and Eastern European roots.

Yeah, I understand that, by his standards he'd be "made" and the same by pretty much any Far Eastern gang.

But chances are he wouldn't directly work as part of the mafia, more like a contract they bring in. If that'd work within the basis of the RP. I doubt they'd want to ignore someone with 20+ years of experience from an ex-triad member

[Cylarn]

-snip-

Perhaps they wouldn't necessarily overlook him, but there are plenty of colder killers out there. That being said, Sonny might keep him on retainer - in a sense - because the Triad proved his worth previously when his organization and the Sordis were allies. Maybe as muscle, more than likely as a contract killer or "fixer."

[The Clockwork Cities]

-snip-

Perhaps they wouldn't necessarily overlook him, but there are plenty of colder killers out there. That being said, Sonny might keep him on retainer - in a sense - because the Triad proved his worth previously when his organization and the Sordis were allies. Maybe as muscle, more than likely as a contract killer or "fixer."

Yeah, that could work quiet well.

Contract killings, intimidation and interrogation would most likely what he'd sell himself as. I'll write up an app soon.

[Cylarn]

-snip-

-snip-

Looking forward to your apps, guys.

[Tiltjuice]

Hello!

[Cylarn]

-snip-

HI!

[Cylarn]

Real Name: "My name is Samuele Giovanni Sordi, but most folks call me Sam."

Alias: "Nope."

Age: "Thirty-nine."

Gender: "Duh."

Appearance: "Me in the face. I'm between six-foot and six-two, one-ninety.

Identifying Marks: "I got the best one of all: my right leg, halfway up and past my knee, is gone. I have an above-the-knee prosthetic; a sophisticated kevlar/titanium setup with hydraulics. It looks human, with toes, knee, and all, but it's black and shiny grey. Water-resistant, too. Other than that, I bear the signs of a violent life in all of its grisly details. I am missing my left pinky, and most of my left hand is discolored by a brown hue, dotted with small and blackish lacerations. The nub is barely distinguishable, though. I've been shot through the left shoulder-blade with a 9mm, a 7.62mm NATO in the left calf, and three more 7.62s in my chest. Those scars are brownish, ugly remnants of the holes. I have a scar down my right cheek from a knife blade, and another one in my back."

"By all rights I should be dead by now, shouldn't I? However, I am one lucky cyborg, truth be told."

---

Skills: "

Primary Specialty: "I can work with a cell phone in my hand, just as well as I can use a gun. I grew up around what my dad had built, and I knew that's what I was destined for. However, I honed myself in the Army - four years at West Point and eight with the 101st. When I got involved with the family business again, I put my training to use on the mean streets of LA, of Montreal, and wherever Sordi interests were threatened. I have led to from a young age; Student Council, West Point, the 101st, organized crime."

Personality: "I like to think that I adapt well to every situation, but that's not necessarily true. For the most part, I act professional in professional settings. I learned from a young age to respect my elders, and my time as an Army officer solidified that. I act with a certain amount of decorum when I'm in public; people know who I am. I have rubbed shoulders with politicians, celebrities, and others while working at this resort. I want people to like me, and I try to read people the best I can. Because of that, I have friends in over fifty countries that would offer me a bed, money, food, or their lives, if I needed it."

"I can lose my cool though, and it gets more frequent as I get older. Who the fuck has the right to give me shit anymore? Big Sonny? Let me be candid; I might be his son, but he and I both know what I am: a fucking bastard. I was raised by a single mother who got nothing but a baby she didn't want. I got myself into college, without Sonny's fucking help, alright? I went from Pleb to Battalion Commander at West Point, without his help. I led men into battle against terrorists, I took human lives, and I about bled out for my fucking country. I met God, and he gave me my life back, twice. What did Sonny do? He waited for six months until I was in a state of major depression, unexpectedly welcomed me into his home with open arms, bought me a bitching leg, and gave me a job. I'll respect him for what he did for me and all, but he will not walk over me. I earned my status in the family, much to his chagrin."

"Anyone else that gives me shit, I can flip a switch quickly. You have to dominate your opponent in some way, so it helps to go ape, but not always. Reaction; that's the name of the game. Admittedly, it doesn't always turn out well."

Weaknesses:

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Ethnicity: "Italian on my dad's; Mom was American."

Nationality: "I have dual US-Italian citizenship."

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Likes:

Dislikes:

Fears:

Role in the Family: "I'm a Caporegime, and the third son of Don Sonny. I train our Associates in combat."

Official Occupation: "I run the hunting expeditions into the Preserve. All of the guides and such work directly under me."

Personal Biography: "March 7th, 1978. That's the date of my birth, in Venice to Sonny Sordi and Meghan Olson. You know who Sonny is already - father, businessman, murderer - but what about my dear mother. She and Sonny were never married, and she was never straight-up about what happened. I am a bastard, through and through. I was born in the old city of Venice but I can't particularly recall any of it, partly because I was two when I came to the US. Mom didn't work for Sonny for too long; she went from job to job, and we went from state to state. By the time I was twelve, I had lived in six different states."

"Dad was never in the picture, Mom was working, but I hardly had any friends to speak of. You can guess that my mobile lifestyle had a lot to do with it. I studied good though, joined honors societies and such in high school. Whatever it took to stay out of the house when Mom was hitting the bottle. I swam competitively too; made it into YMCA Nationals four times in a row. As I approached Graduation, I weighed my options carefully. I could go into the military or the workforce, or try my luck at applying for colleges. The most appealing offer came when the local Army recruiter at my school in San Diego approached me, along with a Major in a decked-out set of Class As. They sat me down, and suggested to me that I sign on with West Point; attend the United States Military Academy for four years, and then serve in the Army - as an officer - for eight. What do you think I said?"

"It was the most socially-uplifting choice. I said my goodbyes and went up for training in the Summer following Graduation. I got metaphorically pounded into the dirt and embraced in the cold, tight embrace of Army life. The older Cadets ensured that we would not know the meaning of 'relaxation,' and thus my Pleb year was tough. Nevertheless, I got indoctrinated into Army life and didn't wash out after my Pleb year, like so many other guys. I swam in college, too, but I also attended Army training schools. At the end of Pleb year, I completed Airborne School. The next year was Air Assault School. During my Senior Year, I commanded a Cadet Battalion, which was a good test of my leadership ability. Each problem was a grain of sand, and with each new day in my battalion, I inherited a desert. Complaints, infractions, separations, barracks maintenance, physical readiness standards; it took me time to get the battalion in order. I won't lie."

"Despite whatever life threw at me, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne. I'm proud to have served with that unit, especially when 9/11 rolled around. I remember where I was; Fort Campbell, coming back from an exercise when it seemed as though everyone on Base started flipping out. I started hearing talk about terrorist attacks in D.C. and New York, but I had no idea that we'd be the first ones into Afghanistan. I didn't mind going in; I was young and ready for war. Oddly enough, I don't rightly remember being terrified during my first firefight. I remember alternating between moving and lying prone as bullets flew over my head, explosions in the background. Perhaps the adrenaline made me forget how I felt. I may damn well have been terrified."

"I did four deployments during my time with the Army; when I wasn't deployed, I was taking it easy, going on dates, or drinking. Usually all three. I did all right by my men and my chain of command; I never had anyone do anything that I wouldn't do. I watched the war change from having a clear objective to lacking any semblance of an objective. We got stuck rebuilding Afghanistan, falling into the same mistake that the Soviets and British made years ago. Bush took us into Iraq; the purpose being whatever you think will justify us overthrowing Saddam. My career ended in Iraq, and it ended painfully."

"We were in Baghdad in '08, training the Iraqi Army to fight their own fight. I wouldn't go as far as to call the INA a wholly incompetent force, but they certainly left a lot to be desired until '15. What can you expect from men that hold dear their tribal roots, when you ask them to fight men who share such a deep cultural bond? Anyways, one of our INA patrols called in a potential IED in a market in Mansour. My First Sarge and I, along with an Iraqi Police Colonel and some of his guys, rode up to the target location to find that there was no INA patrol in the area - but there was the green sedan that the unit had claimed was an IED. We got out of the vehicle, the Colonel gave us 360-degree coverage, and I attempted to radio in that 'lost' unit."

"I think about that day a lot. I should have known that we were duped as soon as I didn't see the unit that was supposed to be holding down that location for an EOD team to show up. I finished saying 'over,' and my ears went deaf with a single boom. Dust shot up, the ground shook, and I felt a twang of the worst pain imaginable - before I blacked out. Just like that, I became a casualty; double-crossed by the enemy, posing as my friend. I could say I was lucky; First Sarge Timmons is disabled up to his neck, and those Iraqi cops were shredded by the blast. I've seen pictures of the aftermath; nothing but scorched ground, blood, twisted metal, and body parts. I got those picture ingrained in my head."

"Woke up sometime later - can't say for sure when - in an Army hospital in Germany, most of my leg gone. I went quiet and introverted; my counselors, doctors, other soldiers couldn't get me to open up. If I talked, it was usually because I was pissed. It was the realization that I would no longer be doing the thing I loved the most that truly broke me down. I worked hard to reach where I got to; I was a Company Commander, and I was gunning for a promotion to Battalion XO. If I was still in today, I'd be a Half-Colonel, or even a Full Bird by now. Instead, I recuped for a year, got a standing-o in Washington and some medals from the President, but the Army was ready to cut me loose afterwards. They said that without a leg, I could not expect any sort of career in the Army. I went to a dark place, then."

"I lived in Fort Lauderdale for a half a year after the Army kicked me out of Reed. I had a stump-and-socket leg, which was an extremely painful reminder of everything that I went through. Each day was the same: wake up, clean my stump, take a shower, clean up, put my leg on, and wobble out in search of meaning. Most of the time, I found that meaning in booze and drugs. I'd indulge and complain about how life screwed me over. Sometimes someone would tell me to shut the fuck up; others let me go on because I was a vet. I got into barfights, and ended up getting banned from half of the beach bars in the city. Ended up losing my apartment because I couldn't keep work, so I lived on the streets for two weeks before Sonny found me out."

"I was passed-out on the beach - with no prosthetic leg - when two Italian-looking guys in fine suits showed up. I told them to fuck off; instead, they picked me up, took me to the fucking Hilton, washed me up and got me a suit, and then they put me on a plane. I asked a lot of questions, but before I knew it, I was face to face with the man who knocked up my mom. We didn't see each other having a father-son relationship; we just held eye contact and talked. He wanted to know about me, about the Army, about what I learned. It was a job interview if I had ever heard one, so I told him that without a leg, I was damn near useless. Sonny just shook his head at me."

"Even I am surprised and humbled at the links he took to bring me into his fold. He got me a new leg, and let me emphasize the word 'new.' It wasn't just some metal rod that I put in a socket everyday; this was a legit mechanical leg, one that I could control, move, even feel with. Sonny gave me three months to work on getting situated with my leg. I ran, I swam, and I did all the things that I hadn't been able to accomplish since Iraq. My mood went back up, I started to enjoy life a lot more. I knew that Sonny wanted me to work for him; he was candid to me about his business."

"First place I worked for the Sordi Crime Family was Kingston, Jamaica. I collected dues from protected businesses, and popped heads whenever my Capo - another Army vet named Paolo Torrini - gave me the green-light to do so. I'm not bothered by the killing, but I don't kill people unless they deserve it. Some killers talk about a code, like there's some humanity to what they do, like an excuse. That's bullshit that we all try to subscribe to; that our marks always deserve it. I have killed some twenty-five men and three women; I can't say for sure that they deserved it, but they all had a reason to go. After that was Montreal, where I framed a Surete Quebec detective for domestic violence and possession of child pornography. That got me Made into the family."

"After that came Rio. Rio, where I met Serafina. Mainly, we were just facilitating the flow of guns and drugs between Rio and its northern neighbors, which gave me free time to kick it on Rio's beaches. I was at a ritzy hotel bar, sipping a Tom Collins, when Sera walked in with all of her Latin beauty for the world to see. In her black cocktail dress, with her jewelry mantling her and her entourage of men and women, she looked like a goddess. I was eight Toms deep when I went to go outside for a cigarette. Sera followed shortly after, and surprised me by asking for a cigarette. I obliged and the two of us just say there, on a metal bench, talking about happiness and success. She showed me her keen intellect and intuition, two things that only reinforced her attractiveness to me."

"After a week or two, we started formally dating. Fancy dinners, walks on Copacabana; the works for any couple in Rio. The first time we made love, she saw my leg and I expected her to look at me grotesquely. Instead, she caressed my leg and told me that there was nothing that I needed to be ashamed of. I started crying when she said that; I was in love. Courtship blossomed into an intimate relationship, which became an engagement - even though I kept my business away from her. I didn't know that she was keeping shit from me, that she was running her own criminal enterprise in Rio. I heard rumors, sure; but I didn't believe them. Maybe I was so happy at the time, that I didn't want to believe."

"It came to a head five months before we were due to get married. I planned to reveal my secrets to her, but I didn't get the chance to do it my way. Apparently, she had her own rivals to deal with, who soon decided to target me in order to get to her. While we were buying up a stock of sanitized FALs, a group of armed gunmen broke up the party. I got shot in the shoulder, but I killed two men; practically tore one guy in half with two blasts from a shotgun. Only one of my three guys

[The Clockwork Cities]

Real Name: Zhuge Liang (technically his name 'Zhuge Liang' is an alias, its due to his past.)

Alias (If Applicable): The Sleeping Dragon

Age: 47

Gender: Male

Appearance (Picture or Description: He is around 5 foot 7 inches, with well kept yet long and spiky black hair (slowing going grey due to age). He is often seen wearing a traditional Chinese suit coloured red with golden embroidery of a dragon on the centre. His skin is slightly darker than most Chinese due to his time in the West Coast and the Caribbean.

Identifying Marks: His red suit and his more aged Asian appearance as well as a dragon tattoo on his back

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Skills: In terms of killing, he'll follow whatever the contractor wants. If you want the target shot from across the street, he can do that. You want them poisoned, he can do that. If you want him taken out in a closed area with a knife, he can do that. He can make it look like an accident or like a hit. He's older than most in his line of work, he was raised around organised crime, he knows what he is doing.

Now if it was down to him personally? He'd isolate his victim within a room, tell them who wants the dead and why, then he'd go at them with a cleaver. This is a call back to his triad days as an integrator, while brutal its brilliant for leaving a message behind. Of course this means he is brilliant at interrogation, and extracting information. Plus he can do racketeering on the sideline.

One would think he was just a brutal killing machine, but he doesn't like o be seen as such.

He grew up in the lowest of the low within an area of Hong Kong completely unenforced, which means he knows how to fit in with working and underclasses, and sometimes prefers their company over those of the upper class. He of course lives a more middle class lifestyle and knows how to fit in within those, he has also dabbled within the upper class lifestyle due to his higher triad ranks. Of course, in terms of contract killing, it means he can blend in with any and all for whatever reason needed, this does mean he can be hard to pick out from a crowd.

He is also trilingual, speaking three languages at a fluent level. Cantonese and Mandarin were the languages he was raised around, but due to living within Hong Kong he learnt English as a second language and speaks it at a great length. This formed the basis of his translation service, which of course is a skill that comes naturally with speaking three languages. This of course, makes him more useful with other Chinese people.

Perhaps an irrelevant skill, but he claims it can help with those who are nervous when trying to lure them into a false sense of security, he is skilled at making teas.

Primary Speciality: Contact Killing and translation.

Personality: Honourable, respectful and kind to his friends, he'll never go back on an agreement he has made, no matter the cost. He has sworn oaths in the past and these form the basis of this idea. He is also partly religious, believing in the old Chinese gods and the works of Confucius, and light elements of Taoism are part of him.

However, he is brutal, cold, and unforgiving to his enemies. He wouldn't think twice before plunging a knife into their face. He is also brutally honest, very rarely lying about anything he tends not to second think his actions. This is regardless of who the person is, this tends to cause issues with him and his friends.

Weaknesses: His age is starting to get the best of him in his job, he isn't as fast as as agile as most in his line of work. He may only be 47 but having been in the organised crime since an early age and it has started to catch up to him quickly since his 45th birthday. But he shows little signs of giving up, even kicking old drinking and smoking habits just to say on the job.

Due to his former Triad connections he has a lot of enemies and tends to hold the slightest wrongdoing to him as making an enemy of him. Of course if any of his enemies come after him, it could go one or two ways, his own death or their own death. Due to this, trust issues have developed and will hold grudges until he is has handled them, peacefully or otherwise.

I don't know if this counts as a weakness but has has an issue understanding accents and can speak basic Italian

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Ethnicity: Chinese

Nationality: Hong Konger-Taiwanese (he technically holds British Citizenship due to growing up in Hong Kong before it returned to China)

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Likes: He is a partly spiritual man, with his main belief being Guan Yu (the God of War) and towards the Taoist door god adaptation of the real figures Zhuge Liang (which his name was taken on) and Sima Yi. He is also a large fan of traditional Chinese teas, and keeps his 'tools' well kept and spends a some time each day keeping them well kept. He is also a big fan of the 'four great works' of Chinese Literature, mainly 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' He doesn't dislike his work, but at the same time he doesn't always enjoy it as well.

Dislikes: those who are dishonourable (often becomes his enemies), because he sees those who betray, and go against their word shouldn't be able to use his services, and has a strong distaste for them. The current head of the Triad he once served (caused him to leave), he does not see him as the legitimate leader of the triad and of course he left for his own life. He also dislikes coffee, he also has an odd distaste to cheese cake but has never stated why he does.

Fears: The triad he once worked for coming after him due to his open opposition against him.

Role in the Family: Contract Killer/hired Muscle or "Fixer"

Official Occupation (If Any): Chinese to English Translator

Personal Biography (5 or more paragraphs):

Zhuge Liang was born as the 5th child in the infamously known Kowloon Walled City in January of 1970, he was raised around crime, his Hong Konger Father was a drug pedlar and his Taiwanese mother was a prostitute after his birth. From the age of seven he was running drugs across the complex by the time he was 12 he was travelling across Kowloon peddling drugs but come his 17th birthday his family left the city and moved to Taiwan along with the gang his father worked for.

He moved into the Lotus Hill district of New Taipei, in the same place his mother grew up in and he carried out his job as a drug pedlar, learning how to make basic drugs himself (which he later went on to forget how). It was through this he met his wife, he may of only been 18 but considering the way his life was he saw it as a small break from the madness of being raised by a gang. Just shy of his 19th birthday he married her.

At the age of 19 he tried to sort his life out, he got a job down at a dock and moved out of the district and tried to detach himself from the gang he raised with. He did so with some success, he had managed to find his way into a rival gang, while this completely detached himself from his parents, he found himself going around and insisting payments came from market stalls by the docks. Due to escalation of conflict he took a few lives before the age of 20, even that of his older brother in a heated debate. He was handed a cleaver and knew what to do. Did he agree to it? No but he learnt quickly the responsibility of taking a life, and how easy it was.

It was not too long later did his wife give birth to his first child and son. He had within a day of each other, taken one life and helped bring another into the world. He tried his best to keep his wife away from the gang and his child, but money was getting tight and he needed to supply his family.

Following that incident and the broth of his first son, he met a member of a triad who had return to visit their family. Getting introduced to them he lived within their area of the city, and worked his way through from a "49er" member to "Red Pole" enforcer, known as a Caporegime in Italian Mafias, to a "white paper fan" administrator or Consigliere in Italian mafias and from there became a "Vanguard" or Operations Officer and did some work as a "Incense Master" who did ceremonial roles of introducing Made men into the gang. This helped supply his family becoming much better off than he ever could within the gang.

It was here he learnt how to do contract killings, his first one was successful but at the same time not his best work, it was a drive by shooting on a target. This is were he learnt that his approach should be different, even if that's what he was told to do.

He was sent to San Francisco as part of an overseas operation hunting down a business man. This was here he tried a long range approach, with a rifle. He preferred this, there was a sense correctness to killing the target from a distance. He succeeded in killing him but things began to change once he returned home, from this he obtained his copy of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

When he returned the "Mountain Master" or "Dragon Head" known as Boss in other Mafia's fell ill. Tensions began to rise as no successor was named amongst the two deputies. Since he passed silently conflict erupted the two heads with the one Zhuge was against took power and due to his denunciation he had to leave the country.

As part of moving away, he moved his wife and his 3 children to the city of Macau, using his money earned within the Mafia to buy them a good home. He would sometimes return to ensure that she was okay for quiet a while, putting them under the care of a good friend of his. He will often send money back to Macau to support his family even if his visits have slowed down as of late.

He moved to California and lived there for a while, officially working as translator but doing contract work for Mafias within the area under the name 'Zhuge Liang'. He assembled a small team to help him, someone to scout out the area, 'the blue lantern,' someone to handle his money and costs relating to contracts to partly take a load of him and to give him more time focusing on the contract at hand, they is 'The White Paper Fan.' Finally there is the 'Eunuch' who basically became a PR person and a hacker, they also talk him through a set plan on taking out a target. He doesn't talk much about these people, but the first two follow old triad style naming, as the Eunuch, he admits they live up to their title. But rarely talks about them unless it is needed.

He gained the nickname 'The Sleeping Dragon' following a contract for an assassination that he never replied to. He simply arrived and took the target out. His contractor went on to say "He is like a sleeping dragon. Unaware to the outside world, he remains blissfully silent. Given a simple request he acted when he needed. Then vanished into his slumber." He had been doing contract killings since his arrival at California when he was around 32.

By the age of 39 he had moved to the west coast and that's how he came across the Sordi Crime Family. He didn't plan to get into the Mafia, simply to work as a contract killer while under the idea of being a translator. He decided to keep the name 'Sleeping Dragon' as his name for contracts. Working with them for a while trying to prove his worth to them despite not falling into their 'made man' category.

He decided to go back to his Triad roots, with one of his killings he isolated them, and went at them with a cleaver. He found a sense of honour letting his target know why they need to die, then take there life in a brutal way. He also gained a small sense of enjoyment from it, but he saw it as work, not as a piece of entertainment.

He moved to this island in the Caribbean when his small translation service was offered a job to work with Chinese tourists, which he gladly accepted. He wasn't just going due to the fact that it was a job for his translation service, but also as part of his contract work. Rich people with large amounts of money to spend aren't just going to spend it on poker, expensive drinks and the odd prostitute. Of course his offical reason to be there is translation for tourists, since according to him 'Chinese love to gamble.' He is was 45 when he moved to the island and he doesn't know if its the offical or unofficial work that keeps him around. All he knows is things are getting interesting and he'll be there to see it though.

What is the venture (One paragraph or more detailing the venture): Zhuge Translation Services, a Cantonese/Manderian to English translation service for Chinese tourists/migrants, it is relatively small but also relatively cheap and quick with its services.
Is it legal: Yes
How many personnel are involved with it: 10 full time workers, up to 20 part time workers
Anything else: They are currently at the atoll due to a contract to handle Chinese tourists. You can get access to his other 'service' but you need to directly talk to Zhuge for that.

What is the venture (One paragraph or more detailing the venture): The Sleeping Dragon Contracting. It is a hitman/muscle for hire company that focuses mainly around Zhuge who do what they are contracted to, mainly killing or heavy muscle.
Is it legal: Maybe in Somalia or some third world country
How many personnel are involved with it: Four people in total. Zhuge, both the head and the man you'll be hiring chances are you'll be talking to him, 'White Paper Fan' who handles the costs and money side of thing, 'Blue Lantern' scouts out the area for the contract killings, and the 'Eunuch' is the person who tends to talk Zhuge through a mission or act as PR when nobody is around, he's also a semi-decent hacker but is rarely used.
Anything else: There are a few things they won't do, mainly killing anyone under the age of 16 or pregnant women and unless directly specified how you want someone dead he tends to make it look like an accident or suicide. Replies aren't guaranteed, you'll know when a contract is finished.