Venue Name: Family Values
Genre: LARP World of Darkness (Mafia)

For years the family prospered and lived in Mount Pleasant. Then in 1967 the Irish Mafia moved in to the area headed by William Connolly. For a few years the families fought over territory and power, that seemed like it would destroy the family�s interests. An agreement was reached and peace between the Fabiano and the Connolly�s lead to the formation of the current crime syndicate. After a few more years Don Vincent Fabiano retired leaving the control of the families to me, Anthony Fabiano. The families continued to prosper under my leadership and my father�s tutelage. Yet things are not the same now as they were in my father�s time. The power and strength of the families has grown, yet this power brings with it deceit, betrayal, and a distancing from the traditional ways of the family.

From 1985 till 1997 the ties within the families weakened to the point where factions began to form. Fighting within the families threatened to tear the syndicate apart. It is strange that the thing that saved the syndicate was the same thing that threatened to destroy all that the families had done. This was the influx of the Russians in 1997, headed by Anton Lebedev. They moved into the area slowly and took advantage of the infighting within the syndicate. Over the next couple of years they had gained enough power to become a threat, but luckily the families took note of their movements before it became too late. America had its cold war with Russia, and now the families had theirs. For two years the Russians fought with the syndicate, resulting in a stalemate of sorts. Again an agreement was reached in 2000, and the Lebedev family joined the Syndicate.

For future reference, the Fabiano family is interchangeable with the Italian family, the Connolly family is interchangeable with the Irish family, and the Lebedev family is interchangeable with the Russian family.

1920s till 1967
The Fabiano Family
Smuggling (rum, guns, ect...)
Protection and Extortion (i.e. Black hand notes)

1967 till 1997
Fabiano Family
Smuggling
Protection and Extortion
Unions/ Construction

Connolly Family
Gambling/ Bookies
Drugs
Prostitution

2000 till 2004
Fabiano Family-
Smuggling
Protection and Extortion
Unions/ Construction

Connolly Family-
Gambling/ Bookies
Drugs
Black Market/ Fencing

Lebedev Family-
Smuggling of Guns
Human Trafficking
Prostitution

Controlling interest does not mean that the other Families could not engage in these criminal interests, however to pursue these interests you were expected to pay dues to the family with the controlling interest.

From 2004 to 2006

The tradition of controlling interests has been fading away. While certain Families retain a tendency towards certain "businesses"(like the Fabiano's and unions) this practice is being replaced by a blanket expectation for a Tithe to the Top.

It is expected that as a member of the Syndicate that you give 10% of your profits per month to the Don plus 10% to your Family Head.

For example: Joe Connolly earns $20,000 this month from the Local 21 & 35 pension funds. He is expected to give $2,000 to Frank Connolly (Connolly Family Head) and $2,000 to Anthony Fabiano (Don/Head of the Syndicate), leaving him with only $16,000 profit.

"It's good to be the King."
~King Louis XVI: The History Of The World, Part I

* Acknowledged (or "of low standing or rank")
** Recognized (or "of some standing or rank")
*** Valued (or "of significant standing or rank")
**** Respected (or "of high standing or rank")
***** Admired (or "of pre-eminent standing or rank")

Criminal Syndicate Status: This status represents your standing within the criminal organization. Your criminal syndicate status acts as a cap for Allies, Contacts, Resources, and Retainers within this venue. This type of status acts as the �city status� for this venue, however it must be purchased at normal merit cost.

Requirements for Syndicate Status:

Purchased at Character Creation:

1. This is expected to play in this venue

2. Answering ST's background questions (spark of life questions from WOD MET p. 31 coming of age, everyday concerns, ethics and ideas only) and a minimum of a few PC ties.

3. Answering St's background questions, the 13 approval questions, and an elaborative background. A minimum of 4 PC ties, with at least one of them related to some sort of drama. This will require a Low approval application

4. Previous requirements, extensive background, multitude of ties to PC's with a few pertaining to some sort of drama. The character must also have the title �Made Man� (which will be explained later. This requires a low approval application.

5. This level must be achieved via game play.

Purchased after Character Creation:

Once your character has been in play the requirements change slightly. You are still required to answer the ST's background questions, and PC ties are a must. You must also justify the raise of your status based upon the praiseworthy deeds of the syndicate.

1. You should already have this, if not you need to be sponsored by a syndicate member of status 2 or higher.

2. You must have either have someone of status 3 (or higher) support you or have the backing of 3 lower (or similar) ranking individuals.

3. Support from a status 4 or higher or have the backing of 4 equal or lesser ranking individuals. Low Approval Application

4. Support from the Don (status 5) or have the backing of 6 equal or lesser ranking individuals, and the backing of your family. You must also have the title of "Made Man"to attain this level of status. Low Approval Application

5. The Don is the only one who can attain this level of status. You must have the backing of 10 (or a majority) lesser ranking individuals, and you should be the "Head" of your family or atleast their backing. Low Application

With Criminal Syndicate Status there are praiseworthy deeds and sins against the Syndicate.

PRAISEWORTHY DEEDS FOR THE SYNDICATE

Status Deeds

***** Significantly expanding the syndicate's overall power, resources or reputation; assuming a position of leadership in the syndicate

**** Expanding the syndicate�s overall power, resources or reputation in a minor way; removing a significant obstacle or threat to local syndicate

*** Devising and implementing plans that further the goals of syndicate elders; carrying out specific plans beyond the norm on behalf of syndicate elders

** Actively promoting loyalty to the syndicate's elders; obeying the edicts of all syndicate elders

* Defending the syndicate against outside threats; regularly attending local syndicate functions (without being disruptive)

SINS AGAINST THE SYNDICATE

Status Deeds

***** Speaking ill of the syndicate or its leadership in public

**** Failing to attend regular gatherings of the local syndicate; actively disrupting a gathering of the local syndicate

*** Hindering a local industry or resource; killing in a suspicious manner without good cause. Allying oneself with the police.

** Accidental public violations of the Traditions; deliberate private violations of the Traditions; murdering prominent individuals without dire need; actively disobeying syndicate elders

* Deliberate public violations of the Traditions; wanton slayings or destruction of property; betraying resident syndicate to outsiders.

Family Status:

Family status is similar to clan or covenant status in VtR in that family status only works with those who have status within the same family. Any one character may have status within more than one family, as long as the total of all family status does not exceed five. Status in each of the respective families works as its own merit (ie. Status in the Fabiano family is one merit, as is status in the Connolly family) though the cap applies to each family status added together.

For Example: Frank is a part of the Connolly family and has a status of three (Connolly family status: 3). When He marries Maria from the Fabiano family he shows them respect by attaining status one in their family (Status Fabiano Family 1). This means that Frank has Connolly family status 3 and Fabiano family status 1, so he can only gain one more status in any of the families since that would bring him to the cap of 5. When it comes to figuring the cost of this merit remember they each act as their own merit. So using the previous example Frank who already had Connolly family status of 3 (which cost him 12 xp or 3 creation dots) it would cost him 2 xp to purchase Fabiano family status 1 (since it acts as its own merit).

Requirements for Family Status:

Purchased at Character Creation:

1. This is expected to play in this venue

2. Answering ST's background questions (spark of life questions from WOD MET p. 31 coming of age, everyday concerns, ethics and ideas only) and a minimum of a few PC ties.

3. Answering ST's background questions, the 13 approval questions, and an elaborative background. A minimum of 4 PC ties, with at least one of them related to some sort of drama. This requires a low approval application

4. Previous requirements, extensive background, multitude of ties to PC's with a few pertaining to some sort of drama. This requires a low approval application.

5. This level must be achieved via game play.

Purchased after Character Creation:

Once your character has been in play the requirements change slightly. You are still required to answer the St�s background questions, and PC ties are a must. You must also justify the raise of your status based upon the praiseworthy deeds of the family.

1. You should already have this, if not you need to be sponsored by a family member of status 2 or higher.

2. You must have either have someone of status 3 (or higher) support you or have the backing of 3 lower (or similar) ranking individuals.

3. Support from a status 4 or higher or have the backing of 4 equal or lesser ranking individuals. Low Approval Application

4. Support from the family Head (status 5) or have the backing of 6 equal or lesser ranking individuals, and the backing of your family. Low Approval Application

5. The family Head is the only one who can attain this level of status. You must have the backing of 10 (or a majority) lesser ranking individuals. Low Approval Application

With Family Status there are praiseworthy deeds and sins against the Family...

PRAISEWORTHY DEEDS FOR FAMILY

Status Deeds

***** Acting to position the family to achieve Dominance

**** Defining an overall goal for the family and organizing members to achieve it; assuming a position of recognized leadership within the family

*** Designing plans or removing obstacles in ways that advance the goals of the family; serving the family significantly above and beyond the expected

** Recognizing family leaders and obeying their edicts; promoting loyalty among fellow members of the family

* Regular attendance at family gatherings; active participation in regular family activities

SINS AGAINST FAMILY

Status Deeds

***** Deliberately disrespecting, lying to or giving bad information to a family member of equal standing. Discussing family business with outsiders.

**** Deliberately disrespecting, lying to or giving bad information to a family member of equal or higher standing

*** Unintentionally stealing from, betraying or otherwise directly harming a family member; unintentionally betraying a family secret

** Deliberately stealing from or directly harming a family member; unintentionally killing a family member

* Deliberately betraying or destroying a �made� member family; deliberately betraying a family secret, Betraying a family member to outsiders.

A Made Man is an individual who has proven himself within the syndicate and has completed a pledge of loyalty. Upon the completion of this pledge he is known as one of the untouchables, and the title is proof of his accomplishments.

Requirements:
Status 3 Syndicate, Status 3 Family, and has sworn loyalty to the Syndicate and the Don. Low Approval Application

Stand-Up Guy:
This title denotes someone who has been in a situation where she could have ratted out on the Family or Syndicate so save themselves pain or imprisonment and chose not to. This title is proof of her loyalty at the expense of herself. (You can be a stand-up guy for your family or within the syndicate, each is its own title)

Requirements:
Status Syndicate 3 or Family 2. Low Approval Application

Goodfella:
This title denotes someone who has proven themselves for the syndicate. While this is a lower ranking title it means that you have put yourself out for the Syndicate and are deserving of a more rapid advancement.

Requirements:
Status Syndicate 2 and Family 1. Low Approval Application

Favors are a means of openly formalizing agreements of debt between Members; the system of favors is known as prestation. Owing a favor is a formal, or private acknowledgment that one Member owes another a service. When and how that service is performed is at the discretion of the Member to whom the favor is owed, within the limits of the type of favor.

FAVOR TYPES

Prestation is a very formal affair among most Members and boons come in different types. Each type reflects the importance of the favor that creates the debt; repaying a favor requires an act of similar weight.

The simplest type is a favor, which represents a minor favor. Examples include an introduction to an influential individual or granting feeding rights for a short period.

A notable favor, such as protecting or saving a treasured property or valuable Retainer, or granting "business" rights for some time. A notable favor is roughly equivalent to three favors.

A considerable favor, such as protection from near destruction or a long period of service above and beyond the call of duty.
It is roughly equivalent to three notable favors.

Above all stands the life debt, which is granted only in the most extreme cases � usually when a member saves the existence of another without having any formal obligation to do so. Allies don�t owe each other life boons; such a debt is owed only under exceptional circumstances. A life debt cannot usually be repaid through multiple lesser favors.

1-Proper Behavior

The code of behavior all boils down to respect. Treat family and Syndicate members with the utmost respect, especially if they outrank you. Respect doesn't stop there. Disrespecting a man's wife, children, and god forbid his mother, is just as serious an offence.
It is important to treat everyone with respect, this doesn't mean you can't bash some goomba's skull in if he is causing your trouble, but you don't have to be rude about it...

This denotes treating things as business, not personal.

Made Men and the family (of the Don) are untouchable. It doesn't matter who you are if you kill a Made Man, you don't want to think about the retaliation that the Syndicate will bring down upon you. Of course the flip side to that is that Made Men are under no such restriction. Their behavior is under no restriction save when it comes to the Don's family or other Made Men. Of course if a Made Man goes to far it would be up to the Family to take care of him themselves, no one likes unnecessary attention.

The procedures for dealing with Made Men do exist. You can not just whack a Made Man without first discussing it with your family head, his family head, and the Don (and get their permission). (Old World of Darkness Mafia book pg. 44)

2-Omerta

Literally translated as Manhood, Omerta refers to solving your own problems and keeping your mouth shut. Omerta is the code of silence for the family and syndicate. If you have a problem you do not go to the police, you solve it via your own hands, or through the help of your family and the Syndicate.
There is no greater Sin then to violate the code of Omerta, this is treason, and a betrayal of the family and the syndicate.
Never betray the Family or Syndicate. For if you do betray the family or the Syndicate no one would protect you, not even if you were the Don�s favored son. (Quite similar to the Tradition of the Masquerade in VtR)(Old World of Darkness Mafia book pg. 45)

3-Vendetta

Blood must be avenged, justice must be served. Eye for an eye, and all of that. Vendetta is where personal and business mix. It is expected that you handle your own personal business, especially when it comes to slights of honor, disrespect, and harm against those you care about or protect. (Old World of Darkness Mafia book pg. 46)

4-Never associate with Cops

This tradition came about since the police are the largest adversary of the criminal element especially when it comes to organized crime. Some cops are dirty and might accept a bribe to look the other way, but never think for a moment they will not betray you if it serves their interests. The police are necessary to protect the family, and keeping this world from falling into chaos. Honest cops should not be touched because it could bring heat down upon your family and upon the Syndicates businesses. Dirty cops respect nothing and have no honor.

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