Post by Apillis on Aug 11, 2012 11:58:46 GMT -5
Faction Name: Settoudan
Faction Purpose: Organized Crime. They are a collective of numerous "crime families", which themselves are formed via numerous clans. Each have consolidated themselves for power and influence within the underground realms. For the most part they range from being loosely affiliated with to significantly tied to the Exchange, primarily pending the family and how their leader chooses to operate their family within the Settoudan. However, they have been known to act outside of the Exchange, but the Settoudan is so large and numerous it is often difficult for the Exchange to keep track of them all and they are up to. Which is how the Settoudan like it.
Faction Planet: Nar Shaddaa (Based in, Not owned)
Financial Wealth: Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Illegal Arms Trafficking, Information Brokering, Money Laundering, Prostitution, Robbery, Terrorism, Mass Murder, Assassinations, Slicing, Bribery, Gambling, and lots of other fun stuff organized crime syndicates like to get into for wealth and good ol' fashion materialism and influence.
Military Assets: If the Settoudan families ever did completely unify under the banner of one leader, or even family, they could probably take over an independent planet. But no more than that, as their resources are built around shadow warfare with underground organized crime syndicates--not all out warfare.
With their wealth and behind the scenes deals with the Republic and Sith, they do have Republic and Sith military-grade hardware and even vessels. Possessing a few military-grade Republic frigates, and even several Sith military fighters in a fair quantity. Though since war has erupted between Republic and the Sith Empire once again, the wiser of the Settoudan tend to stay clear of business deals with either side, largely out of not wanting to be drawn into their war. Most Settoudan vessels tend to be independent manufactured vessels such as light frigates, light freighters, patrol ships, transport vessels, and shuttles; essentially the types of spacecraft best suited for illegal trafficking and the like, and it is never surprising for their vessels to be modified illegally with illegal upgrades that by law civilian vessels cannot have in most governed areas of space.
The Settoudan themselves all tend to be quite skilled martial artists. It tends to be a very rigidly traditional aspect of Settoudan families, which makes even the lowliest grunt possibly being a fairly formidable opponent. Furthermore, it is not surprising if a Settoudan family has their own form of swordsmanship honed over the course of centuries. Most tend to also train in Tae-Jitsu, some even being experts in the field. Firearms, while used--they tend to viewed as little more than a tool for an easy killing. Thereby, often used for a quick skirmish and the like. While their unarmed and melee usage has far deeper significance, calling back to family honor and pride within the Settoudan, and even regarded with deep philosophical implications and seen as more than simple martial ability but truly seeking to live up to the "artist" in "martial artist".
The families and/or clans tend to have what is usually their own personalized method of melee combat. These martial arts are viewed as sacred, and being caught teaching someone outside of the family and/or clan often equates express execution with incredibly rare exceptions. However, the drawback to their heavy focus on their family and/or clan's personalized melee combat style is limited to a singular type of weapon, such as a sword, pike, ax, mace, etc. Therefore, using any weapon outside of that personalized form's chosen weapon, their ability with other melee weapons tend to be lacking, above average at best.
Preview:
Melee Weapons: 1-6
- [Family/Clan Syle] (Type of Weapon): 6+
Example:
Melee Weapons: 5
- Satsuriku (Swordsmanship): 8
Note: The above can be done with a Range variant, i.e. the family/clan developed a method Guns Akimbo, Gun Fu, and/or Gun Kata... or hell, even archery. The same cannot necessarily be done with Unarmed, largely because--it is not restricted by needing a specific item(s) in order to do it. If one wants to go the route of a family/clan specific Unarmed style, simply put it in parentheses beside the Unarmed stat, such as "Unarmed: # (Limited to [Family/Clan Style])", understand that is mostly just for flavor and to signify what the character is doing in Unarmed combat is unique and stylized. Bear in mind, Settoudan while potentially proficient combatants are very specialized to their family/clan weapon of choice and can potentially be skilled in one other field; but it must be recognized they will be diminished in those combat fields outside of what they have dedicated themselves to.
Also, it should be note the names of their personalized forms tend to be Japanese or Chinese, similar to Jedi combat form and/or ability names. After all, the Settoudan are based off of the Yakuza and a bit of the Triad blended in for good measure.
Furthermore, it is not surprising that Settoudan members have been part of a military or even still are. They tend to seek out and recruit such individuals. Trained warriors are always an asset in their eyes, and often prove to have the sort of serious minded discipline and ability for taking orders those in the higher echelons of the Settoudan like to see in new recruits. It makes for running an organization of any size much less complicated.
Form of Government: The Settoudan families themselves can be quite large. Some of the largest, such as the Yamamoto-kai family (for example) is the largest of Settoudan families, and the Yamamoto-kai are formed by the consolidation of over 2,000+ different clans, currently lead by the Te clan; and the Yamamoto-kai's numbers over 700,000. It is estimated the overall numbers of the Settoudan at large is somewhere between 1,500,000 to 2,000,000. All for the most part spread throughout the Mid-Rim of the galaxy, staking claims where they can for influential realms of their own.
The Yamamoto-kai, for example, based within the Nar Shaddaa (like several of the families) find themselves competing with the Hutts based there, and also competing with their Exchange 'allies' that are based there. While apart of--associated with--or completely separate from the Exchange, the Settoudan tends to be viewed as their own entity, and really given their size and scope--that is an apt point of view. Most families tend to see the Exchange as the best organization to ally or affiliate with, yet still have the ability to sever ties with if things get too out of control, while doing has its risks they generally view those risks to be much less than they would be should they form the same sort of relationships with the Hutt cartels. Truthfully, the only reason any of the Settoudan tend to have ties with the Exchange, regardless of the degree, it is purely to solidify themselves with a greater edge and a strong 'ally' within the underworld realms of the galaxy.
The structure for families and clans are two separate dynamics: Family and Clan.
Settoudan Family Structures:
Ryoushuu: The family head. The leading figure of an entire Settoudan family. The power and influence they can yield is extraordinary within organized crime networks, and largely hold their position because of it. It is not surprising that a single Ryoushuu holds the command of thousands of Settoudan members composed of clans numbering in the hundreds. The ones of the larger, more powerful families are Crime Lords if not on par with--close to being on par with Compeer Underbosses. Among crime syndicates and the Settoudan themselves, Ryoushuu are viewed as boogiemen and enigmatic leaders most do not want to meet in person given the option.
Chuubosu: This is essentially the Ryoushuu's right hand man and adviser--his go to guy. They too are highly influential Crime Lords, which is only natural given the influence a Ryoushuu holds, it is only logical a Chuubosu's sway would be consider to the least by proxy. They tend to be the highest ranked members of the Settoudan one will have the pleasure or displeasure of encountering. It is often through them that a Ryoushuu's machinations and delegations are felt.
The Circle of Ten Joukan: A Joukan is a lieutenant position under the Ryoushuu and Chuubosu. They tend vary between being favored influential Crime Lords and/or highly feared Settoudan enforcers. Each Joukan is granted a section of control of the family as the family is sectioned into ten parts for each Joukan lead as a figurehead, while the Ryoushuu and Chuubosu oversee the Circle of Ten Joukan.
Sakan: A default position for clan leaders, when one becomes a leader of a clan--they automatically hold this position within their Settoudan family. It is essentially a "field officer" position. Though, it should be noted anyone holding the positions from Sakan to Ryoushuu are leaders of their clan. Clans who have leaders that are Joukan, Chuubosu, or Ryoushuu are held in much favor. Albeit, they immediately lose their favored position should the Joukan, Chuubosu or Ryoushuu prove to be a poor leader either as clan leader or in their high ranking position within the family. But it also prevents an overly ambitious clan member from assassinating their clan leader for their vaunted family rank, for doing so immediately knocks them down to the rank of Sakan, and once again the clan falls out of favor. That is not say, such a thing cannot be done, merely if the assassin wishes to keep the clan in favor and claim the family position beyond Sakan, they will have to plan beyond simply eliminating their clan leader.
Settoudan Clan Structure:
Shukun: The clan leader. They all tend to be crime bosses of varying degrees of power and influence. On the whole they tend to be minor crime bosses with few notable exceptions, such as those holding the upper echelons of power within the clan's Settoudan family they fall under. In any case, a clan tends to run like a tight knit family or unified collective allies, some are even solely constructed of blood-related families. How who holds what position can vary from clan to clan pending how they choose to operate and their traditions. But it is up to the Shukun to lead and maintain stability within the clan taking into a path to its further prosperity.
The Three Harmonies:
Senjin: The operations officer. When Shukun and the Three Harmonies devise a plan for the clan to carry out. This is the guy who gathers up the soldiers and gets things running. Basically like a front-line officer, the Senjin is the one who tends to know the grunts the best, and is generally the highest ranked member within the clan to get their hands dirty in the mud and the blood.
Huenchu: The advising officer. As the label suggests they serve an advisory role within the clan. While they are certainly the one who advises the Shukun, they are not limited by that alone as they serve this function to everyone within the clan from Shukun to the lowliest recruit. In many ways, one could see them as a sort of clan spiritual guide. Among the Three Harmonies these are the strategists, and while it seems the role fulfill entails a lot while also serving as the whole clan's adviser, it literally is all that is expected of them within the clan. If a Huenchu is placed within a combat situation, then something is terribly wrong. That is not to say a Huenchu cannot be a martial figure, it is simply that is not their purpose nor should a clan ever risk their Huenchu by placing them in such a position given their responsibilities and what they would likely know because of their role.
Sinfung: The liaison officer. They have three roles, they serve as both a vanguard for the Three Harmonies and enforcer for the Senjin. But the third and far more important role is that of a liaison officer, in essence their job being to work with and maintain clan relations with other clans within their respective families. In a way they play a very essential role within a clan, because it largely do to them that a family remains tight-knit because of the varying clans Sinfung maintain respectable relations with the other clans of their family. Once this aspect unravels, so does that entire Settoudan family.
The Rest:
Zanshi: The default position within a clan from the veterans to the young recruits. They are the soldiers and grunts of not just a clan but a family as well, whose influence may vary pending their accomplishments and the time spent within not just their respective clan or family but within the Settoudan as a whole. This is typically where everyone starts when joining the Settoudan at large.
Faction History:
Faction Purpose: Organized Crime. They are a collective of numerous "crime families", which themselves are formed via numerous clans. Each have consolidated themselves for power and influence within the underground realms. For the most part they range from being loosely affiliated with to significantly tied to the Exchange, primarily pending the family and how their leader chooses to operate their family within the Settoudan. However, they have been known to act outside of the Exchange, but the Settoudan is so large and numerous it is often difficult for the Exchange to keep track of them all and they are up to. Which is how the Settoudan like it.
Faction Planet: Nar Shaddaa (Based in, Not owned)
Financial Wealth: Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Illegal Arms Trafficking, Information Brokering, Money Laundering, Prostitution, Robbery, Terrorism, Mass Murder, Assassinations, Slicing, Bribery, Gambling, and lots of other fun stuff organized crime syndicates like to get into for wealth and good ol' fashion materialism and influence.
Military Assets: If the Settoudan families ever did completely unify under the banner of one leader, or even family, they could probably take over an independent planet. But no more than that, as their resources are built around shadow warfare with underground organized crime syndicates--not all out warfare.
With their wealth and behind the scenes deals with the Republic and Sith, they do have Republic and Sith military-grade hardware and even vessels. Possessing a few military-grade Republic frigates, and even several Sith military fighters in a fair quantity. Though since war has erupted between Republic and the Sith Empire once again, the wiser of the Settoudan tend to stay clear of business deals with either side, largely out of not wanting to be drawn into their war. Most Settoudan vessels tend to be independent manufactured vessels such as light frigates, light freighters, patrol ships, transport vessels, and shuttles; essentially the types of spacecraft best suited for illegal trafficking and the like, and it is never surprising for their vessels to be modified illegally with illegal upgrades that by law civilian vessels cannot have in most governed areas of space.
The Settoudan themselves all tend to be quite skilled martial artists. It tends to be a very rigidly traditional aspect of Settoudan families, which makes even the lowliest grunt possibly being a fairly formidable opponent. Furthermore, it is not surprising if a Settoudan family has their own form of swordsmanship honed over the course of centuries. Most tend to also train in Tae-Jitsu, some even being experts in the field. Firearms, while used--they tend to viewed as little more than a tool for an easy killing. Thereby, often used for a quick skirmish and the like. While their unarmed and melee usage has far deeper significance, calling back to family honor and pride within the Settoudan, and even regarded with deep philosophical implications and seen as more than simple martial ability but truly seeking to live up to the "artist" in "martial artist".
The families and/or clans tend to have what is usually their own personalized method of melee combat. These martial arts are viewed as sacred, and being caught teaching someone outside of the family and/or clan often equates express execution with incredibly rare exceptions. However, the drawback to their heavy focus on their family and/or clan's personalized melee combat style is limited to a singular type of weapon, such as a sword, pike, ax, mace, etc. Therefore, using any weapon outside of that personalized form's chosen weapon, their ability with other melee weapons tend to be lacking, above average at best.
Preview:
Melee Weapons: 1-6
- [Family/Clan Syle] (Type of Weapon): 6+
Example:
Melee Weapons: 5
- Satsuriku (Swordsmanship): 8
Note: The above can be done with a Range variant, i.e. the family/clan developed a method Guns Akimbo, Gun Fu, and/or Gun Kata... or hell, even archery. The same cannot necessarily be done with Unarmed, largely because--it is not restricted by needing a specific item(s) in order to do it. If one wants to go the route of a family/clan specific Unarmed style, simply put it in parentheses beside the Unarmed stat, such as "Unarmed: # (Limited to [Family/Clan Style])", understand that is mostly just for flavor and to signify what the character is doing in Unarmed combat is unique and stylized. Bear in mind, Settoudan while potentially proficient combatants are very specialized to their family/clan weapon of choice and can potentially be skilled in one other field; but it must be recognized they will be diminished in those combat fields outside of what they have dedicated themselves to.
Also, it should be note the names of their personalized forms tend to be Japanese or Chinese, similar to Jedi combat form and/or ability names. After all, the Settoudan are based off of the Yakuza and a bit of the Triad blended in for good measure.
Furthermore, it is not surprising that Settoudan members have been part of a military or even still are. They tend to seek out and recruit such individuals. Trained warriors are always an asset in their eyes, and often prove to have the sort of serious minded discipline and ability for taking orders those in the higher echelons of the Settoudan like to see in new recruits. It makes for running an organization of any size much less complicated.
Form of Government: The Settoudan families themselves can be quite large. Some of the largest, such as the Yamamoto-kai family (for example) is the largest of Settoudan families, and the Yamamoto-kai are formed by the consolidation of over 2,000+ different clans, currently lead by the Te clan; and the Yamamoto-kai's numbers over 700,000. It is estimated the overall numbers of the Settoudan at large is somewhere between 1,500,000 to 2,000,000. All for the most part spread throughout the Mid-Rim of the galaxy, staking claims where they can for influential realms of their own.
The Yamamoto-kai, for example, based within the Nar Shaddaa (like several of the families) find themselves competing with the Hutts based there, and also competing with their Exchange 'allies' that are based there. While apart of--associated with--or completely separate from the Exchange, the Settoudan tends to be viewed as their own entity, and really given their size and scope--that is an apt point of view. Most families tend to see the Exchange as the best organization to ally or affiliate with, yet still have the ability to sever ties with if things get too out of control, while doing has its risks they generally view those risks to be much less than they would be should they form the same sort of relationships with the Hutt cartels. Truthfully, the only reason any of the Settoudan tend to have ties with the Exchange, regardless of the degree, it is purely to solidify themselves with a greater edge and a strong 'ally' within the underworld realms of the galaxy.
The structure for families and clans are two separate dynamics: Family and Clan.
Settoudan Family Structures:
Ryoushuu: The family head. The leading figure of an entire Settoudan family. The power and influence they can yield is extraordinary within organized crime networks, and largely hold their position because of it. It is not surprising that a single Ryoushuu holds the command of thousands of Settoudan members composed of clans numbering in the hundreds. The ones of the larger, more powerful families are Crime Lords if not on par with--close to being on par with Compeer Underbosses. Among crime syndicates and the Settoudan themselves, Ryoushuu are viewed as boogiemen and enigmatic leaders most do not want to meet in person given the option.
Chuubosu: This is essentially the Ryoushuu's right hand man and adviser--his go to guy. They too are highly influential Crime Lords, which is only natural given the influence a Ryoushuu holds, it is only logical a Chuubosu's sway would be consider to the least by proxy. They tend to be the highest ranked members of the Settoudan one will have the pleasure or displeasure of encountering. It is often through them that a Ryoushuu's machinations and delegations are felt.
The Circle of Ten Joukan: A Joukan is a lieutenant position under the Ryoushuu and Chuubosu. They tend vary between being favored influential Crime Lords and/or highly feared Settoudan enforcers. Each Joukan is granted a section of control of the family as the family is sectioned into ten parts for each Joukan lead as a figurehead, while the Ryoushuu and Chuubosu oversee the Circle of Ten Joukan.
Sakan: A default position for clan leaders, when one becomes a leader of a clan--they automatically hold this position within their Settoudan family. It is essentially a "field officer" position. Though, it should be noted anyone holding the positions from Sakan to Ryoushuu are leaders of their clan. Clans who have leaders that are Joukan, Chuubosu, or Ryoushuu are held in much favor. Albeit, they immediately lose their favored position should the Joukan, Chuubosu or Ryoushuu prove to be a poor leader either as clan leader or in their high ranking position within the family. But it also prevents an overly ambitious clan member from assassinating their clan leader for their vaunted family rank, for doing so immediately knocks them down to the rank of Sakan, and once again the clan falls out of favor. That is not say, such a thing cannot be done, merely if the assassin wishes to keep the clan in favor and claim the family position beyond Sakan, they will have to plan beyond simply eliminating their clan leader.
Settoudan Clan Structure:
Shukun: The clan leader. They all tend to be crime bosses of varying degrees of power and influence. On the whole they tend to be minor crime bosses with few notable exceptions, such as those holding the upper echelons of power within the clan's Settoudan family they fall under. In any case, a clan tends to run like a tight knit family or unified collective allies, some are even solely constructed of blood-related families. How who holds what position can vary from clan to clan pending how they choose to operate and their traditions. But it is up to the Shukun to lead and maintain stability within the clan taking into a path to its further prosperity.
The Three Harmonies:
Senjin: The operations officer. When Shukun and the Three Harmonies devise a plan for the clan to carry out. This is the guy who gathers up the soldiers and gets things running. Basically like a front-line officer, the Senjin is the one who tends to know the grunts the best, and is generally the highest ranked member within the clan to get their hands dirty in the mud and the blood.
Huenchu: The advising officer. As the label suggests they serve an advisory role within the clan. While they are certainly the one who advises the Shukun, they are not limited by that alone as they serve this function to everyone within the clan from Shukun to the lowliest recruit. In many ways, one could see them as a sort of clan spiritual guide. Among the Three Harmonies these are the strategists, and while it seems the role fulfill entails a lot while also serving as the whole clan's adviser, it literally is all that is expected of them within the clan. If a Huenchu is placed within a combat situation, then something is terribly wrong. That is not to say a Huenchu cannot be a martial figure, it is simply that is not their purpose nor should a clan ever risk their Huenchu by placing them in such a position given their responsibilities and what they would likely know because of their role.
Sinfung: The liaison officer. They have three roles, they serve as both a vanguard for the Three Harmonies and enforcer for the Senjin. But the third and far more important role is that of a liaison officer, in essence their job being to work with and maintain clan relations with other clans within their respective families. In a way they play a very essential role within a clan, because it largely do to them that a family remains tight-knit because of the varying clans Sinfung maintain respectable relations with the other clans of their family. Once this aspect unravels, so does that entire Settoudan family.
The Rest:
Zanshi: The default position within a clan from the veterans to the young recruits. They are the soldiers and grunts of not just a clan but a family as well, whose influence may vary pending their accomplishments and the time spent within not just their respective clan or family but within the Settoudan as a whole. This is typically where everyone starts when joining the Settoudan at large.
Faction History:
