In the back alleys and shadowed docks of Port Laveau, power is a tangible thing. It is held by crews and factions, groups of individuals bound by ambition, blood, or desperation. But let there be no mistake: there are no independent kings in the Backwaters. Every crew leader, no matter how feared, is a tenant renting their power from a landlord they will never meet. They are all vassals of the Silent Serpent Syndicate.
A faction in the Backwaters is a licensed predator, granted a territory and a trade to run, but always on the Syndicate’s leash. Their existence serves two purposes: to generate a steady stream of profit that flows upward as tribute, and to act as a deniable buffer, absorbing the risks of street-level operations so the Syndicate’s leadership remains untouched and unseen.
The Role of a Vassal Crew
To lead a faction here is to accept a dangerous bargain. Your crew’s survival depends on understanding the unspoken rules:
- Pay the Tithe: Your primary function is to run your trade with ruthless efficiency to meet the Syndicate’s tribute demands. This is non-negotiable.
- Stay in Your Lane: The Syndicate values a stable, profitable ecosystem. While some operational overlap is inevitable, a crew that aggressively muscles in on another’s primary trade is disrupting the system.
- Manage the Hierarchy: The Sheriff’s Department is your most direct rival and your primary point of contact with the Syndicate’s will. They are not an invincible police force; they are a competing player faction tasked with keeping you in line. A smart leader learns how to manage their relationship with the local deputies—knowing when to pay, when to push back quietly, and what secrets to hold as leverage. A conflict with a Deputy is dangerous, but showing you can’t be pushed around is essential for your own crew’s survival. They expect you to handle your business; you should expect them to handle theirs.
The Illicit Trades of the Backwaters
When a new crew is sanctioned, it is typically granted dominion over a specific illicit trade. This serves as their primary source of income, defines their role in the underworld, and provides a clear theme for their story. While not strictly exclusive, encroaching on another crew’s trade is a dangerous provocation.
The recognized trades include:
- Drug Trafficking: Using fronts like nightclubs, shady health clinics, or shipping companies to move product.
- Human Trafficking: Operating through casinos, spas, or seedy talent agencies to recruit and exploit individuals.
- Arms Trafficking: Dealing illegal weapons through legitimate-looking gun shops, auto repair garages, or maritime supply stores.
- Organ Trafficking: A grim trade hidden behind private medical research labs, funeral homes, or biological supply companies.
- Smuggling & Contraband: Moving stolen or illegal goods through antique shops, pawn shops, or fishing fleets.
- Cybercrime & Financial Fraud: Running hacking operations, money laundering, or online scams from internet cafes or accounting firms.
- Counterfeit Goods & Forgery: Producing fake currency, documents, or luxury goods from unassuming print shops or art galleries.
- Illegal Gambling & Betting: Hosting underground fight clubs, high-stakes private poker games, or illicit animal fighting rings.
How to Form a New Faction
Creating a new faction is a significant undertaking that must be approved by the administration, which represents the Syndicate’s sanction in-character.
- Develop a Strong Concept: Your faction must fit the dark, Southern Gothic atmosphere of the Backwaters. It needs a clear identity, a believable history, and a purpose beyond simply making money.
- Choose a Primary Trade: Select one of the eight illicit trades listed above that will serve as your faction’s core business and identity.
- Submit Your Application: Through the official channels on our website or Discord, submit a formal application detailing your faction’s name, concept, leadership structure, desired trade, and a brief explanation of how you see your crew fitting into the established lore of Port Laveau.
All new factions are subject to approval. If sanctioned, you will be expected to uphold your end of the bargain. Leadership brings influence and opportunity, but it also brings the constant, watchful scrutiny of the Serpent. Manage your trade well, pay your tribute, and you may prosper. Falter, and the bayou will simply swallow you whole.
