Boryokudan

Overview
The Bōryokudan at the start of the role-play, is the largest and most powerful of the Shinnai criminal organizations. It achieved its power during the war where it was easily able to eliminate their former opponents and secure an almost criminal monopoly.

The Bōryokudan is a shadowy organization at its heart, its leadership kept relatively unknown. But its operations are well known, from smuggling operations across the islands, whether it is people, goods or drugs and illegal contraband as a whole.

It is almost impossible to pin down the organization’s exact location as it has a presence on every island in Shinnai - lurking in the shadows of every city and miserable little village there is. If one wants a taste of what the organization operates like at its most visible then a visit to the city of Iwatoro may be in order.

 

While the organization used to mostly rely on smuggling for income there are rumors that it’s beginning to branch out. If one looks closely one may notice the underground gambling halls and brothels slowly sprouting in the shadier parts of the major cities. Some shopkeepers even mumble of being extorted for “protection money”. Though, it remains to be seen if these are simply rumors or not.

 

Though the organization is highly secretive and its leadership mostly shrouded in mystery (aliases seem to be widely used among the upper echelons) the general structure of the organization is very similar to society itself. Although perhaps more militant with a strangely familial twist.

 

At the top sits the General, more commonly referred to as simply the “oyabun” - the unquestionable leader to whom everyone must pledge their absolute loyalty.

 

Beneath the general sits the captains of the “families” that make up the different branches of the Bōryokudan - much like the Daimyō answer to the emperor; the captains answer to the general.

 

The captains in turn command lieutenants who oversee the lowest ranking members of the organization, simply known as the soldiers or “brothers” who are divided into “older” and “younger” depending on their experience and age.

 

As with most organized crime, it is easy to get involved with the Bōryokudan. The organization has a reputation for swooping up those shunned by society and giving them purpose. Allegedly.

However, once you are in, it is significantly harder to get out.