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Literature Text
Cosa Diavolo Nostra
Introduction
We are not tangible; we are the whispers.
We are Shadow; not Darkness or Light.
We cannot be found; we are the wind.
We do not intervene; we are the night.
We do not exist; we are the myths.
We are the Cosa Diavolo Nostra, or the Diavolo, for short.
We are Devils, Demons and Fiends, all.
We are what you want us to be or need us to be...for a price.
Need someone to disappear? We can arrange it.
Need someone executed in a public way? We can arrange it.
Need to have something in your possession before dawn? We can arrange it.
Need bodyguards? We can arrange it.
Need power beyond Mortal ken? We can arrange it.
All for a price.
Rules
1. No one can present himself as Diavoli directly to another one of our allies. There must be a third one present, a Diavoli, to do such.
2. Never touch the mate of an ally.
3. Never be seen with Angels or their Worshippers.
4. Don't go to pubs and taverns, unless specifically invited.
5. Always being available for Cosa Diavolo Nostra is a duty - even if your mate is about to give birth.
6. Appointments must absolutely be respected.
7. Mates must be treated with respect.
8. When asked for any information, the answer must always further our goals.
9. Gold cannot be appropriated if it belongs to other Clans.
10. Beings who cannot become Diavoli: anyone who is close to the Angels or their Worshippers, anyone with a traitorous relative in the family, anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to our rules.
Organisation
Diavolo is not a monolithic organization, but rather a loose association of groups known as Clans. These Clans are mostly composed of Fiends, Devils, Demons and other 'morally grey' aligned Outsiders. Their members are known as Diavoli, e.g. "The Diavolo Clan nearby is composed of five Diavoli. I hope that I can convince the Diavolo that I'm worth their time...".
A Clan is led by a Heresiarch, who is aided by a Cryptiarch (a second-in-command) and one or more advisors, called Magisters. Under his or her command are crews of about ten Sicarians; the soldiers. Each crew is led by a Quisling or captain. The specific names for these titles vary from Clan to Clan.
Other than its members, Diavolo makes extensive use of "associates"; selected applicants ready to fight under the command of a Quisling or other higher-up. This is the furthest in the Diavolo hierarchy that Mortals can go, under normal circumstances.
These are people who aid or work for a Clan (or even multiple Clans) but are not treated as true members. These include corrupt Mortals and prospective Diavoli. An associate is considered nothing more than a tool.
Furthermore, each Clan has an informal network of contacts with royalty, nobles, entrepreneurs, bankers, and specialists etc. who are prone to support its strategies. A minority of these "friends" could be given full membership, even though they usually do not reach the highest ranks among the Diavolo.
Traditionally, only Outsiders can become Diavoli, though in recent times there have been reports of Tieflings, the offspring of a Mortal and a Fiend, assuming the responsibilities of vanquished Diavolo members.
Murdrum: the code of silence
Murdrum is a code of silence that forbids Diavoli from betraying their comrades to the Angels and their allies. The penalty for transgression is True Death, and relatives of the turncoat may also be murdered. To a degree, Diavolo also imposes this code on the general population, persecuting anyone who aids the Angels and their Worshippers.
Goals
We're on Mythodea to eradicate the opposition and competition: the Anti-Elements.
They want to eradicate all sentient beings, not caring where one's allegiance lies.
This, unfortunately, places the Cosa Diavolo Nostra on their Black List as well. Together with everyone we know; enemies, allies, clients, or otherwise. We shall need to return the favour, the favour of eradication, or we will perish.
And, we shouldn't forget, they are bad for business.
We will fight them directly if no other means are possible, with our expertise in all other cases.
Introduction
We are not tangible; we are the whispers.
We are Shadow; not Darkness or Light.
We cannot be found; we are the wind.
We do not intervene; we are the night.
We do not exist; we are the myths.
We are the Cosa Diavolo Nostra, or the Diavolo, for short.
We are Devils, Demons and Fiends, all.
We are what you want us to be or need us to be...for a price.
Need someone to disappear? We can arrange it.
Need someone executed in a public way? We can arrange it.
Need to have something in your possession before dawn? We can arrange it.
Need bodyguards? We can arrange it.
Need power beyond Mortal ken? We can arrange it.
All for a price.
Rules
1. No one can present himself as Diavoli directly to another one of our allies. There must be a third one present, a Diavoli, to do such.
2. Never touch the mate of an ally.
3. Never be seen with Angels or their Worshippers.
4. Don't go to pubs and taverns, unless specifically invited.
5. Always being available for Cosa Diavolo Nostra is a duty - even if your mate is about to give birth.
6. Appointments must absolutely be respected.
7. Mates must be treated with respect.
8. When asked for any information, the answer must always further our goals.
9. Gold cannot be appropriated if it belongs to other Clans.
10. Beings who cannot become Diavoli: anyone who is close to the Angels or their Worshippers, anyone with a traitorous relative in the family, anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to our rules.
Organisation
Diavolo is not a monolithic organization, but rather a loose association of groups known as Clans. These Clans are mostly composed of Fiends, Devils, Demons and other 'morally grey' aligned Outsiders. Their members are known as Diavoli, e.g. "The Diavolo Clan nearby is composed of five Diavoli. I hope that I can convince the Diavolo that I'm worth their time...".
A Clan is led by a Heresiarch, who is aided by a Cryptiarch (a second-in-command) and one or more advisors, called Magisters. Under his or her command are crews of about ten Sicarians; the soldiers. Each crew is led by a Quisling or captain. The specific names for these titles vary from Clan to Clan.
Other than its members, Diavolo makes extensive use of "associates"; selected applicants ready to fight under the command of a Quisling or other higher-up. This is the furthest in the Diavolo hierarchy that Mortals can go, under normal circumstances.
These are people who aid or work for a Clan (or even multiple Clans) but are not treated as true members. These include corrupt Mortals and prospective Diavoli. An associate is considered nothing more than a tool.
Furthermore, each Clan has an informal network of contacts with royalty, nobles, entrepreneurs, bankers, and specialists etc. who are prone to support its strategies. A minority of these "friends" could be given full membership, even though they usually do not reach the highest ranks among the Diavolo.
Traditionally, only Outsiders can become Diavoli, though in recent times there have been reports of Tieflings, the offspring of a Mortal and a Fiend, assuming the responsibilities of vanquished Diavolo members.
Murdrum: the code of silence
Murdrum is a code of silence that forbids Diavoli from betraying their comrades to the Angels and their allies. The penalty for transgression is True Death, and relatives of the turncoat may also be murdered. To a degree, Diavolo also imposes this code on the general population, persecuting anyone who aids the Angels and their Worshippers.
Goals
We're on Mythodea to eradicate the opposition and competition: the Anti-Elements.
They want to eradicate all sentient beings, not caring where one's allegiance lies.
This, unfortunately, places the Cosa Diavolo Nostra on their Black List as well. Together with everyone we know; enemies, allies, clients, or otherwise. We shall need to return the favour, the favour of eradication, or we will perish.
And, we shouldn't forget, they are bad for business.
We will fight them directly if no other means are possible, with our expertise in all other cases.
This, for me, is an experiment of sorts. What you're reading now, is the background for a LARP group I've written. Normally, it's only meant for those participating in said group (the 'Cosa Diavolo Nostra', in this case), but, in this way, I may or may not entertain (more) people with it and may actually get some usefull feedback 
For the record: this specific group will be at ConQuest 2010
For the record: this specific group will be at ConQuest 2010
© 2009 - 2024 Hellwolve
Comments4
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Ah, nice to have some background information.
First of all I like your allusions to the Italian mafia with the name you chose.
The introduction already gives away a lot of important information while being stylish and short.
There's just one thing I don't understand (but that's probably just me):
Diavolo = name of the organisation
Diavoli = name of the members of the organisation (As in, this is the plural form? What's the singular then?)
Is that correct?
Apart from that I really like it.
Just one more suggestion: How about a neat chart for the "ranks" as described in "Organisation"?
First of all I like your allusions to the Italian mafia with the name you chose.
The introduction already gives away a lot of important information while being stylish and short.
There's just one thing I don't understand (but that's probably just me):
Diavolo = name of the organisation
Diavoli = name of the members of the organisation (As in, this is the plural form? What's the singular then?)
Is that correct?
Apart from that I really like it.
Just one more suggestion: How about a neat chart for the "ranks" as described in "Organisation"?