Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Painting the Town - A 1920's American Mafia RP (Mid-High Casual)

It is my intention to make very clear that big changes will be made to this burg. You probably noticed that your former leader has turned tail and scarpered like the coward he is.

He will get his very soon.

Those already a part of the Family will be expected to meet at the usual place at the usual time to be introduced to your capo. He will be running things from now on.

For close associates, you know who you are, you are expected to come to D's speako this Thursday night and ask the "right" barman for Lupo. Be there by ten.

Clean up or clear out - your choice.



Chicago, 1923

Prohibition is in full swing but the liquor is still flowing. Jazz plays on the radio and crowds gather to dance to live performances. Speakeasies have replaced bars and saloons, while women have traded in tight morals for cigarettes, flapper gowns, and social freedoms. It is a time of economic growth, a golden age to some - a period of depravity to others.

Numerous gangs and mobs war over the city streets and speakeasies, petty fights have broken out over turf and rights to bootleggers and distilleries. Murder is on the rise and tensions are running high, further fueling the riots and firefights. Hands are being greased from police forces to bankers to businessmen. Previously run by Anthony De Palma, one of the most significant Families in the city has been quickly losing associates, income, and status. Anthony was placed in charge of the southern portion of the city and under his rule there have been needless murders, excessive violence, and an influx of non-desirable associates. Gangs have encroached on the Family's, previously uncontested, territory; bootleggers have steadily found other buyers, avoiding the Family, and even flappers in the speakeasies have been heard to scoff at the name.

Outraged at his cousin's poor performance as capo, Marcello has ordered Anthony's elimination and sent his nephew to take the position as capo to bring the Family and its associates back under control. With his arrival comes the change of soldiers and associates no longer loyal to the Sapienti Family. Nicolai has been tasked with weeding out the common thieves and petty drunks that Anthony accepted in as his comrades. As power changes hands, so too does the atmosphere of the city. The Family name is less of a laughing matter now. Gangs are beginning to feel the Sapienti presence once again - and they are none too happy about this change.













*** Historical accuracy is very loosely enforced for ease of role-playing. You don't need to be a history buff to participate as I do not want to make everyone keep looking up information each time they write a post. That being said, I would expect everything to comply with the times (i.e. no mobile phones, etc…) -- if you would try to be fairly accurate, it would be a plus. This is, obviously, set in America in the ‘20s – but without the historical gangsters we know, we are creating our own. Some history, customs, and traditions may be rewritten as necessary.***

Questions, comments, or suggestions? Please feel free to ask or contribute!
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Name: Nicolai "Whisper" Sapienti

Gender: Male

Occupation: Capo and overseer of several gambling brackets and bootlegging operations

Age: 29
Appearance:
Not a physically intimidating individual, Nicolai stands no more than 5'5" and possesses a slim build. His white skin is further paled by thick, inky black hair that is worn well-oiled and laid neatly back against his head, save for a small arc that curves against his pale brow. Blue eyes are offset by dark eyelashes and effeminate features give him a young, almost innocent, appearance. A thin scar marks the front of his throat, faded with age but still noticeable at a close distance. Typically seen in well-tailored suits, Nicolai generally opts for plain black and a white button down, finding little use for elaborate attire. He often wears scarves to cover his throat.
Biography:
Having lost his parents at a young age, Nicolai was taken in by his aunt and uncle. Marcello treated the boy as another son, and set about ensuring he would receive a strong education and respect for the Family business. Nicolai was eleven when the Sapienti Family moved to Chicago, and he took a strengthened interest in the business of the Family with each passing year in the new city. Intellectually gifted and graced with luck at the dice and draw, Nicolai was a fast favourite to begin working the gambling brackets. Some of the Family members, thinking it in good fun, began calling Nicolai "Lady Luck" referring to his feminine features and skill at the game. Nicolai found little humour in this and developed a rather aloof nature, often avoiding those who teased him.

Despite this, his continued success in the brackets had made him a favoured candidate for capo. Though well-liked by many, some Family members harboured a growing dislike of the youngster, feeling Marcello was only favouring him because of his closeness to the boy.

Impervious to this, Nicolai continued his work and readily accepted the assignment given to him for complete initiation as a capo: he was to kill a high-ranking member of a rival gang, responsible for a disruption in a gambling bracket. Two disgruntled soldiers arranged to have Nicolai killed during his hit. Fortunately, the Family had received a tip-off about the attack in to come to his aide.

The hit was completed, but barely; moments after he'd killed his target, Nicolai was ambushed and his throat slit. The job was messy; the blade struck true to its mark, but did not cut deep enough to sever any arteries. Saved by Francisco and two others Nicolai miraculously survived the attack, though he sustained permanent damage to his vocal chords. This quickly earned him the nickname "Whisper" which he bears with a sense of pride. His survival and unwavering allegiance to the Family has since earned him deep respect, while the ruthless torture and murder of those who'd organized his attack has earned him fear as a Sapienti.
Personality:
Due to his inability to speak in little more than a whisper, he generally delegates the task of issuing orders to Francisco, and demands that his men bear the same amount of respect for him as they would for Nicolai himself. When dealing with rivals or adversaries, Nicolai is resolute and without remorse. He is wholly merciless and unrelenting in his methods to gain information or confessions; he is known to favour knives and blades in his practices -- should brute force fail to yield desirable results.

Nicolai is fiercely loyal to his Family and will go to any lengths to uphold its honour. Equally loyal to his friends, once his trust and respect is earned it is not something to be taken lightly. Unlike many higher-ranking members, Nicolai prefers to handle things personally should the need arise, feeling it gives a better sense of respect and connection between his soldiers and associates. Much like his uncle, Nicolai is praised for his kindness to friends and family, though his humour can be dry and rather coarse.

Despite being "talented" when it comes to cards and dice Nicolai isn't an avid gambler. Rather, he prefers to spend a majority of his leisure time reading.

He suffers from an addiction to laudanum, which he often requires in order to sleep. Few know about this, however, as he does not like to advertise the fact.
Weapon(s) of Choice: Knives, pistol
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Ghirardelli
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Mind if I take the Family Enforcer spot?
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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You could double as that role, but probably won't be seeing a ton of action if you play only him. He is there mostly to help sort family affairs and serve as an advisor to Marcello. In instances that do involve him, I would be happy to let you play him, though. Would you be interested in creating another character as well? It would provide more "regular" play.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Ghirardelli
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Sounds like what your describing is the Consigliere role, Enforcer would be the Boss's breaker of bones/ Hitman type role.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Ah, I misunderstood what you were meaning by "enforcer." And yes, that would be just fine. It would be technically be the role of soldier - but with explicit duties...of the bloody persuasion.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by TheMusketMan
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Name: Francisco 'Crispy' Whitehead

Gender: Male

Occupation: Soldier and Right hand man of Nicolai Sapienti

Age: 27

Appearance: 6 feet and 1 inch tall, Mocha colored skin and lively blue eyes. Black curly hair and light black stubble. His nose is slightly crooked and he has a scar that runs along the left side of his chin. He has a bigger build than most and is very muscle-y.

Biography: Francisco is the son of Marcello's sister Maria, and the cousin of Nicolai Sapienti. Francisco's father was an all American business man that was very interested in the Sapienti's work. Nicolai and Francisco became friends at an early age, when the "Grown Ups" were doing boring stuff; they would wander from the house and explore the surrounding area and have adventures in their own little world. He earned the nickname 'Crispy' from a column in the newspaper he would read and the writer would always sign off with 'Keep it Crispy' and he adopted that as his own catchphrase. Soon everyone started calling him Crispy and it stuck. Francisco was always the troublemaker and was the one who took the blame when they got into trouble. As Francisco got older, he got more hot-headed and got into fights with the local group of shit-head kids. Well one day these kids jumped him and broke his nose. He broke at least 30 bones between the 3 of them. As a teenager he became more interested in the family business and did whatever he could to help the family. He eventually became a soldier for the family and would do their dirty work for them.

In 1917, Francisco was drafted into the army. With a heavy heart he said goodbye to the Family and was shipped off to France. It was a standard 4 year enlistment, so he couldn't return home until 1921. He started to work his way up through the ranks in the Family, with the help of Nicolai, until he was a trusted and reliable soldier. When Nicolai had been assigned to a part of town, he asked Francisco to be his right hand man. Francisco, of course, accepted.

Personality: Francisco is a very cheerful man, in any given situation. Very sympathetic to others, even the men he's about to kill, and will often comfort them while they're dying. However, if anyone hurts a member of the family, he goes into a psychotic state of mind and will not stop until the perpetrator is dead. This state of mind is possibly the result of the war, as he saw many horrifying things.

Weapon(s) of Choice: Brass Knuckles, Tommy gun
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Great! Accepted!
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Heat
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Heat Hey, nice marmot

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Name: Romano Aliberti

Gender: Male

Occupation: Soldier

Age: 31

Appearance:

He stands 6'3 and 200 pounds. His hair is dark brown and his eyes are blue, he has a small scar above his right eyebrow from getting hit with a wooden chair which shattered upon contact.

Biography: Romano is the son of Antonio Aliberti who was close friends with Marcello when they were both younger. Antonio became a lawyer who used his ties to the criminal world and the family to his advantage in the court of law to win several trials. Romano himself was a troublemaker as a child who often got into fights, never did that well in school and talked back to teachers. He wasn't that close to his father, often getting into fights with the man in his teenage years, but he respected him and knew of his ties to the mafia.

Romano was arrested for a double homicide (which he may or may not have committed, he never has said himself), his father defended him and managed to get him out of going to jail (partly by several well placed threats and bribes), he spent the next several years working as construction until his father died of a heart attack a year ago which resulted in Romano getting offered to become a member of the family due to his being a friend to the family an Marcello. He distinguished himself, doing any job he was asked, which tended to be the dirty work. Due to this he is recognized as a soldier in the family.

Personality: Romano has a trademark sense of humor which often tends to the very dark sense of it as he makes a lot of jokes, which are accompanied by his large smile. There seems to be something off about him as he is a very brutal man who will happily torture others in order to get what he and the family want. He doesn't show anger very often, calmness in the place of anger, but it is an unsettling sense of calm.

Weapon(s) of Choice: M1911 and a switchblade
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Accepted!
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Ghirardelli
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Name: Antonino DiStefino

Gender:Male

Occupation: Enforcer

Age:30

Appearance:


Stands 6'4", 240 pounds, stocky build. Keeps his black hair combed back, clean shaven, dresses respectfully. Has a bullet wound scar on his left shoulder, Knife wound on right thigh.

Biography:
Antonino is 3rd generation Enforcer whom at the age a 20 was being groomed by his Father to take over his spot as the Corleonesi's Family Enforcer, but was forced to leave Sicily in order to save honor after he was caught deflowering the twin daughters of Tommaso Buscetta, a valued ally of the Corleonesi's. After being shipped off to America, He made his way to Chicago. His family ties in Sicily got him a position as a Soldier in the Sapienti Family. After five years of proving himself, he was promoted to Enforcer and has spent the last three years effectively serving as The Don's "Left Hand of Judgement."

Personality:
Soft spoken,but straight forward,not being afraid to speak his mind should the situation warrent it,but preferring to watch from the sidelines rather then being the center of attention,since his position within the Family requires him to keep a low profile,also,do to his line of work,making and having Friends could tend to be a liability,either being killed or used to get to him.His loyalty to the Family is unquestioned and will do his upmost to protect those within the Family unless it conflicts with his loyalty to the Head of the Family.

Weapon(s)
Twin pair of Colt 1911's.
Tommy Gun.
Garrot.
Stilletto.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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xxTripwire

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Looks great, accepted!
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Ghirardelli
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Thank you.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by PhoenixEye9
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Name: Cirino "Middle Man" Preston

Gender: Male

Occupation: Associate (Networker) who will play soldier

Age: 32



Biography: Cirino was born in Italy, originally well cared for until one of the rival families took down what he knew as home when he was 12. Forced onto the streets he found what he was good at, finding information. Though he couldn't handle himself in the brutal beatings that the families dealt in, he got on their good sides providing information not easily found. Though not having a family he was with caused problems ranging anywhere from severe beatings to times where he was tortured and more than he'd feel like counting was almost executed. He continued doing this until February 1910 when he hoped the pond
to America.

Once here he began doing exactly what he did before. This time he was smart though using the money to hire two guards Clyde and Vincent. Only job protect him on the streets and in house, when Cirino goes to play soldier though he normally has them hang back unless they are really needed. Throughout the 12 years Cirino has been in business he's met high rankers in the families, crooked police men, black market dealers, etc., if you need someone or something there's probably someone up Cirino's sleeve just for you.

Personality: Laid back, collected, loyal to no family (Will work for who pays him)

Weapon(s) of Choice: Switchblade (You can guess), Beretta M1923 (Firefight), Bodeo Model 1889 (Executor)
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Phoenix, that's a nice start, but I'd like to see that a character is a bit more developed before accepting the CS. It looks like "Milo" is a recurring character of yours, and I just want to ensure that you've made him unique to this story and have thought about a history for him. Also, if we could have a bit more insight into his personality, you know - what makes him tick, that would be great.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by The Whacko
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Name: Joe "Hoss" Galtosino

Gender: Male

Occupation: Soldier

Age: 34

Appearance: A towering, broad-shouldered bull of a man that looks every bit the thug he is. Standing at 6'3" and weighing roughly 280 pounds, his face is brutish and ugly with a wide, square jawline and chin, beady green eyes and a broad nose that has been broken several times in the past. His dark brown hair is receeding and thin, though he does sport an impressive horseshoe moustache that clashes with his choice in suits at times. For the most part he favors cheap suits and fedoras, occasionaly sporting a coat as well when the weather calls for it.

Biography: There isn't too much to be said about this piece of work. Like many in Chicago, he is the son of Italian imigrants, although unlike most in the Sapienti family he is of Neopolitan decent rather than Sicilian. Throughout most of his childhood he proved to be a mediocre student, but exceled at all things physical, working manual labor jobs after school until he eventually discovered he could put his physcial prowess to use in less legal, more profitable pursuits as well. At age 17 he began working as an enforcer for a small mixed Irish and Italian gang, slowly making his bones until he earned the attention of the Sapienti Family several years later. Since then he's become known as one of the more reliable attack dogs in the Sapientis' employ, with only a brief stint in the army during the Great War interupting his career in crime. Recently he's gotten some flak for his shacking up with a Black woman, but none have had the balls to say anything to his face yet. For the moment he's content to keep on working, waiting to see if his breaking taboo will see him unemployed or dead.

Personality: Joe is the typical mafia soldato; One part street smarts and two parts muscle with enough cunning to make up for his mediocre education. On the job he comunicates mostly in grunts, threats and quick phrases in Italian, while off the clock he's civil enough with the smaller circle of people he considers friends, if still a bit gruff. While he has no troubles over beating a man senseless over debt owed his employers, he does have a bit of a soft spot for the little guy, especially the unlucky Black citizens of Chicago (Much to his assosiates' chagrin.)

Weapon(s) of Choice: Brass knuckles, .38 Detective Special, 12 gauge double-barrel shotgun with sawed-off stock (When the job doesn't require subtlety or a message needs to be sent.)
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Whacko, looks great. Accepted!

Also, if we can grab another two or three as associates or rivals, I'll get things on the road.

I can't decide if I'm surprised at the lack of women interested in this. Figured there would be more than a few interested in roles as femme fatales.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by Goldmarble
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Name: Rosaline "Rosa" Lowe

Gender: Female

Occupation: Associate (Driver/Bootlegger/Other chores)

Age: 20

Appearance:

Rosa a fairly attractive young woman without trying, of a slightly stockier build than most; with a height of 5'6" and weighing roughly 136lbs. Her reddish-brown hair is somewhat unruly, but kept shorter for ease of wear. She wears simple clothes most of the time, checked dresses, or overalls and a loose shirt. She has couple of evening dresses for occasions. Frequently found with blackened hands from working on cars or trucks, or with flecks of sawdust for working at her father's mill.


Biography:
Rosa's story began when her maternal grandmother fled Ireland during the famine, and her father set sail for America from Germany, seeking a life of adventure. Otfried Lowe met Catherine Ó Sioda when his plans for adventure ran him into hard times by the time he crossed into Illinois. With no money, and debt collectors on his heels from a stint of bad-luck gambling, he got himself a job at a lumber mill, and worked hard. When he met Catherine for the first time, it was an instant connection. The problem was, she was the date of his best friend. By the time the night was out, fists had been exchanged, beers had mended the torn friendship, and Otfried and Catherine started what would become a life long marriage, if only it lasted.

In 1902, Oskar was born, followed by little Rosa in the spring of 1903. Unfortunately, no more children were to come, and in 1908, after Catherine's first pregnancy since Rosa, the cause was discovered: Ovarian cancer, which was spreading rapidly now. She passed away in the fall, leaving Otfried to care for his two children the best he could. Soon after however, Oskar contracted Polio. He lost the use of his legs, and would from then on, be bound to his wheelchair. This left Rosa the fortune, and unfortunate position of being the only fit child to take on the chores and responsibilities of the household. From maids and caretakers, she learned to cook, clean, help her brother get to school, take care of her own school work, split firewood, tend to the small farm in the back yard, including the chickens, milch cows, and the horses. She learned to shoot, to defend the chickens from weasels, cats and dogs, thanks to lessons from her father. Oskar found a passion in math, and went from helping Otfried with the family finances, to keeping track of it himself when he turned fourteen.

In mid 1914, Otfried who had worked hard and long enough to have become a manager at the mill, was offered partnership when the mill underwent expansion. He found out later that the expansion was being funded by an Irish gang, as a silent backing partner, but money was money, and the gang seemed content that the mill just kept operating as it had before, just a bit larger, a bit more productive, and with a back storage room where nothing was ever stored. Six years later, Prohibition was ratified, and the O'Mally and Otfried Saw Mill was simplified to the OO Mill, during the exchange of partners. O'Malley had ties to the Irish gang, and had forfeit his life when, under the violent aggression of Anthony De Palma, the gang was eliminated in power grab that landed the Sapienti Family access to three stills, and a saw mill.

During this period, Rosa had taken a shine to things mechanical, helping the mechanics fix the trucks, and the company cars. She learned to drive as though she had been born to the seat, and against her father's wishes, like all teenagers do, when looking for something stupid and fun to do, did something stupid: She agreed to bootleg the shine from the farms, into town. It started out easy: No one expected a sweet teenage girl driving a work truck loaded with wood to actually be hauling casks of illegal whiskey. Even when she was caught, the heat flew over her: she was a girl, too innocent to have done something illegal. That didn't fly the third time she was caught, and underboss was getting pissed on from above that shipments were getting nabbed.

Rosa decided to take a different route than the truck, modifying her own car to conceal the booze beneath the rear seat, and finding out that a larger engine simply bolted to the transmission from the next model up, she had herself a fast bootleg car. As her deliveries continued to make it, her profits kept increasing, her car kept getting faster, and her skills kept getting honed. She got a call from Iacapo, he had a job for her. It wasn't running shine, but a simple job of driving three men from out of town around the city. A little sightseeing. When she arrived at the speakeasy, she realized they were in town to see the city, from behind the sights of their guns. She tried to back out of the deal, and found herself kissing concrete a moment later. Either she drove, or he would rape her, and force her into prostitution.

Rosa hardened after that. She may appear like a hard working, innocent girl from the sticks, but she's taken an edge. Her skill at driving has earned her a position of minor notoriety as nearly fearless behind the wheel, and deftly skilled. A decent shot, and competent with her hands.


Personality:
Rosa is still a young country woman at heart, and while she likes the occasional night in a speakeasy, she's more at home behind the wheel of a car, or under one. She represents and interesting mix of country and city, a country girl growing into a woman of a dangerous city. She is quite friendly most of the time, but can be quite assertive about her intentions, and unafraid of defending herself from the predations men who think they can buy some time with her.

Currently pleased with the disappearance of Anthony, and his replacement, she has come to view some of the associates and soldiers of the family as good friends, almost extended family.


Weapons and Equipment:
1921 Studebaker Special Six with a Big Six engine, larger carb, and some porting, producing 70 hp.


Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless in .380


Small folding knife she keeps tucked in her belt, or in a fold of a dress.

Contacts:
- Boss Manuel Galiante
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by TheMusketMan
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TheMusketMan The Trooper

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That looks great! I don't think I have the authority to accept it as a Co-GM, but I would if I could.
Hidden 10 yrs ago Post by xxTripwire
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Definitely accepted! (And yes, you have that authority.)
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