〖 DATABASE 〗
This section will be updated as more details of the setting are revealed ICly or OOCly.State of the World
From a mundane perspective, recent advancements have become focused less on new, novel developments and more on making existing systems more efficient, effective and environmentally-conscious. Of note, robotics and medicine have experienced the greatest growth, the worldwide carbon footprint has been diminished significantly, and the military has finally managed to create a Mosca unit that runs on electricity rather than Dying Will Flames. It's only about as powerful as a Gola Mosca since the nature of Dying Will Flames and Box Weapons are mafia secrets protected by Omerta.
Meanwhile, the level of technology within the mafia tends to be a bit more inconsistent, especially among the upper echelons. This is understandble; most families prefer to keep the secrets behind their success to themselves, and with recent developments, the need for this has only increased. As a generalization, the more powerful or science-oriented a family is, the more advanced their overall level of technology is, while weaker families tend not to possess technology more advanced than what is available to the public.
But despite this disparity, Box and Flame technology continues to remain an underworld mainstay; their widespread nature ensures that even the weakest family can have access to them, their potency as weapons opponents without them a non-factor, and their customizability makes them easy to adapt to a given family member's tactics.
Despite the dominance of Box Weapons, they require the ability to conjure a Dying Will Flame from a Ring, meaning there is still a place for traditional mafia equipment in the hands of those unable to. Typically the inherent ability necessary to power Boxes restricts their use to the upper ranks of a given family or squad leaders, but many organizations with the proper resources and connections are notorious for fielding an extensive amount of individuals with Rings and Boxes, even among grunt levels.
Meanwhile, the level of technology within the mafia tends to be a bit more inconsistent, especially among the upper echelons. This is understandble; most families prefer to keep the secrets behind their success to themselves, and with recent developments, the need for this has only increased. As a generalization, the more powerful or science-oriented a family is, the more advanced their overall level of technology is, while weaker families tend not to possess technology more advanced than what is available to the public.
But despite this disparity, Box and Flame technology continues to remain an underworld mainstay; their widespread nature ensures that even the weakest family can have access to them, their potency as weapons opponents without them a non-factor, and their customizability makes them easy to adapt to a given family member's tactics.
Despite the dominance of Box Weapons, they require the ability to conjure a Dying Will Flame from a Ring, meaning there is still a place for traditional mafia equipment in the hands of those unable to. Typically the inherent ability necessary to power Boxes restricts their use to the upper ranks of a given family or squad leaders, but many organizations with the proper resources and connections are notorious for fielding an extensive amount of individuals with Rings and Boxes, even among grunt levels.
Following the attack on (and subsequent defeat and disappearance of) Vongola XIII, the underworld has been thrust into a state of turmoil.
Open conflict within the underworld has become the norm now that the intervention of the once-implacable check and balance to the more unethical elements of the mafia has become a largely absent presence. Every day more factions crawl out of the woodwork, more impromptu alliances are formed, and more lines are drawn and crossed as families fight to seize more power. Even the Vongola Famiglia is not above reproach in these times; as the largest family in its weakest state, many opportunistic families have pressed their advantage.
During these troubling times and the respective allegiances that those among the group possess, the Arcobaleno have maintained a neutral stance. The only exception is the Sky Arcobaleno, who stands at the head of her own family and cannot remain unbiased for obvious reasons.
Among the Vongola Famiglia and its allies, there is a growing trend of balkanization among all parties (both in regards to inter-family and intra-family dynamics) despite the clear need for unification and stability among the alliance. With the Vongola as a headless snake and it's alliance members reeling from devastation, many allied families have retreated inward to focus on the defense and recovery of territory, assets and manpower. Still, there are those few who continue maintain solidarity with the Vongola, but the return of the fairly unpopular Vongola XII seems to have made these allies leery.
With pressure mounting from all angles, the Vongola Famiglia is becoming more and more of a powder keg, but the saying that the Vongola always stands unified against external threats continues to remain true.
Open conflict within the underworld has become the norm now that the intervention of the once-implacable check and balance to the more unethical elements of the mafia has become a largely absent presence. Every day more factions crawl out of the woodwork, more impromptu alliances are formed, and more lines are drawn and crossed as families fight to seize more power. Even the Vongola Famiglia is not above reproach in these times; as the largest family in its weakest state, many opportunistic families have pressed their advantage.
During these troubling times and the respective allegiances that those among the group possess, the Arcobaleno have maintained a neutral stance. The only exception is the Sky Arcobaleno, who stands at the head of her own family and cannot remain unbiased for obvious reasons.
Among the Vongola Famiglia and its allies, there is a growing trend of balkanization among all parties (both in regards to inter-family and intra-family dynamics) despite the clear need for unification and stability among the alliance. With the Vongola as a headless snake and it's alliance members reeling from devastation, many allied families have retreated inward to focus on the defense and recovery of territory, assets and manpower. Still, there are those few who continue maintain solidarity with the Vongola, but the return of the fairly unpopular Vongola XII seems to have made these allies leery.
With pressure mounting from all angles, the Vongola Famiglia is becoming more and more of a powder keg, but the saying that the Vongola always stands unified against external threats continues to remain true.
Organizations
The Vongola Famiglia
At the age of 15, Tsunayoshi Sawada inherited the title of the Vongola Decimo following a conflict with the Simon Famiglia. As the youngest Vongola Boss in the history of the family and one raised as a civilian, his ascension was bound to have been met with initial skepticism by the masses, regardless of his support from some of the most esteemed members of the mafia community. All doubts to his capabilities as boss were quickly overturned when the series of reforms he instituted resulted in a veritable golden age for not only the Vongola, but the mafia as a whole.
The Vongola Famiglia of this era took on a more active role in moderating the activities of the mafia, and true to the intent of Vongola Primo, prioritized the protection of those under its domain. Under this so-called "Pax Vongola", the mafia would experience a peace that would last until his retirement at the age of 45. But the end of Tsunayoshi's reign would mark not only the conclusion of the peace he had worked for, but also the last time the Vongola could be considered truly unified.
The title of Vongola Unidicesimo was bestowed upon Ienobu Sawada, the eldest child of the Vongola Decimo. The Vongola he inherited from his father was one that was hopeful for the future, but full of new recruits who were largely unaccustomed to the conflicts that peace was built upon. Content to simply maintain the status quo, the Vongola Famiglia's policies became more and more reactionary in nature, which ultimately caused the slow and unnoticeable stagnation of the Vongola under Ienobu's rule. Then, for the first time in decades, war broke out as a coalition of opposing families led by the Carcassa Famiglia began to capitalize on the Vongola's complacency to seize control of their territory and assets. Blindsided by their enemies, the Vongola was quickly dragged into a losing war, and at its height, Ienobu was assassinated. He was 24-years old at the time and had been in command for only four years. His brief reign is often marked by detractors as the starting point of the Vongola's twilight.
With Ienobu eliminated, leadership of the Vongola Famiglia was to go to either Tsunayoshi or one of his two remaining children. But despite the protests of his father and the family he was to lead, 17-year old Hidetada Sawada succeeded his older brother as Vongola Dodicesimo. Enemies and allies alike predicted the Vongola Famiglia's imminent demise under the command of this young, untested boss, but their expectations were quickly defied as the Vongola began rapidly regaining ground after a major victory in Florence. The enemies' initial underestimation of the Vongola quickly became a fear of it, as Hidetada and his Guardians continued to press their advantage in a series of precision strikes. By the end of his first year in power, Hidetada had turned the tide of war firmly in favor of the Vongola Famiglia and its allies. Not long after, and the war would be won.
In the aftermath of the conflicts, Hidetada began to reconsolidate power for the Vongola by stomping out his opposition (both internal and external) and spreading the family's original ideals by force, cementing him as the Vongola's first militant boss in four generations. Although his rule was the most violent in generations, it ensured the Vongola's return to its position as an underworld superpower, and it is often claimed that the territory under his rule was as peaceful as it was during Vongola Decimo's generation. At the age of thirty-nine, he entered retirement, leaving behind him a Vongola that was powerful, but unstable.
Senhime Sawada would follow in the footsteps of her father as Vongola Tredicesima. Prior to her inheritance ceremony, she and her Guardians had already amassed a reputation through their work as active members of the Vongola; so her rise to power was expected by many members of the underworld. Her moderate, compassionate approach was seen by some as exactly what the Vongola needed after two decades of authoritarian rule, but by others as being too weak-willed. Nevertheless the Vongola prospered under her care: many new mafia families were peacefully integrated into its alliance network, the Vongola's territories were well-maintained and well-protected, and another rebirth seemed to be looming on the horizon.
Those sentiments came to an end ten years after her inheritance with the Broken Shell Incident, a series of simultaneous assassination attempts targeting the heads of the Vongola Famiglia and its key allies. In the aftermath of the attacks, Senhime was left in critical condition and disappeared shortly after.
With no eligible heirs to fill Senhime's shoes, Hidetada was forced to leave retirement and take up the mantle of Vongola Boss.
The Vongola Famiglia of this era took on a more active role in moderating the activities of the mafia, and true to the intent of Vongola Primo, prioritized the protection of those under its domain. Under this so-called "Pax Vongola", the mafia would experience a peace that would last until his retirement at the age of 45. But the end of Tsunayoshi's reign would mark not only the conclusion of the peace he had worked for, but also the last time the Vongola could be considered truly unified.
The title of Vongola Unidicesimo was bestowed upon Ienobu Sawada, the eldest child of the Vongola Decimo. The Vongola he inherited from his father was one that was hopeful for the future, but full of new recruits who were largely unaccustomed to the conflicts that peace was built upon. Content to simply maintain the status quo, the Vongola Famiglia's policies became more and more reactionary in nature, which ultimately caused the slow and unnoticeable stagnation of the Vongola under Ienobu's rule. Then, for the first time in decades, war broke out as a coalition of opposing families led by the Carcassa Famiglia began to capitalize on the Vongola's complacency to seize control of their territory and assets. Blindsided by their enemies, the Vongola was quickly dragged into a losing war, and at its height, Ienobu was assassinated. He was 24-years old at the time and had been in command for only four years. His brief reign is often marked by detractors as the starting point of the Vongola's twilight.
With Ienobu eliminated, leadership of the Vongola Famiglia was to go to either Tsunayoshi or one of his two remaining children. But despite the protests of his father and the family he was to lead, 17-year old Hidetada Sawada succeeded his older brother as Vongola Dodicesimo. Enemies and allies alike predicted the Vongola Famiglia's imminent demise under the command of this young, untested boss, but their expectations were quickly defied as the Vongola began rapidly regaining ground after a major victory in Florence. The enemies' initial underestimation of the Vongola quickly became a fear of it, as Hidetada and his Guardians continued to press their advantage in a series of precision strikes. By the end of his first year in power, Hidetada had turned the tide of war firmly in favor of the Vongola Famiglia and its allies. Not long after, and the war would be won.
In the aftermath of the conflicts, Hidetada began to reconsolidate power for the Vongola by stomping out his opposition (both internal and external) and spreading the family's original ideals by force, cementing him as the Vongola's first militant boss in four generations. Although his rule was the most violent in generations, it ensured the Vongola's return to its position as an underworld superpower, and it is often claimed that the territory under his rule was as peaceful as it was during Vongola Decimo's generation. At the age of thirty-nine, he entered retirement, leaving behind him a Vongola that was powerful, but unstable.
Senhime Sawada would follow in the footsteps of her father as Vongola Tredicesima. Prior to her inheritance ceremony, she and her Guardians had already amassed a reputation through their work as active members of the Vongola; so her rise to power was expected by many members of the underworld. Her moderate, compassionate approach was seen by some as exactly what the Vongola needed after two decades of authoritarian rule, but by others as being too weak-willed. Nevertheless the Vongola prospered under her care: many new mafia families were peacefully integrated into its alliance network, the Vongola's territories were well-maintained and well-protected, and another rebirth seemed to be looming on the horizon.
Those sentiments came to an end ten years after her inheritance with the Broken Shell Incident, a series of simultaneous assassination attempts targeting the heads of the Vongola Famiglia and its key allies. In the aftermath of the attacks, Senhime was left in critical condition and disappeared shortly after.
With no eligible heirs to fill Senhime's shoes, Hidetada was forced to leave retirement and take up the mantle of Vongola Boss.
One of the more notable alterations to the Vongola's organizational structure during the 12th Generation was the formation of 42 squads outside the standard chain of command, which are still active to this day. Formed with the intention of multiplying the presence of the Vongola Guardians across the world, these "Prevision Squads" answer only to two individuals: the current Vongola Boss, and their assigned Guardian. There are seven squads assigned to each of the six Vongola Guardians, and each squad is named after a phenomena related to the role of their assignment.
In terms of internal composition, each Previsione Squad consists of eight members: one handler and seven field operatives. The arrangement of the field operatives is modeled after the core dynamic of the Vongola Famiglia, rather than the segregated and anarchic formations of the Varia and CEDEF, respectively. This means that, in theory, each squad is expected to have a member of each Dying Will Flame attribute, but in reality there tends to be a degree of overlap due to the rarity of Sky Flames and the odd individual with multiple Dying Will Flames. The only universal prerequisite to become a Previsione Squad member is the ability to light a Dying Will Flame with sufficient strength to activate a Box Weapon; the rest is subject to the personal criteria of each Guardian. In practice, this means that the philosophy behind the various squads in a division can be anything from a pet project to an investment in the potential of special individuals to an actual retinue of elites, but typically there tends to be a balanced mix among each division. Membership usually rotates shortly after the next generation comes into power, but individual members can be altered at the discretion of the leader.
The Hurricane Squad is a Storm Provisione Squad.
In terms of internal composition, each Previsione Squad consists of eight members: one handler and seven field operatives. The arrangement of the field operatives is modeled after the core dynamic of the Vongola Famiglia, rather than the segregated and anarchic formations of the Varia and CEDEF, respectively. This means that, in theory, each squad is expected to have a member of each Dying Will Flame attribute, but in reality there tends to be a degree of overlap due to the rarity of Sky Flames and the odd individual with multiple Dying Will Flames. The only universal prerequisite to become a Previsione Squad member is the ability to light a Dying Will Flame with sufficient strength to activate a Box Weapon; the rest is subject to the personal criteria of each Guardian. In practice, this means that the philosophy behind the various squads in a division can be anything from a pet project to an investment in the potential of special individuals to an actual retinue of elites, but typically there tends to be a balanced mix among each division. Membership usually rotates shortly after the next generation comes into power, but individual members can be altered at the discretion of the leader.
The Hurricane Squad is a Storm Provisione Squad.
Locations
