The Cenata

Look, buddy. I see you aren't from around here. Let me make two things very clear.
One. Unless you want to see the boss, you stay out of our way. One of us tells you to move, you move. We find you working on our patch, you're out arse first, bowing and scraping in the hope that we won't decide to do something to you. "I didn't know" is not an excuse we take around here.
Two. Nobody wants to see the boss. Clear?
Oh, you're going to call the watch on us, are you? Big boy like you all ready to do his civic duty? I think we might finally have someone who wants to see the boss, gentlemen.

Structure

The Cenata are run in an incredibly hierarchical manner.  At the top is "the boss", who is the source of all major decisions and must approve every job or activity undertaken by the group.  Below the boss come a range of trusted lieutenants, who more directly oversee various areas of the Cenata's activities, from organised begging to assassination and theft.
Each lieutenant has four to five commanders below them, which each head squads of up to ten members.  These commanders are who the rank and file members will directly report to while on duty, and often have a more general set of skills than those higher in the hierarchy.

Culture

In some ways, the Cenata have a more law-abiding organisational culture than that of the Cada Cratal City Guard.  Jockeying for rank based on internal politics is strongly discouraged, while those who show merit in their chosen discipline are often elevated rapidly by their superiors.  Any actions taken by a member of the Cenata which don't follow their plans or internal laws are punished quickly, and there is no tolerance for running personal business on company time.

Public Agenda

The Cenata, although widely known-of by the people of Cada Cratal and even those of wider Mythia, try to keep as low a profile as possible.  Although they have several deals with the rulers of Cada Cratal and its city guard, they are aware that all it would take is one act too far and the populace would rise against them.  Thus, the Cenata aims to remain in the shadows, presenting no public image and so no public agenda.

Assets

The Cenata is estimated to have a net wealth approaching that of a small kingdom, of which only a small percentage is in cash assets.  The rest of this wealth is made up of various buildings owned by and operated as a front for the Cenata, as well as vehicles, weaponry, and other such equipment.

History

The Cenata as a loose idea has been present since before The Cada Cratal Rift was made safe - it was used as a place for bandits and outlaws to convene.  As the area became more civilised, the organisation grew in size and power, and its formal inception preceded the creation of the Cada Cratal City Guard.
Over the years, the Cenata have performed many questionably legal actions for their own ends and as services to people of the city who don't wish to get their hands dirty.  In its infancy, before the creation of the Guard, the Cenata operated almost unfettered, often beating its enemies on the streets, blazenly stealing what it required from shops, and even on occasion forcibly taking over buildings.  This was perhaps the main cause of the formation of the city Guard and its eventual legitimisation - before this, the rulers of the city left its people to defend themselves.  Now, the Cenata continues in its activities, but is more and more a contracted force.  If you want a service performed, a word to the right person and the right amount of gold will get you it.
One key event regarding the Cenata is the point at which they began to deploy Cauterisers.  These were developed at the request of a client in the early fourth century, and have remained in use since.  It is rumoured that cauterisers were the cause of Lady Leena's death.

Type

Illicit, Gang

Alternative Names

The Gang, Downtown

Location

Cada Cratal