The Four Fingers
## The Four Fingers: Lords of the Undergrowth in Shan
### History of the Organization
The Four Fingers are a criminal guild rooted in the depths of Shan, whose influence extends to every corner of the city. Their history is intertwined with that of the city itself, a tangle of intrigue, betrayal, and survival.
The origins of the guild are lost in the mists of time, but it is said that it was born out of a group of thieves' need to survive in an increasingly corrupt and violent city. Over time, the group organized itself, structuring itself around four fundamental pillars: gambling, prostitution, smuggling, and protection.
The guild has seen its ups and downs, going through periods of great prosperity and moments of deep crisis. Twice, it has been almost destroyed for interfering in political games bigger than itself. From these traumatic experiences, the Four Fingers have learned a crucial lesson: political neutrality is the key to their survival.
### Goals and Activities
The Four Fingers' primary goal is the survival and prosperity of the guild. To achieve this, members engage in four main activities:
- **Gambling:** The guild operates numerous casinos and gambling halls throughout the city, where nobles, merchants, and commoners can try their luck.
- **Prostitution:** The Four Fingers control a vast network of brothels, providing a service that, while illegal, is widely tolerated by the authorities.
- **Smuggling:** The guild is involved in smuggling all manner of goods, from luxury goods to illegal products.
- **Protection and Loan Sharking:** The Four Fingers offer protection to merchants and traders in exchange for regular payment. If payment is not made, they resort to more coercive methods.
Despite these activities being illegal, the Four Fingers have developed a very strict code of honor. The guild does not tolerate murder, theft, or interference in political affairs. These principles, although they may seem contradictory, are essential to the guild's survival.
### Current Situation
Currently, the Four Fingers are at the height of their power. The guild is well-organized, has a vast network of informants, and has formed alliances with powerful figures in the city. Despite this, the Four Fingers face numerous threats:
- **The March Guard:** The city guard is the eternal enemy of the Four Fingers. The guardians are constantly searching for evidence to frame the guild members.
- **The Sisters of the Blade:** An organization of assassins who have decided to seize power in Shan and consider the Four Fingers a legitimate target.
- **The Harbor Rats:** The criminal gang created by the Beggars' Guild and the Four Fingers' main opponent for control of Shan's criminal underworld.
### Important Members
The Four Fingers: The four leaders of the guild, each specializing in one of the four main activities.
- **Sonia:** The gambling queen. A cunning and manipulative woman, able to read people like an open book.
- **Roxanne:** The madam of the brothel. A charming and charismatic woman, with a heart of gold. Each of her girls is like a daughter and she often takes care of them even when she shouldn't.
- **One Eye:** A war veteran, said to have been a hero in the battle of Rivendale. Struck by a cursed blade he lost an eye and embittered by the defeat he turned to crime to survive. His ferocious appearance makes him perfect to manage the protection and loan shark network.
- **Old Alan:** He appears to be an old sailor who spends his days at the docks watching the ships come and go, but those who know him well know that he is the type of person to get anything, especially contraband or illegal goods. Alan always has some business for those who come to see him on the docks.
The Informants: A vast network of informants who provide the Four Fingers with vital information on the activities of their enemies.
### Locations and Resources
The Four Fingers have numerous properties throughout the city, including:
- **The Rat in the Hole:** The guild's headquarters, a seemingly innocuous establishment that hides a network of tunnels and secret rooms.
- **Casinos and Brothels:** Numerous properties scattered throughout the city, used for the guild's main operations.
- **Hideouts:** Safe places where guild members can hide money, weapons, and other resources.
### Details and Folklore
- **The Four Fingers Symbol:** A four-fingered handprint, a symbol of unity and power.
- **Legends of the Four Fingers:** Numerous legends circulate about the guild, passed down from generation to generation. It is said that members of the Four Fingers can control time, see the future, and communicate with the dead.
- **Initiation Rites:** To join the Four Fingers, new members must undergo a painful and humiliating initiation rite.
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