The River Rats

The River Rats are an illegal gang in Marmella, situated in the slums of the riverbank district in the city's south. They take their name from River Rat Lane, the district's main market street. The River Rats are a dangerous outfit though incredibly resourceful for anyone attempting to infiltrate the black market.

History

Marmella's slums have always been home to gangs. Little work and security is afforded to Marmella's lower classes and angry young men often turn to lives of crime, making a profit from the smuggling and selling of illicit goods, and providing a sort of rogue order for the neighbourhoods of the riverbank. Bloody feuds often break out between these gangs over who controls what area, and sometimes between gang members and Imperial legionnaires.
About five years ago one gang surpassed the others in size and power, to take control of River Rat Lane - a boardwalk running along the riverbank with a row of dingy old shopfronts and terraces on one side. This area is barely patrolled by the Legion and its proximity to the goods offloaded at the southern docks has made it a den for the city's more heinous businesses. Dubious brothels, scummy alehouses, tinkeries full of twisted oddments and rarities... this is the life of the River Rat Lane. The gang in question secured control by providing security to these businesses, as guards and labourers. In return they take a portion of the business's profit, or a cut of their trade. For the lane they'd come to look on as their territory the gang called themselves the River Rats.

Relationships

The River Rats are generally feared and avoided by the common folk of the riverbank district. Even the businesses who pay for the River Rats' "security" may find themselves pressured into this out of their will. The Legion has made futile attempts to apprehend these criminals, but through either bribery or laziness they have since left the River Rats to run their section of the town.
The River Rats are believed to have strong ties to the Sylarchans - one of the wealthy Old Families of Marmella. The River Rats likely do much of the Sylarchans' menial legwork, managing the movement of contraband and information. Some claim the River Rats are in cahoots with other underground groups, such as the Wandcutters' Guild and the strange alchemists and charlatans who peddle their wares in River Rat Lane.

The Black Market of Marmella

Marmella has a thriving black market. As a large port city and trading hub it sees most of Illium's goods pass through its warehouses and docks. Illium may be known as an exporter of agriculture, metals and timber but other more precious goods have been discovered throughout the province. The Sylvan Valley is full of magical and dangerous materials such as sylvanbark and dryad, and powerful amplifier crystals have been discovered in the mines of the mountains. With the Empire's ban of the free practice of magic these goods have become increasingly rare, not to mention expensive. The River Rats are the footmen of this black market and they turn a decent profit from trafficking in its goods.
The River Rats don't have any visible branding per se, but they often mark buildings or street posts with an 'R' to denote the extent of their territory. Their favourite haunt is the Rat Den, a shabby tavern at the centre of River Rat Lane. The Den is recognisable from the round copper sign hanging from its awning depicting a river rat.

Type

Illicit, Gang