The Songbirds

A song of woe

TheSongbirds are one of the most notorious criminal organisations in Gran Riomar. Not only have they accumulated a vast sum of wealth, but they have formed a growing network of contacts which gives them incredible reach, both socially and politically. Through a series of threats, bribes, back street deals and business savvy they have made themselves almost untouchable within the city.
Started by a barbershop quartet about fifteen years ago, their rapid rise to infamy can be put down to determination, hard work and magic. The Songbirds were known on the music scene for their beautiful harmonies before taking up a life of crime. Each member was pitch perfect and their voices spun such enchanting melodies that souls were drawn to them.
At first they only used the magic to enhance their own performances through visual displays and mild enchantments. Then an incident, concerning the then biggest gang in the city and some corrupt law officials, saw them have to give up entertaining in the city, and more devastatingly the death of the Bass singer Maseti Del Provay. His brother, Giovin Del Provay the lead vocalist, was grief stricken at his brothers death and vowed revenge on those responsible. The other two band members tried half-heartedly to talk him out of it, Maseti had been like a brother to all of them, but Giovin would have none of it saying he would do it alone if he had to. Neither of them was having any of that, and so The Songbirds began their journey to infamy.

the ringleaders

Lead - Giovin Del Provay

The lead vocalist of the quartet, he is is also the unofficial leader of the Songbirds. While all living members of the original quartet speak with the same authority within the organisation, between themselves it is Giovin that the others look to for leadership. He never fails to have a plan to get them out of or into trouble. It is also Giovin who weaves the impressive magic the group is capable of.

Tenor - Nirick L'monie

Affectionately dubbed 'the heartthrob' by his fellow band members, Nirick uses his good looks and bad boy charm to great effect in securing deals and making friends in useful places. Anyone who thinks he's just all looks and charisma however, gets a bit of a shock when they realise he has a ruthless and cunning mind behind it all, usually after they've been on the receiving end of it.

Baritone - Ren Saltar

Ren knows a guy, in fact Ren seems to know many guys. You need a guy to do or retrieve something then Ren knows a guy who who can do it. Having served as a quartemaster during the border skirmishes between the free states after the war, he still retains many of the contacts he made then. He has only grown his network of contacts since leaving all that behind, and is the main reason for the Songbirds extraordinary reach.

Bass - Maseti Del Provay

The dead member of the group, Maseti is Giovin's brother. The two were inseparable in life and that brotherly bond has extended over into death. Maseti promised his parents that he would look after his little brother for as long as he was capable, and he's not letting a little thing like death stand in his way. He refuses to join the song until his brother can come with him, choosing to remain with the quartet and giving them the magic they weild.

Type

Illicit, Gang

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A fatal mistake

The songbirds had been quite successful as a quartet, and had begun making a name for themselves along with quite a steady income. However, with fame came the interest of those who fed on the success of others, in this case The Knuckles. These were a brutish gang who ran protection rackets, among other basic criminal enterprises , on the east riverside. The group refused to be the victims of a protection shake down, and instead tried to go to the law enforcers with evidence of the gangs illicit behaviour. This did not play out as they had hoped, crooked law officials were as much of a thing then as they are now. Their claims were swept under a rug and their evidence was "lost", leaving the band on their own. When The Knuckles came back, Maseti refused to back down and tried to use magic against the gang, however there were too many of them. Maseti did kill three of their members and in retalliation Maseti was brutally murdered in front of the band as a lesson.

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Fingers in many pies

The Songbirds have accrued many legal businesses over the years, to increase their standing within the community. Some of these businesses act as fronts or money laundering enterprises for their more illicit business dealings. Currently on the books The Songbirds have: 2 casinos, 2 dance halls, 3 bars, 4 restaurants, and a shipping company. Off the books they are involved in smuggling, soul dealing, blackmail and money lending, along with a host of other petty crimes.

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A code of honour

The Songbirds, for all their criminal activities, still retain a sense of honour in their dealings. They strictly abide by all the terms of any deals they make, if they give their word they stick to it no matter the consequences, they never take from those who can't afford it, they look after their own.