Rein's Journal: Entry #4

Day one in Shark is turning out more unwelcoming than I thought. While Basse was off recovering with the surgeons, I explored the city a little more. I quickly noticed the high gang presence in the city. Of course. A city of thieves and thugs in the shittiest place in Kenshi. What did I expect? At the bar I met a man named Ears. He's some kind of overboss of one of the local gang calling themselves the Hounds. Instead of harassing me though, he offered me membership. I don't know this man personally, but I know his type. His offer is nothing but a protection racket. A refusal would be seen as an insult in his eyes, then I'd become a threat. So I refused. The look in his eyes said it all. We shouldn't stay too long in this city.
 
The second gang I encountered was the Blackshifters. As the name implies, they're a shadier bunch. Soft-spoken and black as night. They didn't do much but stare at me as I walked down the streets. A few of them had this crazy yellow look in their eyes. It was almost catlike. A few drunks at the bar said they have night vision and can teleport through shadows. A load of bullshit, but I'm not about to test them in battle just for the hell of it.
 
On the outskirts of town lie the Stone Rat Gang. From what I saw, they are mostly just a bunch of grizzled drunks and brawny addicts. You won't see much of them wandering the streets, but there's plenty at the Dancing Skeleton bar. The Stone Rats are arguably the weaker of the three city gangs on account of their lack of organization. Even a fool can notice that.
 
The Hounds seem to control the vast majority of territory within the city. They're the ones that man the walls and own the shops, but the Blackshifters are the ones that roam the city outskirts with patrols. And the Stone Rats... well, they just stink up the place. They are all a distasteful bunch however. As soon as Basse is healed, we are leaving.