Liberated Syndicate

Overview

The Liberated Syndicate is a street gang with a unique twist—they combine criminal activity with revolutionary, anti-establishment ideals. Their core belief is that society’s rules are chains designed to keep the weak under control, and they exist to break those chains, whether through subversion, violence, or criminal enterprise. While their rhetoric is steeped in ideas of freedom and personal liberation, in practice, they’re a ruthless gang that controls parts of the city through force, intimidation, and propaganda. The Syndicate operates in the shadows, often appearing as a semi-political movement to outsiders, but their true power comes from their organized criminal operations. They run everything from smuggling to protection rackets, using the proceeds to fund their anti-authority agenda. Their anarchistic, almost cult-like philosophy attracts outcasts, rebels, and disillusioned individuals who have been marginalized by society. Beneath this ideology, however, lies a gang that uses their supposed cause as a tool to gain power, wealth, and control.

Aesthetic and Symbolism

• Colors: Black and red, symbolizing anarchy and revolution.
• Symbol: A raised fist gripping broken chains, symbolizing freedom through defiance.
• Attire: Members of the Liberated Syndicate typically wear streetwear in shades of black and red. Some wear patches or armbands featuring the Syndicate’s broken-chain symbol, while others sport anarchist graffiti or political slogans on their jackets. They favor urban guerrilla style—clothes that allow them to blend in with the city while hinting at their rebellious nature.
• The gang’s territory is often marked with graffiti of their symbol: a clenched fist surrounded by flames or chains, with slogans like “Break the System” or “Free the Streets” scrawled nearby.

Gang Culture

The Liberated Syndicate presents itself as a movement fighting for the freedom of the oppressed, but beneath this idealistic exterior is a ruthless gang that thrives on chaos and control. Their culture mixes revolutionary rhetoric with street-level criminal pragmatism.

• Freedom and Defiance: The Syndicate believes in the rejection of all forms of authority, from the police to the government to rival gangs. They see themselves as freedom fighters, tearing down systems of oppression by any means necessary. This belief attracts many idealistic recruits, though they are often unaware of the gang’s criminal activities until they’re too deep to escape.
• Loyalty to the Cause: Members of the Syndicate are expected to show unwavering loyalty to their fellow members and to the Council. Betrayal is met with brutal consequences, often carried out by the Red Eyes. However, the gang also encourages members to question external authority—whether that’s the police, other gangs, or even city officials.
• Propaganda and Symbols: The Syndicate uses symbols like the raised fist and broken chains to communicate their message of revolution. They employ graffiti, social media, and even street protests to spread their message, mixing criminal enterprise with acts of public defiance. Their influence stretches beyond their territory, attracting followers who are drawn to their anti-establishment rhetoric.

Composition

Structure

Gang Structure While the Liberated Syndicate claims to operate without a formal hierarchy in keeping with their anti-authoritarian ethos, the truth is far more structured. At the top is the Council of Liberation, a group of five key figures who control the Syndicate’s operations. Each council member is responsible for a different aspect of the Syndicate’s criminal empire. • The Council of Liberation: The governing body of the Syndicate. The Council controls the gang’s operations, deciding on territory disputes, handling major smuggling operations, and planning public acts of rebellion. Each member specializes in a different field, from logistics to recruitment. They maintain the public image of the Syndicate as a movement for liberation, while secretly running it as a tightly-controlled criminal organization. ○ Madison "Iron Maddy" Reeves: The Council’s public face, known for her fiery speeches and charismatic leadership. She oversees recruitment and propaganda, ensuring the gang always has new blood and a constant flow of idealistic followers. ○ Victor "Gears" Moreno: The mastermind behind the Syndicate’s smuggling operations. Gears is a logistical genius, controlling the movement of goods, weapons, and drugs in and out of their territory. ○ "Doc" Devereaux: A former paramedic, now the Syndicate’s go-to for illicit medical care and drug production. Doc runs the Syndicate’s underground clinics and oversees their production of black-market drugs. • The Cells: Beneath the Council, the Syndicate is divided into cells, semi-autonomous groups that operate within specific areas of the city. These cells handle the day-to-day criminal activity, recruit new members, and enforce the Syndicate’s will on the streets. The leaders of each cell report directly to the Council. • The Red Eyes: A feared group within the Syndicate, the Red Eyes serve as the Syndicate’s enforcers. They are responsible for ensuring loyalty within the ranks, carrying out violent acts of retribution, and intimidating rivals. They are rumored to take a highly potent drug that enhances aggression and dulls fear, making them dangerous to face in combat.

Tactics

Operations and Territory The Liberated Syndicate controls a swath of the city’s industrial and lower-income neighborhoods, operating out of abandoned warehouses, squats, and old factories. Their territory is a mix of run-down urban sprawl and forgotten industrial zones, places where the disenfranchised live and where authority rarely ventures. • Smuggling and Black Market: The Syndicate has strong ties to the city’s black market, dealing in everything from stolen goods to illegal weapons. Their smuggling operations are tightly organized, moving contraband into and out of the city through underground tunnels, old railways, and secret routes known only to the gang. They sell these goods to fund their "movement" and to arm their members. • Protection Rackets: In the areas they control, the Syndicate runs protection rackets, offering "liberation" from the oppression of rival gangs or the authorities—at a price. They present their protection as a kind of community service, but those who refuse to pay often find themselves the targets of intimidation or violence. • Propaganda and Recruitment: The Liberated Syndicate is skilled at using propaganda to spread their message of liberation. They use graffiti, underground zines, social media, and even speeches at protests to recruit new members. Many young, disillusioned people are drawn to the gang, seeing them as fighters against oppression, unaware of the deeper criminal machinations that drive the Syndicate. • Community Projects: Despite their criminal operations, the Syndicate maintains some goodwill by organizing "community projects." These include feeding homeless people, setting up free medical clinics (staffed by less-than-reputable doctors), and protecting residents from abusive landlords or corrupt officials. These actions help foster loyalty among the local population, ensuring that the Syndicate’s presence is tolerated, if not always welcomed.

History

Origins

The Liberated Syndicate was born out of the ashes of a failed social movement several decades ago. Its founder, Omar “Red” Vasquez, was once a radical political activist, fighting against systemic corruption and economic inequality. When peaceful protests and activism failed to change the system, Red turned to crime, recruiting others disillusioned with the slow pace of change to join him. What began as a group of anarchist vigilantes evolved into a full-fledged street gang that preached freedom while engaging in criminal activity to support their "revolution." After Red’s disappearance years ago, the gang continued to grow, solidifying its criminal base while maintaining the veneer of a political movement. The current leadership, known as the Council of Liberation, is made up of hardened criminals who use Red’s ideology to justify their actions. The Council controls the Syndicate’s operations, keeping their criminal dealings smooth while maintaining a loyal following of idealistic recruits.

MOTTO: “Free minds, free streets.” ESTIMATED ACTIVE MEMBERS: 45
ACTIVE LOCATIONS:

1. Fort Dick

MOST KNOWN FOR:

1. Used to carry messages and goods between Fort Dick and the core of Crescent City.

RIVALRIES:

1. Crimson Bulldogs

NOTES:

Type

Mercenary

Overall training Level

Trained

Assumed Veterancy

Experienced