Stone Dragons

Background

The Stone Dragons (Dragons for short) are the newest gang of Relvark, and the newest power player in the Five Barbs. Though the youngest of the gangs in the Barbs, the Stone Dragons have displayed their ferocity throughout numerous clashes and skirmishes, fighting anyone and everyone who threatens the rights and sovereignty of Stonebower. A melting pot of Bicwide, the district has become a major entry point to Relvark. When the district was first appointed by city officials it was furiously opposed by many in the city who viewed the move as a cheap ploy to undermine the Nimloth heritage of Relvark through Bicwidian immigration policies. Chief in opposition were denizens of Old Point, Eardham, and Hermit's Orchard, most notably The Grove Guardians. As a consequence, political, economic, and illicit actions were taken against the newly formed district, causing much suffering and harm to befall many of the innocent people therein. The Stone Dragons formed in direct response to these injustices. Rallying behind the cause of sovereignty and equity, the Stone Dragons fought ferociously in the streets and in the ballot box to earn their place in Relvark. After successfully earning their place in the city, the Stone Dragons have stood for the rights of people over the tyranny of bureaucracies, governments, and gods ever since. The same systems that oppressed them once now tremble at their name, and the Stone Dragons defiantly offer Stonebower as a safe haven to anyone and everyone who needs a home to call their own. Despite the heroic tale they tell of their origins, the Stone Dragons are nonetheless still a gang of Relvark. The earliest official records of the Stone Dragons refer to a series of riots and strikes organized in Stonebower which sought to end the draconian laws, policies, and treatment the denizens were receiving. The net result of these actions were charges of sedition, conspiracy, and assault, and ultimately victory for the Stone Dragons and the people of Stonebower. Since these records, the Stone Dragons have busily filled ledger after ledger with crimes and charges levied against them, claiming to act in the service of the people. Whether or not their actions are just, the Stone Dragons actions are always justified according to their beliefs, gladly taking on any and all who would challenge them.

History

Stonebower was once the greatest single quarry site in all of Rutfolk. During the days of the Nimloth Dynasty the region provided the lion's share of stone for fortifications, buildings, and castles across the realm. The proximity of the quarries to the Oxcar and beyond through Whetsaw Bay made these mines an obvious choice for export and trade. Consequently, the region long saw importance to the city of Relvark. Almost every single stone structure in the old city was built with stones quarried from the district, and many old Nimloth structures throughout the former domain were built with stones from Relvark. The name "Stonebower" was an acknowledgement of the fact that these quarries were the birthplace of many Nimloth structures. Moreover, so prolific was the industry that the common adage, "special as an Oxcar castle", became a popular way to describe something quotidian or commonplace, referring to the sheer quantities of stones floated down the Oxcar and into a far off construction. The region suffered much the same fate as the city during the tumultuous periods of the Nimloth Dynasties' rule, but despite the economic importance of the region little of significance occurred until the conquest of Relvark by the Bicwide Elector Counts. After the Bicwidian conquest, large numbers of officials and immigrants surged into Relvark in the retinues of the Elector Counts. At first many Relvarkians thought the flow of immigration would end shortly after the dust settled from the conquest. Unfortunately for them, the influx of new denizens only increased under Bicwide rule. Day after day the docks saw more individuals entering into the city, and the quarries of Stonebower were pushed to a breakneck pace to provide all the stone possible for new construction. As the demand for more workers increased, the settlement around the quarries was built up significantly to provide further housing for the new Relvarkians. Masons, quarrymen, and workers from across Bicwide were brought in to flesh out the ranks of workers, bringing all sorts of newcomers to the formerly secluded city. After a few decades of sustained growth, the quarries were nearly tapped of all easily accessible stone but the flow of people continued. It soon became apparent to many that Stonebower's value had shifted from the stones beneath the earth to the land itself, and one by one the quarries began to shutter, selling their land and leaving the workers who helped build two empires near destitute. Seeing the opportunity to seize swathes of land cheaply the Burgher's and Elector Counts were swift to appoint Stonebower as the newest district of Relvark. The people of Stonebower were thrust into a no-win situation; many had lost their livelihoods overnight, many more would soon lose their land, and the elite and merchant classes of Relvark were buying their land for cheap, using political allies to enact suppressive acts to keep this new status quo. Moreover, the influx of new peoples to work in the quarries brought the ire of the Nimloth Sympathizers and other nativists who felt their home was irreparably polluted by the addition of the Stonebower. Violent attacks, repressive policies, and aggressive expansion provided a back drop against which the Stone Dragons rose. The first leader of the Stone Dragons was Munatia Rockbreaker, and through a series of revolts, strikes, riots, and attacks she lifted the people of Stonebower from destitution to their rightful place in the city of Relvark. After breaking the shackles placed on Stonebower by the city, she spread the word far and wide that the Stonebower would welcome anyone and everyone who needed aid. Providing a home for immigrants and emigrants of countless wars, tragedies, and calamities, the Stonebower has become a melting pot of the what many consider the "new" Bicwide, though not without reprisal. The Stone Dragons have continued their policy of accepting all who would come to them, friend or foe, and standing up for what they believe to be right. They believing that people, not kings or gods, should dictate their own future, the Stone Dragons stand a beacon for many downtrodden individuals throughout Bicwide. In Stonebower the people who built Relvark built a home for themselves, and now they fight hard to keep it.

Recent Activity

In the past fifty years the Stone Dragons have become more bold in their exploits, seeking to achieve ever higher goals in their district and for Relvark. Led by a belief in a brighter future and a desire to keep moving forward, the Stone Dragons have began reinvesting their time and capital into new developments for Stonebower. A series of new industries have sprang up in the footprints of the old quarries, and the Stone Dragons have promoted major construction projects to promote further immigration to their district. Moreover, the Stone Dragons have pushed their way into the political realm, leveraging the votes and voices of those many people who move into the Stonebower as their political base. Unlike The Grove Guardians, however, who have used recent forays into politics as an avenue away from committing open crime, the Stone Dragons have not ceased their extralegal activities in anyway. This is partially due to the fact that the Stonebower needs capital, and crime is a quick way to garner capital, but also largely because the crimes the Stone Dragons commit help keep the district safe. Striking first, hitting hard, and making sure the right people receive the blow continues to guide their strategy as a gang. Since the disastrous events of Drake's Donnybrook thirty years ago, the Stone Dragons have ramped up their lofty ambitions in order to avoid similar calamities in the future. Under the leadership of Ulrik "The Mason" Anbosiid the Stone Dragons have built a significant criminal empire within Relvark, seizing up the individuals and buildings cast out from the rest of Relvarkian society and reforming them into something more. Ulrik's most ambitious move, the Mud Row Uprising, cemented Stone Dragon power across the city. In the five years since this event the Stone Dragons have not publicly done anything further to upset the tenuous balance across the Barbs, but there is always some scheme brewing in the mind of The Mason, and only time will tell what plan he builds up next.

Relations With Other Gangs

The Stone Dragons are an organization with many friends and many more enemies. Their very existence is enough for some across the city to want them destroyed, and for others to view them as a hopeful sign for a better future. The polarizing nature of the Stone Dragons is well known in and out of the Five Barbs. Not ones to shy from a fight or leave a friend in the cold, the Stone Dragons are truly a divisive group within Relvark. The Stone Dragons currently have a weak alliance with the Sightless Seers and are neutral towards the Hornwood Reclaimers. They have a weak hatred of The Lamplighters and a strong hatred of The Grove Guardians. The Sightless Seers and Stone Dragons have much in common, from a shared history of otherness and oppression to a desire to give all a place to call home. Their motives and aims are often highly aligned as a result. Moreover, the Sightless Seers were instrumental in helping the Stone Dragons and Stonebower rise up from the depths of their creation, and the Stone Dragons have not forgotten this kindness. Consequently the two gangs often support one another against the machinations of the broader city, and share a strong bond between organizations. The Hornwood Reclaimers were long passive towards the Stone Dragons. Seeing the benefit in a designated district for newcomers, the Earders felt they could better protect their way of life by promoting the growth of Stonebower. However, as Stonebower continued to grow and in turn push the expansion of the city, the Hornwood Reclaimers have changed their attitude towards the Stone Dragons. As the Stone Dragons represent the living force of the city they're trying to destroy, relations between these two groups have soured significantly of late, but not to the point of conflict. The Lamplighters, always eager for a scapegoat, have lumped the denizens of Stonebower in with all manner of criminals and immoral acts. However, the denizens of Stonebower also provide ample capital in the way of donations and tithes to the grand cathedrals of Beaconton. As a consequence, the Lamplighters will often provide aid to denizens of Stonebower by day while fighting the Stone Dragons by night. This complex dance of public and private sentiment has left both sides bitter towards one another, though not yet to the point of open conflict. The conflict between the Stone Dragons and The Grove Guardians, however, is the stuff of legend in Relvark. The hatred coursing between these two groups is so deep-seated that a true peace may never exist in the barbs while both gangs are active. Series of deadly attacks, violent ambushes, and assassinations have created a blood-feud between the groups. Generations of Stone Dragons have lived and died fighting the same Grove Guardians, and Grove Guardians have died at the hands of innumerable new Stone Dragons. The most recent, notable death in this conflict was that of Ulrik Anbosiid's grandfather, "The Drake" Anbosiid, and while Ulrik has not made overtures of revenge plainly known, the Old Ways of the Barbs dictate one simple truth; how this tale ends is unknown, but will undoubtedly be written in blood.

Type

Illicit, Gang