The SchwarzeNägel

The SchwarzeNägel, Black Nails in Reikspiel, are the largest criminal outfit in Reikland, operating out of the trading town of Weissbruck. Being the important tradepost that it is with its Dwarven built canal, Weissbruck brings in much wealth - a fair bit of it illicit in nature. The SchwarzeNägel are the province's ruling crimelords; while there exist many smaller gangs, none can match the manpower, wealth or the shrewdness of the Black Nails' leader, Oskar Daubmann. A gentleman of great charm, intellect and ruthlessness, Daubmann built the SchwarzeNägel from a lowly smuggling ring to the criminal gang it is today, raking huge profits from smuggling, gambling, prostitution, racketeering and, more recently, narcotics.

Structure

The SchwarzeNägel are led by Oskar Daubmann. Directly below him in the chain of command are his four Underbosses. These are Daubmann's most trusted (or in Falko's case, motivated) associates from his smuggling days:

Frank Gotti - A brute from Tilea, the self-style Capo Bastone of SchwarzeNägel's racketeers and thugs.

Roger Klopp - Daubmann's book keeper, black marketeer extraordinaire and chief of smugglers.

Falko- He claims to be Ranald, the God of Thieves' bastard son and runs the SchwarzeNägel' gambling dens.

Hulda Kant - The Madam of the Nails' brothels and trafficking, an attractive woman of sharp wit and sharper intellect.

The gang also keeps the lawyer, Rainer Spatscheck, on retainer as both counsel and advisor. The vast majority of the gang is made up of former miners and both local and foreign ne'er-do-wells; they count Reiklanders, Middenheimers and even Kislevites amongst their ranks. Many of the provincial Watch and minor nobility have ties if not outright membership. The gang also makes use of the beggars in the streets as lookouts and informants.

Public Agenda

As with any criminal enterprise, it is all about money and power.

Assets

With wealth rivaling many noble houses in Reikland, the SchwarzeNägel owns the criminal underworld of Reikland. Or at least they like to think so. The majority of brothels and gambling dens in the province are owned by the Nails and they form the largest smuggling network in the Empire. They count almost a regiment's worth of members, many whom are former miners after the closure of the mines in the surrounding Skaag Hills.

While they operate out of the town's largest tavern, The Second Wind, Daubmann prefers to hold court in his home, a relatively unremarkable looking house in the heart of town. Gotti and Falko operate out of the town docks while Klopp maintains his office in a nondescript apartment near The Second Wind. Kant reigns over the Mermaid, the greatest underground Pleasure-house this side of the Empire.