Empire of Sin News

Frank Ragen has a face only a mother could love… if she were blind. Luckily, it doesn’t bother Frank too much. Having a mug that improves after being punched a couple of times is good for business. There’s no fight too big or too small for Frank, and personal stakes are low when he’s got nothing to lose. If someone needs a few strikes around the diamond, or a few heavy handed promises of what’s coming if bonds aren’t kept, Ragen’s the guy to call.

Frank’s meanness is ingrained, bred into him from the streets he grew up on. You can’t change the nature of a killer instinct. Intimidation and shakedowns are familiar currency, and both run through his blood. Frank’s a local and he keeps the community close to him.

His venture into social clubs began with Ragen’s Athletic and Benevolent Association, where Frank set up a club for delinquents like himself to play professional baseball. All members had a knack for swinging baseball bats, but it didn’t take long to realise they were better at hitting heads than home runs. Frank is smart enough to play to his strengths and the club became a group of closely knit fists for hire operation named Ragen’s Colts. Always on the lookout for new recruits with the right attitude, and a face that don’t break so easy, Ragen has built himself a considerable following, large enough to threaten people with the motto, ‘You hit me, you hit two thousand’, and be taken seriously. These are the type of people who specialise in protection and squeezing money from whomever owes them. Visiting establishments to test the strength of the owner’s lapels, or the durability of ornate furniture is all in a day’s work for Ragen and his gang. If the situation calls for more, they’re happy to crack skulls like piggy banks to see what’s inside.

Ragen and his Colts hold a lot of sway in Chicago. Being a local boy who can get things done for people, Frank has many politicians, law enforcers and neighborhoods in his pocket. He’s all but running the city from behind the scenes. He’s an ambitious man, always looking on how to build and expand on what he’s already got. Frank wants to be front and centre for a change, and he’s got his eye on major league success. With an army of willing cronies and influence behind him, all Frank needs is a plan, and he’s never been short of one of those.

[h2]RAGEN’S COLTS WEEKLY MANAGER’S MEETING[/h2]


Date: 12th January 1920
Venue: Back Of The Yards HQ
Members Present: Gunner McPadden, Ralph Sheldon, Yiddles Miller, Dynamite Brooks, Tiny Franklin
Absentees: Harry Madigan, Chuckles McManaman
Minutes Kept By: Ralph Sheldon

[h3]AGENDA:[/h3]

1. The minutes of the last meeting.
   
2. Procurement of an Alderman for upcoming election.
   
3. Expansion of enterprise into bootleg alcohol.
   
4. Retaliation for the ambush of Danny Higgins.
   
5. The eradication or absorption of the Woodlawn Neckties.

[h3]MINUTES:[/h3]

1. Of the five establishments we put the squeeze on since last meeting, three have settled their outstanding monthly debt. Two separate clients are holding out, citing financial drought. A motion has been carried to implement operation Toasted Marshmallow. The operation will split into two branches spearheaded by Dynamite Brooks and Tiny Franklin.
   
2. An Alderman, initials J.G, has procured the service of the Colts for his upcoming re-election campaign. The Colts will work to secure votes and victory in a quid pro quo and financial arrangement with the Alderman and City Council. Note: The Alderman’s suggestion of a half-now-half-later payment scheme has been rebuked by Frank Ragen who insists on payment upfront. Motion passed unanimously.
   
3. Frank Ragen showcased a three month plan to break into the trailblazing bootleg industry, and set the Colts on the forefront of prohibition enterprise. Motion passed unanimously.
   
4. Retaliation for the ambush and hospitalization of Colt member Danny Higgins has been delegated to four members under the management of Yiddles Miller. The rebuttal is to be heavy, and is left at the discretion of the members orchestrating the operation.
   
5. With the emergence of the bootlegging gang The Woodlawn Neckties, operating in Colts territory, the vote to eradicate or absorb the gang has been put forth to the table. Motion to absorb the gang has been passed four counts to one on the merit that absorption greatly aids the objective of item three.

[h3]ANY OTHER BUSINESS:[/h3]

1. Dynamite Brooks would like to express how impressed he is with new recruit Francie Callaghan. He referred to Francie as “One to watch” after she showed great initiative on a recent debt collection operation. To quote Brooks: “She ain’t afraid to get her hands dirty, and I was blown away by the new and creative uses she found for an adjustable wrench”.
   
2. A message from Chuckles McManaman has requested his wife Darla take his place in the Colts for the duration of his sentence in the can. Motion passed on the strength of Ralph Sheldon andFrank Ragen who witnessed her beat down a pickpocket at last year’s Christmas party.
   
3. Date of Next Meeting: 19th January 1920.

Meeting adjourned at: Eleven thirty P.M.

Watch the Chicago Chronicles video where we meet Frank Ragen here:
[previewyoutube]Empire of Sin | Chicago Chronicles | Part 6[/previewyoutube]

Crew, we have ourselves a batch of winners! A while ago, we announced the Empire of Sin Short Story Contest, where the participants all wrote original short stories that were related to the general theme and tone of Empire of Sin. We were posilutely blown away by the entries and after having read them all, the jury has finally picked their winners!

After careful consideration and a whole lot of elbow grease the jury was able to choose 10 favorites, all of which will be published on this website in a near future. And from these 10, to comply with local law, (gotta keep our operation up to code so the copper’s won’t come sniffing around!) we randomly picked our 3 winners.

So let’s all join in applause for our three winners:

• Alan Sennett
  
• Brittani Powell
  
• Mike Demski

Our heartiest congratulations, Alan, Brittany and Mike! You’re all the bee’s knees.

What was 1920's Chicago actually like? Empire of Sin Game Director Brenda Romero sat down and had a chat about the real history of Prohibition with a Pulitzer-prize finalist, Daniel Okrent - author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Alright, so we've made it this far. What happens now? Join us on Thursday for another gameplay stream, where Ian and Chris talk more about the mid- and endgame of Empire of Sin! Stream starts at 17:00 CET, as always, on twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive!

Chinatown, New York: Sai Wing Mock approaches Tom Lee - his gangland rival - on the street and asks outright for a 50-50 stake in his criminal enterprises. Lee laughs in his face and tells him where to stick the request. Mock’s retaliation for being publicly denied? He burns down one of the boarding houses of Tom Lee’s On Leong gang and a few days later, beheads another On Leong member in the middle of the street. Now, Mock is bringing this attitude with him to the streets of Chicago.

Mock is backed by the loyal and vicious members of the Hip Sing Tong. Lovingly referred to as Hatchet Men, these are the type of people who carry axes up their sleeves to do the dirty work. A hatchet sends a clear message. Sometimes they even leave the message embedded in the victim's skull.

As a boss, Mock keeps a six shooter strapped to his belt along with his axe. The man is a walking contradiction when it comes to self preservation. Sure, he wears a chainmail vest underneath his clothes, but during the height of his gang war in New York he was known to crouch in the middle of the road during a gun battle, close his eyes, and fire blindly in the direction of the oppressors. Fitting then, that Mock made his name in gambling rackets before coming to Chicago.

An expert strategist, Mock now knows the value of being feared above anything else, believing that it is more effective to have a reputation for violence than actually being violent. This is something he leans into, sporting sinister long fingernails to make everyone aware that he is above all the grimiest of a gangster’s dirty work, having plenty of underlings to carry it out for him. How else could he have become so feared? It seems obvious that his methods are perfectly suited to the wildness of gangland Chicago. Let’s hope for his enemies’ sake, they can keep their heads.

The following article is taken from a small newspaper, based in New York, from the day after the On Leong boarding house was burned down.

[h2]Underworld Lodging Goes Up In Flames[/h2]

[h3]Firefighters Called To Action As Two On Leong Dirty Doer’s Among The Perished[/h3]

Mott St., New York-- This morning the air above Chinatown is thick with the smoke of gangland tyranny. The seedy goings-on of the criminal underworld carving its dark path into the everyday, and rearing its ugly head for the good citizens of this city to witness in all its grimness.

Battle The Blaze

A well known boarding house, with shady ties to the underworld, caught fire last night around ten thirty. Firefighters attended the blaze shortly after reports that it had engulfed the roof, and though being alerted quickly, arrived to find the inferno spreading to the front of the building. Ferocious and unrelenting flame caused alarm for innocent inhabitants of the adjoining tower blocks.

Seedy Ties

The boarding house in question has come under the scrutiny of law enforcement in the past. The target of minor raids for gambling and boozing, it’s also a suspected hub for petty criminals with ties to the secretive On Leong tong, and has kept local law enforcement busy. Among the perished were two alleged lieutenants of the On Leong crime syndicate, giving police reason to believe that this foul act of debauchery was deliberately orchestrated by members of the rival Hip Sing Tong - alleged to be controlled by a Sai Wing Mock. When asked for comment today, the chief of the precinct noted: “We have a number of eye witness reports stating that Mock Duck recently approached the alleged leader of the On Leong Tong and challenged him for control in his criminal enterprise. It's because of this we have cause to suspect this [fire] may be an act of arson in retaliation for being denied his wishes.”

Neither Mock, nor the witnesses to the exchange could be tracked down for comment, though law enforcement officials have confirmed that the taciturn businessman has an alibi for the time alarm was raised on the blaze.

Hatchet Men Chop Down Rivals

As if the shock and devastation of the inferno was not enough to rattle the peace among the locals, this reporter learned today that not long after the rip roaring fire burned the building to a cinder, another death was reported. A known member of the On Leong syndicate met his gruesome end in the streets of Chinatown at the hands of two men armed with lathe hatchets. Police officers state that the rival Tongs have the run of the streets, with local civilians terrified into compliance. A local peanut vendor, close enough to witness the incident, has firmly told police he did not see or hear anything. This statement comes despite the fact that splatters of blood were found down the back of the man's clothes.

A Superficial Peace

Sai Wing Mock and his Tong are now said to be the head rulers of the Mott street area and beyond. Mock is said to be a polite and respectful businessman, but given the atrocities he is alleged to be linked to, these descriptions may be gleaned from the duress of a public under the grip of fear.

[h3]Watch the Chicago Chronicles video where we meet Sai Wing Mock here:[/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]