The Family Tree
Founding Year: 1600s
Founders: The Shogun
Headquarters: Secret, constantly shifting locations
Motto: "From the shadows, we strike. Through blood, we thrive."
The Family Tree’s origins trace back to Japan during the tumultuous 1600s. The legendary figure known as the Shogun was a decorated war hero one of the most feared and respected warriors of his time. He was revered not only for his skill in battle but for his leadership, honor, and tactical genius. However, as fate would have it, the Shogun was betrayed by the very government he had once sworn to protect. Accused of crimes he didn’t commit, the Shogun was forced to flee into the underworld.
In his exile, the Shogun was no longer a noble warrior but a man on the run, stripped of his title and family. However, he found solace in a group of orphans, abandoned children left to die on the streets. The Shogun took them in, seeing in their desperation a reflection of his own fall from grace. He began to train them, molding them into deadly warriors, teaching them the ancient arts of combat, stealth, and loyalty. From this group of outcasts, the first generation of assassins was born. Over time, the Shogun’s organization grew in influence, operating from the shadows, taking on missions that others would not dare.
As the Family Tree grew in both power and numbers, the Shogun established a strict hierarchy and passed down his legacy. He decreed that the children of the family would be divided into three distinct factions each headed by a patriarch and matriarch who would guide their respective children. These families were named after the first three orphans he trained: Liafador, Santiago, and Femi. Jackson and Purrazzo would be added later.
To this day, the original Family Tree thrives in the shadows, operating across the globe with influence in every corner of society. It is said that the Shogun’s spirit still guides them, whispering from the past, ensuring that the Family Tree remains powerful, secretive, and deadly.
The modern-day Family Tree functions much like it did in the 1600s: as a shadow organization, carrying out covert missions for the highest bidder or to further its own agenda. Their operations span everything from corporate sabotage and political manipulation to the highest-profile assassinations. Their members are skilled in nearly every form of combat, espionage, and stealth.
Unlike other organizations that simply kill for money, the Family Tree has a higher purpose: maintaining balance in a world constantly on the brink of chaos. Each family within the Tree is designed to focus on a particular set of skills, ensuring that no matter the situation, there is always someone in the Family Tree who can handle it.
The Pit:
The initiation process for The Family Tree is brutal and unforgiving, known as The Pit. Orphans are collected from various parts of the world those abandoned by society, left to fend for themselves and brought to a remote location known only as The Pit. This crucible tests them both mentally and physically, pushing them to their limits. Only those who survive the Pit are deemed worthy to be a part of the Family Tree, earning their place as one of the "children" of the Shogun.
Upon surviving the Pit, the orphans are assigned to one of the five families. Each family has its own unique focus, and they are expected to train in these specialized areas under the guidance of the patriarch (Father) and matriarch (Mother) of the family. The names of the families: Liafador, Santiago, Femi, Purrazo, and Jackson have become symbols of their legacy, and each family is considered a vital branch in the larger tree that is The Family Tree.
The Families:
Liafador (The First Family): The Liafador family is considered the most prestigious of the five. Members of this family are experts in politics, espionage, and long-term strategy. Their assassins specialize in high-profile targets, often involving significant political figures, corporate magnates, or royalty. Their approach is subtle, relying on manipulation, stealth, and diplomacy as much as they do on brute force.
Patriarch (Ramon Liafador) and Matriarch Sabella Liafador: Often seen as the brains of the Family Tree, the Father and Mother of the Liafador family are strategists who work from the shadows, orchestrating intricate webs of influence and power. Currently, the Liafador Family is no longer a part of the Family Tree. Father has been murdered, Mother has gone into hiding. The children of the First Family are on the run as a result of an injunction. What was not known to the rest of the Family Tree was that the Liafador Family's power aren't held by the Patriarch, rather the Matriarch.
The base of Operations: Formerly-- Malaga .
Santiago: The Santiago family is known for their unmatched physical combat prowess. They are the second family in the Family tree. They are warriors trained in every form of weaponry and hand-to-hand combat. The Santiago family’s assassins are often the ones sent on direct confrontations, whether it be a knife in the dark or a gunfight at high noon. Their violence is legendary, and they are feared by both allies and enemies alike.
Patriarch (Javier Santiago) and (Gloria Santiago): The Santiago Father and Mother are formidable combatants, revered for their brutal efficiency and strength. The Santiago Family is known for in-fighting, many of its children actively lash out about the Matriarch and Patriarch but they will allow no outsiders to do them harm.
Base of Operations--Buenos Aires
Femi: The Femi family is a secretive and enigmatic group, specializing in stealth, poisons, and psychological warfare. They are often dispatched on missions that require the utmost discretion. Their assassins are the ghosts in the night, striking without a sound and leaving no trace behind. Their skill with toxins, traps, and covert methods of elimination makes them some of the deadliest operatives in the organization.
Patriarch (Zaire Femi) and (Tulu Femi) Matriarch: The Father and Mother of Femi are known for their cunning and intellect, and are sometimes rumored to have mystical ties to the unseen world.
The base of Operations--Lagos
Purrazzo: The Purrazo family is the technical arm of the Family Tree. Experts in cyber-warfare, surveillance, and hacking, are often the ones who manipulate digital systems, infiltrate secure networks, or eliminate targets from afar. In the modern world, where information is power, the Purrazo family reigns supreme in using technology to their advantage.
Patriarch (Manuel Purrazzo) and (Olivia Purrazzo) Matriarch: Known for their strategic minds and tech-savvy skills, the Father and Mother of Purrazzo are visionaries who have helped the Family Tree adapt to the digital age. The Purrazzo Family is the youngest Family within the Family Tree, their rise to instant power is a testament to how ambitious the members of the tight-knit family are. The Purrazzo's tend to have more family pride than they do organization pride.
Base of Operations--Bern
Jackson: The Jackson family specializes in survival and espionage. They are the chameleons of the Family Tree, able to adapt to any environment and blend in with any society. Whether it’s navigating hostile terrain or surviving in the most dangerous criminal underworlds, the Jackson family excels in gathering intelligence and surviving the most extreme conditions.
Patriarch (Eddie Jackson) and Matriarch (Erika Jackson): The Jackson Father and Mother are masters of survival tactics and resourcefulness. Their methods are unorthodox, but they have survived through every possible hardship.
The Jackson Family is the only American Family within the Family Tree, they are also the only element of the Family Tree without a concrete base of operations. No one in the Family Tree knows just how many members of the Jackson Family Exist.
Base of operations--Unknown
The Shogun's Legacy
The Shogun, a legendary figure of unmatched skill and strategy, founded the Family Tree to give orphans a purpose turning them into the deadliest assassins the world has ever known. However, his tragic end did not mark the end of his legacy. Before his death, the Shogun bound his soul to a weapon that would forever carry his will into the future. This weapon is Ziccarra* (The Weapon Takes the name of the wielder), a katana forged not only in steel but in blood, pain, and ancient magic. Through Ziccarra, the Shogun’s spirit continues to guide, corrupt, and shape the future of the Family Tree.
The Blade of Souls (The Blade takes the name of the wielder)
- Appearance: Ziccarra is a katana of dark obsidian, its blade smooth yet almost ethereal, reflecting light in a way that seems unnatural. The katana’s edge is etched with intricate runes, symbols of power that change depending on the blood of its victims. The hilt is wrapped in dark crimson leather, representing the blood that fuels the blade’s power. At the heart of the guard is a small, jade-like gemstone, glowing faintly with the souls it has claimed. The blade hums with an almost imperceptible energy, as if alive waiting for the next soul to claim. It is a sentient blade that must accept the person who wields it.
- Powers:
- Shogun’s Spirit: The primary power of Ziccarra lies in the spirit of the Shogun himself, tethered to the blade. Whoever wields the katana inherits the Shogun’s combat prowess, strategic genius, and memories of battles past. The wielder’s physical abilities, strength, speed, and reflexes are enhanced beyond human limits, and they gain insight into ancient combat techniques and battlefield tactics. However, this power comes at a cost. The wielder is slowly overtaken by the Shogun’s spirit, losing their individuality as the Shogun’s ruthless desires begin to dominate their mind.
- Soul Theft: Ziccarra is not just a weapon of war, it is a tool of unimaginable power and darkness. The blade possesses the ability to steal souls from those it kills, trapping their essence within the katana itself. Each soul absorbed enhances the strength and abilities of the blade, making it more powerful with each life claimed. The souls trapped within Ziccarra are not simply lost they are imprisoned, their consciousnesses bound to the blade, unable to escape or be reborn. These souls whisper to the wielder, sometimes offering guidance, sometimes crying out in torment. The wielder can call upon the trapped souls for guidance, accessing their knowledge and memories, but doing so further weakens the wielder’s humanity, as the Shogun’s spirit grows stronger with each soul stolen.
- Soul Bonding: The more souls the blade consumes, the more control it exerts over its wielder. As the wielder uses Ziccarra, they slowly become a vessel for the trapped souls, their personalities and memories blending with the Shogun’s. Eventually, the wielder becomes a mere shadow of the Shogun’s will, guided by the desires of the blade itself. Some say that the souls within Ziccarra, once consumed, begin to "whisper" to the wielder guiding them, offering advice, or even manipulating their decisions. The blade is more than a weapon it becomes an insidious force that feeds on its wielder's soul, just as it steals the souls of others.
The Legacy of Ziccarra*
The blade has passed through countless hands over the centuries, each new wielder carrying the weight of the Shogun’s spirit. The souls of the fallen accumulate within Ziccarra, growing in power, and with them, the blade’s influence expands.
The Family Tree has long believed that whoever controls Ziccarra controls the future of the organization. The five families Liafador, Santiago, Femi, Purrazo, and Jackson each vie for the blade’s power, believing that they alone have the strength, wisdom, or vision to wield it.
The search for Ziccarra is more than a mere pursuit of power; it is a battle to capture the very soul of the Family Tree. Those who seek the blade know that once it is claimed, it will bring unimaginable strength but at a terrible cost. No one can wield Ziccarra without being changed. The spirit of the Shogun grows stronger, and the souls within the blade become ever more restless, whispering to their captor, guiding them toward an inevitable destiny.
The Root of the Family Tree
The Root is the highest authority within the Family Tree, a title bestowed upon an individual through a unique and rare process voted upon by the heads of the five families. Unlike the patriarchs and matriarchs of the families , the Root is not a hereditary position. Rather, it is a position of trust, responsibility, and power. An individual chosen to oversee the entirety of the Family Tree's operations, from the execution of covert missions to the management of political and financial matters.
While each family governs its own operations and members, the Root’s role is to maintain balance and ensure the interests of the entire organization are met. They are expected to mediate conflicts between the families, ensure the Family Tree's influence continues to grow, and make decisions that will guide the direction of the organization as a whole.
Election of the Root:
- The Process: The Root is elected through a secret vote held among the heads of the five families. Each family’s patriarch or matriarch has one vote. There is no set term for the Root some have held the position for years, others only for months. However, the process of electing the Root is highly political, often involving backroom deals, alliances, and power plays. The families don’t always agree on who should lead, and Root's position can shift frequently as family loyalties and agendas change.
- The Criteria: The Root must possess qualities that all five families respect, such as vision, strategic brilliance, ruthlessness, and the ability to navigate complex political landscapes. It is not enough to be skilled in combat while martial prowess is respected, the Root must be a master strategist, someone who can unite the families under a common cause and lead with the authority of the Shogun’s spirit at their side. It is often said that the Root is the person who can command the most respect among the families and who has proven their ability to manipulate the levers of power in both subtle and direct ways. The current Root of the Family is: Manuel Purrazzo
Powers and Responsibilities of the Root:
- Overseeing Operations: The Root is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Family Tree. They act as a supreme commander for the entire organization, issuing orders that can affect all five families. They ensure that all assassinations, sabotage, espionage, and black-market dealings align with the goals of the Family Tree. Their word is final when it comes to major decisions that could impact the organization’s standing or safety.
- Mediator of Family Disputes: The families, each with their own agenda and methods, often find themselves in conflict. The Root serves as an impartial mediator, working to ensure that tensions between families don’t escalate into all-out warfare. They are the ultimate arbitrator in matters of family disputes and must have the ability to maintain peace even if it means making controversial decisions. This is where their political acumen comes into play, as they navigate delicate negotiations and delicate compromises.
- Strategic Direction: The Root is also responsible for guiding the long-term strategy of the Family Tree. They set the direction for the organization, deciding which territories to target for expansion, which enemies to eliminate, and how to adapt to the shifting political and criminal landscapes. It is under their guidance that the Family Tree either rises to greater power or risks collapse under infighting and mismanagement.
Challenges and Political Intrigue:
The role of the Root is far from a smooth or stable one. Because the position is elected by the heads of the five families, the Root is often caught in a web of political intrigue, backstabbing, and shifting loyalties. The families each have their own motivations for placing a particular individual in charge, and sometimes the selection process can turn into a bitter, cutthroat battle. Even if someone holds the title of Root, they are never truly secure, as each family is constantly trying to consolidate more power and influence.
The Root’s power is only as strong as the support they have from the families. If a faction grows dissatisfied with the Root’s leadership or feels that their interests are not being met, they may attempt to overthrow the Root, either through assassination, manipulation, or defection. As a result, the Root must always be vigilant, keeping a close eye on the dynamics of the families and ensuring they have the loyalty and support of the right individuals. In turn, they often make their own alliances within the families, though such alliances are always fragile and subject to change.
The Injunction: A Last Resort
The Injunction is the most powerful and final tool within the Family Tree's political arsenal. It allows the other families to permanently expel a family from the organization. Once an Injunction is filed and approved, the family in question is stripped of its name, resources, allies, and assets—they are no longer recognized as part of the Family Tree. The consequences of an Injunction are absolute and irreversible.
In addition to the family's expulsion, every member of the targeted family is also subject to liquidation—meaning the entire family is wiped out, including all individuals who bear their name, whether they are active operatives or not. This makes the Injunction not only a political maneuver but a death sentence for anyone linked to the family.
The Process of Filing an Injunction
The Injunction process begins when any of the five families decide to file an Injunction against another family. This can be initiated by any member of the Family Tree, but it must be endorsed by at least three of the five families to move forward. The heads of the families (Fathers and Mothers) must call a Council of the Family Tree, where this matter is discussed in private.
A family wishing to file an Injunction must present compelling evidence of the offending family’s actions or behavior. This evidence might include acts of betrayal, repeated failure to uphold family traditions or any actions that threaten the stability of the Family Tree, such as making deals with enemies, jeopardizing operations, or failing to honor important alliances. The family filing the Injunction must also provide a clear reason for the expulsion. This could range from failure to cooperate with the leadership of the Root, to acts of treason or undermining the organization’s overall goals.
After the evidence has been presented, a Council of the Family Tree is called. The Council consists of all five family heads (Fathers and Mothers). A secret vote is held, where each family’s representative casts their vote. The vote must be unanimous or nearly unanimous for the Injunction to pass. If any family refuses to vote or abstains, the Injunction is invalidated, and the process must start over with renewed evidence.
If the Injunction passes, the targeted family is immediately and permanently expelled from the Family Tree. This includes:
Loss of Name: The family’s name is erased from the Family Tree’s records, and all members are stripped of their family identity. They are no longer allowed to operate under the Family Tree’s banner and are barred from participating in its operations or decisions.
Excommunication: The exiled family is considered an enemy of the Family Tree. Any association with them by members of the remaining families is forbidden. Any Family Tree assassin who chooses to leave with the exiled family is considered a traitor and may be hunted down by the Family Tree.
Seizing of Assets: The exiled family’s assets, including money, weapons, safe houses, and contacts, are forfeited and distributed among the remaining families. The Root decides how the wealth is redistributed, though often it goes to the most loyal or powerful families.
Erasure from History: The exiled family’s contributions and history are wiped from the Family Tree’s records. Their names are erased from the lineage of assassins, and their former allies and operatives are forbidden from speaking of them.
Liquidation of Members: This is the most severe aspect of the Injunction. All members of the targeted family, whether active operatives or those who have been in hiding or living outside of operations, are liquidated. This includes every person who carries the family name. They are hunted down and killed by the remaining families or designated agents. No one associated with the family is spared, no matter their age or status within the organization.
The First and Only Injunction: The Fall of the Liafador Family
The Liafador Family, has been targeted by the first-ever Injunction in the organization’s history. This isn't a tale of simple failure it's the story of a carefully orchestrated setup that shattered a once-feared family, leaving them on the run and erased from the annals of Family Tree history. Their fall has irrevocably shifted the balance of power within the organization and set the stage for future conflicts.
The fall of the Liafador Family was sealed with the death of Ramon Liafador, the family patriarch. With Ramon’s death, the last remnants of the Liafador Family's power crumbled. Their influence, once unchallenged, was now nothing more than a memory. The remaining Liafador members, stripped of their positions, fled into hiding, knowing that the Family Tree would stop at nothing to eliminate them.
The Liafador remnants those who survived the purge are now fugitives, hunted by the Family Tree. With their assets and safehouses destroyed, their networks dissolved, and their operatives killed or scattered, they have been left to flee into the shadows. Ziccarra Liafador, once the rising star of the family, now finds herself on the run, grappling with the weight of her family's fall from grace. The Liafadors are scattered across the world, their every movement monitored by their former allies, now turned enemies.
While the family's official seat of power is gone, their knowledge, their skills, and their thirst for revenge remain. The Liafador name is forever cursed within the Family Tree, but those who still carry it are not without influence and many of them will stop at nothing to reclaim the power they lost.
The Rise of the New Root: Manuel Purrazzo
As the Liafador Family falls, the Purrazzo Family has emerged as the new center of power. Manuel Purrazzo, a shrewd and calculating figure, was chosen by the other families as the new Root of the Family Tree. His rise to power has been swift and decisive, and he now holds the reins of the Family Tree with a firm grip.
Under Manuel Purrazzo’s leadership, the organization has been restructured. The other families now look to him for direction, and he wields his newfound power with cold precision, ready to consolidate his authority and ensure that no other family can challenge him in the wake of the Liafador Family’s fall.
However, while Manuel sits at the top of the Family Tree, his leadership is not without its challenges. The Purrazo Family’s ascension has left some families wary, and the shadow of the Liafador Family’s legacy still looms large. Those who remember the Liafador dynasty and the betrayal that brought them down know that the Family Tree is far from stable and the power struggle is far from over.
Present Day:
In her search for vengeance, Ziccarra has forged unlikely alliances, one of the most important being with Catalina Santiago, a trusted member of the Santiago Family. Catalina has long been an ally to the Ziccarra Liafador despite the animosity between their families. With the Family Tree in disarray, Catalina Santiago, whose loyalty to her family is fractured, has agreed to help Ziccarra by providing information. She’s guided Ziccarra to key locations where Family Tree operatives may be hiding, giving her the means to strike where they least expect it.
The alliance between Ziccarra and Catalina is fragile, and deeply risky. Catalina knows the consequences of aiding a fugitive especially one from a family that’s been expelled. However, as the bounty on Ziccarra’s head grows, Catalina’s willingness to provide support becomes more difficult. Catalina is well aware that any sign of aiding the Liafador fugitive could spell disaster for her and her family. She knows that the Purrazzo-controlled Family Tree will not hesitate to turn its wrath upon her.
Meanwhile, as Ziccarra’s revenge-driven pursuit continues, Manuel Purrazzo, the new Root of the Family Tree, has focused his attention on another matter. While the Liafador Family is no more, their absence has left a gaping hole in the organization’s structure. As the other families look to the future, Manuel has begun pushing for the creation of a 5th family to replace the Liafadors.
The new family is intended to bring fresh power, resources, and influence into the Family Tree, further solidifying Purrazzo’s control over the remaining families. A new family would also help maintain balance, ensuring that no one family holds too much sway over the Family Tree. However, the creation of a 5th family is not without its own dangers. Manuel must carefully choose who will lead the family, and whether they will be a trusted ally or a potential rival down the line. The other families Santiago, Femi, and Jackson are hesitant about this move. Some see it as a power grab by Manuel, while others believe the Family Tree needs fresh blood to survive. The politics of this new initiative are tense, with old alliances fraying and new rivalries taking root.
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