Faction overview: Siracusa
| Faction | Overview | Branches | Gallery | Trivia |
Administration and politics
The Grey Hall
Owing to the famiglia tradition, Siracusa is de facto under the effective control of the Dodici Famiglie,[note 1] the twelve powerful mafia families who controlled their respective cities. For generations, the mafia acted more like lords of manors, but they eventually evolved into notorious criminal syndicates who wield political influence over the commoners' affairs to the present days.
The Grey Hall (La Sala Grigia) is the official conference established for communication and political negotiation among the famiglie as part of Signora Sicilia's political centralization. The tradition of famiglia council could be traced back to the classical loosely banded council which eventually inspired the formation of the Grey Hall.[1] The Grey Hall also borrows elements from the Seven Tribunals of the Lateran Curia which brought symbolic unity to the famiglie after their conversion to the Lateran faith.[2]
On the other hand, the Grey Hall is effectively a rubber stamp. Not many famiglie take heed over the Signora's warnings except the only ultimatum she gives: "Do not conduct open conflicts and purges among the famiglie." Furthermore, no laws are given to restrict the famiglie manipulating the independent federal government. This allows the famiglie to hatch any number of conspiracies behind the scenes.
| “ | The government is just the cloth draped over Grey Hall's round table. | ” |
| —Attributed to the Signora[3] |
Federal government
The Siracusan Confederate Council (Il Consiglio Confederato Siracusano) is the de jure legitimate federal government of Siracusa as part of Sicilia's separation of power between the famiglie and the commoners. Inspired by the tradition of the famiglie's confederate council, she created a separate political entity free from the mafia's control. The Confederate Council is made up of representatives of the twenty-two city-states, and they elect each other to become the Confederate Chancellor of Siracusa who is the de jure head of state of Siracusa.[4]
Under the Council are several ministry departments overseen by a Minister/Ministro who are not elected as the Chancellor of Siracusa, with each departments specializing in their respective field:[5]
- Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici[note 2]
- Ministero dei Trasporti[note 3]
- Ministero del Commercio[note 4]
- Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato[note 5]
- Dipartimento di Sicurezza Alimentare[note 6]
Judiciary
The Confederate Supreme Court of Siracusa (La Corte Suprema Confederata Siracusana) is both the legislative and judicial body of Siracusa originating from the Signora's power separation from the famiglie. The Court sets up a standardized legal codex as Siracusa's sole constitution. As a result, the Court is often perceived as the ultimate will of Sicilia's authority by the famiglie to maintain their fragile peace.[5]
Every city-state of Siracusa has a city council and a city court regulating legal processes, and city courts usually only possess judicial authority dealing with civil cases. In a court case, the jury is mainly made up of members of the famiglie, but they are strictly forbidden to take part in decision-making as Sicilia forbids them to turn the court into a famiglia's trial of justice. Rather, famiglia members attending the jury serve more as audience to witness Sicilia's will, and they have to maintain proper manners during the trial.[5] Nevertheless, there are many ways for the famiglie to interfere the local judicial process mainly through under-the-table processes, i.e., bribery, and even intimidation. Many judges who strongly oppose the famiglie's interference usually end up forced disappearance or in some cases severe physical injuries. As a result, it is common for a judge to be affiliated to a certain famiglia which, even though it provides protection for their safety, results in biased judgements.[6]
In terms of law enforcement, the concept of an independent police department never exists in the Siracusan legal system. Rather, it is usually the court judges maintaining public order. As a result, judges often need to be involved in combats or usage of weapons, one of which being the use of their codex, dubbed the "Thorned Codex," as their self-defense weapon. However, judges are forbidden to interfere in conflicts among famiglie members as this is the only given rights to members of the Grey Hall; only when a famiglia member intimidates a civilian or when their conflict become so severe that it threatens civilian lives and cannot be mediated through peaceful manners do judges have the rights to arrest and convict them. Even then, this often means risking their own lives if the case involves a famiglia's face or interests.[7]
Besides their role as law enforcers, judges are also tasked with collecting the insurance money from Infected citizens in exchange for keeping the right to work. This is revoked if their payment falls below a previously established amount.[8]
Military
Siracusa seems to lack a national military guarding the whole nation; it is usually the obligation of the mafias of their respective city-states to defend the country. On the other hand, there exists a band called Bocca al Lupo[note 7] which likely acts as the elite force serving the Signora and her bodyguards.[9]
Geography
Siracusa's climate could be divided into two regions: the humid climate on the east and the arid climate of the west. Being the most populated region, the weather of eastern Siracusa is humid subtropical which experiences periodical raining seasons especially during its mild winter, and misty temperate rainforests cover the hills of the east. Raining season has become a symbolism in Siracusan culture in which they see it as the cleansing of their tired souls and sins, though to many caravans and lumberjacks, rain is the worst season in their lives because of muddy soils and landslides that block their travel routes.[10]
Western Siracusa is an arid shrubland with nearly no human settlement in the region. Nevertheless, the region was once popular for filming of classical Wild West shows and car-racing among the aristocrats. Traveling to the heartland of the shrubland can be dangerous not only because of the harsh climate but also the lingering "wolves," the lupine Beast Kins, that could threaten their lives.[10]
Economy
Because much of Sircausa is covered by shrublands and mountains, agricultural activities are a rare sight. As a consequence, Siracusa heavily relies on imports of food from foreign nations such as Laterano to sustain their growing population, i.e., the import of wheat to their demanding culinary supplies. Nevertheless, Siracusa's agriculture mainly relies on wood industry on the mountains and fishery in its nearby great lakes.[10]
Siracusa's heavy industry is not advanced as well which in turn forces the country to heavily rely on imports of essential Originium technologies from foreign nations. Furthermore, constant conflicts between the famiglie and regime changes result in endless delays on industrial constructions. But since the purge of Famiglia Texas of the year 1092 which forced Columbian famiglie to return back to their homeland, the industry is slowly on the rise beginning with mass construction of nomadic cities.[10]
The economy of Siracusa has been greatly controlled by the mafia, whether real estates, commerce, casinos, gambling, or even underground smuggling. In the present days, these famiglie have been expanding their businesses and assert their influences on them. As a result, there are hidden rules in which famiglie members must not stir conflicts in properties of other famiglie.[10]
Surprisingly, Siracusa's sole economic activity is service industries such as fashion and healthcare owing to the Siracusans' strong servitude culture. Siracusan cosmetic industry has become a place for social interactions for the famiglie as many Lupos highly value care on tail furs. Private hospitals in Siracusa are solely controlled by the famiglie which result in certain unforeseen circumstances due to the famiglie's conflicts such as sudden end of business, refusal to take in or discharge patients, and criminal activities disguising as medical accidents.[10]
Demographics
Siracusa is mainly predominated by the Lupo race. The classical mafia culture originates from the Lupos' strong family bond in which they particularly obey a certain family leader. As a result, the Lupos of Siracusa strongly value sharing the same icons of their famiglie such as similar body signals, dying similar fur colors, and wearing the famiglia's symbol.[11]
Other races inhabit in Siracusa including a much less populated Vulpos along with Caprinae and Elafians whose root could be traced back to the Leithanian era.
Culture
Siracusans highly value their traditional culture such as total obedience to family members which is seen as the root of the Siracusan famiglie. The border of "commoners" and "famiglia members" is vague, and many children are taught to fully obey their parents. Even after experiencing domestic violence in their childhood, it is a rare case for a Sircacusan to fully break off from their abusive family which often involves tortures of their moral ethics.[12]
Operas and culinary are other aspects of Siracusans' traditionalist approach to their culture. A Siracusan opera can be both enthusiastic through their stage performance yet being old-fashioned on the stories they choose; many prefer to recreate dramas of mafia families, whether existing or fictional, to both praise their names and admonish their downfall. The Siracusans are extremely stern when it comes to their traditional cuisines such as pizza and spaghetti in which they reject any kind of renovative recipes, and even the poorest family uphold such ideology where they promise their children they will get the chance to try authentic Siracusan food someday.[13] Their stubborn approach to their cuisines even brought severe troubles at one time when a Gaulish chef created a new kind of spaghetti which strangely erupted into a diplomatic crisis.[14]
Lateran faith
Siracusa is one of the two Terran nations that are strongly influenced by the Lateran Church. Mass religious conversions occurred at the same time when Signora Sicilia unified the Dodici in 1038 under the "Pistole e Ordine," the "Guns and Order," which was interpreted as a new legal system establishing Siracusa's current stability. To the famiglie's understanding, the "guns" represent violence to end all violence, and "order" could only be born from such violence. As a result, the worshiping figure of the Siracusan faith is not the Law of Laterano, but total submission of famiglie born from orders.[2]
On the other hand, the Lateran faith does not end the Siracusans' culture of violence. Rather than displaying themselves as bringers of mercy, many Siracusan padrini and madrine often resort violence as final repentance. Built upon the models of the Lateran Curia, the Grey Hall is in some way a symbol of total equity and absolute authority among the mafia. As a result of the deconstruction of the Lateran faith, many Siracasans perceive the Signora as "Popess of Siracusa."[2]
Notes
References
|
