The Syndicate is a tenuous alliance of criminal gangs ostensibly governed by a lone, mysterious figure that alternates from each gang. This hot-seat style leadership with term-limits cycled between the various gangs, is based on general wealth and power, as well as new ideas to grow the operation. This helps slow, but never ceases, the hostilities between gangs, since each knows that their interests will eventually rise to the top and that someone from their own organization will have a turn as head.
Recently, rumors abound that a new head has come to power and has lasted longer than usual. For now, the gangs seem to be tolerating this, as profits and peace among them are at an all-time high. However, the center cannot hold, and a violent uprising is surely inevitable. Thus is the nature of trying to rule criminals. Since criminal gangs originate from many cultures and backgrounds on Earth, it took time for these gangs to slowly blend together to create a stronger, more efficient way of doing criminal business.
Though each gang came with its own language, in order to communicate, a sort of pidgin language evolved by necessity—a combination of very basic vocabulary and grammar borrowed from several languages. More recently, this pidgin language has been firming up into its own, recognizable creole. For outsiders who try their best to avoid contact with The Syndicate, this emerging tongue is often derisively called Criminal Creole. However, for members of The Syndicate, this vital form of communication is called "Yǔyán útil"—roughly, "language of utility."
Each new Syndicate member must learn the new tongue and take an oath to The Syndicate called "El Juramento." Violation of this vow results in the minimum punishment of death to the maximum of the entire disposal of the violator's family and gang. The leader of The Syndicate had many names at first (El Jefe, Oyabun, Il Capo, etc., based on the culture the leader emerged from), but this created too much confusion, so a new title was implemented: Director. Though each new Director creates their own rules during their time of rule, there are several base laws that are inviolate and never change from leader to leader.
These laws are called "The Omerta." The most recent Director was Santiago Vegas. Though he was beloved by many for his charismatic ways, he led The Syndicate into tumultuous times. He was voted out nearly 1.5 years earlier than his term by a majority of the gangs. He was replaced by a new, mysterious Director whose identity is known only to the heads of each of the major gangs. The current direction of The Syndicate seems to focus on Starfall and acquiring new Hunters for their stable.
Authorities tolerate The Syndicate's existence to a certain extent but have recently been on alert due to an uptick in betting trends on fights in the Survivors' War. They suspect The Syndicate are tampering with the odds of certain fights to bend the outcomes to their will.
