Post by loresauce on Sept 6, 2010 19:53:09 GMT -5
The Gangs of Shelpey
It is common knowledge to the residents of Shelpey that there are two gangs present within the city. The two of them don't seem to cause much mischief; graffiti here and there sometimes and breaking into abandoned areas perhaps, but serious crimes have not been committed by either gang.
... As far as the humans know.
It is common knowledge to the residents of Shelpey that there are two gangs present within the city. The two of them don't seem to cause much mischief; graffiti here and there sometimes and breaking into abandoned areas perhaps, but serious crimes have not been committed by either gang.
... As far as the humans know.
The Two Gangs
The two gangs of Shelpey Alley both have one thing in common: they both consist of multiple Shifters. Beyond this however there are few similarities between the two of them.
The Thieves are widely perceived as the 'nicer' of the two guilds. They strive to co-exist with the humans without revealing their secret and they act as one large family unit. There is tension between a few of the members - not every member of the guild likes every other member - but fighting among members is uncommon, if it ever happens at all. They are a guild that promotes trust between one another and try to keep things fair for everybody as much as possible.
There is a general consensus that suggests the Thieves are comprised of younger Shifters.
The Assassins are perceived as the 'nastier' of the two guilds. While they too act as a family unit there seems to be a larger amount of mistrust amongst the guild. Many members of this gang work on a strictly need-to-know basis and several seem to be quite willing to hurt others to make their point known. Unlike the Thieves, this guild works more on a basis of power - leader gives the orders and you do as your told. This guild does not seek to co-exist in a friendly environment alongside humans, as many members of this guild feel humans are below them.
Given the darker and more sinister nature of this gang, the Assassins seem to consist of a greater number of adults than the Thieves.
The History
Shelpey was not always home to two separate groups of Shifters. Many years back in fact, it is questionable if many Shifters ever lived in Shelpey at all. However, the city had a strange 'pulling' effect, drawing in Shifters from near and far as if it called out to them.
Eventually, there were enough Shifters living in Shelpey that they all became aware of each other's presence. One by one the Shifters came together, forming the first "gang" within the city. It was a small gang and it had no chain of command, nor any particular goal. It was just a bunch of Shifters associating with others like them.
However. As time went on and as the group grew larger, it became apparent that not all Shifters felt the same about the society they lived in. Some of the Shifters began calling for the group to grow, for a leader to lead them. For them to create their own, proper society. Other Shifters disagreed and said that they could live alongside the humans without trouble - as they had been doing.
Arguments erupted, putting Shifter against Shifter in a battle of words. Eventually, two sides formed:
- The Shifters who wanted to live together with the humans and keep their society a secret one
- The Shifters who felt they deserved to be a real society that didn't have to hide in the shadows, but was as open and free as the humans were
Neither side could agree, and after many arguments, the first group of Shifters split into two. Thus formed the two gangs of Shelpey Alley - both of whom already had a strong distaste for the opposing group. As more Shifters came to the city, both gangs set out to recruit them, knowing that the more support they gained, the stronger they would become. This continued for yet a few more years, the two gangs locked in a stalemate as neither one could get a true advantage against the other.
Tensions continue to rise between the Assassins and the Thieves and both gangs continue to recruit Shifters to join their side. Now far larger, it's expected that the gangs will possibly begin fighting over material things, such as money and turf. During a time when humans are starting to become suspicious, putting extra pressure on the guilds, it's inevitable that tempers will flare and the patience of the gang members will snap.
And, as if to top it all off, recently there have been some Shifters who feel humanity is so below them, living side by side even in the open, isn't good enough. These Shifters want to take over humanity, put the humans in their place, and these are the Shifters who put both the guilds at jeopardy as they try to purposefully cause trouble in both communities.
