Shatterjacks
The Shatterjacks are a notorious gang that operates exclusively Outside the walls of Tatharia Capitolina, thriving in the liminal spaces where civilization fades into wilderness. They are the only gang in the region that openly allows non-humans into their ranks, provided they can prove their loyalty and skill. The gang’s name is widely believed to reference their infamous smash-and-grab tactics, though it carries additional layers of meaning tied to their fractured but resilient identity.
Structure
The Shatterjacks are divided into semi-autonomous gangs, each referred to simply as a “Shatterjack Gang.” These gangs operate independently under the leadership of a “Top,” a Boss whose authority stems from their charisma, cunning, and ability to keep their gang thriving. While each Shatterjack Gang has autonomy within its territory, the Tops ultimately answer to a central figure known as the Major or Majorette. This position, however, is fraught with danger, as rival Tops frequently vie for control.
Most Shatterjack Gangs focus on smash-and-grab robberies, staying true to the gang’s namesake tactics, but they also have the freedom to adapt to local circumstances. Cooperation between gangs is common in times of need, as Tops can call on nearby Shatterjacks for assistance in larger operations or defense.
Despite their fractured organization, the Shatterjacks maintain cohesion through periodic gatherings called “Shards.” These meetings are convened only when at least 25% of the Tops, or local gang leaders, agree to call one. Once a Shard is called, all Tops are bound to send representatives instead of attending themselves, ensuring their personal safety. These gatherings allow the Shatterjacks to coordinate strategy, resolve disputes, and share intelligence, while reinforcing a loose code of honor emphasizing mutual respect and shared defiance against imperial authority.
Griff "Ironstride" Callen (Human)
Gang Name: The Iron Striders
Notable Trait: Renowned for orchestrating the district's most daring smash-and-grab operations, utilizing mounts enhanced with magically animated mechanical legs for agility and efficiency. Griff is notable as the only Human Top among the Shatterjacks, setting him apart in a gang dominated by non-human members.
Mounts: Rugged and heavily armored shaggy horses, enhanced with magically animated mechanical legs. These mounts are designed not only for endurance and speed but also for navigating challenging urban terrain, making them a key asset during smash-and-grab operations. Their intimidating appearance is often accentuated with spiked barding and gang-specific insignias, emphasizing their role as both transport and symbols of power.
Veska "Flickerblade" Rynal (Half-Orc)
Gang Name: Shadow Hooves
Notable Trait: Prefers stealth and sabotage, often targeting heavily guarded warehouses. Breaking and Entering is their specialty.
Mounts: Silent giant goats bred for agility and the ability to traverse rooftops and narrow alleys. These mounts are not only practical for urban environments but also serve as a symbol of the gang's stealth-focused ethos. Each goat is meticulously trained to respond to subtle cues, allowing riders to execute daring escapes or covert operations seamlessly. Their horns are often decorated with symbols or carvings unique to their riders, adding a personal touch to their otherwise utilitarian role.
Jarik "Wethide" Zorran (Lizardfolk)
Gang Name: Scalers
Notable Trait: Focuses on violent distractions to cover escape routes and relies heavily on mounts for quick and seamless getaways. These mounts are critical for maintaining the gang's mobility and ensuring successful retreats after their chaotic operations.
Mounts: Lizard mounts adorned with reflective scales that create dazzling light displays. These mounts are not only visually striking but are also capable climbers, enabling their riders to escape into hard-to-reach areas during heists or ambushes. Riders further enhance their effectiveness by deploying grease and similar substances to thwart pursuers, making the combination of mount and rider an integral part of the gang’s tactics.
Lenda "Quickpaws" Verall (Mapach/Raccoonfolk)
Gang Name: Nightshades
Notable Trait: An expert in stealth and thievery, Lena leads her gang in high-risk burglaries and smash-and-grab operations.
Mounts: Nimble giant cave spiders that they've been raising for about a year.
Tivik "Brightclaw" Serran (Leonin)
Gang Name: The Sunclaws
Notable Trait: Specializes in daytime heists and bold operations that exploit the gang’s strength and speed.
Mounts: Sleek, golden-furred liondrakes with reinforced saddles, often used in high-speed aerial chases and overwhelming displays of power.
Current Leadership
The Shatterjacks are currently led by Majorette Crackjaw, a Loxodon woman with a storied past. Crackjaw earned her position through a mix of daring exploits and unyielding determination. Having spent three years in prison for robbery and breaking and entering, she has gained both the respect and fear of the gang. Her leadership is still relatively new, at just seven months, but her calculated approach and strong presence have already solidified her authority among the Tops.Tops and Their Gangs
Culture
The Shatterjacks’ culture is rooted in rebellion, survival, and individuality. Members are encouraged to express themselves through their appearance, which often features mismatched armor, tattoos, and improvised adornments made from scavenged materials. Symbols of personal triumph, such as charms, trinkets, or scars, are highly valued within the gang.
The majority of Shatterjacks are non-humans, with untold numbers of beastfolk species, half-orcs, orcs, the occasional Elf, and more than can be easily delineated here. Non-humans, who are often excluded from other criminal organizations, find acceptance among the Shatterjacks. This inclusivity fosters a diverse and eclectic culture, where varied backgrounds and perspectives strengthen the gang’s adaptability.
Graffiti and carvings left by the Shatterjacks serve as both territorial markers and declarations of defiance, blending chaotic designs with cryptic messages that often mock imperial authority. Common tags include jagged claw marks etched into stone walls, representing the gang’s predatory dominance, and stylized depictions of shattered chains, symbolizing their rejection of imperial oppression. Some graffiti features crude but vivid depictions of imperial soldiers fleeing from monstrous beastfolk, a nod to the gang’s inclusive culture and their strength in diversity. These designs are as much a warning to rivals as they are a statement of identity, proclaiming that the Shatterjacks are a force to be reckoned with.
Public Agenda
Though officially outlaws, the Shatterjacks are most despised in Little Tathar and Uptown, where their disruptive activities and non-human majority make them highly unwelcome. Their primary stomping grounds are in Outside, the district beyond the west wall of Tatharia Capitolina. While their reputation as defiant rebels against imperial control resonates with some disenfranchised communities, their brazen tactics and frequent raids often overshadow any goodwill they attempt to cultivate.
In neighborhoods with high populations of beastfolk or non-humans, where guards and other gangs often ignore the people’s plights, the Shatterjacks are viewed as a mechanism for social retribution. By cultivating local support, the gang ensures a network of informants and safehouses within the city. Residents who admire the gang’s audacity are more likely to turn a blind eye to their activities or provide assistance when needed.
Assets
The Shatterjacks rely on a mix of unconventional and mobile assets to sustain their operations:
Hidden Camps: Strategically hidden within the city walls, these camps serve as covert bases of operation and hideouts for Shards, providing safety and proximity to their urban territories.
Customized Mounts: The gang uses an eclectic array of mounts, including shaggy horses, giant goats, and even domesticated lizards, all adorned to reflect their riders’ individuality. For many Shatterjacks, their mounts are a key part of their identity, with individual gangs favoring specific types of mounts or distinctive styles of adornment. These choices often reflect the gang’s personality or territorial pride, further solidifying their bond with their mounts and enhancing their intimidating presence.
Improvised Equipment: From scavenged weapons to cobbled-together traps, the Shatterjacks excel at turning found objects into effective tools of mischief and mayhem. Notable examples include bottled alchemical explosives crafted from discarded potion vials to create makeshift grenades, spike-embedded clubs reinforced with nails or shards of glass for enhanced lethality, and tripwire traps rigged with bells or small explosive charges to disrupt pursuers. Their creativity extends to shield-drums, which double as percussion instruments for signaling or intimidation, and animal-bound nets attached to mounts for capturing goods or foes mid-raid. These ingenious tools highlight their resourcefulness and chaotic style.
Network of Informants: Supportive residents in the Outside district provide the gang with valuable intelligence and resources, often out of a shared resentment for neglect by the city’s guards and ruling classes. These informants see the Shatterjacks as a necessary counterbalance to a system that ignores their plight, strengthening the gang’s ties to the disenfranchised.
History
The Shatterjacks represent the new normal for a major city in a world transformed by the unsealing of Magic. As non-human populations emerged and became more visible, city folk were forced to confront the truth that these people had always been among them. Over the past 8-9 years, disenfranchised communities—largely ignored by guards and oppressed by systemic neglect—began coalescing into a structure that could meet their needs. Famous heroes have vouched for non-humans, and while the Empire officially declares them welcome, the reality often falls short. The Shatterjacks have become the means by which these communities assert their presence and demand recognition.
Over Time, the Shatterjacks grew in size and notoriety, carving out a niche as the ultimate outsiders—unbound by the rules of the city or the constraints of the wilderness. Their name, first coined in news reports and fueled by rumors, was initially a label for their infamous smash-and-grab tactics. The Shatterjacks later adopted it themselves, though not in any formal capacity; after all, they are a gang without foundational documents or by-laws. This organic identity has earned them a reputation as both a Menace to the Empire and a symbol of resistance.
Today, the Shatterjacks continue to thrive on the fringes, their exploits inspiring fear, admiration, and a growing legend that shows no sign of fading.
Founding Date
1524
Type
Illicit, Gang
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