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The Future of Philadelphia Started by: Anna on Jan 25, '16 22:25

After a couple of hectic days, with meeting after meeting, Anna had finally managed to nail down a plan for the prosperous future of Philadelphia. It felt like she, Nighthawk and Predrag had spent every waking minute sat around the table working out how best to serve the future of the city, and they had finally come to a decision they could all be happy with. Throwing down the pen she had been scribbling down ideas on, she smiled.

"It's decided, then. Let's go and make the announcement. A lot of people need homes and we shouldn't waste time trying to settle them. I am sure we will find him in the bar, enjoying a drink, we'll collect him on the way out."

Anna lead Nighthawk and Predrag from her office, stopping only to collect a key from the safe behind her desk. They headed out of the Mano di Morte headquarters, via the small bar on the ground floor that acted as a place for the family to socialise. As predicted, Samael was sat by Leather, deep in conversation. With a light tap on the shoulder, Anna had the two of them continue out of the building with them, and on a short walk down the road. They stopped outside a large, grand looking building. With Samael and Leather both looking slightly confused, Anna smiled. All would be revealed, soon enough.

"Ladies and gentlemen.

I stand here in a position that I could never have anticipated, and certainly a position that I did not seek when I moved to Philadelphia from Detroit. The death of Godfather Chairman Ronin came as a shock; it was certainly something I had no prior awareness. When I woke up the morning he died and found letters stacked up by my door that had been circulated across Philadelphia saying that I would not help the city and discussing my demise, with not a single letter from any of the remaining Philadelphia leaders asking for my help, I knew in my heart that my position in the war had been chosen for me. When a member of my crew, HomelessCretin, rest his soul, was gunned down by one of those leaders, I was forced to act upon that position. And so, here we sit. While I  regret the loss of Godfather Ronin, I cannot regret my decision to stand by Detroit and New York that morning. My family came out of the night mostly intact, and, as I had only moved from Detroit a couple of days prior, it was and is they that I live to serve.

And so, here I stand. Philadelphia is a city with a huge and varied history and I hope that Mano di Morte will be able to add several more chapters to that history. Those chapters will begin today with the expansion of Old City District, which will allow us to provide a home to more of those displaced by the war and unrest in our world over the last week."

Anna turns to Samael.

Samael, when I first told you that I would be taking on a crew in Philadelphia, you did not hestitate to stand by my side, a fact that I was more grateful for than you can possibly know. Your bloodline was one of the earliest met by my ancestors and there have been great friendships forged over the years. In the short time we have been in Philadelphia, you have proved yourself more than willing and more than able to step up and help the future of this city be forged strongly. And so, as much as it pains me to have you leave me, I think it is time that you move on to bigger things. This building is yours now, to do what you please with and to do what you can with. Provide a home for those in need and build a crew. You will always be part of the Mano di Morte family, and I will only be a few doors down the street if ever you need me. I couldn't ask for anyone better to take on this mantle."

Anna hugs Samael tightly, and hands him the key to the building they stood before. She then turns to Leather.

"Look after him for me, Leather. He couldn't have picked a better right hand woman than yourself, and I look forward to working with you further as we rebuild Philadelphia together."

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Kratos listened as Anna gave her speech regarding events that happened a few days ago. His brother, Azraiel, unfortunately met his demise here in Philadelphia. Kratos wasn't too close to him anyway, but the loss of a sibling was still affecting him in some way. 

By the end of the speech, Anna introduced Samael as her new captain. This delighted Kratos, as he felt that Philadelphia is taking a step into recovery. He joined the applause from the gathered crowd and he truly hoped, that this is a sign that rebuilding process has truly started.

He waited for an opportunity to congratulate Samael on his appointment, but knowing that Samael will deliver a speech himself, Kratos decided to wait till then.

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Anna our family lines do indeed go way back and you have always been a very dear friend to me one who I hold close to my heart so when the call came to help you rebuild the great city of Philidelphia I was happy to be in a position to help, it's an honour to be given this opportunity and I will do what I can to assist you in anyway I can, it will no doubt be a long road but with the people we have around us I am sure we will prevail, now the hard work begins I appologise for the making this short but there is much to do, I do however thank all those involved for placing their trust in me you won't be dissappointed.

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Leather honored and surprised that this is happening. Thank you for the opportunity to serve beside the great man like Samael.

We will make you proud and protect this thing of ours. Looking forward to growing the crew.

Well time to get to work time is money. 

Leather hugs Anna tight and whispers "we won't let you down".

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Sprechstallmeister was wandering the streets when he heard acting Godmother Anna start talking. He instantly turned towards her and listened contently. When she finished, he had a few words to say.

With all due respect, acting Godmother Anna, your story lacks in creativity and leaves out some facts. I would like to point some things out, if you'll allow me the honor of doing so.

Firstly, you claim none of your fellow Philadelphia leaders asked you for help. Why would they need to? You were in their city, and a leader at that. Most of them would've assumed you to do the right thing and help your own city; not turn your back on them. But alas, this is what we all expected from you, given how it all originated in the first place. Smart move, to be fair, but not a very honest description of how it all went down or why you chose to side with Detroit - though the real reason behind that part is obvious to anyone with half a brain.

Secondly, you talk as if your member, HomelessCretin, was innocent. Have you not heard of why this person was targeted? They were slandering the name of Philadelphia and were quite clearly sided with the attackers. I guess this all adds up, since you can be classified as an attacker as well. But you can't act as if this person, nor yourself, were on Philly's side during this ordeal. It may have seemed random to you, but let me assure you, it was not.

But in the end, you made the right choice. You went with what kept you and most of your family alive, and I respect that. Congratulations on your new role, and I wish you the best of luck in the future. Congratulations to you as well, Samael. You two have a long road ahead of you and it'll be interesting to see how this all works out.

Sprechstallmeister tipped his hat and walked off.

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So there are two talking points here that I want and I will address, firstly on the next steps and the progression of PH and then ill address the points raised by Sprechstallmeister.

I’ll reply to Mr Sprechstallmeister first as I don’t wont to dwell too much, simply because this speech doesn’t need to turn into a debate on what happened and/or the ethics of decisions made, but I do feel the need to shed some clarity on it and I can because I was at the forefront of the issues with HomelessCretin.

Firstly, you claim none of your fellow Philadelphia leaders asked you for help. Why would they need to? You were in their city, and a leader at that. Most of them would've assumed you to do the right thing and help your own city; not turn your back on them.


Ok let me make something clear, as again I was privy to all these conversations and was the one trying to apply some rational thinking. Our dear Anna was sleeping for the majority of the first few hours, she had been up late, she was at a swingers party with her beloved. None of our hands where awake either, they where busy outside guarding the door of said party, so I gave the order to holster our guns and make sure we cancelled any flights we had planned. As this is a natural request, given what had gone down. As the hours passed and our family sat in limbo there was whispers that Anna was against PH, how could she be, she was still asleep, not one of us had taken a shot against anyone, I requested that we where given the benefit of the doubt until a shot was taken or Anna decided what way she would go, a fair request, no?
Baring in mind, not one word had come across to all of PH about what was going on. So I asked for those who where still fighting for PH to leave their guns and not point them at Anna until she wakes if she wakes up and decides she doesn’t want to side with PH by all means, go at her. After all, they could be potentially killing someone who could have helped them, it just didn’t make sense. Anna received word of these conversations and this was enough to make her mind up for her, a fair decision.

Secondly, you talk as if your member, HomelessCretin, was innocent. Have you not heard of why this person was targeted? They were slandering the name of Philadelphia and were quite clearly sided with the attackers. I guess this all adds up, since you can be classified as an attacker as well. But you can't act as if this person, nor yourself, were on Philly's side during this ordeal. It may have seemed random to you, but let me assure you, it was not.


Again a situation I was at the forefront of, I too, thought that Mr Cretin was more involved than he let on. I had a good few arguments with him that morning. I still think that he may have known something before hand and I pleaded for him to let us know what he did, he wouldn’t. If I’m brutally honest, I would have asked for his head anyway, given how he acted and the fact that he more than likely had prior info. Even though HE had some kind of communication, I can assure you right now, nobody else in this family had it, even when bodies where being left everywhere he still wouldn’t give up what he knew, yes, I didn’t trust him at all. He paid for that with his life, another reason for Anna to not back PH.

In a scenario such as that, preservation is key, its simple.

Moving on, Anna, its an utter pleasure to be apart of whatever we build here. I know without a doubt you will do great things here. Its always a pleasure to work with your kin, you understand what we need and how it needs to be done, exciting times ahead for us all, I really hope we get the time to rebuild this great city.

As for your choice in a captain, well, you have picked another great lineage that my lineage has had the pleasure of working with many times over the years and he will flourish even more under your guide. I hope that this turns out to be everything that we want.
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Sprechstallmeister, as this speech is a celebration of the future of Philadelphia, and as South-paw has already covered some of this, I'm not going to spend too much time on it, however there are several points that I would also like to clarify based on what you have said.

"Firstly, I have to thank you for coming out here calmly and reaonably to make your argument. I have to respect that and I take what you have said on board. I understand why any of the children of the former leaders and members of Philadelphia are angry with me and feel as though I have betrayed them. I also understand that very little that I say is likely to change anybodies opinion of what happened, but it would feel remiss of me to not speak out."

Firstly, you claim none of your fellow Philadelphia leaders asked you for help. Why would they need to? You were in their city, and a leader at that. Most of them would've assumed you to do the right thing and help your own city; not turn your back on them. But alas, this is what we all expected from you, given how it all originated in the first place.

"Well, I would've expected my fellow leaders to reach out for a number of reasons. Firstly, I was asleep when the war started, and I might've expected them to have wanted to inform me how the war effort was going, to let me know what the plan was, what was needed. That doesn't surprise me though, because I had other communication lines open with them, where I was being openly accused of turning on the city and of being involved before I even woke up and before I even knew anything had happened. People were offering to shoot me on that same communication. Before I even woke up and before I even knew anything had happened.

I'd seen a conversation accusing me and discussing shooting me before I even looked out of my window and saw Godfather Ronin dead. I personally would've expected Philadelphia to do the right thing and reach out to me, rather than sit and make unfounded accusations. Even before I knew the situation properly, my hand was forced by those communications.

If Philadelphia did not expect my loyalty, given where I had come from, I do not understand why Ronin gave me auth in the first place. It seems questionable at best to auth somebody that you do not trust. How could I do anything other than turn my back on the weight of that?"

Secondly, you talk as if your member, HomelessCretin, was innocent. Have you not heard of why this person was targeted?

"No, actually, I hadn't. That's sort of the point. If the other leaders of Philadelphia were at all interested in working with me at that point or in the future, I am fairly certain they could have sent me a very quick message explaining why a member of my crew was shot. They didn't. Nobody raised so much as a finger to talk to me about that. So again - what do you expect? 

The conversations I saw, the shooting of my member without any word or explanation, the radio silence from my fellow leaders... yes, I felt very much a part of the great family of Philadelphia that morning.

I don't think it's actually too much of a stretch to understand why I chose to save my family when myself and my family had so clearly been rejected by the rest of the city.

Many thanks, however, for your well wishes for the future in the city. I'll be doing what I can to get it back to it's feet as restore it to former glories. And I must thank you again for coming out here with well formed points to question me with, as opposed to coming out and throwing toys out of the pram. It was incredibly refreshing."

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Also would just like to throw my two cents in here.

If Philadelphia did not expect my loyalty, given where I had come from, I do not understand why Ronin gave me auth in the first place. It seems questionable at best to auth somebody that you do not trust.

You were trusted to be loyal to PH, that is why you were authed. Clearly the actions of you, your hands, and apparently those acting in charge in the odd absence of all of you, proved that Ronin's trust was misplaced. While PH leaders and members were falling all around you, instead of fighting for the city that had authed you, trusted you, and expected your loyalty, you shut your doors and ordered that no one fly. Now, I understand YOU did not order these things; however, those who represent you in your absence did.

My father himself was asleep when he was shot. There were many attempts made in an effort to contact him, but he had gone to sleep early in preparation for the next day's city meeting. However, and this is the important part, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that in my father's unfortunate absence, the upper structure - whether that be hands or consigs or whomever - of my father would have made the decision to stand and fight with PH. If my father had awoken alive that morning, he would have been embarrassed by the sheer cowardliness his crew had shown in the face of an attack.

Alas, I understand the urge for self-preservation is strong in our line of work. Stronger than loyalty? Well, that is a question often debated, but it is extremely blatant which won out in this situation. Personally, I would die for my city, for my godfather at the drop of a hat. Clearly we are cut from different cloths.

Best of luck with PH. A word of advice, don't auth anyone who you don't expect to be loyal to you and your city, your kin may see them as the next acting Godfather/Godmother..

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In the spirit of looking to the future, I wish you all the best. My family line has danced with Philadelphia over the months, having stepped off the boat into Bella Vista when they first arrived. Another was taken in by the young Cersei Lannister before being allowed to work again in Bella Vista for Credits. 

I have no doubt Philly is in good hands and look forward to watching you and your family grow.

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Anna and South-paw, you both raise some good points. You both say you don't want this to turn into a debate, however, yet it seems that's exactly what it's turning into. If you wish, my mailbox is open for private discussions rather than wasting all of these good people's time. However, I do have more to say here, starting with my aim at South-paw.

I realize Anna was sleeping, and that's perfectly fine. No one can be awake 24/7. I wasn't questioning that much, nor was I questioning her decision. I fully understand why she did what she did, and it makes complete sense to me, given the chaotic nature of Philly's removal and the slander that was being spewed about her. I was merely questioning why she felt her fellow leaders needed to ask her for help.

It seems you and I both agree on HomelessCretin, though. You stated yourself you would've asked for his head. This Philadelphian just took matters into their own hands and silenced a cretin, sooner rather than later.

Now, Anna, many thanks for actually answering me. So many other figures of our world would leave it be, and I appreciate you standing up and firing back instead of ignoring it.

I'm well aware of the words that were being said about you on those lines, and it was really uncalled for, if I'm honest. People were just hopped up after seeing that mass mail from Detroit about not shooting you or your family. It happens to the best of us. But you do raise a good point with why they didn't ask you - even if someone was sleeping during that, I'd knock on their door all night long trying to wake them up. So fair enough, it did send some bad signals.

Your member was shot during war, while Philly was dying. Don't you think it'd be a little inopportune to drop a letter in your mailbox and explain why one of your members was gunned down? If I recall correctly, it was basically down to a 'let's last as long as we can' scenario when that member was shot - excluding your family and your capabilities, all down to the fact you were sleeping. All hope was lost at that point and he was seen as an enemy.

I'd also like you to make note of GreatWhiteNorth's words. He put things into words so much better than I could myself.

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"Good day, GreatWhiteNorth. I'll crack straight on with this, as I'm well ready for my bed. Please don't excuse my briefness for rudeness - I mean to address your points, but as quickly as I can whilst still doing so thoroughly. "

You were trusted to be loyal to PH, that is why you were authed. Clearly the actions of you, your hands, and apparently those acting in charge in the odd absence of all of you, proved that Ronin's trust was misplaced. While PH leaders and members were falling all around you, instead of fighting for the city that had authed you, trusted you, and expected your loyalty, you shut your doors and ordered that no one fly. Now, I understand YOU did not order these things; however, those who represent you in your absence did.

"I was trusted to be loyal to PH, except, before I was around, it was already being said that I would not be loyal. Before I had the chance to do anything at all. Whatever orders had been placed in my absence could have been overruled, could they not, when I woke up and was brought up to speed on the situation?

If the situation was so poorly explained to my hands as it was to myself by those who were supposed to stand by me just as much as I them, then I am not surprised they felt the best thing to do was to wait for me to wake up. I'm not even sure if they were contacted at all by any of the remaining leaders."

Alas, I understand the urge for self-preservation is strong in our line of work. Stronger than loyalty? Well, that is a question often debated, but it is extremely blatant which won out in this situation. Personally, I would die for my city, for my godfather at the drop of a hat. Clearly we are cut from different cloths.

"If you would die for a city, and Godfather, that had decided your loyalty was not strong enough before you had had any chance to make a decision and that had discussed turning it's own guns on you, again before you had any chance to make a decision, then yes, you and I are cut from two very, very different cloths.

Sprechstallmeister, I would really have preferred to not be debating this here, but, I'm not one to ignore things. However, likewise, my mailbox is open should there be anything you wish to discuss."

Your member was shot during war, while Philly was dying. Don't you think it'd be a little inopportune to drop a letter in your mailbox and explain why one of your members was gunned down? If I recall correctly, it was basically down to a 'let's last as long as we can' scenario when that member was shot - excluding your family and your capabilities, all down to the fact you were sleeping. All hope was lost at that point and he was seen as an enemy.

"Considering that it would take probably... maaaaybe two and a half minutes, to write a quick note to me explaining why my member was gunned down, during the full hour of gun cool down before that particular shooter was able to fire his weapon again and considering most everyone else who could shoot was dead (therefore reducing the chances that he had other peoples shots to plan), I think it's probably more inopportune to have not bothered, to be honest."

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Bellatrix had seemed to be very late for the introductions to her leaders new plans for the city and its growth but this was a style to Bella always been fashionably late main she entered parties to crash them as she loved kicking stuff and causing chaos but today was not that time today was something special today was in honor of one's survival and preparation to repair what once was well known as a great powerful city. With many building broken down and HQ's destroyed after the recent war it would take weeks to repair everything looking like the same old city. Bella knew if a person could do this progress and succeed it would be her leader Anna with her time and patients ways thing would be up and running again the city would once again shine.

Congrats to Samael to being named city Captain it would indeed a great honor for a second great leader to step in and give aid to the repairments of the destroyed.

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Hannibal was in PH for his fathers death.
His father, Sweetsuns, was unfortunately dragged into the massacre of PH, like many others there at the time.
On his way back to the station he sees Anna the sole survivor making a speech.
It seemed that she was explaining what happened that day and was shocked her self. She also said that Samael will
be setting up a crew of his own in PH. 

PH did need some people after all the mess.

"I wish the best of luck to PH!"

Hannibal turned and left for the station.

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Synthetic, walking down the street minding his own business until he hears something that relates to his father. Even though he has only heard half of the conversation, he wanted to say his piece.

My father left me a letter that simply read "Why is Anna the only one alive in PH?" This has been haunting me ever since. A whole city wiped, yet one family live, with one of their members dead. It leaves many questions. Listening to this somewhat clears that up. That I thank you.

Now don't get me wrong. The rest of PH wasn't perfect. Yes, my father was a quiet man, but not one member of PH reached out to let him know what was going on. Even though he rose through the ranks. I guess those ranks meant nothing. I have even spoke to the kins of those members, no answer. This speech has answered a lot more, than questions I have asked. Like I said, I thank you for that.

Well at least my questions have been answered. Albeit, indirectly.
Good luck with PH, Anna.

Synthetic walks off whistling, with his hands in his pockets, staring at the beautiful blue sky.

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I was reading my crazy father's journals and being as he set up in Detroit it appears that you were immediately placed on the safe list by Detroit and so it was felt by those under fire in Philly that it was clear the path for you had been chosen. I only know this as my father was privy to DT communication until it was realised he was picking up the mass comms being sent out. 

Anyway, I am not here to pick holes in anyone's argument. Hope to see Philly grow again. In fact, I hope to see all the cities grow again. Too many lives needlessly lost.

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I was going to leave this be now, but I feel the need to revisit this one very last time considering I was about through all of it.

You were trusted to be loyal to PH, that is why you were authed. Clearly the actions of you, your hands, and apparently those acting in charge in the odd absence of all of you, proved that Ronin's trust was misplaced. While PH leaders and members were falling all around you, instead of fighting for the city that had authed you, trusted you, and expected your loyalty, you shut your doors and ordered that no one fly. Now, I understand YOU did not order these things; however, those who represent you in your absence did.

I was one of the core group who was awake at the time to make the decisions and id make the very same decisions again. I have huge respect for Ronin and his line, but my loyalty lay with Anna. I was the one who told everyone who in our family to holster their guns and cancel any flights that they were going to take. I can tell you first hand, there was no communication to our crew from the rest of PH who where left fighting, not one, is it safe to question that call? I also say in a room with communications away from this world, I asked for the benefit of the doubt until Anna woke up. We were offered that time, to a certain extent but Ronin himself made a call that said we had to kill Anna as she had turned (or words to that effect) the women hadn't even been awake to make any call, it was a rash decision from him, considering that no communication had come down from him or the rest PH. Which ironically was enough to make Anna's mind up on what way she was going to go.

Like I said, I was part of that core group who were making the decision before she woke and I do exactly the same again. I have no shame in trying to help keep us alive until the uppers of my crew are online.

 

However, and this is the important part, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that in my father's unfortunate absence, the upper structure - whether that be hands or consigs or whomever - of my father would have made the decision to stand and fight with PH. If my father had awoken alive that morning, he would have been embarrassed by the sheer cowardliness his crew had shown in the face of an attack.

 

I don't know who your farther was, looks like an influential part of PH (pre-PH) before we arrived, so your decision to stand by PH and fight would be one id commend, a decision that would be easy. We had just come into the fold in no the best of circumstances but was here nonetheless. We had absolutely no communication from PH whatsoever, there was no contact at all. No messages of help or instruction, nothing. Was this because like you, we had only just entered the fold, which in itself  can answer plenty of questions/doubts you may have already.

There is no cowardliness in self preservation. We are a new crew who are getting established, we were not needed to help fight, nor would we have been of any great use. To fight at the point would have been suicide, there was no heroics to be had here. It would have achieved nothing, absolutely nothing at all.   

 

Alas, I understand the urge for self-preservation is strong in our line of work. Stronger than loyalty? Well, that is a question often debated, but it is extremely blatant which won out in this situation. Personally, I would die for my city, for my godfather at the drop of a hat. Clearly we are cut from different cloths.

 

Im all for a show of loyalty, but as we have both pointed out, the auth came a few days before the deaths of Ronin and PH. That long lasting loyalty that you have obviously previously built, that, for me, just wasn't there. Only because of the time frame between both events, loyalty of your level takes work, it takes time its not something that just clicks overnight.

The defining factor here is this, by the time the decision was made on what side we would take, all we could approach it from was that of preservation. We couldn't have turned the tide on the war, its obvious that we didn't have the fire power. Anna did the right thing, the group of people making the decisions before she woke did the right thing and now its time to rebuild and move on.

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Why was Anna the only one alive in PH?

 

Could it be she was not sleeping?  Could it be she was in one of those special coffee crutch meets we got to witness?

 

Send your votes to me and I will tally up w/o disclosing names. You got 48 hours to submit votes. 

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