Caesar, still rocked by the events that had changed the landscape of cosa nostra across the eight cities, was approached by Roman. A man he had known from his father's past. Roman handed the man an envelope. 'Your father left this for you, if you'd like I can take you to his grave'. Caesar nodded, and followed the old Don to the grave site where his father was buried. He noticed that there were men burying the last of the old Empire, the last fighter they called Chade.

Caesar waited and approached his father's grave, where various flowers and ornaments were placed. Above it sat a nameplate, stating simply “Gaius”. Sitting down on a bench, mere feet from the stone, Caesar reached into the envelope he had been given and unwrapped the package. Setting down the wooden box he read the letter first.

Some time ago a letter was written similar to this when our families first protector, Godfather Premier, was taken from this world. Ironically, our family line then went to work for the man that brought about his death. During that time a letter was written by my father and left for me, which you will receive shortly along with the rest of our family journals. I just hope that you can learn from the history of our bloodline in the same manner I was able to. It is only fitting that you hear about the man that raised me after Julius was killed, to hear about the man that became the most powerful mafiosi our world has EVER seen. The legend they called Deimne and who I called Godfather.

After Julius died to a gun malfunction, Deimne raised me, from a hard nose child to become a solid man in my own right. I guess I've done something right considering the amount of men out hunting for me as I write this. Sadly, despite my best efforts to protect myself and the city I loved, I fear that this won’t end well. Some may call me arrogant, pompous, and prideful. Understand something son, while others may argue that I have SOMETHING to be arrogant, pompous, and prideful about, all I have in my heart is pride. Sadly, you have nothing left to show for it but the shirt on your back. Each of us have started this way, there is no envelope with $150 million waiting for you, but I'm sure that you will make the best of it.

Son, when people talk about Deimne, for they will for a very long time to come, you need to understand what the man stood for. When a Wise Guy was Made in New York, it meant that Deimne would rain fire down from heaven and hell protecting them, that he would wage war protecting them. Not only did he protect them with his gun, but also his with his words and with his actions.

For sometime our bloodline had believed that money, guns and bodyguards ruled this thing of ours. Let me tell you something son, money and guns only get you so far. However, words can bring about the fall of Empires far faster than any gun can. Words rule this thing of ours, having the ability to sway the public, as if they are nothing but mere sheep, is a skill and an art. It is one I had never truly valued in the past, but one that I now understand is vital to this thing of ours. Sway the crowd son, and an Empire you shall have.

Deimne built an Empire, the likes of which our world has never seen and might never see again. Every single city head that stood for the majority of the recent past came through New York at one time or another. Many that are now dead as I write these words, but do not hold this against them. Death is simply a fact of life, something that will come for us all one day. It’s what you do in the time that you live that makes the real difference.

Many believe, as did Deimne, that once you leave a city and become the head of a different city, your loyalty to the city you came from is severed. The links are broken and you only have one loyalty, your family. While you don’t turn your back on your roots, they are what made you after all, you must always put the safety and the protection of your new city as your one and single aim. For some time I never understood this, I couldn’t imagine breaking loyalty to a person, a family or a city that I had served with my life, for our lines loyalty runs deeper than a vein of coal in a rockcliff.

However, Deimne believed as I do now that you must think only of your city. Think of and trust no one outside of it. Each and every action must be calculated to understand what will happen to your city. Every action has consequences, you must understand what those consequences will be and ensure you don’t put those you care for in danger. In our journals, you will read about a wise old Godmother and her saying that still rings true in my ears today. Every action has a reaction. Think before you act Caesar, what will the consequences be to my city? What will this cause my Godfather to do?

Deimne built an Empire with not only his gun, but his fierce loyalty to each and every member under him. He built that empire not only with power, strength and fear but, mostly, with his words. He didn't do this alone, as no one man could possibly build or run a city of that magnitude on their own. There were many loyal soldiers of New York, each of us that stood behind him in the building process and would happily have given our lives for the man without hesitation. I unfortunately, came to this Empire at the end, and as such saw the fall.

I only wish boy that I could say I was there from the beginning and could tell you how the man waved his magic wand and introduced this world to an Empire to have more bodyguards, kills, money and people than any other Empire to speak of. But I can't, unfortunately. Deimne treated me with respect, but this was nothing unusual, as he treated everyone with respect. He allowed me the chance to prove my loyalty and to earn my place in New York. As such, I gave everything I had for him and for the city I was proud to call home. Through all of this, he had many that would've and did exactly as I had, unfortunately many of these, people I considered to be more than just friends but true family, also lost their lives in the recent war.

Naming out individuals could never do these proud soldiers justice, as there are simply too many to list, but I’m sure you’ll recognize the name of Maldiva. She was a fine lady I should've liked to marry and make your mother, one of the few regrets I will have of my life. I can only hope that you can go on to achieve what these great people have, live a proud life where every action you take is one you’d be willing to die for, should it come to it. Follow the example of those you saw growing up. Men like Chade, a fierce warrior who has stood alongside me and our city through all of this. To these people, these friends and family, I owe everything.

In the end, even the greatest empires must come to an end. Seeing one of New York's own leaders betray us, leaving the city for personal gain, makes it all the more painful. But such is life. Most of the events that lead to this day have been blamed on me, at least from his side. A lesson learned in taking care on who you are willing to follow and who you are willing to invest your life in. Learn from the mistakes of your father and choose your path with great care.

Loyalty boy, loyalty is all you have. Understand something, while many will blindly throw their loyalties to one leader or the next, our line have given their loyalty to two individuals in our entire time in this thing of ours. Find someone, work with them, get to know them and give them your loyalty. In return, they'll give you theirs, and all will be well. Should it ever come to the worst, at least you will know you have died fighting for a cause and a person you believe in. Something that is sadly lacking in this thing of ours.

Remember boy, use the skills you have. Develop the skills you don’t. Do all you can to make something of yourself. If you sit in the shadows, don’t put yourself out there, then the world will have lost nothing when your faithful day arrives. A life will be lost, but a life that contributed nothing to this thing of ours to begin with. Use your street presence to help your family, it is by far the most valuable asset any mafioso can have. If you can learn to speak to the masses, have a real impact on the thoughts and actions of those around you, then you can make real change and do something worth remembering.

By the time you read this, I will have passed on fighting for something I believed in. I will have died with pride and honor, so don’t mourn for me, be glad I died doing something I believed in. I can only hope you can say the same when your day arrives. Now, speak with Pipoca. Her mother was a dear friend of mine. She's a good lass, and should you need a hand with anything she'll be able to help you along. Friendships, are key.

Gianluca walks to the front of the crowd applauding as he gets there.

You Sir your father had a fine run and stood up for what he believed in. I know not of the full ins and outs of the New York hierachy but TheDean had his reasons whether your father agreed with them or not is neither here nor there.

I applaud you because unlike some who come to the streets after the you don't bitch about your father dying, you stand up and grow a pair and move on as did I as have many in 'this thing of ours' the ones that bitch and moan give all of us a bad name war is war people die we move on we lay rest to the fallen honour them and move on. The other reason I aplaud is that you are man enough to join a city in which was key in the downfall of your father's city.

While I am here I would like to pay my respect to all those that lost their lives in the war on both sides. In my bloodlines time here nothing matched what Deimne acheived and nothing can take that away.

On another note Caesar welcome to the city of brotherly love

Gianluca pulls out a battered looking cigar holder and pulls out a cigar and pulls out another to offer Caesar

You couldn't of told it any better.

I recently finished going through my fathers journals, and the lessons just from them have shown me that Gaius was the pinnacle of what we stand for today, he was a man that stood for his beliefs, and showed respect where it was due.

My father Chade stood shoulder to shoulder with yours, in defense of their Godfather. Even though he was unable to rise from his bed, through that I feel our bloodlines are close as if brothers. You and I will once again be like brothers in this life we have taken up even though more then 3,000 miles may part us.

I hope that yourself and I can follow in our fathers footsteps and serve and defend our family as they did.

Kylar tips his hat, before paying his respects to his fathers grave, before looking up into the sky lost in memories once more.

Gaius was certainly a warrior, and someone all of New York should be proud of.  I'm happy now to welcome Caesar into the folds of Philadelphia and I know I speak on behalf of Colin when I say that we have every confidence he will perform incredibly as our new LHM.  It is certainly a time for new beginnings, and I am looking forward to the future we will all build together.

Very well written, my friend. I only wish to see something this well written everytime I come to the streets. You sir, are a very fine writer.

"Loyalty boy, loyalty is all you have. Understand something, while many will blindly throw their loyalties to one leader or the next, our line have given their loyalty to two individuals in our entire time in this thing of ours. Find someone, work with them, get to know them and give them your loyalty. In return, they'll give you theirs, and all will be well. Should it ever come to the worst, at least you will know you have died fighting for a cause and a person you believe in. Something that is sadly lacking in this thing of ours."

Colin and Roman brought you in, and you've abandoned them in their time of need.

It looks like the lesson learned here is "save your own ass at all costs".

Selfish, honourless, traitor.

in short just a rat....

Ahh, this is interesting.

You call him a rat because he went to LA. But if i read my journals right, didn't Roman abandon New York a few weeks ago to join you when Godfather Deimne died?

How can you acuse him of being a traitor or honourless, when you were quite happy to accept Roman into your city for doing the exact same thing?

Does this mean you were happy to accept honourless mobsters or traitors into your city as long as it benefits you?

How can you mock Caeser? Did not Roman abbandon is own Godfather? By calling Caeser "Selfish, honourless, traitor" or a "rat" then you are calling Roman the exact thing. Caeser is only an earner, what could he really do to help his city? Not much. Yet Roman was a Don with a gun and loads of bgs who could have fought for his Godfather and made a difference, instead he abandoned him for idiots like Gwarble and ......Colin?.....

I have an honours degree.

its true i have seen it with my own eyes its real aswell, and very well polished.

Very easily, he accepted Roman's invite then bought out in a pathetic attempt to save his own skin.

Selfish, honourless, traitor.

Caesar listened to the youngling before him and started laughing.

Before spewing trash about me on these fine streets Thug Grin, I'd make sure you check your facts with Roman beforehand. I quote the following:

Roman: if you can wiggle out

Roman: you can

Caesar: ...

Roman: man you put in a lot

Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.

"Loyalty boy, loyalty is all you have."

Caesar, doesn't mean you had to.

Colin is still alive too.

It isn't like you were sponsored by Gwarble directly, you actually left your still warring family to save yourself.

"True Colors exploding everywhere" joey merlino says in astonishment, what a life, he then staggers out drunk into the dark with a bottle of johnny walker scotch

Tsk tsk, from the man that loves to try and preach as well... superb. Nothing wrong in my eyes with making a move in any particular direction. But running around, floundering, worried for your safety and switching sides in amongst it all, for no reason other than simple survival? How amusing and fairly pathetic. By the way, by posting this:

Before spewing trash about me on these fine streets Thug Grin, I'd make sure you check your facts with Roman beforehand. I quote the following:

Roman: if you can wiggle out

Roman: you can

Caesar: ...

Roman: man you put in a lot

Are you not just telling your new sponsors that you're still on friendly terms with old Roman? Using them purely as a safety net to cover your own back. With any luck they'll just HQ you when it's done for being a wee pansy. Most likely not.