The Godfather of Chicago makes his way out of St. Joseph's, a Roman Catholic church (a religion surprisingly NOT named after the Chicago leader) in which he had just given confession.  Now that he had been spared from eternal damnation, it was time to address the public.

Running a city is an interesting balance, you have to not only take into the consideration the needs of your people, but you also have to make sure the needs of the other cities are being met in maintaining stability and keeping the profit margins up.

Part of this process is ensuring that there is a level of comfort and trust among all of the city heads.  Although honesty isn't always the best policy when you run a criminal enterprise, it is a valued commodity to create partnerships and a bond of trust with other heads of state.  When that is threatened, the balance shifts and can lead to chaos.  What you've witnessed to night is simply a plugging of the dam so the rest of us can continue our routines without any further disruption.

TheDean and I have worked very, VERY hard to create an atmosphere where we could prosper as businessmen, and there has been a great deal of success.  Simply put, we make a LOT of money, not just because we have big cities, but because we have been able to create a stable environment for the cities around us to grow.

However, there are certain things that can derail that process:  Pride, ego, and perhaps the most notable... Paranoia.  When the cities fell and TheDean and I were the only two left, we knew without having to say it all of those qualities would have to not only be put aside, but completely forgotten for a lasting peace and prosperity.  Being friends made it easier, being good leaders made it a certainty.

That said we have tried to promote the same unity among the other cities, and like most initiatives, at times it succeeds, at times it fails.  In Ragnarok's case, it failed.  One of the things I value most about the leaders I work with is to see them cut through the bullshit and shoot straight with me about any issues they have be it with my city or another city.  Resolutions can be found with something as simple as a mobmail asking for clarification.  The war started by Detroit yesterday could have been easily avoided.

I was approached by the late Godfather Stubing the day prior to the war and he asked me if I had heard anything regarding Detroit wanting him dead, I quickly dismissed it as idle rumor.  However, within an hour of that conversation my people caught a WS of Don Adriana Andolini taking a pro wack from a Gangster in her crew by the name of Balthazar Andolini.  New Orleans started seeing the same trend, and that's where reason was completely abandoned; it was replaced by  the previous antagonist, paranoia.

At that point, given what I knew about New Orleans stance I reached out to my friend Ragnarok, who although he had past instances of being worried about being warred, had always been open and honest with me.  The interaction went like this:

roman: you there bub?
Ragnarok: hey man
roman: one of my guys caught a WS of adriana andolini taking a pro wack, you doing all right?
Ragnarok: yah
Ragnarok: jackass thought he was being funny
roman: roger that!  let me know if you need anything!
Ragnarok: will do man!

At that point I knew he had lied to me.  To what gain?  I'm not sure.  I'd never given Detroit any reason to have any distrust towards me.  Nevertheless, the die was cast, and Detroit allowed for paranoia to assume control over their actions and led them to start a war with New Orleans.

I need to take this moment to pause and let you know, that dishonesty from a crew leader or a member of another city for the good of their family is one thing, but when a city head lies to my face it brings us to this.  Allowing for an open and straight discourse among the leaders of our cities has built empires.  When that's broken, you just can't trust another city leader the same way.

To compound the problem, it is well known that I hold a tax stake in New Orleans.  As has been stated before, Godfather Stubing was his own man, but that didn't mean I was without business ties to the city.  At the time the attack took place, I had a loan out to New Orleans in the amount of $20,000,000.  To not be consulted prior to that attack or to have not been sent at the least a courtesy message, it was clear to me that the ties that were built with Detroit did not hold much water with their Godfather.

Perhaps he forgot that while he built up a good group of followers, I run the fucking Roman Empire.  Maybe he forgot that when we were under siege by attacks from Odin, Diablos, and Co. my people stood tall, took everything they could dish out, and at the end of it, remained standing.  My memory is not nearly as bad.

With those two glaring slights in mind, I knew there was only one decision left to be made, one that I have always saved as a last resort:  War.  I approached TheDean today and laid out my plan.  He supported my decision to war Detroit, however I knew there was still the debt owed to NY from Detroit.  Unlike Ragnarok, I made sure to address that before making any moves on the city.  TheDean and I, as we have many times in the past, came to a resolution.  In this case it was financial.

For me, this is not about money, I love it just as much as the next guy, but when you oversee the day-to-day activities in a city like Chicago, money is not something that comes in short supply.  This is about undoing a wrong that had the opportunity to repeat itself down the road.  This is about all of those adjectives that are constantly bandied about without any real care to their meaning:  Honor, respect, integrity.  

This life is precious, and being the head of a city means that you can't take that for granted.  Not just your own life but everyone's around you, and past that everyone's with whom you work.  Rest in peace Myrddin, Captain Stubing, and all fallen allies. 

It is great to see you stand for integrity honor and respect GodFather Roman,I am sure nobody will question you in what you did.And for you to take your time to come out to the streets and tell us the whole story is very noble.I have heard stories of two great men building these cities ,TheDean and Roman.And the stories are true I have witnessed it myself I am a youn mafioso but now know legends exist.May all the fallen RIP.

*Tips his hat and lights a cigar.He then get's into his black buick and heads off to the nearest horse race to place some bets.*

This game isn't fun enough anymore for all of you idiots to make your stupid rules up. All of you are killing this game. I won't spend anymore money on it. Go fuck yourselves, oh and ROROG your a little bitch and your woman is more man than you ho. Have fun with your little fairy tale game bitches

Bye :D

This game isn't fun enough anymore for all of you idiots to make your stupid rules up. All of you are killing this game. I won't spend anymore money on it. Go fuck yourselves, oh and ROROG your a little bitch and your woman is more man than you ho. Have fun with your little fairy tale game bitches

Rule #1 : if you can't accept to die in this business where everybody dies one day or another... Don't even think to be in the business.
Rule #2 : if you do choose to live this life of ours, don't be stupid enough to make your kids moan in the streets after your death. In other words : 
Rule #3 : live with honor, die with dignity.

... oh, wait, haven't you said you hate rules ?

Ari Gold looking a bit confused

?? game? what game? and since when Gangster who kill for a living be so sensitive?

anyhow Mr Roman, Mr Spike already took my words.

Rest in Peace to all that fallen, may your kin walk this path again

walks to the side of Spike and begin chatting

inaudible

This is a sad day indeed.  There were a lot of good lives lost that probably didn't need to be but as -iocaste- so eloquently put it, that's the business.  My father followed his Godfather to war and if so ordered would do it again in a heartbeat.  Godfather Ragnarok was a great man and I am honored to have served for him and call him a friend.  I ask that no deceased Detroit members come in here and bitch and moan cause we all knew something like this would happen eventually.  None of us thought we'd live forever.   Roman did what he felt he had to do and that is that.  May all the powers that be live long and fruitful lives, and all those lost may you rest in peace. 

To my fathers fellow ACF members, It was an honor and priveledge to work with each and every one of you.  I love you all and I hope your sons and daughters will keep in touch

* Takes notes.... Standing tall, sticking together...and avoiding paranoia to control your guns at ALL COST.*

AS much as the saying: i trust nobody but my tommygun, if there is no trust between bloods then there is nothing but chaos and anarchy...and even anarchist need rules to follow.

No rule being a rule is a complete illusion and misinformation to divide and govern.

Respect

AL D.