I've wanted to express a few things for the past couple of days and it has taken me until now to do that for a number of reasons. The first and most obvious reason was my commitment to founding this family on the right footing. I wanted to ensure that I did the legacy of the 'Beast honour, whilst embracing the change that we all worked for. Secondly, it takes a fucking assload out of you to organize something like we did and to succeed in doing it, which left me requiring a few nights in the HQ getting a foot rub from Doug. The final and most pleasing reason is because so many people have come out and started interesting discussions of late, I've found myself participating in them and getting sidetracked.

Alas, I felt I should explain a few things independently as many people have sought me out privately to get my opinion and insight into what went down. I'll get to all that later, but the first thing to do is to explain a little bit about my organization, The Barbarian Horde.

The Barbarian Horde

Our name is derived from the conglomerate that came together to overthrow the existing powers of Chicago and New York. I thought it a fitting tribute to the people who worked so hard to achieve so much.

We are a new family, mixing the traditions of the Cheese Syndicate, with the fresh approach of our new era. I believe in leading from the front and you will always see my beautiful features gracing the Streets and presenting a public image to our organization. Some people will claim that it isn't necessary for a leader to be doing that, but as you are no doubt aware, it is something I take pride in. I believe that my family should be able to look to the streets and see me and take direction from my actions, my words and my stances. That will never change until someone puts me in the ground.

Which is hopefully not going to be anytime soon.

I wouldn't be in the position to operate my own family without SexyBeast rising to prominence and taking over the mantle of Godfather of Chicago. He is the leader of the Cheese Syndicate and The Foundation 2.0, The Church of PizzaTheHut and The Barbarian Horde are all families within this criminal organization. I am delighted that someone who is so capable and has been so deserving for so long has finally risen to the place he fully earned. My family will live and die in service to our Godfather and this Syndicate.

We are recruiting new members to our Horde and hopefully trying to ramp down the number of robots that are currently stealing jobs from good, honest, hard-working Americans...well from mobsters at least. Ideally I would like to employ no robots whatsoever, so if you're interested in working for me in Chicago, drop me or one of my representatives a line and we'll see what you can do for us.

I think that is one of the most important distinctions I would like to make clear from the get go with this family; you work for me and not with me. We aren't equals, this is a hierarchical structure and I'm at the top of it. I'm not looking for friends, I'm looking for winners. If you want to make something of yourself, you know where I am.

The other Barbarian Horde

So, that is The Barbarian Horde officially announced and now to the bit you are (probably) most interested in - the war. I've seen and listened to some of the other participants come forward and announce their involvement without really delving into their reasons for it. That's fine and I don't expect any of them to divulge a word more than they want to. Conversely, I would like to share my reasons and actions, mainly because I hope that we never reach a point like that again, but mainly because Blutarsky is a moron.

It was difficult for me to do what I did, and anyone who knows me will understand that I place family above and beyond all else. I've never condoned swathes of rogues, I've never courted my own gain above that of my bosses and I've never hidden away in the corner when things needed to get done. Believe me when I say that I have respect for every person who stood by their Godfather and fought with them. I wish we could have done things differently; physically removing this regime was our last resort and never the first. I, and I'm sure many others too, undertook this action with an extremely heavy heart.

It became increasingly obvious to those of us within the Chicago hierarchy that Roman's mind wasn't on Chicago. He became embroiled in other worldly matters, which in itself isn't a problem, until they are allowed to bleed over into MR, then it is a different story. He also seemingly lost his appetite as a result of them, which after two years on the job, you can be understood even if it can't be condoned. Coupled with this, there was the highly publicised execution and demotion of prominent RHM and Consiglieres from my own and other families within the city for innocent eulogies, without any real justification or need. We all understood Roman's overriding desire to maintain an image of parity in terms of Chicago and the rest of MafiaReturns, but this was ridiculous. Some of the hardest working members of the city saw themselves stripped of their honour and titles and others received an outright death sentence for comparatively small infractions.

When you start to place a value on the lives of other families, in other cities, above your own, things have started to turn sour. Despite the iron fist that Roman used to govern his own city, he refused to remove the kid gloves when dealing with New York. Instead, we all had to sit back and watch in horror as -Premeir ran the city further and further into the floor, all the while with Roman watching on and applauding his every move. Had anyone from Chicago, or any other city for that matter, acted in the manner -Premeir had, they would have met the swiftest of swift ends. Instead, we all had to stand back and stomach plaudits like 'great' and 'legend' getting tossed around about a man who was systematically ruining Cosa Nostra both within and outside of New York.

Still, despite all of these things, I was prepared to continue serving Roman. Sure, they played on my mind and annoyed the hell out of me, but Roman was always tough and had always done things that I didn't agree with. I was aware of that when I began. I also knew that he had a seemingly unbreakable bond with -Premeir that I didn't understand or particularly want to. If I had balked at these issues, I wouldn't have joined Chicago in the first place. I'm thick skinned and just because the heat gets turned up, doesn't mean I'm going to start running for cover.

The final straws (because it did take more than one) came for me shortly after I took to the Streets to give MafiaReturns a rallying call. I was tired of the stranglehold that Roman had gripped our society with and I wanted to try and encourage others to come forward and demonstrate that they didn't need to hide in the background. I wanted to show that you could still say things and make moves of your own, without suffering immediately for them. I wanted people to realise that things could be different and they could change things for the better if they just tried to. I used some choice language and I riled up a few people, but if that was what it took, I decided that Chicago would back me on it.

Only, one of Chicago's leaders decided not to back me on it. He decided instead to approach Roman and demand my head. Rather than either do something about it himself, which would have been an option I respected, approach me about it, another option I would have respected, or approach my Don about it, which I would also have respected, he ran crying to our Godfather to try and get Roman to fix what he viewed as a problem without getting his hands dirty. This, I had no respect for.

If I piss you off and you're a nobody, that is one thing, if I piss you off and you're meant to be a god damn Don, do something about it. If you're so pathetic and cowardly that you aren't prepared to fix the problem, you don't deserve the role you've acquired. I had to step back and ask myself, is that the calibre of leader now? Is that how terribly this cowardly attitude has festered?

My answer came when I got word from Roman. Not that Mrs-Doubtfire had run to him and demanded I die, but instead that I must 'go easy' on Mrs-Doubtfire in my response to his public attacks towards me. He made no mention of the fact that one of his Dons had tried to have the leader of his public relations and LHM to another of his Dons killed. Seemingly that wasn't worth a heads up about, instead it was imperative that I don't hurt this guy's feelings?

This angered me, a lot. I'm not prepared to continue to put my efforts into furthering the cause of someone who wants me to spare the blushes of my would-be executioner, just in case he gets upset. What sort of world is that? This is supposed to be the Mafia. I'm not in the business of making everyone feel good, I'm in the business of making money. I'm here to get power and respect, not to tip toe around to ensure that nobody feels a little uneasy when they are blatantly skating by. Fuck that.

Despite my fury with that incident, I was still prepared to let Roman walk away at his two years. I felt that I owed him that much and I felt that his retirement would enable me to help change things without having to betray him. I didn't want to do that, but I guess I didn't have a choice, because I heard whisperings that Roman's two year retirement plan was evaporating. Instead, he wanted to hang on until -Premeir reached his one year milestone.

Now, I could just about tolerate letting Roman retire. Whilst he hadn't been truly tested by any aggressors throughout the majority of his reign, he had been shrewd in orchestrating that to happen. He had manipulated, schemed and bullied his opponents into submission. Fair enough. Roman had earned his legend, but -Premeir? What had -Premeir done? He had ran New York into the ground, caused half of his city to retire, including his own Underboss, authorised people purely to circumvent the BG training requirements, banned bloodlines seemingly for his own amusement, forced the leaders to follow him and all together skipped along attached to Roman's coattails. This was who we are supposed to be allowed to retire of his own accord? Is this man deserving of retiring undefeated?

I determined he was not and that I wasn't prepared to allow it to happen. Everything else, even Roman deciding not to tell me Mrs-Doubtfire was gunning for my head, I could probably have lived with. Even knowing the lasting damage these allies had been inflicting on us, even the banning of notable bloodlines seemingly on a whim and the public executions of prominent members of their own cities, even the acceptance of mediocrity in leadership and destruction of the Streets. All of this, I could have lived with and put up with for a little longer. I wouldn't have been proud of myself for it, but I could have accepted it. However the prospect of this horrible tenure going unanswered and worse it being celebrated? No. Never.

I realised that if Roman wasn't prepared to step in now, then he was never going to and if he was prepared to wait to retire alongside -Premeir, he also condoned his behaviour. I was tired of it and I thought we deserved better. We deserved better for our community and we deserved better for ourselves. I made my choice and I started to garner support. I knew that I alone couldn't be the only person who felt like this and I knew that most people probably feared for their own safety or would have acted sooner.

I've often told people that you can achieve more through contacts and intellect than you ever can through hundreds of bodyguards and a bazillion IAs on your gun. People continue to ignore that, but hopefully this make them stand up and take notice. Being able to employ 300+ bodyguards and kill 1000+ inactives does not make you great, it makes you lazy. You think that because nobody can 'one shot' you that you don't have to bother with the rest of us. You become insular, obsessed with yourself and your own importance. You fail to devote the time needed to the other aspects of being a success, like cultivating relationships, allies and respect. Those of the things that tell in the end, because nobody cares that you killed 1000+ IAs and a handful of active people.

Once I began speaking to leaders and influential members of the community, it became apparent that feeling was as bad as I had suspected. It was my task to convince them that the 'unkillables' could be killed and I set about my duty with a verve and a purpose that I had long lacked. I recruited and I sought out allies where previously there had just been rivals and shadows. I slowly began to assemble a team and once they themselves determined it was possible, we grew stronger and stronger still and then we became stronger than I could ever have dared possible; then we became the Barbarian Horde.

History has shown us that Rome was eventually sacked and the empire overwhelmed by the barbarians, but we knew nothing would be straight forward. I consoled myself with the fact that if we lost, nobody could ever suggest that someone hadn't tried to take Roman's Empire from him, nobody could ever suggest that he hadn't been attacked and nobody could ever taint his legend. How could they? He would have beaten the best.

As it turned out, MafiaReturns and history went the same way. The Barbarian Horde overwhelmed the Empire and one of his own slew the Emperor. The world lost a great man, of that I have no doubt, but I think it will be better for it. No-one should be beyond accountability and no-one should be tolerated indefinitely when they pursue aims that aren't to the betterment of their own families or our society as a whole.

I offer my sincere thanks to the individuals who came together to forge an uprising, to the uprising that become the Horde and to the Horde that changed the world. We have fashioned ourselves an opportunity for change and growth - one that I intend to embrace with both hands.

Oh, and I'll try to get a Knuckle done. Soon

..ish.

~C~

Having been away from these shores for awhile, I appreciate hearing a leader of men step forward and offer insight as to what occured. Others have said their pieace, but none of included quiet the details that you have Chuckle. It clearly came to a point that even enemies had to become friends to challenge the dark times that where reinging over them. This event in history will be remembered as one of the great moments in time. Much like the take down of Deimne, the take down of Roman and -Premeir will not soon be forgotten.

It has done something else that most people are aware of, but some might not have noticed. The streets have come alive again. By all accounts from outside this world sources, for awhile nothing was said in public, it was all hush hush commentary in coffee shops and telegrams. The post war commentary has lived up the streets, its made the streets a place you must stand on every day and hear one anothers thoughts, stories, or whatever it is their selling. For that, I believe the Horde, and its allies need a round of applause.

My father played a small role in this effort, and I know he was proud to die for this cause.

When he was approached by Chuckle, he had a bulge in his pants like a kid does on Christmas morning, and I'm sure others felt the same way.

I wish Chuckle and The Barbarian Horde luck, and look forward to working with them as we rebuild the great city of Chicago. 

I am extremely happy to see your bloodline get another chance at crew leader. You and I have talked on many occasions and from what I have gathered I think you heading this new family of yours will not only benefit Chicago but our whole community. Congratulations my friend. I shall be watching the Barbarian Horde with eager eyes.

As to the other barbarian horde, as you have mentioned times were extremely tough in New York. Starting up with Premeir I was full of fire and eager to make a difference but slowly my flame was being put out, I had begun to lose faith in myself and this place as a whole. But your street thread brought back the fire that I had been missing for many months. The day you approached me with your plans is the day I knew that I could no longer sit there and accept the injustice around our great country. I was onboard in a heart beat. I hope others learn a valuable lesson from all this. No one is unbeatable. Thank you Chuckle.

Stark was making taking his daily stroll through the streets when saw a small gathering on the corner, wondering over he quietly asked a mobster beside him what was going on

Chuckle is about to recount his involvement in the recent war

The Mafioso said. Intrigued Stark lit a cigarette and stood by to listen. After Chuckle had finished speaking Stark turned to the guy next to him.

What a fascinating story, not often do you such a candid and honest account of events, lets hope it's a signed of things to come.

Chuckle

Your account of the events that led to this war give even more proof of the tyranny everyone was living under. Not just in Chicago, but city wide. My bloodline was starting to lose faith in this world and was close to retiring altogether, i may have even mentioned that somewhere... Whether or not we won or lost the war against the tyrants doesn't matter to me, the fact is that crewleaders from all cities united to oppose the 2 most powerful men in our world, that alone restored my faith in the Godfathers and crewleaders we have. The result was obviously a pleasing one and things seem so much better now already.

It just goes to show that no matter how powerful someone is, no-one is invincible and anything is possible.

Firstly, congrats on getting out of the Cheesy HQ. I've heard the stench in there is unbearable.

Secondly;

I've seen and listened to some of the other participants come forward and announce their involvement without really delving into their reasons for it

I don't know about anyone else. But I've thus far been pretty vague in my involvement in the plans. The only reason for this is that I didn't want to paint Old Chuckle as some sort of Hero, to be honest. Your ego is big enough as it is! Its true, Chuckle was the mastermind behind it all, that in itself was one of the main reasons my immediate answer was Yes when approached. Had anyone else in our community came to me with a similar idea, I'm not entirely sure I'd have jumped on board so readily. My own personal reason other than those that mirror Chuckles recount of history, was that Premeir had no respect for his fellow Godfathers. He knew that with Roman on his side everyone would bite their tongue when he pissed them off. It happened time and time again, he would do or say things that anyone else would be seriously reprimanded for and we'd let him away with it so as not to rock the boat of the Empire.

Now, having been a member of the Roman Empire myself for such a long period of my life, like Chuckle I did feel a sense of betrayal by acting out against Roman. He may never know, or even care, but those actions were with a heavy heart. I'm a deeply honourable person that has high regard for his family and his city and also his past, and so I still considered Chicago a major part of me and would never have wished her harm. Alas, there was no other way. If we were to attack Premeir, we knew Roman would join in, and so the plan couldn't be anything other than to attack them both.

I shall repeat what has been said and congratulate you on becoming a Crew Leader. I also agree with Godfather Bama about the ego, i don't think the dictionary holds a word for it ;)

Regarding the reasons for this war, everything you have said pretty much told the feelings of everyone within Chicago and outside who participated, definitely myself comes under that category.

When one makes so many decisions which people disagree with, it shows that people from all over the 8 cities can/will pull together to make a difference and be counted for. I maybe just an old grumpy bear but i feel no sorrow for the actions which took place, as i can only see a brighter path which lays ahead.

As we have previously spoke Chuckle, i look forward to seeing you and your family grow and prosper.

This was a great read and the information was cock on!

Clarity came forth as she saw her mother's old friend, Chuckle, speaking once again in the streets. Her mother considering him a friend because they worked quite closely together for a while in the streets. She had a lot of respect for the man and even more respect for him when he spoke.

Being the daughter of her mother, Clarity was a lot like her. She too had a voice that she wouldn't keep quiet. Hearing Chuckle's personal frustrations and how he was the mastermind behind Roman and Premier's undoing, she wasn't in the least bit surprised. There were things that Roman did that her mother didn't approve of, yes, she accepted his actions and went on with her daily life, but she never exactly felt that he was a poor leader or becoming too much of a tyrant. Her mother's personal interactions with the man were always positive. So it was a bit of a surprise when Clarity woke up a few days back to hear the knews of her mother's death. She had been asleep in her bed when the murderer came in and took her life, only to leave her daughter untouched.

You would figure that Clarity was very heartbroken and lost after the death of her mother, but she wasn't. Her mother had done a lot in her time and was content with her life. Clarity knew that she was a happy women when she died and held no anger for those that killed her.

Yet, Clarity did know that her mother's friends, and now also people she would call her friends, weren't very happy with her leader Roman or Premier for that matter. Chuckle, showed how clear that was in his speech and Clarity knew it was true. She just never figured that people would finally stand up for what they felt was right.

Clearing her head of her thoughts she then smiled and shook Chuckle's hand. She thanked him for the information he brought forth and the news of all the new leaders in Chicago.

"I, for one, know that you will do great leading your family. Which I am sure the rest of Chicago will follow suit. You are a fine city and many of you my mother and myself call friends. I look forward to what you have to bring to our world and will be waiting anxiously to see this. Thank you, Chuckle and I'll be seeing you around!"

Clarity winked and then made her way off.

Chuckle, although we have never had an actual conversation our bloodlines have crossed more than a couple times. In fact I remember a time when my relative worked directly under yours.. and if the strong leadership carries on through your genes as your incredible speaking skills have I have no doubt you will do a wonderful job. Congratulations on your new bold suit, you wear it well.

As for the removal of Godfather Roman and -Premeir, thank you for sharing with us your personal reasoning for it. There's been a lot of talk about it and after hearing several people's reasons for them joining the cause, seems like it was basically the same song and dance. I know my mother had a hard time dealing with the fact that she was turning her back on a man she called Godfather for several months.. but sometimes you must do something you dislike for the betterment of everybody. I hope this was a lesson learned for all involved and none of us find ourselves in the same predicament.

RP stood there with a smile on his face as he listened to Chuckle, and after he had finished speaking, RP approached him and gave him a pat on the back. "I think we all know that this wasn't an easy decision to make, our families go way back and we've always been on opposite sides, but I am proud to have had my father fight by your side, he knew what you were doing was for the greater good and not a selfish act, and I applaud all the effort you and the others put in to achieve a common goal, Chuckle.

And I look forward to see how people lead from now on, without the fear of getting shot in the face for speaking their mind, or changing things in their cities, or whatever they might have wanted to do but feared they couldn't because of a handful of people.

Congratulations on your newfound role as a leader, and good luck to you and your Barbarian Horde, may you crush many skulls."

Firstly thank you for being so candid about the catalysts that led upto the events of last weekend. It takes a strong character to stick a head out of the parapet with the possibility of looking down the barrel of a beast of a cannon, and to have the fortitude to make the calls that were made

A great deal of women and men fell that day, including my fathers. Hearing this recollection confirms my feelings that his fate wasn't in vain and was a necessity for the greater good

I wish the Barbarian Hoarde well and the ensuing Knuckle

Jax

I have said before and I will say again..........The men and women of power in our world are afforded such positions by the people above them, alongside them and beneath them. It is not possible to hold high office without unwavering support both financially, physically and In addition to these primary requirements there has to be a firm level of understanding which in itself breeds support from the grass roots up.

Yes I stood alongside many courageous individuals from around our world and it is something I am proud of. A common goal was sought, and it was achieved with a resounding victory. Chuckle has already said that the state of our world was such that something had to be done and this act was a perfect execution to remove obstacles which stood in the way of that common belief.

I hope that we seize this tremendous opportunity with the same energy that brought about its birth.

However, one must not lose sight of the fact that the cost in both members and hard cash has resulted in a significant drain on available resources to all cities. Whilst the rebuilding is obvious, the changes that we seek will take time.

The Barbarian Horde stood firm and united throughout the recent war and the rest is now history. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Chuckle all the very best with the new Barbarian Horde. I know damn well that under his leadership the success of this new Chicago organisation is assured.

May the angels of prosperity fly by your side my friend..............good health, and high spirits always.

Salut!

Leaders need people to lead.   For people to allow themselves to be led by someone, they need to have confidence that the leader will work to make sure there taken care of, and there needs are met.   My family has been in Chicago for a few generations now, and while my crew leader always made sure my needs were met, hence why I followed him without hesitation into this war, I never felt the same from the previous Godfather of Chicago.

Now it's easy to write that off as saying a Godfather of a city is far to busy to shake every gangsters hand in the city, but that is not what I meant.   My father was one of those demoted for posting a eulogy in a "rogues" funeral.   The rogue had once been a crew leader to a great grandfather or mine, and I respected the man and wanted to say RIP.    That is all, RIP.   Not: "Way to go!!"  Or "shoot those idiots!"  Just RIP.   My father woke up the next day stripped of his Consigliere rank, and with a message from his crew leader stating that he was almost killed for the offence.   Confused, as he had no idea the reason the person's funeral he had attended had been wacked, he accepted his fate and kept his mouth shut.

Now later on, Premier, a close friend of our former Godfather's tells some to "Rot in hell" or something along those lines.  No reprocussions.  No one said anything, except Kulinski and of course he was disregarded for his past conflicts with Premier.  All this seemed like far too much of a double standard.

To concluded this scattered recount of events, my point is this.  A leader's power comes from his followers.   Should a leader fail them, as in this case I felt he did, and clearly I am not alone,  in time the people who were once loyal, will search for someone else to take on the role of their leader, someone they feel will take care of them and look after there interests.  I have 100% confidence that SexyBeast and all the leaders of Chicago will make the city great as I have already seen first hand their commitment to their members.

GTL

When i first heared of the plan, i wondered if it was a trap as i spoke with my uncle.  I had concerns this was simply a case of finding a cities enemies and a new target to be painted on a city.  I knew the longer info was about their would be leaks and their would be casualties.  As me, my uncle and boss discussed matters further as certain equipment needed to be imported and slowly the number of people involved grew my worry became more excitement thinking things would change.  Funny enough things never went as perfectly as planned with JimmyNapoli dropped before he even got a shot of with people appearing as the war was starting and others were unavailable.  Sadly the cost of progress is sometimes payed in blood and bone but thats the risks we took when we signed on.