"The main reason for this was that Iris and Daera, whether intentional or not, were choking the life from this thing. There was nothing more personal in it than that. This thing of ours had been stale for a while now and was crying out for them to be removed. I had initially thought that the stagnancy would be righted after Don Alessia attacked The Java Cartel and was taken out with relative ease. However, fast forward 48 hours and the lacklustre guidance of the community continued. On the whole, people, whether they will admit it now or not, were getting disenchanted with life in this thing of ours. Things were stale beyond belief.


Yes, Iris and Daera let people rank well and train guns, but honestly, there was nothing else coming from them in terms of progressing things. Personally, I don't think it helps anyone to have have the whole contingent holding hands, playing nice and sitting back savouring their (self-perceived) greatness and basking in the recognition that comes with being a CL. There has to be a little more foresight than that and it was wildly lacking in my opinion.


Not for one second am I saying that I was the person that was the great hope, it takes a huge amount of time and dedication, the first of which is not available to me. However, I was one of the people who could do something about the situation where, as I saw it, CLs were resting on their laurels. Plod along and watch mediocrity at work, or do something about it. I would choose the same option every time. I have little doubt that Mont and Branston, if they had somehow survived would have done a better job than the previous incumbents.


I have seen the term nepotism thrown around quite loosely, even as recent as today, but it's a word that is quite fitting for Iris really. Her RHM's bloodline might well be good for this thing of ours overall, but the amount of shit he got away with was ridiculous. None more so than shooting willy nilly at people who upset him, or were annoying him in the coffee shops. Every single time, Iris fell in line, backed him up and dished out no punishment.


FlyingPig would probably tell us that they ran the show, they made the rules, no-one else. To be honest, none of that bothered me, nor was it my concern. However, when he starts shooting my members (Iris' members, yes it's semantics) for nothing and without mentioning it to me or my RH/LH until after the event, or slating me/my HS because one of them, shock horror, had asked for an IA list....then maybe it was time for the rules to change if I had the power to do it. Iris had most definitely lost control of The Ego.


Another partial reason for this was the straight-forward grasp at power, as Branston said, no doubt about it and I don't think there is shame in that either. This is the mafia, it happens. I had requested my own city with a formal request to Iris almost as soon as I turned Don. In this thing of ours, I do not believe anyone should be Don without their own city, more so when cities are sitting empty. That prompted me to make the request, which I heard very little back from over a couple of weeks.


Of course, lets be honest, we all know Iris needed my gun and those of my family members (yes, those would be her members again) under her umbrella. Why would she let me go, I might end up warring her down the line...


As I say, plodding along with the status quo was an option, but if I don't like something and I have the power to change it, then I am not the sort to be subservient. That works well when moving up the tree, not when you are nearing the top.


Above all in the last short while, I wanted Daera and Iris out of power. I was willing to risk my life for this and, ultimately, the lives of my exceptional family members. The decision was not taken lightly, there were many hours of hard work had gone into forming the family and there was going to be many great members lost, but they, for the most part, knew what was coming in advance and none of them even hinted at anything but supporting me.


I have lost some great friends and allies and their efforts will not be forgotten, even as I stroll down RL avenue for some much needed time away from this thing of ours. You know who you are, so thank you, even in death, it's a job well done. You were fucking exceptional.

To Iris and Daera: As we all know, people within these shores can be very immature at times, losing sight of the fact that it's a game. Yes, we had the power to cause chaos and yes, we did. People died (most people, unfortunately as the situation developed), but fuck me, if you are not prepared for the loss at some point, save the bother and don't put months into it in the first place.


Good to see you down here with me, this is what I most desired, I'm filled with two feelings at the moment. Relief, that RL Avenue awaits and a weight's been lifted. Joy, that we pulled it off and your behemoth families fell.

To Branston and Mont: You lads know what you mean to me, it was an absolute honour to stand by your side. I wish you could have made it through, though I can't help but smile when I think of what we did anyway. It was a blast.

To my friends: Too many to list, but if you think I'm possibly referring to you, I probably am. I've had nothing but fun throughout and it wouldn't have been that way without all of you. No doubt catch up in the coffee shops! Apologies where necessary for those that died as part of this.


Caligula"

While I share your views that things may have been stagnant, there are other things your father should have considered. First of all, his duty of loyalty to his Boss. He was a Captain, nothing more. You repeatedly referred to "his family". It was not his family, it was Iris' family. You were a Captain. And no, it's not semantics. Some words have precise definitions. A Captain is another word for what we often refer to as a "Subcrew Leader". It is another word for "Capo", or a Mademan who manages a group of family members and reports to the Boss. It is NOT the same thing as a Boss, and therefore it was NOT his family. Semantics? Not hardly. This is one reason why noobs should not be given positions of authority. There are basic fundamentals that must be learned first, otherwise they make decisions based on an incorrect understanding of hierarchy, structure, and protocol.

I also find it quite ironic that you accused FlyingPig of going around shooting things "willy nilly". What do you call your little coup d'etat of the last two days? If you are doing it, it is a crusade to steer the ship in the right direction, but if FP shoots a few people who have it coming, it is "willy nilly"?

FlyingPig was the RHM of the family and was above Caligula in the family structure. If he felt your members needed punishing, so be it.

Also, you expect someone to wait around for you two to show up when there is an immediate threat? Again, showing your ignorance and noob colors.

As far as chastising your member for asking for an IA list, let me make this loud and clear...


Perhaps I should retrieve FP's speech on what it takes to be a hitman. It is more than sitting on your ass, letting others do the work, and being a clickmonkey. Someone who is a Capo hitter should not need to have a CL or RHM do their work for them. Flying Pig tried teaching these things to those around him and tried restoring the pride, work ethic, and accomplishment that goes along with being a hitman. Some, in their own arrogance, chose not to listen. I suppose, if you know more than FP does about being a hitman, you have no need to listen. Do you fit that description? I guess it is a new day and age, and his old school values are no longer of any importance. Go on then, click away! In doing so, take away any sense of worth that can be earned by becoming an accomplished hitman.

Caligula was given a chance to prove his capabilities, despite being wet behind the ears and one of the biggest mutes around for his rank. He felt he deserved more. He didn't. He was still ignorant to the ways of life here, even ignorant to his own position in this thing of ours, ungrateful for the opportunities he was given, an invisible presence in the streets, unwilling to learn from the more experienced, and, beyond that, unwilling to listen to explanations when they were given to them.

But...I guess...that's why your coup failed.

I have no problem with the actions of Branston or Mont.

They did not have the duty of loyalty that Caligula had. They tried to seize power, and I respect that. That is part of life in the mafia.

I almost feel sorry for him. In his stubborn noobness, he may have ruined his bloodline's reputation. When loyalty is owed, and then betrayed, it is a stigma that does not go away easily. Mont and Branston owed loyalty to no one, which is why they are not subject to the same scrutiny. Caligula's actions are not much different from a RHM who HQ wacks his entire crew. The Java Cartel was Caligula's family, despite his perception that he was his own Boss. He set out to attack and kill his own family. For this, it will be a long time before anyone places trust in his bloodline.