Crosstown Smash

In Darien City, organized crime is a way of life. Behind every legitimate business is a gang ready to extort honest businesspeople. For every octen (currency) made, a dirty hand is out wait for it’s cut. It’s been like this for a very long time, and citizens understand the dynamic by now. The police force is powerless to stop them, as it is much more lucrative to stay out of their way. The district attorney was voted in by the sheer muscle of the crime families, and businesses, victimized by extortion, are not able to leave for fear of retribution.

All of this general mayhem is led by one woman: Zariah. She rules the many factions of crime with an iron fist. She punishes as much as she praises, but no one wants to get on her bad side. Her fiery temper is legendary. Her motives are clouded in secrecy, and the various crime family lieutenants would never guess at her real interests. She rose up through the ranks of the crime syndicate until she had become the undisputed head of organized crime in Darien City. Strong, authoritative, charismatic and menacing, she never fails to make a point. She has an inner circle of enforcers who, while not as gregarious, more than make up for their introverted shortcomings with unbridled barbarism and uncanny business savvy. 

One of the business-owners being bullied by the crime families is Rodrigo, a sporting goods store owner who believes in the strength of community and the power of family. Rodrigo, who has two children himself, has a gigantic amount of civic pride and love his city dearly. he is active in volunteer projects and regularly volunteers with Darien Lights Up, an organization that seeks to increase local commerce by encouraging citizens to support local businesses. He supports youth sports leagues in the Darien City area, endeavoring to enrich the lives of the children who are forced to grow up among the injustice. This year, however, the financial pressure from the legal and illegal taxes has increased to the point where Rodrigo can’t put on the Submarine Sandwich Celebration he throws at the end of every summer. This is the straw that breaks the lock on Rodrigo’s seething frustrations. He recruits 4 other community members to help him clean up Darien City. Each is a local  business-owner with a stake in the well-being of the city and its inhabitants. Each one will set out to right the wrongs and take down Zariah once and for all!