The Yatela Crime Syndicate's styling and appearances are in line with a stereotypical ''mafia'', down to the trench-coats, fedoras, and [[Thompson]] submachine guns. Its organization is also typical of a ''mafia'', with an overarching leader known as a ''Don'' (sometimes ''kingpin'') at the top of the organization. At the Don's side is a right-hand man known as a ''consigliere'' or ''counselor'', assisting them in all major decisions and being the Don's most trusted confidant. Under the Don is a small number of underbosses or simply bosses. Each boss is usually in charge of part of the organization's territory; in the Yatela Syndicate's case, each boss is in charge of one of the towns other than the faction's headquarters.
Below each boss is a collection of crews and groups with various skills and specializations. A typical criminal crew or gang is led by a [[caporegime]], each of which is in charge of a number of several [[enforcer|enforcers]] (also called ''soldiers''), in turn, assisted by a network of [[associate|associates]]. Together, they cause crime of all sorts.
Although members of the Yatela family have served the Syndicate at all levels, all Dons have been, so far, male descendants of the organization's founder, Ignazio Yatela.
=== The Syndicate's first expansion plans ===
Ignazio designed a five-year expansion plan, which would allow the Syndicate to expand its reach outside of Greening and have a presence in multiple other parts of the world. This was achieved with the formation of settling parties and the foundation of four new towns: [[Baden Town]], [[Garica Block]], [[Lenox Corner]] , and [[Viris Area]].
By E7-130, six years after the Yatela Gang was first formed, the Syndicate was in full control of five towns, already becoming a dominant presence in the Southeastern Zone. The organization's businesses expanded and diversified quickly, soon becoming the [[Maze Police]]'s #1 threat.
=== Death of the founder and start of the Yatela dynasty ===
Starting in E7-190, Ignazio Yatela, now well over 80 years old, began showing signs of weakness and started delegating more and more of the day-to-day management to his brother, Guido, and other, younger members. Unable to do much physical activity, the old man ended up confined to a wheelchair or bedridden. By E7-193, he started getting visions of his own imminent death, and formed succession plans; on his deathbed, he declared that all Dons of the Syndicate shall be direct descendants of his, ensuring that the organization would always be under the control of the family, effectively forming a dynasty. In Pentema 18 of that year, Ignazio Yatela died of old age, the seat of power going to his brother, Guido.
Guido spent his short tenure guiding and forming Ignazio's son, Giuliano, born in E7-142 and now 52, to his future role as Syndicate Don. Months later, on Ultima 22, Guido suffered a stroke and died before he could be brought to a hospital. Giuliano Yatela, son of Ignazio, was now in charge of the Syndicate and the head of the organization's second generation, beginning the second step in a long and successful line of Syndicate Dons.
The Syndicate never publicly revealed exact figures, but it is believed that at least four associates and enforcers were killed. The value of the stolen goods was estimated to be between [[File:Parallar symbol.png|10px]]'''2 and 4 million'''.
Don Benito Yatela III, leader of the Syndicate at the time, declared that from this day onwards, the entire Guild was marked for death; any and all personnel who are members of the Guild or associated with them was now the enemy of the Syndicate. The Don's statements were essentially a declaration of war, cementing the bloody rivalry between the Syndicate and the Guild.
=== Benito's Revenge ===
A year later, on E7-415, Duplima 27, Don Benito III's revenge plans went in motion. Hundreds of Syndicate personnel, led by several capos, were sent to the Northern Zone, in the direction of [[Gimrun]]. However, they stopped short of entering the Guild's town; instead, posting themselves at the town entrance and along the town's routes. The plan was simple, but remarkable in its cruelty and logic: Don Benito III intended for his forces to systematically attack anyone attempting to enter or exit the town, creating a stranglehold on the town's trade routes, effectively laying siege without directly attacking any members of the Guild.
Despite several attempts to dislodge the Syndicate forces posted in the Northern Zone, and even a desperate cry for help by the population to the [[Maze Police]] (who refused to intervene, on the grounds that because Gimrun does not follow [[Standard Law]]), the siege is very effective and Gimrun is effectively cut off from the world, forced to rely on their meager food and water production methods and rationing what they have to an increasingly hungry and isolated population. The siege lasted exactly one year, at the end of which Don Benito III issued a message to the Guild, stating that further attempts to steal from the Syndicate would be punished even more harshly.
The Syndicate had accomplished their revenge, leaving the town of Gimrun and the Guild of Silver Larceners severely weakened. Total casualties are unknown, but it is believed that a significant amount of inhabitants (and presumably, Guild members) died of hunger or thirst as a result of the rationing. The Guild ceased all activities outside of their town for many years to come.
* [[Garica Block]]
* [[Lenox Corner]]
* [[Viris Area]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Yatela Crime Syndicate]]