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  1. Families

Kara-Tur Tongs

Crimal Secret Societies

The original criminal secret societies have their roots in the infamous Tsui Tong of the Black Cycle. Unlike the political secret societies, these tongs are devoted to a reign of murder, crime and terror.


Besides their many illegal activities, the criminal tongs are not above hiring themselves out as enforcers, working for corrupt officials and ambitious warlords. Their weapons are muscle, kung Fu weapons, poison, arson and murder. Each criminal tong has its own ch’eng po, or enforcer section, heavily armed and willing to face even the magistrate’s own guard.


Each tong is commanded by a Dragon Lord. The Dragon Lord directs the activities of five Tiger Generals, each in charge of a ch’eng po of ten or more men. Women are equally represented in tong leadership, and are known as Dragon Ladies and Tigress Generals.


Unlike the yakuza of Kozakura, whom they somewhat resemble, the tongs of Shou Lung do not wear identifying tattoos. Instead, each society has its own symbol, a color, a pin, a hair style or a piece of clothing which serves to mark a member. The wide number of symbols makes it extremely hard for the authorities to uncover the criminal tongs and their work. The tongs also use complex hand-signals and code words to communicate, making it nearly impossible for an outsider to penetrate their organizations.


Most criminal tongs operate under some type of legitimate front; a charitable organization, an orphanage, or a neighborhood business. Like the yakuza, the tongs often divide the city into wards, one to each of the five Tiger Generals. Within the ward, the Tiger General and his ch’eng po are the law. They look after their own neighborhoods, aiding those in trouble with the magistrate’s guard, bribing officials, running gambling and wine houses, and killing any invaders to their territory.