Mordinos

The Mordinos are one of the most powerful crime families in New Reno . Closer to a drug cartel than any other family, the Mordinos make the bulk of income from the selling of narcotics and other mind-altering substances to the denizens of New Reno and the greater Northern California area. The two keys to their drug trade were the boy genius Myron and his "invention" of Jet.
With the high addiction rate of Jet and its distribution solely in the hands of the Mordinos, they quickly became one of the most powerful families in New Reno. With Jet at their disposal, they even attempted to take control of Redding through sheer addiction. However, with a cure to jet addiction being discovered and Myron being killed happening nearly a year apart from each other meant the Mordinos' time at the top waned into nonexistence by 2281.
==History==
The origins of the Mordino crime family are as dark as the souls of its two leaders: Señor Jesus Mordino and his son, Lil' Jesus. Both were originally slaves in New Reno, but liberated themselves years before 2241, becoming two of the most ruthless and tenacious gangsters in Reno.The Chosen One: "{577}{}{Tell me about the Mordino Family.}"Jules: "{590}{}{(Holds up two fingers.) The Mordinos are a two-headed beast, friend, an' each head's named Jesus Mordino.}"The Chosen One: "{591}{}{Go on…}"The Chosen One: "{592}{}{I always suspected Jesus had ties to organized crime.}"Jules: "{615}{}{There's the father, Big Jesus Mordino, and the son, Lil' Jesus, and both are the meanest sons of bitches you ever met. Used to be slaves here, but they turned the tables years ago and carved out their own lil' empire.}"The Chosen One: "{616}{}{How big is their "empire?"}"Jules: "{625}{}{They own the Desperado just down the street. Can't miss it. They also got the biggest supply of Jet in ALL o' New Reno. So if you got the urge to fly…}"The Chosen One: "{627}{}{How come the Mordinos have the biggest supply of Jet?}"Jules: "{635}{}{They're on top of the pile, friend. Ain't no more reason than that. They got the factory, the maker, and the distribution. They're like a whole goddamn airline they got so much Jet.}"(NcJules.msg)
In the early days, the family's main income came from farming peyote cacti and selling them to tourists as the "Reno experience."The Chosen One: "{681}{}{HOW did you develop it, smart guy?}"Myron: "{690}{myn109}{Ah, Christ. Well...when I came across the Mordino family way back when, they were farming peyote cacti and trying to sell it to tourists as the 'Reno experience.' Total bullshit.}"(NhMyron.msg) They methodically built up their strength and by 2241, they and the Bishops were the most influential families in the city. The rapid, almost meteoric rise to power by the Mordinos was thanks to them finding a boy genius: Myron.The Chosen One: "{638}{}{What "maker?"}"Jules: "{660}{}{Yeah… (Leans in.) ...see, the Mordinos got themselves a lil' gold mine by the name o' Myron. Hit the jackpot with him…see, he MADE jet.}"(NcJules.msg)
It is with his help that Mordinos that New Reno became a key player in the struggle for control over the territory of Northern California. The geopolitical struggle centered around the town of Redding, the primary supplier of gold ore in the region. When the New California Republic switched to dollars as currency, backing them with gold, the mining city became key to the trade networks throughout New California. Whoever controls the supply of gold, controls the currency. Redding was lucky enough to remain far away enough to make a military takeover uneconomic. The three powers instead decided to make the city align with one of them through agents operating in the city, either planted ones (Painless Doc Johnson from Vault City) or voluntary supporters (Marge LeBarge was for the NCR and Dan McGrew opted for Reno).The Chosen One: "{138}{}{Hear any interesting rumors?}"Modjeska: "{145}{}{All I hear about are politics. That always seems to be the big stir in discussion.}"The Chosen One: "{146}{}{Politics? What do you mean?}"Modjeska: "{158}{}{Have you ever seen a greased brahmin contest?}"The Chosen One: "{160}{}{Nope, never heard of anything like that. Tell me about them.}"Modjeska: "{165}{}{What they do is grease up a brahmin calf, and then everyone in the crowd tries to catch the calf. If you can't catch it yourself, you make damn sure nobody else can, either.}"The Chosen One: "{166}{}{I don't see what that has to do with politics.}"Modjeska: "{168}{}{In this game, Redding is the greased brahmin - and a golden one at that. New Reno, the New California Republic, and Vault City are all trying to catch us...or at least keep the others from catching us.}"The Chosen One: "{169}{}{What do you mean?}"Modjeska: "{171}{}{Here in Redding we mine gold. Then we ship it to New Reno, the NCR, and Vault City in return for goods. Each of those places would like to have the gold - and the trade - all to themselves.}"The Chosen One: "{172}{}{Why don't they just attack you and take it, then?}"Modjeska: "{174}{}{We're big enough, and far enough away, to make a take-over expensive as well as dangerous. Much more efficient to have us join willingly.}"The Chosen One: "{175}{}{What do you mean?}"Modjeska: "{177}{}{The three powers are trying to get Redding to choose which side to ally themselves with. They've all got powerful allies in town, and it looks like things are coming to a head. Soon, Redding's going to have to make a choice.}"The Chosen One: "{178}{}{A choice?}"Modjeska: "{181}{}{The grease on this Brahmin calf is getting a bit thin. Soon, one of the powers is going to have to make a major play to take Redding before the others do. When that happens, people are going to get hurt. A lot of people.}"The Chosen One: "{183}{}{Why are people going to get hurt?}"Modjeska: "{192}{}{People are going to get hurt because this kind of change doesn't come easy. Those that think they're not going to get the prize get it in their mind to not let anyone else get it, either. The only way to avoid that is if we decide to go with one of the powers and make a quick alliance before the others catch on.}"(RCMODJES.MSG)
The Mordinos, wanting to establish themselves as an independent power, decided to take advantage of this political situation by attempting to gain control over all trade in Northern California. Their plan involved enslaving the Redding miners by proxy, with the use of highly addictive drugs. And Myron was able to provide the means. After evaluating the Mordinos' drug products, he created a completely new, highly addictive drug: Jet.The Chosen One: "{781}{}{How long has this been going on? It seems like you would have controlled all of Northern California by now if Jet was that addictive.}"Lil' Jesus Mordino: "{800}{}{You're right about that…see, we didn't always HAVE Jet. But we stumbled across this kid - he took a look at the shitty drugs we was selling and said he could do 'better.' And he did. Now he works for us. That simple.}"(NcLilJes.msg) It had an extremely high addiction rate and severe withdrawals, perfect for enslaving large populations without them knowing about it. By January 2241, the first samples began arriving in Redding, leading to widespread addiction and bringing the town a step closer to Reno.Fallout Bible 0 Timeline repair: Second strike:"2241 January The first samples of Jet begin to arrive in Redding, courtesy of the Mordino family." When the drug hit the streets of Reno, it practically turned the city around, for the worse.The Chosen One: "{1046}{}{Stables outside of town?}"Jules: "{1055}{}{Yeah, Mordinos keep ol' golden boy there, give him chips, whores, anything he wants, as long as he makes drugs. Jet was his FINEST. Ain't seen anything so addictive in a long time. Turned Reno around, it did.}"(NcJules.msg)
However, Mordinos' expansion met resistance. When they attempted to expand into Salvatores' turf in West Side in early 2241, the other family retaliated with freshly obtained laser pistols. Two of Salvatore's men executed a group of Bishop's Men and a larger number of Mordinos. The shock of losing men to superior armaments resulted in the families giving them a wide berth.The Chosen One: "{578}{}{Tell me about the Salvatore Family.}"Jules: "{695}{}{Quiet bunch. They're led by Louis Salvatore, an original gangster gettin' on in years. Their territory's on the West Side; their crib's this bar called Salvatore's on 2nd Street. Don't be making trouble there.}"The Chosen One: "{696}{}{Why not?}"Jules: "{710}{}{Some free advice: You see a Salvatore, keep your head down n' mouth shut, or they'll cut you in two. They got the best firepower this side of Cee-Ay, so nobody with any kinda sense fucks with them, understand?}"The Chosen One: "{711}{}{What kind of "firepower" do the Salvatores have?}"Jules: "{725}{}{Pistols…'cept they shoot LIGHT. Now, Reno's a city o' lights, but the light THOSE pistols shine can cut a man in two... *swuppp*... (Jules makes slicing motion.) Makes a clean burn 'tween the two halves, it does.}"The Chosen One: "{737}{}{Did they always have these pistols?}"Jules: "{750}{}{They didn't always have 'em…else they'd be in charge o' New Reno…ALL of New Reno. As it stands, they're just building up quietly. Those pistols showed up…maybe a few months back, 'round the time o' the massacre.}"The Chosen One: "{751}{}{Massacre?}"Jules: "{765}{}{Oh, yeah…two Salvatore boys with those pistols killed a buncha Bishop's men, then shot down some of Mordino's boys who'd been tryin' to muscle in on the West Side. Since then, the other families steered clear of the Salvatores.}"(NcJules.msg) Big Jesus took the defeat personally and swore vengeance.The Chosen One: "..."Big Jesus Mordino: "{580}{}{(Senor Mordino looks at you for a long time, then nods slightly.) I have one last job for you. There… (Takes a deep wheezing breath, wipes sweat from his forehead.)… is a MAN who must die.}"The Chosen One: "{583}{}{Who is this man you wish dead, Senor Mordino?}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{610}{}{This man, Louis Salvatore… he has killed many of my men… many PROUD men of the Mordino family. He... butchered them in the street like... dogs. (His hand clenches into a fist.) It is my will that this man die.}"(NcBigJes.msg) 
The struggle was ultimately resolved, but not in the Mordinos' favor. The discovery of a cure for Jet addiction and the death of their boy genius in 2242 broke their strength and the family faded into obscurity over the next couple of decades, their properties ceased and their members absorbed as enforcers or slaves by other families.Fallout 2 endings: "Myron died less than a year after the defeat of the Enclave, stabbed by a jet addict while drinking in the Den. His discovery of jet was quickly forgotten, and now there is no one who remembers his name."Fallout 2 endings: "With their jet production halted with the discovery of a cure, the Mordino Family quickly lost ground in New Reno and were absorbed by the other families. Most became enforcers or slaves, and the name Mordino was soon forgotten."The Courier: "What's your story?"Clayton Ettienne: "Well, I've lived in Nevada all my life. Started out in New Reno, but headed down here as soon as I got the chance. If you can believe it, things are even worse back home. The whole city's still run by crime families. Used to be the Mordinos and Wrights. Now it's the Wrights and Van Graffs. Seems like things never get better. Anyway, that's all behind me now."(Clayton Ettienne's dialogue)
==Organization==
Like other crime families in New Reno, the Mordinos have a strict, hierarchical organization. The organization is controlled by the two Jesuses, with the father responsible for long term strategy and less physically demanding affairs and Little Jesus taking care of the day-to-day operations.
The Mordinos are picky when it comes to taking on new footmen, as a result of Big Jesus' sexism and conviction about gender roles. Women and men deemed not strong enough rarely find work with the crime family.The Chosen One: "{277}{}{I'm looking for work.}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{290}{}{(Studies you for a long time, then shakes his head.) You… do not look STRONG enough. I have no work for you.}"(NcBigJes.msg)The Chosen One: "{277}{}{I'm looking for work.}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{291}{}{(Studies you for a long time, then shakes his head.) You… are a WOMAN. What I need done is not woman's work.}"(NcBigJes.msg) Even if one is accepted, they have to tread carefully, as it's easy to offend Big Jesus with apparent weakness.Big Jesus Mordino: "{580}{}{(Senor Mordino looks at you for a long time, then nods slightly.) I have one last job for you. There… (Takes a deep wheezing breath, wipes sweat from his forehead.)… is a MAN who must die.}"The Chosen One: "{584}{}{Whoa, nobody say anything about murder. Forget it.}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{595}{}{You come to me for work. I give you... work and you complain like a CHILD. (Takes a deep, rasping breath, then coughs.) You... are no longer welcome here... in my casino. Leave.}"(NcBigJes.msg) Obviously, failure has severe consequences as well, including death. Such was the fate of Ramirez, who let four slaves escape and was treated to a dose of poisoned Jet.Big Jesus Mordino: "{470}{}{Have… you done as I asked?}"The Chosen One: "{474}{}{Yes, I gave your package to that guard, Ramirez… you know that guy's a Jet head? He was REEKING of Jet fumes.}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{780}{}{Not everyone at the Stables... KNOWS they are test subjects.}"The Chosen One: "{781}{}{Uh... come again?}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{790}{}{Ramirez let... four slaves escape last month. (Shakes his head slightly.) That is not good. Within the hour, the Jet you gave Ramirez will stop his... heart. It is PUNISHMENT.}"(NcBigJes.msg)
As ruthless as the Mordinos are, they do not kill children.The Chosen One: "{327}{}{What do you know about Richard Wright's death?}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{730}{}{(Stares at you for a long time, then squints in confusion.) Why… do you ask me this? I have… HEARD what happened. (Wipes his brow.) The boy took too much Jet and died.}"The Chosen One: "{731}{}{That's the problem. The Mordinos are the biggest suppliers of Jet in New Reno. That makes you the ones who will take the blame.}"Big Jesus Mordino: "{740}{}{(Wheezes, wipes more sweat from his forehead.) If the Wrights had the… SENSE they were born with, they would… know we are not the only family with Jet in New Reno. We… do NOT kill children.}"(NcBigJes.msg) This may be a side effect of the great emphasis the Mordinos put on personal honor. A lack of respect earns their scorn, while outright insults can (and often do) have disastrous consequences. 
==Outside relations==
The Mordinos are one of the primary drivers of New Reno's economy, with their key asset being their control over the Jet supply. They are the largest producer of this highly addictive drug in New Reno, owning the main factories, the creator, and an extensive distribution network. Factories making Jet are scattered throughout the city, pumping new batches day and night.The Chosen One: "{627}{}{How come the Mordinos have the biggest supply of Jet?}"Jules: "{635}{}{They're on top of the pile, friend. Ain't no more reason than that. They got the factory, the maker, and the distribution. They're like a whole goddamn airline they got so much Jet.}"The Chosen One: "{637}{}{What factory?}"Jules: "{650}{}{Got factories all over New Reno, cranking out the shit day and night. That's why you can buy all the Jet you need most anywhere: bars, casinos, on th' street…and a-course, from ME.}"(NcJules.msg) The typical recipient is the junkie and/or visitor to New Reno, though large quantities of the drug are trafficked elsewhere, particularly in the less developed north.The Chosen One: "{639}{}{How extensive is their distribution network?}"Jules: "{670}{}{They pump it all over New Reno, for starters. Up north to the Den, and also…uh… (Catches himself, then shrugs and continues.) ... well, it's also makin' it's way to Redding nowadays, too, which don't hurt the Mordinos purse none.}"The Chosen One: "{672}{}{Tell me about Redding.}"Jules: "{685}{}{Not much TO say. Mining town northwest o' here. Word is, Mordino wants to get some influence there, get some of that Redding GOLD they dig up. So he ships them jet, they ship back gold, everybody happy.}"(NcJules.msg) Of course, Redding is a strategic export market for Mordino drugs.
However, the Mordinos have their fingers in more than one venture. The crime family is the largest buyer of slaves in New Reno.Jules: "{201}{}{Go see the Mordinos, slaver. They're the market for most o' the slaves that come to New Reno.}"(NcJules.msg) They also have an extensive network of pimps and prostitutes selling themselves on the streets.The Chosen One: "{645}{}{What is there to do around New Reno to relax?}"Lil' Jesus Mordino: "{840}{}{The Desperado is the place to be, homes. We got the Jet, the games, the action…and we got all the putas you need right outside, wet and willing. Paradise, homes. Pair-a-dice.}"(NcLilJes.msg)The Chosen One: "{663}{}{I'm looking for a job. Is Family Mordino hiring?}"Lil' Jesus Mordino: "{891}{}{(Checks you over, shakes head.) We don't hire chicas…'cept in certain positions. Try Pa upstairs, tell him I sent you. Maybe you can do some business.}"(NcLilJes.msg) They also control the Golden Globes porn studio, extracting a percentage of their operations.Big Jesus Mordino: "{520}{}{I… have more work for you. I need someone… (He takes a deep wheezing breath, then wipes sweat from his forehead.) … to collect my percentage from the... Corsican Brothers. They are LATE in their payments.}"(NcBigJes.msg)
Of course, their size and power make others envious or outright hostile. Unbeknownst to Big Jesus, Louis Salvatore, his arch-enemy, has been creating circumstances for a gang war between the Mordinos and Wrights, to weaken them both so that the Salvatores can seize power.The Chosen One: "{240}{}{Word is you had Mr. Wright's son poisoned. Why?}"Louis Salvatore: "{675}{}{(Mr. Salvatore looks at you for a long time in silence, then speaks.) We Salvatores...we will rule New Reno. If a child must die to insure that, it will be...done. There is no other reason.}"(NcSalvat.msg)The Chosen One: "{991}{}{You were ASKED to make poisoned Jet? For who?}"Renesco: "{995}{}{The Salvatores requested it -- they said it was a..."special order." I didn't know they were going to give it to the Wright kid. You HAVE to believe me...I don't poison kids!}"(NcRenesc.msg)The Chosen One: "{642}{}{I found this Jet canister that Richard used… er, was used on Richard. There were traces of radscorpion venom in the cartridge.}"Orville Wright: "{670}{}{Assuming I believe this for a second... and I ain't saying I AM... then who POISONED my son? And why did they go to the trouble of dosin' him with Jet?}"The Chosen One: "{672}{}{I don't know which of the Salvatores did it. Renesco doctored up some Jet for them, not knowing they'd use it to poison your son.}"Orville Wright: "{680}{}{Now why in hell would they do that?}"The Chosen One: "{681}{}{Way I see it, the Mordinos control the Jet in Reno. Naturally, you'd blame them for a drug overdose... and then there'd be war. IF you two didn't wipe each other out, you'd at least be weakened by the fight. That makes life easier for the Salvatores…all they have to worry about then is the Bishops.}"(NcOrvill.msg)
==Technology==
The Mordinos are easily recognizable by their black leather and automatic weapons, mostly submachine guns. This puts them on more or less equal footing with other crime families, with the sole exception of Salvatores. Their low-tech equipment is reliable and easy to maintain and replace. However, their biggest asset is extensive manufacturing facilities allowing for industrial-scale manufacture of Jet and excellent scientific labs (as far as the wasteland is concerned) where they refine their drugs.Fallout 2 appearances
==Appearances==
The Mordinos appear only in Fallout 2 and are mentioned in Fallout: New Vegas.
==References==
Category:Fallout 2 factions
Category:Fallout: New Vegas mentioned-only associations
Category:New Reno
es:Familia Mordino
fr:Mordinos
pl:Rodzina Mordino
ru:Мордино