The Estates

## Description:

"The Estates" is a blanket term that refers to the family-owned mega-farms that stretch from coast to coast, centered around the Rio Grande in what used to be southern Texas and northern Mexico. The Estates can refer to the farms and the geopolitical influences they represent, or the geographical area they cover, although these separate uses are often interchangeable. The Estates were formally founded in the late 2030's to early 2040's, following the aggressive expansion of Mexican drug cartels that would eventually form Aztech Biomedical Associates; the Estates were formed to combat Aztech and their Barrenderos, as well as anyone else who attempted to encroach upon and take over the region.

The War of Estates, as it became known, is a continuation of the "war on drugs" started in the 1960's, although it has taken on a somewhat different form since the 2040's. Megacorporations like Synthetichem and Kodian Enterprises actively support, sponsor, and fund the Estates, while other Megacorps like Aztech support the Barrenderos, drawing battle lines between Megacorps; this relationship has turned the War of Estates into a proxy war between KE and Aztech, and the perfect battleground for the world's Megacorps to test their newest weapons, armors, and vehicles against other equipment of the same caliber. The Estates also engage in skirmishes and conflicts with the Native American Confederacies and The Native Nations; similarly, Estates often war with each other just as much as they fight the "invaders," and are known to backstab, betray, assassinate, sabotage, steal from, and scheme against their neighbors. The region's largest Estates reached their monumental sizes through either exploiting the unpatrolled land early on in the 2040's, or by forcible "assimilation" of neighboring smaller Estates.

### Organization:

The organizational structure of the Estates is just as complex as the culture from which they were born. The Estates function like clans; of the estimated 25,000 Estates across the massive area under their control, all are structured similarly. Every Estate is led by the Patriarch/Matriarch or Baron/Baroness, the oldest living member of the Estate Family, also referred to as the Owners, Landlords, or Estate Dynasty; the Patriarch/Matriarch owns all of the land under the Estate personally and oversees operations at the highest level. Some of these leaders take a more hands-on approach to their leadership, choosing to keep themselves in touch with their employees, while others lord over their workers like feudal nobility; no matter the case, every Patriarch/Matriarch has earned his/her place of authority with blood. No one survives in the Estates without killing, backstabbing, or betraying, and the Patriarchs/Matriarchs are often the most experienced at all of the above. Estate leadership below the Patriarch/Matriarch is determined by seniority according to generations; e.g., a grandmother might lead the Estate, her children come next in line as her direct advisors, managers, and commanders, and then the grandchildren serve as foremen, captains, and middle managers for the non-blood relatives that work for the Estate. Blood relatives almost always receive priority for promotions, leadership positions, and payment, unless a non-blood relative earns the loyalty and trust of a blooded member, often requiring a Patriarch's/Matriarch's permission to be considered on equal footing. Patriarchs/Matriarchs receive the title of "Master," while blood members of the Estate below the Patriarch/Matriarch are referred to as "Miss" or "Sir" by their employees; the generation below them receive no honorary titles beyond that afford to them by their position. The largest Estates often have smaller farm properties contained within their wider domain; in instances like these, the families and employees assigned to these sub-holdings are referred to as "Homesteaders" or "Knights," and are middle managers in their own right, with the ability to hire and fire their own property's employees with permission from the upper Estate bosses.

There are, however, exceptions to the aforementioned system. In cases where the elders of the Estate are deemed unfit to continue leading, or situations where a parent relinquishes control of the Estate over to their child, are not entirely uncommon. Often, situations like those warn of a failing Estate or other desperate situation which has forced the change in leadership traditions. Many Estates do not have a full 3-generation Family running them, often due to splinters within the Dynasty or deaths in the family.

Despite the fact that every Estate is led by its Dynasty, the Estates cannot support their hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland on blood relatives alone. To increase their manpower resources, Estates draw employees from the surrounding areas, attract new members from far and wide through school outreach programs, lucrative positions, etc.; employees of Estates can choose, if they so wish, to grandfather their children into the Estate as employees as well, creating dynastic, inheritable positions within the Estates that help keep manpower up. Additionally, some Estates use - or even rely upon - slave labor to maintain their profitability; few Megacorporations openly support these kinds of Estates, but many rise through the ranks quickly before suffering rebellions or raids that knock them out of the game entirely. Regardless of their methods, Estates are almost always looking for new members. Prospective employees are vetted incredibly thoroughly, as any kind of betrayal or hint of mistrust is incredibly dangerous for any of the Estates; spies and traitors lurk around every corner, and anyone could be working for the Barrenderos, so no one can afford mistakes. Most Estate Families prefer to shoot first and ask questions later. Everyone in the Estates lives and dies by the gun, just like the cowboys they idolize.

The Estates all operate on agricultural business models. Either they grow crops, herd cattle, breed horses, or farm pigs and other livestock. Most Estates rely on seeds provided by Megacorporations like Synthetichem Solutions or Gaia Ecological Renovations Inc., as a large majority of Estates grow some type of crop. The Estates grow food or livestock to transport and sell across North America, the Caribbean, and beyond as their way to make money and survive, but few Estates consider that their true mission; instead, Estates feel that their primary directive is to defend their ancestral land from invasion by the Barrenderos, who intend on using the land to grow drugs or expand Aztech's influence. This real objective is accomplished through overwhelming firepower, often purchased from supporting/sponsoring Megacorporations, in what is known as the War of Estates.

The Estates are well-known for their use of mercenaries, ranging from nomadic Tribals to Texan gunslingers to PMC's and independent mercs. Mercenaries and private security firms provide the backbone for Estate militias, in regard to both manpower and equipment. Usually, the security chiefs for Estates are contracted consultants from PMC firms, who often bring squads of their fellow mercenaries along with them to help protect the Estate. Estates also use mercenaries to do their dirty work, even against other Estates. Synthetichem's Ranger Police Services Ltd. and Alamo Security Solutions subsidiaries are common recipients for Estate contracts, alongside KE, JI, and Xeno Corp PMC's; Estates are also known to hire out other Estates in times of need, although Estates only rely on their most trusted allies out of fear that their new allies may take advantage of the apparent weakness.

In particular, some Estates make use of a specific type of mercenary, known as a "Desperado"; they are sometimes called "Trappers," "Scalpers (not to be confused with similar units from the Native American Confederacies)," "Hunters," or "Wranglers." These individuals dedicate their lives to hunting Barrenderos, either as bounty hunters, guns for hire, or wanton murderers. Often, these individuals have personal vendettas against the Aztechs or Barrenderos, and so are especially dedicated and skilled in their bloody business. Some lead militias while others are contracted by specific Estates to help defend their property; some work alone and use only their personal vehicles, while others use helicopters or boats to stalk the borders of Estates or along the Rio Grande. These individuals are infamous for their brutality, utter lack of mercy, and determined wrath; few marks escape these people's crosshairs; most are nomadic, preferring to stay on the move and with as few physical attachments as possible, but most maintain active "hunting territory" inside which they conduct a majority of their work.

#### List of Known Estates:

1. [REDATED]
2. Harlan Estate
3. [REMOVED]

### Marketing:

The Estates need no true marketing, as the culture of the Texas-Arizona-New Mexico-Mexico region has evolved in such a way that the Estates are an everyday part of life; people in the region are born into Estates, live in Estates, and die for the Estates. As a result, all aspects of life in the area are dominated by either the Estates or the Barrenderos, from local sports to music and religion. The Estates sponsor everything, and the largest ones have their own television channels, radio shows, and record labels. Those who speak out against the Estates are either killed, drawn into a rival Estate, or driven to the Barrenderos; those who dislike the Barrenderos are either killed or recruited by an Estate; the few who hate both are either killed or forced into exile.

### Equipment:

##### Military:

Every Estate relies on its militia, referred to as its "Estate Gang" for protection. Estate Gangs are composed of Estate employees, hired mercenaries and PMC's, and sometimes Megacorporate agents, all led by the Estate's family members; often, these Gangs are led by the second oldest son in an Estate Family, although sometimes 3rd-party contractors are placed in charge if no family member is deemed suitable for the position. Estate Gangs are broken up into "Posses," squads of militia members that patrol the Estate's property and lead attacks against the Barrenderos. Some Posses are semi-nomadic, little more than roving lynch mobs that look for anyone that could be connected to the Barrenderos or Aztechs and killing them indiscriminately; regional KPD and even Synthetichem's police subsidiaries know better than to try and get between an Estate Gang and their prey. Despite the title of "gang" or "militia," most Estate Gangs are equipped just as well as small Megacorporations, with the largest Estates sporting jet fighters, bombers, artillery, and tank squads to defend against invasion.