Black Souls

> ***Which gang is the biggest and baddest in the city according to the NTPD? The Black Souls have the title of body count. They are known for kidnapping people and forcibly harvesting their biocomponents. They could be called grave robbers if it weren't for the fact that they never expect a body to arrive at the cemetery or actually be dead. The Black Souls specialize in acquiring high-quality goods... by any means necessary.***
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The Black Souls are a gang of Neo-Tokyo. They are known for kidnapping people and forcibly harvesting their cyberware and organs.

## Overview

Black Souls are ruthless scum of the underworld who prey on unsuspecting, law-abiding citizens and gang members. Harvesting cyberware and organs is a nasty but profitable business, and Black Souls fill this niche by preying on their victims on the streets. They are absolutely brutal with no regard for the lives of their victims. To a Souls, a living being of his own species is just a collection of products waiting to be sold on the black market.

Its members can be found all over Neo-Tokyo. They are busy selling biocomponents taken by force from their unsuspecting victims on the black market. They are ruthless and care little for others around them.

## History

Very little is known about the Black Souls. Some things suggest they have connections to the Soviet Union. The members speak Russian, have some Russian graffiti, and listen to Russian music. They have worked for Militech before as it was in the case of Mitzy Heywood under a black deal with Nuclaxin-A9. Their way of conducting business in the underworld helped them survive in the dangerous and hostile world of Pacifica. It is said that this gang not only works in organ trafficking, but also in person trafficking for labor exploitation or in worse cases, sexual exploitation.

## Philosophy and Structure

The Black Souls do not obey any particular philosophy. They don't care about anything but themselves and profit. They are ruthless and immoral, their methods are far from attractive. Souls aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. This loosely defined gang has achieved a monopoly on the body parts replacement market, as their customers would rather pay for second-hand organs and cyberware than engage in the gore business themselves. The cyberware used by the gang includes cyber optics, health monitors, and more.

Black Souls tend to operate in small groups, with no official hierarchy binding them together, nor do they have a designated territory. His groups are scattered throughout Neo-Tokyo and mark their presence with tags and graffiti. They can be found anywhere but have a more concentrated presence in the Pacific and north of the Badlands. Due to this dispersal, they tend to form small bands with little to no internal structure or hierarchy, although the groups tend to be led by the most unscrupulous, wild and cunning individuals. Despite their lack of organized structure, Black Souls groups are definitely not to be ignored or taken lightly. Knowing that their dreadful reputation is one of their few assets, they will be sure to set a dreadful example to anyone who crosses their paths or interferes with their business.

## Sources of Income

Assault, kidnapping, mutilation and dismemberment are the usual modus operandi of the Black Souls. Their victims, or "donors" as they call them, are often never found, because the gang tends to use the entire body of their victims. Any cyberware or biocomponents that can be harvested or sold are placed on the black market. Impossible-to-find scraps are thrown away, burned, fed to Snowstalkers, or left as rat fodder in Pacifica's sewers.

The Black Souls are the main suppliers for other gangs, petty criminals, and shady criminals. They are also frequently hired to perform unpleasant or inconvenient tasks that their clients do not want to be associated with, be it muggings, forced labor, and kidnapping. As long as there's money on the table, a Souls will take the job no questions asked.

## Trivia

* Several members of the Black Souls have tattoos that allude to them having been part of the Russian Mafia (also known as *Bratva* or *vory v zakone*), who are widely considered to be one of the most brutal and dangerous organized crime groups in the world.