Kurokumo Clan

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The **Kurokumo Clan** is a subsidiary Syndicate of  The Thumb. Distinguishable by its achromatic colors, irezumi-style augmentation tattoos, and katanas, they seek to benefit from the collapse of Lobotomy Corporation by taking over the territory of the fallen Wing. It is the fourth Syndicate group to be invited to the Library, making up Chapter 2.1 of  **Urban Plague**.

## Composition

     Kurokumo Henchman | A katana-wielding underling of the Kurokumo Clan.

## Story

### Kurokumo Clan

#### Pre-Battle

Sayo and her enforcers are shown in an apartment somewhere in the former Nest of L Corp, threatening its occupants for failing to pay them protection money. Despite their pleas, the Kurokumo group shows no sympathy for the former Nest residents, even claiming they would be much worse off under under the Ring's "protection." They drag the occupants outside, where Gin cuts off one arm from each of them. Sayo, angered by the easy lifestyle of Nest residents compared to the struggles of Backstreets dwellers like her, orders Yang to cut out one of their eyes each as well. She then orders for the occupants to be evicted before they all depart. Sayo's group needs to finish delivering the Nuovo Fabric produced by The Carnival, and Sayo has Gin and Yang update her on the current situation in L Corp's Nest as they leave.

When they regroup in the residential area, Sayo and her enforcers are surprised to see their subordinates being attacked by Tanya. Sayo briefly insults Tanya before they start to fight, seeming to outnumber her by about a hundred to one. Instead, Tanya defeats all of the henchmen at the scene and forces the survivors to kneel before her. Tanya briefly muses about her desire for power and wealth and executes a Kurokumo henchman before ordering Sayo to hand over the Nuovo Fabric, unfazed by Sayo's threat that the Thumb will target her for this action. Tanya reveals that her boss wants her to steal this fabric to make uniforms before their "performance."

Tanya also orders Sayo to take all her surviving forces into the Library. Sayo and Yang cause Tanya to reveal some of her boss' goals. He wants to clear out the Syndicates fighting over Nest L, take the Thumb's Nuovo Fabric to create fancy uniforms for their "ensemble," and also help the Library in the process, all in order to stage some sort of performance. She refuses to elaborate further and hands Sayo the Library's invitation. Sayo hesitates for some time and only moves when Tanya threatens to kill her. Tanya mocks Sayo and the Kurokumo as they leave.

Back in the Library, Roland describes the situation in L Corp's Nest to Angela. The Nest without a Wing's control devolves into lawlessness, while Syndicates come to fill the power void and fight for control of the territory. Eventually, a new Wing will be assigned the former Wing's Nest and will have to reclaim the land from the holding Syndicates, either with money or with violence. Meanwhile, the former Nest's residents are doomed to suffer misfortune. Afterwards, Angela tells Roland that Tanya is a special case of the Distortion who has maintained her reason.

Sayo enters the Library, angered by Tanya, while Gin and Yang calm her down. She concedes that the Library's books will benefit them greatly if they manage to survive. Angela and Gin trade barbs about the blood on each other's hands on her arrival, but Sayo and her enforcers instead chat about what they will do to relax after leaving the Library. Angela breaks them up and ushers them into the Library.

#### Post-Battle

Roland worries that more factions fighting over L Corp's Nest will target the Library, particularly the Thumb, the Index, and Tanya's third party. Roland believes that receiving the Fingers' subordinates will benefit the Library, but is cautious about escalating the situation further. Angela doesn't mind as long as she can advance her goal.

### Background

The Kurokumo Clan is a Syndicate active in the southern parts of the City (but otherwise unheard of in the north). Its members wear casual clothing in distinctly dark colors and can also be identified by the dark cloud irezumi patterns of their augmentation tattoos. As a powerful Syndicate of the Backstreets, the Kurokumo Clan gains money and influence from controlling territory and extorting its inhabitants for "protection money." To that ends, the Kurokumo Clan's large size benefits it in territorial disputes, especially when fighting to control the grounds of former Nests whose controlling Wings have fallen.

The Kurokumo Clan is a subordinate of the Thumb and must obey its orders. Due to its particularly large size, the Kurokumo Clan is well suited for carrying out the various odd jobs and low-priority duties of the Thumb. Despite this, the subsidary status still has major benefits for the clan. It secures their position and even increases their power, since making an enemy of a Thumb subsidiary is effectively making an enemy of the Thumb, and the Kurokumo Clan knows this well.

There are three known ranks in the clan. Vice captains command small groups of clan members while captains lead much larger units (approximately 100 henchmen work under Sayo, according to Tanya's estimate.) The Kurokumo Clan Patriarch is the leader of the entire clan.

The Kurokumo Clan is one of the Syndicates involved in the war for Nest L, successfully taking control of some territory despite suffering heavy losses. It is able to win against multiple other Syndicates, including the Rusted Chains and the Blade Lineage. However, after the involvement of  The Index and a mysterious third party, the Kurokumo Clan is ordered by the Thumb to abandon the territorial conflict over Nest L, and they have no choice but to obey, leaving the conflict.

### *The Distortion Detective*

The Kurokumo Clan makes an appearance in chapter 29 of *The Distortion Detective*. As Moses, Ezra, and Vespa Crabro drive through Nest L, they are stopped by a group of Kurokumo Clan members who extort them for cash to guarantee "safe passage" through their territory, forcing Ezra to give up 10 million Ahn. Moses is unfamiliar with this group but can tell that they are experienced at the classic Syndicate act of extortion.

The person extorting Moses' group introduces herself as Vice Captain Yuri and gives Ezra a black plastic plate which will apparently guarantee her safe passage through all Kurokumo land in the future. Yuri prepares to let them leave, but Vespa instead slaughters every Kurokumo Clan member at the location, recovering the 10 million Ahn taken from them.

In the following chapter, Moses and co. discuss Vespa's actions; he justifies it as retribution for their killings of various people who could not afford their toll. They also note that the plate has the Kanji for "Kurokumo Clan" written on it.

### Key Page stories

Sayo’s Page

Yang’s Page

Gin’s Page

A Kurokumo Henchman’s Page
“Kingfishers? Don’t remember that name at all. Were they a real thing?”
“You know, the Syndicate that’s been struggling with finance and feuds between members recently. They seemed to be getting back on their feet after raiding the Constellars, but it looks like that didn’t last long.”
“They were irrelevant chumps, so I completely forgot about ‘em.”
“The Knots seemed to be after them… Maybe they finally hit ‘em.”
“Weaklings will get hounded.”
“And now they’ve been trying to invade our territory, desperate to loot anything.”
“Doesn’t matter. Their names wouldn’t be so unmemorable if they were any strong. Taking ‘em down shouldn’t be a problem.”
“And the Fixers at Clam Office that were cooperating with them from the back are gone, too…”

## Battle Symbols

There are 3 Battle Symbols associated with this guest group; see their reception page for more details.

## Gallery

SayoYangGinNest Dweller - Resident 1Nest Dweller - Resident 2Dialogue background 1: An Apartment in L Corp's NestDialogue background 2: L Corp's Nest - Residential Area
## Trivia

* The Kurokumo Clan is based on the Japanese Yakuza. "Kurokumo" is the English romanization of "black cloud," referring to their irezumi tattoos which are generally associated with the yakuza.
* Project Moon scenario writer Kim Jiyun describes the Kurokumo Clan as "the kind of people who kneel before those who are stronger."
* The Kurokumo Clan is featured in several character Identities in *Limbus Company*, as well as in Dante's Notes. These sources show several more ranks in the clan, and also some additional details, such as that the clan has a very rigid hierarchy and that it is in conflict with the Blade Lineage.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Library Of Ruina Art Book vol. I pg. 276: The Kurokumo Clan
2. ↑ *The Distortion Detective* chapter 29
3. ↑ Library Of Ruina Art Book Vol. I pg. 277: *"Because of its size, it was destined to take on the role of the so-called jobber."*
(Developer's note from director Kim Jihoon)
4. ↑ Cool Kids Club on Twitter (English translation team for *Library Of Ruina*)
5. ↑ Library Of Ruina Art Book Vol. I pg. 277: *"I'm reminded of an illustration that didn't make it in the game. It showed the Kurokumo Clan trio looking down at someone, but it wasn't included in order to reinforce the fact that they're the kind of people who kneel before those who are stronger."*
(Developer's note from scenario writer Kim Jiyun)