Post by Cullen Montoya on Jul 4, 2014 17:03:56 GMT -6
It came to my attention that it might be a good idea to give everybody a better view of what the Montonovs are about in relation to the SL overall. All of this info is OOC. It is NOT to be used in character at all, unless your character specifically learns it through RP. If your character might be interested in any of this, please contact either myself, or Rifka.
I have already spoken to the other Mods, there will be consequences to anyone who uses this info without permission. The purpose of this is purely to give everyone an idea of what the Montonovs are about and to give you all information that might be of interest to you.
The Montonov family ran LA for many years. Not just the criminal aspects, but also several legitimate, high-profile businesses as well. Lev controlled the entire family. The family's legitimate interests were industry (primarily metal building supplies, like steel girders and rebar, which is used as a front for their illegal gun shipments), pharmaceuticals (this was primarily used as a front for illicit drugs), and human resources (which was a maid and temp service fronting for a prostitution ring).
As a result of the companies successes, Lev was able to get influence in a lot of different realms. Such as the local government, the state government, entertainment, and media. In other words, the Montonovs have anybody from the mayor to state senators in their back pocket, not to mention blue collar unions and local newspapers. Lev's primary tool to gain influence over these individuals was blackmail. A trait that is being continued by his widow. He countered this by going out of his way to give back to the community. Honest workers were treated honestly, but if they were crooked, Lev treated them in kind. This allowed Lev to be both loved and despised.
Now, here's the big kicker. The TRUTH behind Lev's murder. It was a combined effort between the Chinese and the Russians. The Chinese were interested in expanding their drug trade into the LA area. Lev was preventing them at every turn. The Russians were infuriated with Lev for his refusal to allow them to traffic women through LA, despite his ties to their organization. He was becoming a problem for both sides. They decided the best option was to work out an agreement with each other, and take Lev out to suit both their needs. The Chinese agreed to do the hit in exchange for full control of LA's drug trade, and to be the primary supplier of women for the Russian mafia. To ensure that their needs were met, the Russians planned to ambush Lev and kidnap his young daughter, Dara. The thought behind it was that if Lev managed to survive the ambush, they would have leverage against him in the form of his only child. If he didn't survive, they would still have the girl as a further reminder to any other family of what happens if you crossed them.
Fast forward to present day.
The Montonovs still control the majority of LA, however, their control is not as iron clad as it had been. With Lev out of the picture, the Triads are preparing a hostile take over of the drug market. The Russians, having been recently insulted by Rifka herself, are seeking revenge and all of Lev's holdings. They are in the process of organizing their own takeover, headed by Boris "Mak" Makarov. Mak is a well known name in the underworld as his ruthlessness and cruelty have been splashed across the New York tabloids for years. Also, any other group with a thirst for power have their eyes set on the recently weakened LA throne. Rifka has turned to the MC for help patrolling the streets, to keep her informed of what's going on and to control the city's borders.
A little information on the family itself:
The Montonovs are all about business. The organization runs like a well-oiled machine. This is possible because they don't tolerate fuck-ups of any kind. Only the very best are allowed to grace their payroll. From the legitimate business side, one mistake could get you fired. On the more illicit side of things, one mistake could get you killed. They don't tolerate anything or anyone that brings unwanted attention to the family or tarnishes their hard-earned reputation. They will break off a business arrangement if it seems too risky. Getting caught means you screwed up. Their philosophy is simple: Don't make it complicated. Complications are expensive, and expensive is bad. Anything that is bad is to be eliminated.
Rifka Montonov:
In appearance Rifka might be mistaken for a simple trophy wife. She was nearly 20 years younger than her husband and grew up on the worst streets of LA, and still calls that area her home. Her primary business holding is the simple community center she now runs in place of it's original owner, Miguel Osaar. What most people don't know is that the center is also a dojo, and Osaar was once a tournament champion in aikido. Not only that, but he had trained Rifka as his protege, and now she is the primary teacher of aikido at the center. Behind the elegant clothing and gentle smile, Rifka is a force to be reckoned with. She holds degrees in marketing and business management, both from UCLA. She was the unseen force behind Lev's ascension to the LA elite, often the mastermind behind many of his plans.
Dara Montonova:
Attending UCLA on a gymnastics scholarship, Dara is currently majoring in early childhood education. Her dream is to compete in the olympics and then retire as a kindergarten teacher. No one really knows where these desires originated from, but the family supports her nonetheless. She has some knowledge of her family's dealings, she can often be seen at Rifka's dojo so she also knows a little martial arts. However, she has no interest in becoming involved with the family business. Her kidnapping has left many scars upon the girl, including irrational fears of crowded places, and empty rooms. The only time she is ever truly comfortable is when she is being escorted by either of her chief bodyguards, Cullen Montoya, or Thia DuShane. She looks upon both of them as surrogate parents, having been around them since she was five. Her trust of these two people goes so deep, she has even developed a hero-worship of Cullen, and still feels guilty over Thia's injuries.
Cullen Montoya:
Cullen was rescued from the streets of Dallas, TX at the age of 12 by Lev. Lev was on a business trip and saw a young boy being bullied by a pair of older boys. The young boy refused to back down from either of them, despite the beating he was receiving. Lev knew immediately he had found what he was looking for. He enrolled Cullen into a military boarding school in Texas, where he stayed until he was 18. Upon graduation, Cullen enlisted in the Marines, under the name Jake Langston. He was helped along by Lev's contacts to create a completely false identity for himself, so thorough that it passed even government level checks. Cullen spent 4 years in the Marines, using his GI bill to obtain degrees in physics, chemistry, and political science. These areas of knowledge got the attention of the recruiters for the Navy Seals. Cullen was invited to special operations training, where he excelled, showing a moral "flexibility" that got him assigned to black ops. For the next 10 years Cullen traveled the world dealing with some of the worst scum any nation had to offer. He was just getting ready to re-up for another four years when he got the call from Lev. Going back to his birth name, Cullen joined Lev in LA as a member of his security team. However, Cullen's main duty was to carry out Lev's will. It didn't take long before Cullen earned himself a reputation on the streets. His name was spoken like a bad omen. Recently, he has been promoted to the rank of Head of Security, his primary duty now is to advise Rifka in all of her underworld dealings.
Thia DuShane:
Thia grew up with her brother Damien in the same area of LA as Rifka, and was a student at the Osaar community center, focusing on tae kwon do and muay thai. At 18 she enlisted in the army with the intention of using the scholarship program (the GI Bill) to get a degree in mechanical engineering. Her main duty in the army was military police, with a primary focus on serving as the driver for high profile military personnel. After 8 years she returned to LA with every intention of opening up a garage, while continuing to raise her little brother. Her garage is not the typical oil and lube joint, she focuses on restorations and adaptations, such as making cars more secure for celebrities, or anyone with enough cash. It was during one of these jobs that she was approached by Lev to add armor plating to his personal car. He was in need of a full-time bodyguard for his young child. Thia was reluctant at first, but the money Lev offered was too hard to resist. The decision proved to be a good one, having bonded with Dara almost instantly. The kid is simply impossible not to love. Since her accident on the job, Thia has been suffering from PTSD, often having trouble sleeping. She also lost a bit of her confidence in her abilities to protect Dara or her family. She has been spending less time working for the Montonovs and more time at her garage.
Chaslinn "Chase" Rose:
Chase has been Lev's personal attorney for most of her professional career. Having graduated from Cal-Berkeley with a PHD in business law, she was immediately hired and has been with the family ever since. She is their first line of defense for the family in any legal matter. She has proven to be able to prevent problems before they can become sticky, and has also shown the ability to minimize complications, a skill Lev knew was invaluable. Amongst the family she is known as the Queen of Red Tape. When all else fails, Chase will infuriate any enemy of the family, getting them buried under court-ordered paperwork. While Cullen might put the fear of god into any man, Chase will make you fear the Judge, because many of them are in her pocket. She has learned to use her sexuality as well as her mind to make a lethal combination.
Avianna "Avi" Rose:
Chaslinn's half-sister, Avianna somehow managed to become Lev's personal physician. Currently working at Cedars-Sinai, Avi is one of the premier trauma surgeons at the hospital. Her position allows her to cover up certain things the family does not want to brought to light, such as wounds that would otherwise be required to be reported. She has also, on occasion, helped cover up certain sticky situations. Her access to the hospital has proven very valuable. On the surface it appears she has no connection to the family whatsoever, making her even more essential to their organization.
And there you have it. A break down of the entire organization. If any of this information piques your interest, just contact us with any ideas or questions, and we can work with you. We are building a small team of NPCs to fill in spots for the time being, this information should be up shortly.
Thanks for reading!
I have already spoken to the other Mods, there will be consequences to anyone who uses this info without permission. The purpose of this is purely to give everyone an idea of what the Montonovs are about and to give you all information that might be of interest to you.
The Montonov family ran LA for many years. Not just the criminal aspects, but also several legitimate, high-profile businesses as well. Lev controlled the entire family. The family's legitimate interests were industry (primarily metal building supplies, like steel girders and rebar, which is used as a front for their illegal gun shipments), pharmaceuticals (this was primarily used as a front for illicit drugs), and human resources (which was a maid and temp service fronting for a prostitution ring).
As a result of the companies successes, Lev was able to get influence in a lot of different realms. Such as the local government, the state government, entertainment, and media. In other words, the Montonovs have anybody from the mayor to state senators in their back pocket, not to mention blue collar unions and local newspapers. Lev's primary tool to gain influence over these individuals was blackmail. A trait that is being continued by his widow. He countered this by going out of his way to give back to the community. Honest workers were treated honestly, but if they were crooked, Lev treated them in kind. This allowed Lev to be both loved and despised.
Now, here's the big kicker. The TRUTH behind Lev's murder. It was a combined effort between the Chinese and the Russians. The Chinese were interested in expanding their drug trade into the LA area. Lev was preventing them at every turn. The Russians were infuriated with Lev for his refusal to allow them to traffic women through LA, despite his ties to their organization. He was becoming a problem for both sides. They decided the best option was to work out an agreement with each other, and take Lev out to suit both their needs. The Chinese agreed to do the hit in exchange for full control of LA's drug trade, and to be the primary supplier of women for the Russian mafia. To ensure that their needs were met, the Russians planned to ambush Lev and kidnap his young daughter, Dara. The thought behind it was that if Lev managed to survive the ambush, they would have leverage against him in the form of his only child. If he didn't survive, they would still have the girl as a further reminder to any other family of what happens if you crossed them.
Fast forward to present day.
The Montonovs still control the majority of LA, however, their control is not as iron clad as it had been. With Lev out of the picture, the Triads are preparing a hostile take over of the drug market. The Russians, having been recently insulted by Rifka herself, are seeking revenge and all of Lev's holdings. They are in the process of organizing their own takeover, headed by Boris "Mak" Makarov. Mak is a well known name in the underworld as his ruthlessness and cruelty have been splashed across the New York tabloids for years. Also, any other group with a thirst for power have their eyes set on the recently weakened LA throne. Rifka has turned to the MC for help patrolling the streets, to keep her informed of what's going on and to control the city's borders.
A little information on the family itself:
The Montonovs are all about business. The organization runs like a well-oiled machine. This is possible because they don't tolerate fuck-ups of any kind. Only the very best are allowed to grace their payroll. From the legitimate business side, one mistake could get you fired. On the more illicit side of things, one mistake could get you killed. They don't tolerate anything or anyone that brings unwanted attention to the family or tarnishes their hard-earned reputation. They will break off a business arrangement if it seems too risky. Getting caught means you screwed up. Their philosophy is simple: Don't make it complicated. Complications are expensive, and expensive is bad. Anything that is bad is to be eliminated.
Rifka Montonov:
In appearance Rifka might be mistaken for a simple trophy wife. She was nearly 20 years younger than her husband and grew up on the worst streets of LA, and still calls that area her home. Her primary business holding is the simple community center she now runs in place of it's original owner, Miguel Osaar. What most people don't know is that the center is also a dojo, and Osaar was once a tournament champion in aikido. Not only that, but he had trained Rifka as his protege, and now she is the primary teacher of aikido at the center. Behind the elegant clothing and gentle smile, Rifka is a force to be reckoned with. She holds degrees in marketing and business management, both from UCLA. She was the unseen force behind Lev's ascension to the LA elite, often the mastermind behind many of his plans.
Dara Montonova:
Attending UCLA on a gymnastics scholarship, Dara is currently majoring in early childhood education. Her dream is to compete in the olympics and then retire as a kindergarten teacher. No one really knows where these desires originated from, but the family supports her nonetheless. She has some knowledge of her family's dealings, she can often be seen at Rifka's dojo so she also knows a little martial arts. However, she has no interest in becoming involved with the family business. Her kidnapping has left many scars upon the girl, including irrational fears of crowded places, and empty rooms. The only time she is ever truly comfortable is when she is being escorted by either of her chief bodyguards, Cullen Montoya, or Thia DuShane. She looks upon both of them as surrogate parents, having been around them since she was five. Her trust of these two people goes so deep, she has even developed a hero-worship of Cullen, and still feels guilty over Thia's injuries.
Cullen Montoya:
Cullen was rescued from the streets of Dallas, TX at the age of 12 by Lev. Lev was on a business trip and saw a young boy being bullied by a pair of older boys. The young boy refused to back down from either of them, despite the beating he was receiving. Lev knew immediately he had found what he was looking for. He enrolled Cullen into a military boarding school in Texas, where he stayed until he was 18. Upon graduation, Cullen enlisted in the Marines, under the name Jake Langston. He was helped along by Lev's contacts to create a completely false identity for himself, so thorough that it passed even government level checks. Cullen spent 4 years in the Marines, using his GI bill to obtain degrees in physics, chemistry, and political science. These areas of knowledge got the attention of the recruiters for the Navy Seals. Cullen was invited to special operations training, where he excelled, showing a moral "flexibility" that got him assigned to black ops. For the next 10 years Cullen traveled the world dealing with some of the worst scum any nation had to offer. He was just getting ready to re-up for another four years when he got the call from Lev. Going back to his birth name, Cullen joined Lev in LA as a member of his security team. However, Cullen's main duty was to carry out Lev's will. It didn't take long before Cullen earned himself a reputation on the streets. His name was spoken like a bad omen. Recently, he has been promoted to the rank of Head of Security, his primary duty now is to advise Rifka in all of her underworld dealings.
Thia DuShane:
Thia grew up with her brother Damien in the same area of LA as Rifka, and was a student at the Osaar community center, focusing on tae kwon do and muay thai. At 18 she enlisted in the army with the intention of using the scholarship program (the GI Bill) to get a degree in mechanical engineering. Her main duty in the army was military police, with a primary focus on serving as the driver for high profile military personnel. After 8 years she returned to LA with every intention of opening up a garage, while continuing to raise her little brother. Her garage is not the typical oil and lube joint, she focuses on restorations and adaptations, such as making cars more secure for celebrities, or anyone with enough cash. It was during one of these jobs that she was approached by Lev to add armor plating to his personal car. He was in need of a full-time bodyguard for his young child. Thia was reluctant at first, but the money Lev offered was too hard to resist. The decision proved to be a good one, having bonded with Dara almost instantly. The kid is simply impossible not to love. Since her accident on the job, Thia has been suffering from PTSD, often having trouble sleeping. She also lost a bit of her confidence in her abilities to protect Dara or her family. She has been spending less time working for the Montonovs and more time at her garage.
Chaslinn "Chase" Rose:
Chase has been Lev's personal attorney for most of her professional career. Having graduated from Cal-Berkeley with a PHD in business law, she was immediately hired and has been with the family ever since. She is their first line of defense for the family in any legal matter. She has proven to be able to prevent problems before they can become sticky, and has also shown the ability to minimize complications, a skill Lev knew was invaluable. Amongst the family she is known as the Queen of Red Tape. When all else fails, Chase will infuriate any enemy of the family, getting them buried under court-ordered paperwork. While Cullen might put the fear of god into any man, Chase will make you fear the Judge, because many of them are in her pocket. She has learned to use her sexuality as well as her mind to make a lethal combination.
Avianna "Avi" Rose:
Chaslinn's half-sister, Avianna somehow managed to become Lev's personal physician. Currently working at Cedars-Sinai, Avi is one of the premier trauma surgeons at the hospital. Her position allows her to cover up certain things the family does not want to brought to light, such as wounds that would otherwise be required to be reported. She has also, on occasion, helped cover up certain sticky situations. Her access to the hospital has proven very valuable. On the surface it appears she has no connection to the family whatsoever, making her even more essential to their organization.
And there you have it. A break down of the entire organization. If any of this information piques your interest, just contact us with any ideas or questions, and we can work with you. We are building a small team of NPCs to fill in spots for the time being, this information should be up shortly.
Thanks for reading!