ISOLE

Name: Isole (EE-sol)
Type: Illegal
Original aim: Greed
Original membership: Nobility and Merchant Classes
Current aim: "Wealth and Security"
Original membership: Crime families, police
Headquarters: Sotelberg, Hohne (Kagere, NLR)

ISOLE is rarely spoken of in Neoliliana; when it is, the speaker usually makes an obscure sign which we have determined is a traditional way of 'averting the evil eye.'  ISOLE has a bad reputation through and through.  It was originally a consortium of nobles and rich merchants who were deliberately inciting the peasantry to revolt, to best make use of the weak king and destroy their rivals.  When the revolution of 223 succeeded, it took them by surprise, but, presenting their credentials as freedom fighters, they joined the government of the First Republic.  After their corruption was discovered, ISOLE was liquidated in the first "purge" and believed to have been destroyed.

It is clear that ISOLE is still alive and well, and perhaps more powerful than ever.  Although the aristocracy is a thing of the past in modern Neoliliani, the families of ISOLE bear a striking resemblance to the close-knit noble families of yesteryear.  Whether the current crime families are in fact the long-ago dukes and barons of Liliana, or merely take their names as another way of creating fear and confusion in their enemies, is unknown.  Their effectiveness, on the other hand, is not in doubt.  ISOLE is involved in racketeering, kidnapping, money laundering, drug smuggling, assassination, and other criminal activities.  The one activity they appear to be opposed to - found out at the cost of three of my agents - is treason; ISOLE members are different from the regular thugs off the street in that they are organized, loyal to each other, intelligent, wealthy, and know their fortunes rise as those of Neoliliana do.

Although the police make half-hearted attempts to wipe out ISOLE families now and then, the police forces themselves have been infiltrated with ISOLE members, and most officers are too afraid for their families to be the one to take on ISOLE.  Recently, however, there have been gang-style attacks on suspected ISOLE safe houses, without retribution.  We suspect this may be the result of either paramilitary action by the government, or by an unnamed secret society.  However, if this continues, violence in Neoliliana may climb to henceforth unheard of levels, making it impossible for the governent to cover it up.