In FRCG it states: 'Yakuza and western gangs, especially the Black Dragons and the Shadowmasters, fight for territory all over Thesk. My dilemma here is in determining whether they respectively reference Yakuza and western gangs or whether they are merely two examples of western gangs. Although the writing slightly leads me to believe the latter, there is a later reference to the 'Black Dragon clan' which has a Yakuza ring to it? Any ideas?
Shadowmasters are the western gang. The traditional and historic rulers of Thesk's underworld. They used to run Telflamm, but may not have as much control anymore, with all the immigration from the east.
In FRCG it states: 'Yakuza and western gangs, especially the Black Dragons and the Shadowmasters, fight for territory all over Thesk. My dilemma here is in determining whether they respectively reference Yakuza and western gangs or whether they are merely two examples of western gangs. Although the writing slightly leads me to believe the latter, there is a later reference to the 'Black Dragon clan' which has a Yakuza ring to it? Any ideas?
This entry on Gang Wars gave me pause as well. It can be read "Yakuza and western gangs (Black Dragons and Shadowmasters)" or "Yakuza (Black Dragons) and western gangs (Shadowmasters)." In the latter case, it can also be seen as ambiguous whether "yakuza" is meant to modify "gangs." Since you wouldn't normally say "yakuza gang," the sentence would then seem to contradict itself.
In the end, Naex having pinned the Shadowmasters, I'd guess the writers meant to present the Black Dragons as an example of yakuza (or "a yakuza gang") to illustrate the two-sided conflict. Plus, Black Dragons were like a subset or something of yakuza IRL.
On the other hand, I'm all outta whack whenever they start mixing Chinese and Japanese terms (:gel
so I may be way off.-Personally, I am interpreting that as the two "western" gangs are the Black Dragons and Shadowmasters. The Yakuza, that's a proper noun. That's their name.
That goes against Unapproachable East though, the Shadowmasters were the only "gang" until after the horde, when a lot of folks from Kara Tur started showing up and they brought there own underworld with them. So unless in the middle of all that the Shadowmasters decided to split, The Black Dragons are more likely an Eastern gang. Especially since they use the name Dragons.
That goes against Unapproachable East though...
-Which was written with 1373 DR in mind, not 1479 DR in mind.
The Black Dragons are more likely an Eastern gang. Especially since they use the name Dragons.
-I disagree. Black Dragons aren't native in Kara-Tur.
-I disagree. Black Dragons aren't native in Kara-Tur.
No, but the use of Dragons in names is more common there (Lung = Dragon) and the image of the dragon is much different in the East than in the West.
Also it is unlikely that a new gang formed or the Shadowmasters split, given the fact that they are struggling to hold their old territory against the new eastern gangs brought by the new settlers, which had begun in Unapproachable East.
No, but the use of Dragons in names is more common there (Lung = Dragon) and the image of the dragon is much different in the East than in the West.
-And, again, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Remember, there's plenty of Dragon motifs going on in Faerûn, and there are literal Dragons (Black Dragons, at that) there as well.