Demonology
First things first, you need to know who you’re dealing with if you plan to be a mover and a shaker, otherwise the only shaking you’ll be doing is your death-spasms as something nasty gnaws away at your pretty-boy looks.
Aligheri
The Aligheri Family put the “business” in “bad business.” The most powerful of the demon families, the Aligheris have their talons in just about every racket ya can imagine. Only the long feud with the Roarke Family stands in their way of total dominion over the city. I’ve got to give them credit, they have class. Ya cross them and they’re gonna use yer entrails as holiday decorations, sure, but they’re gonna kill ya with style.
Roarke
The Roarke Family controls the city’s waterfront and deals in illegal gambling, boxing, and rum running. Their ranks are filled with thugs and brutes and ruffians. They’re chomping at the bit to come to a “peaceful” agreement with the Aligheris, but they aren’t stupid enough to trust them (they are, after all, demons). Problem with trying to talk sense with the Roarkes is that once a deal starts to smell even a little sour, they’re more likely to bust a dead soldier over yer head than to listen to reason.
Verlochin
There ain’t as many Verlochin hiding in the shadows as there used to be, but they still believe they’re the only true demons left in the world. As far as they’re concerned, the other families have given in to greed and lust—the very tools they once used to tempt mortals. A lot of people say there’s no difference between a devil and a demon, but I’d guess they never met one of these bastards. They’ve lurked in seclusion outside of the city ever since the Aligheris and Roarkes ran them off in a storm of smoke and lead. Ask me? Good riddance!
Demon Halfbreeds
Near as I can figure, there ain’t no such thing as a demon broad. As ya might imagine, once a demon sets foot on earthly soil, his base instincts sometimes take hold–and that means his free time is spent downing hooch, playing cards, and chasing dames. I pity the offspring of a demon and human union, but not half as much as I pity the mothers what spit them out.
The Cursed
So ya sell yer soul to a demon, and ya figure yer smart enough to trick the oldest tricksters in the books. Here’s the good news–the Aligheris and the Roarkes will more than likely just slit yer throat. But the Verlochin deal with grifters in a different way. They curse them. And let me tell ya, the Verlochin are regular artists when it comes to making your life a living hell.