Stray Dogs

Overview	Episode 1

“	It's true that our Syndicate's sorta intimidating and got a tight hierarchy goin' on, but the bond between members is strong. We're actually leagues nicer than those Office fucks who exploit and abandon each other with every breath.	”
–A Stray Dog's Page

The Stray Dogs are a subsidiary Syndicate of The Thumb. A pack of violent and rude thugs which controls the Backstreets of District 22, their main weapons are their own bodies, enhanced with various body augment procedures such as tattoos. They are the third Syndicate Guests that the Library invites in, and they cover Urban Legend Chapter 2.1.

Composition

Character	Description
Gyeong-mi	Gyeong-mi is the leader of a group of Stray Dogs. He is violent, foul-mouthed, and quick to anger, but is also charismatic enough to maintain order and camaraderie in an otherwise anarchical gang. He places complete trust in the sanctity of a promise, and violating this trust is sure to ignite his fury. Despite his bluster, Gyeong-mi genuinely cares for his comrades and will go as far as entering the Library to ensure their safety. Physically strengthened by augmentation tattoos and accessories, he fights bare-handed.
Dino	Dino is a highly level-headed and thoughtful member of the Stray Dogs, taking into consideration the consequences of their actions. Loyal to his Syndicate, he seems to want solve their own problems through strategic action rather than blind rage, and tries to prevent Gyeong-mi from escalating conflicts due to needless bloodshed. Physically strengthened by augmentation tattoos and accessories, he fights bare-handed.
Zulu	Zulu is a member of the Stray Dogs with a more taciturn and doubtful personality. This makes him relatively reasonable, similarly to Dino, in questioning their circumstances and the necessity of Gyeong-mi's actions. Physically strengthened by augmentation tattoos and accessories, he fights bare-handed.
Stray Dog	A normal Stray Dog grunt who wears a muzzle and fights bare-handed.

Story

Episode 1

Pre-Battle

Gyeong-mi pummeling a Zwei member, with Dino and Zulu in the background

The episode begins with the trio of Stray Dog members somewhere in the Backstreets of District 22 as Gyeong-mi pummels a Fixer from Zwei South Section 6 while yelling profanities at their body. Dino tries to dissuade him, warning that Gyeong-mi's actions will cause the entire Zwei Association to seek retribution. Gyeong-mi declared that Walter shouldn't have broken his promise and that they need the floorplan of L Corp's Nest, which the Zwei had.

Dino urges Gyeong-mi to stop, as the Sweepers will come after them soon if they don't leave, and The Thumb still has not contacted them. Zulu and Dino bitterly remark on the losses their Syndicate suffered at the hands of The Church of Gears while trying to collect information about Distortions for Walter, all for naught because their inability to receive the plans of Nest L from Walter will lead to their complete purge by the Thumb. Dino states that they shouldn't have made a deal with an Association in the first place, while Zulu responds that Walter likely only broke their promise because something happened to him. He mentions that Walter was known to use his subordinates for field work instead of heading out himself, which makes it surprising that he would personally head into the field.

Gyeong-mi finishes off the last of the Zwei Fixers while Zulu and Dino look on in disapproval and become more concerned with their own situation, mentioning that Zwei South Section 2 or 3 may retaliate against them. Gyeong-mi waves off their remarks by responding that they must feel the weight of a promise, and Dino wants to know if he has a backup plan when the Zwei comes to "thank" them, only for Gyeong-mi to reveal an Invitation that he was hiding all along. Dino checks it and notices that the Book of Walter is presented for the Books of the Day, realizing his fate and that Gyeong-mi had a plan all along. Zulu questions why he killed all the Zwei members of the Section 6 if he already knew that Walter had been turned into a Book, and he responds that it was to send a message.

Back in the Library, Roland remarks that Syndicates always kill more than they need, unlike the Fixers, and wonders why the Sweepers and the Thumb are involved. Angela mentions knowing about the Sweepers, to Roland's surprise, and asks if do cannibalize people for fuel. Roland confirms this, but states that organizational power is their scariest trait, since no matter how many of them are killed one night, the next night their numbers will have been replenished as if they suffered no losses at all.

At the entrance of the Library, the Stray Dogs and the last of their members arrive, with Dino and Zulu discussing if they have enough time to return. Angela comes to greet them with her typical introduction, but Gyeong-mi cuts her short by harshly shouting for her to let them in since they are in a hurry; Angela annoyedly lets them in.

Post-Battle

Following the defeat of the Stray Dogs, Roland remarks to Angela about her polite attitude even in the face of rude and hostile guests. Angela sees nothing wrong with this, as she believes it is important to provide them with hospitality, and she is used to doing so. Roland compliments her professionalism, offhandedly remarking that Backstreets restaurateurs do not have such standards, and suggests to Angela that she should be more flexible in facing the guests she meets in the future. Angela accepts this.

Background

The Stray Dogs are a Syndicate of thugs known for their hierarchy and bonds, along with their use of body augmentation tattoos and workshop equipment that makes them look like 'punks'. Despite their violent and anarchic nature, they obey Gyeong-mi, whose charisma and deeply-held belief in promises gives him a leadership role amongst them. Their turf is in District 22, where the Zwei Association is stationed as well. The Syndicate is a subsidiary of The Thumb.

The main trio of the Stray Dogs, Gyeong-mi, Dino, and Zulu, made a deal with Walter from Zwei South Section 6; if the Stray Dogs got information and goods from The Church of Gears to aid the Zwei's investigation of the Distortion Phenomenon, Walter would hand them the floorplan of L Corp's Nest, which the Dogs needed to prevent their being purged by The Thumb. Both parties accepted the deal. The Stray Dogs went on to fight The Church of Gears, but half of the Syndicate died in the process. They secured the items obtained from the Distortion and sent them to Walter. However, Walter unintentionally broke his promise by failing to return from his expedition to the Library, leaving the Stray Dogs unable to gain the documents they desperately needed. They were outraged, and in a blind rage, Gyeong-mi decided to kill the remaining Fixers of Section 6 as a message to the Zwei about the value of promises. Dino and Zulu, being level-headed, recognized that this meant either the Zwei Association or the Thumb would purge them, as Gyeong-mi's violence would cause the Zwei to retaliate and their Syndicate had nothing to provide to the Thumb.

Their last hope was the Library, which Gyeong-mi had an Invitation to, knowing that Walter had already died there. Their goal was to retrieve his Book and obtain the floorplan. However, they are unsuccessful, and the Syndicate meets their final demise in the Library.

The remnants of the Stray Dogs later work together with the Axe Gang to enter The Library and gain revenge for their fallen members. This group forms the Urban Legend-class Syndicate General Invitation.

Key Page stories

Gyeong-mi’s Page

Some fools laugh at these accessories I’m wearing. They think I’m a glossy punk trying to look cool, figged out with random ornaments without a second thought. What they don’t know is that these ain’t just for fashion. They’re good for making arrogant idiots let their guard down, but before that, they’re workshop products with real, practical uses. You heard about how people use belts to choke others, didn’t ya? These accessories are similar to that. They’re useful for beating someone to death, though I gotta take the risk that comes from using ‘em. Expensive gadgets crafted by premium workshops have almost zero side effects. On the other hand, this ring for example lets me deliver a harder blow with my punches, but it chafes the skin of my hand at the same time. This one’s on me for using it for too long, and I hear quality products usually get regular repairs and maintenance to prevent that… The side effects on my gear’s pretty minor and negligible, but in worse cases, you get some poor sod whose neck got snapped by the necklace they were wearing.

Dino’s Page

Tattoos are the cleanest type of augment procedure you could get. I only got it ‘cause Gyeong-mi pushed me to give it a shot… I’m pretty satisfied with the result. It doesn’t cost an awful lot, and it looks pretty damn nice, too. Weakass wimps run away at the sight of my tattoo. But you see, coolness isn’t the only notable feature of these tattoos. There’s tons of tattoo types depending on the quality of the ink and the material used, but generally speaking, you can have results like bursts of strength or skin as hard as steel. It used to be a Singularity, but ever since the Wing owning the tech got snapped and its patent expired, everyone and their mother’s been using it. Don’t get tattoos that are too cheap, though. You might wake up to find melted flesh. You get exactly what you pay for in this City. Bastards are only honest when money’s involved.

Zulu’s Page

Even if you make your way up to the big leagues and become a decently influential Syndicate, there’s still loads of stronger gangs above ya, and they peck at you all the same. No matter how far a Syndicate climbs and tries, you just can’t surpass the Five Fingers at the top. Syndicates ain’t too different from Fixers in that you have to repeat the same, stupid shit following orders from above. So in my opinion, holding onto your place seems wiser than trying to climb up out of ambition or greed. Unless you’re at rock bottom, of course. Someone’s gotta be below us to serve as a punching bag, ain’t that right?

A Stray Dog’s Page

It’s true that our Syndicate’s sorta intimidating and got a tight hierarchy goin’ on, but the bond between members is strong. We’re actually leagues nicer than those Office fucks who exploit and abandon each other with every breath. Those crooked bastards’ll do anything for profit. I’m sometimes in awe of the shit they pull. I actually used to be a Rat. Yeah, those filthy and wretched Rats everyone looks down upon. It’s amazing that I’m now standing shoulder to shoulder with the Dogs, ain’t it? I busted my ass crawling up the ladder. I did everything in my power. Got a small tattoo with the little cash I had, and rummaged through trash to find worn but still usable accessories. It was a damn tough climb, but now that I’m up here, I’m starting to feel like it might’ve been better off to just live as a Rat. Here, a strict barking order’s set up between members. It’s nothing like the Rats who move in close packs. Sometimes… I do miss my old family.

Battle Symbols

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

Gallery

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  Gyeong-mi
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  Dino
• 

  Zulu

Trivia

• This Episode has the first mention of The Thumb and the Sweepers, as well as the description of body augmentations through tattoos in their Key Pages.