The Raptors

Story

The Raptors are a selected group of businessmen keeping an eye on what can be robbed on the high seas, laundered, and turned into legitimate wealth.

Apprehensive of the start of Cryptopia, they watched as the citizens fumbled with their money and resources, investing in reliable businesses within the nation. However, in the meantime, they also relished exploiting the loopholes and oversights of the fledgling nation-state. While they do own legitimate companies within Cryptopia, a good chunk of the Raptors’ cash flow comes from robbing unwary ships plying the city’s waters.

Overseeing this board of members is Reginald Nolan, notorious for his calculated moves as an investor and his ruthless business strategies and hostile takeovers. As the eldest of the Nolan Business Empire, Reginald Nolan is the head of the business dynasty. His father taught him how to run the family business (trade secrets, suppliers, and services), and the many ways to make it stronger than ever, as his father destroys his competitors’ businesses (smear campaigns, and government lobbying).

Reginald has seen the charm of young and eager business entrepreneurs who eventually burn themselves out by the demands of many with the workforce of one. And while many create fascinating innovations, he knows that the customers don’t know what they want until you either deprive them or make it look like a bargain for them. With money and resources not being a problem, he often buys out the poor entrepreneurs and takes them into his business until they no longer serve their purpose. And if they persist, he always finds a way to persuade them to sell one way or another.

Reginald never understood Peter’s desperate attempts to stand out, not when every trend, need, or want cycles back into fashion nearly every couple of years. He takes pleasure in pointing out the weak points of his younger brother’s many business plans and scrapping every useful piece that he can salvage once they inevitably fail. But as Peter started to meddle with Cryptopia, Reginald took a step back to see what this young nation has to offer, and realized that this place will make or break the Nolan family’s business dynasty.

While Reginald bided his time, he established a branch of the Raptors within Cryptopia and personally handpicked each board member for their expertise. Through their influence, they can block imports or exports of any product or business in Cryptopia through various methods, creating chaos and uncertainty in the market. Now they patiently wait to see how the city unfolds, either for it to stand out on its own, stable enough to consider long-term business plans or to collect and reap from its downfall. In the meantime, they prey on Cryptopia’s ships, robbing citizens of resources that they use or launder through their criminal network, then funnel the cash into their legitimate enterprises within the city. They occasionally work alongside other independent factions when it benefits their goals.

Reginald Nolan and his Raptors lie in the islands, waiting for the inevitable slip up, market crash, or surrender of any unfortunate business in Cryptopia (especially anything of Peter’s and the Inheritors). They will quickly move in one hostile takeover after another and eat out any of its remaining bones. After all, why break a sweat brainstorming the next big thing when you can just get everything?