Great idea I like it, Just to add something: why not focusing more this new family onto something neither the DB nor the Thieves guild really do? plus just a bit of what they do to add some tensions? I explain it better : DB kills people Thieves steal but they don't, as far as I know : deal with skooma, and other special needs from clients, they also don't blackmail merchants. I am only talking about the daily activities as they sometimes do it anyway. So this family could blackmail, threat people to get money, hurt them but not kill them as long as they have a use for them. I would add the other idea of identity theft as well : stealing deeds, properties, corrupting imperial officer to transfer them from one people to another in order to make themselves stronger. Fake Ayleid art opposed with an imperial order who wants to acquire all their knowledge (remember the charred corpse at the top of cloud top? ) Women division a bit like the gang in anvil operating at the flowing bowl Hope that it gives some helps, nice idea, couldn't it be linked with the great houses? By putting this idea into a house instead of mafia or middle aged cosa nostra this stays neatly within the background I think... Well all of it is just idea, hope that helps :)