Golden Hawk Black Society

Typical Golden Hawk member tattoo design, usually worn just below the base of the neck or across the chest

Overview

The Golden Hawk Black Society is one of the multiple Black Societies throughout the region using groups like Golden Hawk as a model, focused on illicit drug trafficking, sex trafficking, prostitution, and extortion.

History

Formed in the early 1900s in the dying years of the last Olvanan Imperial dynasty, it was originally founded as a secret political organisation intended to bring about the salvation and subsequently restoration of the Emperor. Its original membership was originally made up of military and social elites from the East and South of the country, and were mostly Hakka in ethnicity ? more by reason of geography than any particular ethno-nationalist leanings. When the Imperial Dynasty was finally placed beyond hope of restoration, Golden Hawk were faced with a stark choice between exile and fundamental change. The organisation essentially splintered into multiple sub-organisations. Many of these fled to Belesia and the Torbias to re-establish as insurgents in exile before rapidly devolving into organised criminal organisations. The core of the organisation elected to stay and assist the Olvana Nationalist Movement.

Initially employed as irregular forces, hybrid ISR, and clandestine logistical support by various Nationalist groups, when it became clear that the Nationalist movements would be unable to achieve victory, Golden Hawk offered its services to the Olvanan Communist Party and were instrumental in making positions in the southern cities untenable for Nationalist forces. When the OCP took power, Golden Hawk lost what purpose it had had in the post-Imperial republic. Although absorption into the state was offered, their clandestine operations had proved sufficiently lucrative to make this option unattractive to most members. Despite this, the organisation maintained largely positive relationships with the officials and military commanders with whom they had worked, and these relationships were maintained through kinship and descendant lines. This has been a major factor in the ambiguity of many similar criminal organisations in Olvana, with many having official connections or even members with official positions. Golden Hawk transitioned over time into a criminal organisation focused on illicit drug trafficking, sex trafficking, prostitution, and extortion. Owing to their strong connections with social elites and government which still exist to this day, high volume and level money laundering is one of the mainstays of Golden Hawk operations, and the service they predominantly provide to other criminal organisations.

Golden Hawk structural hierarchy

Organization

Legal enterprises of Golden Hawk

The Golden Hawk Black Society is thought to be one of the largest Black Societies operating out of Olvana today. One of the more traditional Black Societies, it has a largely flat structure, with the "Mountain Peak" or leader being elected for life and generally having very little operational control of the gangs which make up the organisation. The Mountain Peak will have a deputy known as their "Left Hand", who is generally responsible for internal security, counterintelligence, and also acts as chief enforcer. The other deputy is known as the "White Snow", who is not expected to directly participate in crime or violence. The White Snow is chiefly a manager and administrator, and will generally run the legitimate businesses and organisations which large Black Societies typically have. In the case of Golden Hawk, a not for profit incorporated association known as the Olvana Friendship and Commercial Club owns, through a network of service corporations, a wholesale fresh produce supplier, a financial and credit services company, a string of nightclubs which also operate as illicit casinos, and a charitable foundation focused on youth poverty and suspected of being used as a recruitment vector. "Black Staff" positions, once unit commanders in the original Black Societies, are now senior gang leaders, each commanding a core of between 50 and 100 "soldiers", the most senior of whom may act as "Big Brother" to their own street gangs of anywhere up to two or three hundred members.

Key Leadership

Golden Hawk Key Leadership

NAME	POSITION	SHORT BIO
Harry "Claw Tooth" Lee	Mountain Peak	Harry Lee is a direct descendant of General Lee, one of the founding members of Golden Hawk. He is well connected with local and provincial government officials.
Zhang Xi Loong	White Snow	Zhang Xi Loong is a resident of Roxas, Belesia. His connections with the martial arts community of the Roxas Olvanatown led to his recruitment into Golden Hawk at an early age.

Areas of Operation

Golden Hawk has operations all over the world, with significant footprints in South Torbia and Belesia, as well as heroin trafficking and distribution operations in the West. The organisation?s heartland is in the southern Olvanan city of Shenzhen, but it also maintains significant branch offices in Belesia, especially Roxas Olvanatown and Davao.

Membership and Demographics

Golden Hawk is a large organisation, estimated to have a total of up to 40,000 members. This figure includes satellite street gangs and non-criminal financial members as well as the core membership group. The criminal gangs are predominantly male, but have about 20% female membership, and range between 14 and 40 years of age. Senior leadership is almost exclusively male and typically around 50 to 60 years old. Over the rest of the organisation at large, a normal demographic spread is evident, though the group is still predominantly Hakka in ethnicity.

Operational Profile

Kinetic

Golden Hawk has long since lost any of its ideological purpose, being mostly concerned with criminal activity.

Golden Hawk?s principle kinetic activities are:

• Murder
• Assassination for hire
• Arson and property destruction
• Kidnap for ransom
• Violent extortion
• Territorial disputes

Non-Kinetic

Golden Hawk, besides its legitimate businesses, is known for its illicit drugs trafficking and money laundering services.

Golden Hawk?s principle non-kinetic activities are:

• Overt and covert government lobbying
• High profile charitable activities
• Money Laundering, especially through financial services and charities
• Illicit drug manufacture, trafficking, and distribution
• Illicit gambling