IHMN: The Criminal Gangs during the War of the Witches

"In these, the twilight years of the nineteenth century, I'm amazed at how high mankind has soared, and at how deep it has fallen because of the myriad advances in our sciences and in engineering. Seldom does a day go by without a gentleman announcing his newest life-changing invention. Each claiming it will benefit mankind in some way. It is a pity that we, the leaders of the civilized nations of the earth, could not have put these marvels to better use against the Witches. May God have mercy on us all." Robert Delamere, Lord Conway and Prime Minister 1893–95.

 "Well, well, what do we have here?" muses the Napoleon of Crime.

1. Professor Moriarty. "But in calling Moriarty a criminal you are uttering libel in the eyes of the law—and there lie the glory and the wonder of it! The greatest schemer of all time, the organizer of every devilry, the controlling brain of the underworld, a brain which might have made or marred the destiny of nations—that's the man! But so aloof is he from general suspicion, so immune from criticism, so admirable in his management and self-effacement, that for those very words that you have uttered he could hale you to a court and emerge with your year's pension as a solatium for his wounded character. Is he not the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it? Is this a man to traduce? Foulmouthed doctor and slandered professor—such would be your respective roles! That's genius, Watson." — Holmes, The Valley of Fear.

 The Professor's Gang

Professor Moriarty is highly ruthless, shown by his steadfast vow to Sherlock Holmes that "if you are clever enough to bring destruction upon me, rest assured that I shall do as much to you".  Moriarty is categorized by Holmes as an extremely powerful criminal mastermind who is purely adept at committing any atrocity to perfection without losing any sleep over it. It is stated in The Final Problem that Moriarty does not directly participate in the activities he plans, but only orchestrates the events. As Holmes stated above, what makes Moriarty so dangerous is his extremely cunning intellect.  In using his intellect, Moriarty has calculated the location of all of the Tesla portals.

Baron Maupertuis

From the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes as written by Dr. James Watson: "It was some time before the health of my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes recovered from the strain caused by his immense exertions in the spring of '87.  The whole question of the Netherland-Sumatra Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron Maupertuis are too recent in the minds of the public . . ."

 

 Captain Harold Cold spotted in the North Piddle Manor ruins

 

2. General Ronglu's "Imperial" Chinese Army. Gulwalgiya Ronglu is a Manchu statesman, general of the Chinese Imperial Army and secret leader of a criminal gang whose job is to extend Chinese influence and make General Ronglu rich as the same time. Born into the powerful Gulwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he is also a cousin to the the Empress Dowager Cixi. He has served in a number of important positions in the Imperial Court and was most recently the commander in charge of military security of the Forbidden City.  He has crossed swords once with the Witch King and has sworn vengeance every since. He is a force to be reckoned with in the world of In Her Majesty's Name.

General Ronglu - Beware his girth!

 

 Yang Wei is a Chinese engineering scientist most famous for the invention of China's first arc generator and arc weapons. Yang is a world pioneer in the research fields of fracture mechanics, arc meso-mechanics, mechatronic reliability and has published a series books based on his research.

 

 Yu Niu is the best swordsman of her province and many claim she may be the best in China. She is a former Shaolin nun and while at her temple, she developed the Hong Kong Hollywood  style of swordplay that is extremely efficient and ideally suited to smaller fighters having less strength.

 

 

 "We have a yeti."

Most distressing in the British Empire, was the capture of the "Caretaker" from the British Museum Annex in North Piddle by Ronglu's forces.  The Caretaker's whereabouts are unknown but Ronglu has let Mycroft Holmes that the Caretaker would be returned for a price . . . and some knowledge.

"What the . . . ?"  Yi Niu, greatest swords woman of China, discovers a strange structure as she races ahead as the vanguard of General Roglu's company.

 

Next up: The Americans . . . well it's about time!  Always showing up late for wars.