🐉 Gold Dragons
“Too put together to be Gold Dragons, the usual Little China protection racket.”
A boostergang serving as the muscle behind Little China’s redevelopment. Backed by the Little China Redevelopment Association (LCRA) and — through it — the Weng Fang Tong, the Gold Dragons are the street-level enforcers keeping order in whatever blocks the LCRA manages to renovate.
📋 Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Boostergang |
| Territory | Little China, Watson |
| Colors | Gold and Red |
| Patron | Little China Redevelopment Association (LCRA) |
| True Master | David Ling Po / Weng Fang Tong (implied) |
| Role | Security and enforcement for LCRA-controlled blocks |
🏙️ Territory
The Gold Dragons patrol the blocks that the LCRA has managed to secure and begin rebuilding in Little China:
- Guăngbō Tower — A 30-story LCRA-renovated building housing a medical clinic, the Ling Po Public Library, and Virtex’s Virtuality Venue. Gold Dragons provide lobby security.
- LCRA blocks — The few renovated blocks are relatively safe because the Dragons keep them that way.
- The rest of Little China is a patchwork of abandoned buildings, street markets, and contested turf — the Dragons don’t control all of it.
💰 Operations
Protection Racket
The Gold Dragons’ primary function is straightforward: the LCRA pays them to provide security for its properties and blocks. This arrangement means:
- Building lobby guards (typically pairs of gangers)
- Street patrols in LCRA-controlled areas
- Responding to threats against LCRA-backed businesses
Weng Fang Tong Connection
The CRB notes that “almost all the boostergangs operating in Little China are on Ling Po’s payroll.” The LCRA itself has ties to Ling Po — his name is on the library, after all. The Gold Dragons are part of the Tong’s street-level enforcement network, whether individual members realize it or not.
👥 Character
The Gold Dragons are a mid-tier boostergang — well-established but not elite:
- Recognizable. Everyone in Little China knows who they are. Their presence is routine, not threatening (to locals, at least).
- Laid-back on duty. Described as “lounging about” when providing security. They won’t start trouble unless provoked.
- Not incompetent. They respond to real emergencies — when an elevator crashed in Guăngbō Tower, the Dragons in the lobby immediately pulled survivors from the wreckage.
- Outclassed by professionals. Distinguished from corporate militia by observers — “too put together to be Gold Dragons” suggests they’re visibly less disciplined than corp security.
🎲 GM Resources
Using the Gold Dragons
As Background: The usual security presence in Little China’s nicer blocks. Players interact with them like building guards — routine, low-threat, part of the scenery.
As Complications: If players cause trouble in LCRA territory, the Dragons show up. If the Weng Fang Tong wants pressure applied, the Dragons are first in line.
As Allies: Players working for the LCRA or Ling Po may find the Dragons helpful — they know every alley and rooftop in their territory.
Stat Block
Use Boosterganger stat block. (Streetstories p.172)
Adventure Hooks
- The LCRA is expanding into a new block — the Dragons need help clearing squatters (or are they evicting legitimate residents?)
- A Gold Dragon went missing in a building the LCRA hasn’t renovated yet
- Players need to get into Guăngbō Tower without the lobby guards noticing
- Rival gang is pushing into LCRA territory — the Dragons want freelance muscle
🔗 Related Topics
(Sources: CRB p.308 (Little China gangs); Tales of the Red: Streetstories “Reaping the Reaper”; Tales of the Red: Hope Reborn)