Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-26245872-20141027213346/@comment-25127382-20141027215453

For the last fifteen years, the Black Fang had managed to keep hold of the Rift. The Black Fang had also become highly influential in the criminal underworld. In the criminal underworld, they are known solely as "The Syndicate," and no one (Not even highly knowledgable PCs.) know of the connection between the Syndicate and the Black Fang. The Syndicate controls all organised crime in Skyrim, as well as some surrounding areas, including eastern High Rock, western Morrowing, northeastern Hammerfell, and northern Cyrodiil.

The Syndicate originally only had the Thieves Guild with them, as the Guild had sworn fealty to the Syndicate (The Black Fang.) after the battle of Riften. (No one knows this, though.) The Syndicate played their cards right, and now they run all organised crime in Skyrim and the surrounding areas. They also have connections with pretty much every official guild in Skyrim, even the ones not usually involved in crim, such as the Companions, and the College of Winterhold.

(Basically, the Black Fang (AKA the Syndicate.) are the Skyrim Mafia.)