Felt Ear Crime Ring

The Felt Ear Crime Ring is one of the largest and oldest criminal syndicates operating on Nendrelus and throughout the surrounding systems. Structured around the influential Smartbottoms Canid family and supported by numerous sub-clans, the Felt Ears are known for their discipline, tactical subtlety, and calculated approach to underworld governance.

The Ring is the primary rival of the Curl-Tail Crime Ring, with whom they share a violent and deeply personal history dating back to the defection of Matilda “Matty” Flatnose-Wrinklebutt.

History

Founding and Early Era

The Felt Ear Crime Ring was founded by Brannick Smartbottoms, a cunning Shar Pei Canid who transformed a loose collection of street crews into a unified organization. Under Brannick’s rule, the Felt Ears established:

• centralized leadership
• debt enforcement routes
• clandestine trade networks
• lower district protection operations

The group’s name emerged from their founder’s unusually large, soft ears—“felt-like” according to early rivals.

Rise to Power

The Ring expanded rapidly in Lower Nendrelus, using:

• quiet intimidation
• political infiltration
• carefully groomed community ties

They gained a reputation for enforcing order in neglected districts where planetary law enforcement was absent.

The Matilda Defection

The Felt Ear Crime Ring owes much of its modern influence to the dramatic defection of:

• Matilda “Matty” Flatnose-Wrinklebutt

Former wife of Gordon "Screw Eyes" Wrinklebutt Mother of Cornelius Wrinklebutt

Matilda fled the Curl-Tail Crime Ring during a violent internal schism. The Felt Ears sheltered her, then elevated her to high-ranking enforcer.

Her defection:

• triggered the modern Felt Ear–Curl Tail feud
• solidified the Smartbottoms as her protectors
• sparked decades of tit-for-tat violence
• permanently divided the criminal underworld of Nendrelus

Many still refer to her as “The Catalyst.”

Structure

The Felt Ear Crime Ring operates under a hybrid leadership model:

Council of Six

The primary governing body consists of:

• three Smartbottoms family members
• three elected lieutenants from allied families

The Council controls:

• major smuggling operations
• enforcement directives
• political negotiations
• alliances and vendettas

The Smartbottoms Family

The family line holds substantial power, with their heir:

• Hollbrook Smartbottoms — next Council-member-in-waiting

Hollbrook’s betrothal to Clarissa Punkbelly-Wrinklebutt has created high political tension.

Enforcement Crews

Led by figures like Matilda Flatnose, these crews:

• enforce protection fees
• secure Felt Ear territory
• escort high-value shipments
• act as bodyguards for ranking members

The Underhalls Base

The Felt Ear headquarters is located beneath the Lower Nendrelus freight district:

• thick-walled concrete chambers
• cybernetics clinics
• weapon repair dens
• Council chambers hidden behind false echo doors

The Underhalls are considered one of the most secure criminal enclaves on the planet.

Territory

The Felt Ears control:

• Lower Nendrelus
• two major freight corridors
• several orbital platforms
• the Outlier Freight Lanes smuggling corridor

They maintain pseudo-legitimate operations, including:

• repair shops
• freight escort companies
• cybernetics markets
• debt arbitration services

Operations

The Felt Ear Crime Ring is involved in:

• smuggling
• extortion
• cybernetic augment trade
• protection rackets
• blackmail
• underground debt courts
• artifact trafficking
• political manipulation

Unlike the Curl-Tails, the Felt Ears prefer:

• subtle pressure
• legal loopholes
• bribes
• blackmail

over brute violence.

Philosophy and Culture

Felt Ear philosophy emphasizes:

• loyalty to district
• subtle control over chaos
• the importance of “quiet authority”
• collective leadership over singular bosses

Their motto is often translated as:

• “Strength grows in shadow.”*

Relationship With the Curl-Tail Crime Ring

The two syndicates have been in a state of cold war for decades.

Key points of contention:

• Matilda’s defection
• territorial overlap
• spice-trade rivalry
• political marriages
• retaliation cycles

The engagement of Clarissa Punkbelly-Wrinklebutt and Hollbrook Smartbottoms is widely seen as:

• a possible unification

or

• a spark for open conflict

Both Rings are watching the situation closely.

Notable Members

• Brannick Smartbottoms — Founder
• Hollbrook Smartbottoms — Heir
• Matilda “Matty” Flatnose-Wrinklebutt — Senior Enforcer
• Devrin Lowfold — Cybernetics broker
• Illessa Softpaw — Whisper broker and intelligence analyst

Trivia

• The Felt Ear insignia is a stylized ear folded into the shape of a blade.
• Children in Lower Nendrelus often view the Felt Ears as protectors rather than criminals.
• Their headquarters is rumored to have a “silent room” where no one leaves without agreeing to a deal.

See Also

• Curl-Tail Crime Ring
• Wrinklebutt Family
• Cornelius Wrinklebutt
• Matilda Flatnose
• Hollbrook Smartbottoms
• Shar Pei Canid
• Canid (Galaxa)