Varrios Los Aztecas (3D Universe)

"What varrio you from holmes?"

- Azteca gang member

The Varrios Los Aztecas (a.k.a. "Aztecas", "Southerners", "Southside Aztecas", or "VLA") are a gang featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

History
The Varrios Los Aztecas have been around since the early 80's and are one of the newer formed gangs in Los Santos. Much of their origin and past is unknown. Likewise, the rivalry with the other Los Santos gangs - paticularly the Los Santos Vagos is also unknown, though it obviously began sometime from their origins in the early 80's, late 80's, or the early 90's. It is highly likely that they evolved from the El Corona neighborhood.

Events of GTA San Andreas
The Varrios Los Aztecas are not a major part of the story, but are first mentioned during Sweet & Kendl in which Sweet refers to [Kendl]]'s relationship with a high-ranking Azteca member - Cesar Vialpando, stating "you know we beefing". Because of this, the gang acts as a fulcrum point between the relationship of Sweet and his sister due to Cesar's presence with Sweet because of Cesar's involvement with the VLA - causing Sweet to fear for his sisters life.

They are first seen during the mission Cesar Vialpando. Sweet orders CJ to follow his sister to a lowriding club at Unity Station, where a lowriding competition with a high concentration of Azteca gang members is taking place - including Cesar Vialpando himself. Fortunately, the Aztecas do not harass or fight CJ and let him take part in the bouncing competition against an Azteca member. CJ wins the competition without any violence taking place and is then introduced to Cesar Vialpando - Kendl's boyfriend. At this point, an influential (possibly an OG) Azteca member called Jose approaches CJ and confronts/insults him for being on Azteca territory. Fortunately, Cesar is able to influence Jose to "cool down", thus causing him to leave and possibly saving CJ's life. From this point on, Cesar and CJ start to develop a close friendship though the gang violence between the Aztecas and Grove Street Families doesn't decrease.

It is likely that the Aztecas have no involvement with CRASH like the other three Los Santos gangs. This is because the Aztecas never show-up to rob the weapons train during the mission Catalyst, where as the other three gangs were tipped off by CRASH about the train. This is odd since the Aztecas are heavily involved in arms dealing/gun running. Either CRASH are scared of the Aztecas due to them being possibly the most heavily armed gang in Los Santos, or they avoid them because they mistakingly think they are weak due to their small size.

However, upon the completion of the mission The Green Sabre, the Aztecas lose all of their territory and influence to the Vagos - including El Corona, Unity Station, and Little Mexico. Remaining Aztecas are killed or in hiding while Cesar is far away from Los Santos aiding CJ and Kendl.

Throughout the rest of the middle game, the Aztecas make no appearances except for missions relating to Cesar himself.

Upon the return of CJ to Los Santos, Cesar and the Aztecas regain back their territory from the Vagos in a gang war with the help of CJ during the mission Los Desperados. This mission also introduces the three known Azteca OG's - Gal, Sunny, and Hazer. Jose doesn't make an apperance which suggests that he is either dead, still in hiding, or converted to the Vagos though the game doesn't confirm this.

Description
The Varrios Los Aztecas are an extremely proud Mexican/latino street gang based in southern Los Santos. They are the smallest gang in Los Santos but are likely to be one of the most armed, giving them power over the other gangs. They are a traditionally anti-narcotic gang like the Grove Street families, with heavy involvement in gun running/weapons dealing, gang-banging, gang warfare, street violence, gang-related homicide, murder, robbery, vandalism, and illegal street racing.

The Aztecas have a fierce rivalry with the Los Santos Vagos, and strongly dislike the San Fierro Rifa. They also have many conflicts with the nearby Ballas (especially the Front Yard set) since their territories border near Idlewood. The Aztecas are also enemies with the Grove Street Families and will attack Grove members on sight though the rivalry is not as intense as it is with the Ballas and especially the Vagos since the families are well away from their territory. Aztecas will more commonly question CJ about his gang banging status rather than directly shooting him on sight like the Ballas would. If the player chooses to respond positively, CJ will announce he is from Grove Street and the Aztecas will attack.

Despite the rivalry between the Aztecas and the Families, two prominent OG's/high ranking members bond a close friendship - Carl Johnson (Grove Street) and Cesar Vialpando (Aztecas) due to Cesar dating Carl's sister Kendl - though this is much to the dismay of Grove Street leader Sweet whom quotes at the beginning of the game "you know we beefing" in relation to the rivalry between the two gangs. The friendship of Carl and Cesar is further fueled when they eventually leave behind the gang-banging lifestyle.

They own a few small sized territories. These are clustered around the south-western districts of the poor/run-down area of South Central Los Santos to the far east of the city, consisting entirely of Little Mexico, El Corona, and Unity Station. Union Station in particular acts as a front for the gang and is a common meeting place. VLA members are mostly dressed in the 90's 'cholo' (mexican gangster) style clothing of the time and turquoise bandanas are a dead give-away and they will mark their territroy with graffiti. Members are found hanging around and talking in groups while smoking marijuana and drinking malt liquor. Upon spotting a Balla, Grove, and especially a Vago or rarely a Rifa member on sight - they will engage in a violent confrontation. Aztecas can also sometimes be seen flashing their gang handsigns.

On the streets, they are either unarmed or armed with the 9mm Pistol or the Micro Uzi. Since they carry the Micro-uzi on the streets along with an RPG, TEC-9, and Katana in the mission Los Desperados they are actually better armed then their primary enemy - the Vagos, though the Vagos are much larger and have more territory while the Aztecas are the smallest gang in Los Santos - suggesting that they are probably on equal power.

The Aztecas drive the Broadway, the Glendale, and the Hermes. Their favourite radio station is Playback FM.

The VLA have three different skins that will walk and drive around their territories.


 * The first member sports a backwards black baseball cap, sunglasses, a turquoise bandana, a black ProLaps jacket with a white shirt underneth, a cross necklace, black jeans and white sneakers.


 * The second member wears sunglasses, a turquoise bandana, a white T-shirt, a cross necklace, beige khaki shorts, knee-high white socks, white sneakers, and has a shaved head and tattoos.


 * The last member wears a turquoise bandana, a collared black and gray striped T-shirt, gray khaki pants, white sneakers and also features many tattoos.

Gal, Sunny, and Hazer are likely the gang's OG's who assist Cesar and Carl to recover some of their lost territory during the mission "Los Desperados" towards the end of the game. Jose is also possibly an OG/high rankin member, who is introduces during the mission "Cesar Vialpando". The Aztecas are traditionally heavily into cars and the lowriding culture and "hopping" or hydraulics usage as part of their gangs identity and past-time. They have a betting competition known as the Lowrider Challenge. It can be found at Unity Station after talking to the mechanic just outside of the east wall of the station's parking lot.

Unlike the other gangs, the Aztecas don't primarily seem to be concerned with "branching out" or starting businesses/relationships (except for arms running/dealing) like the Vagos/Ballas willingness to engage in the crack trade of the Grove Families willingness for territory/expansion. Instead, they seem to be more locally focused with exclusvely representing and defending their "barrio".

Terms and Slang

 * Burrito Boys: Disrespect term
 * Ass-Suckers: Disrespect term
 * Ass-Takers: Disrespect term
 * VK/Vago Killer/Vago Killa: Term used by Aztecas to disrespect Vagos
 * GK/Grove Killer/Grove Killa: Term used by Aztecas to disrespect Grove Families
 * BK/Balla Killer/Balla Killa: Term used by Aztecas to disrespect Ballas
 * Ese: Contemporary Mexican street slang - refers to a friend
 * Holmes/Homie/Home Boy/Home Girl: Contemporary street slang - refers to a friend (especially Holmes for latino slang)
 * Northerner/North: Usually refers to the Vagos and their territory
 * Varrio/Barrio/Hood: Neighborhood
 * OG/Original Gangster: A high-ranking, influential and well-respected member. One that has put in alot of work.

Mission Appearances

 * Cesar Vialpando
 * Los Desperados

Gallery

Trivia

 * Varrios Los Aztecas is misspelled Spanish for "The Aztec Neighborhoods", the correct word is "Barrio", or "Barrios" in plural.
 * VLA members tend to "road rage" the most often.
 * The beta versions of the VLA members are different from the final versions.
 * One member wore two turquoise bandanas on his head and face, a black long sleeve button jacket w/only the top button fastened (as most Mexican gangs wore), a white tank top underneath, baggy dark gray khakis and dark gray sneakers.
 * Another member wore a turquoise bandana on his face, a white, tucked-in tank top, and also wore dark gray khakis and sneakers.
 * The other member wore a turquoise bandana on his head, a white tucked-in tank top, dark gray khaki shorts, knee-high socks and sandals.
 * When attacking CJ near a rival gang neighbourhood, they will turn their hostilities to a rival gang member if they see one.

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