Faction Friday: The Waterfront Gang

RPG faction

In Blackcrag, a curious gang has evolved: the Waterfront Gang, which operate in almost open defiance of the local bailiff and soldiers of this city that otherwise prides itself on its law and order.

The Gang began as just a group of teenagers lounging around the waterfront docks from which they named their group. About six months ago, their numbers grew, and they began approaching and threatening merchants near the docks for protection money. Over the past few weeks, they've expanded into daring late-night raids against smaller merchants (the easiest targets), whooping through the city streets at all hours with their ill-gotten gains.

About twenty teenagers and young adults make up the rough-and-tumble Waterfront Gang, headed by the impetuous and haughty Liamath Hollow. Liamath's name explains the group's ability to get away with its deeds: his mother, Bethil "Battleaxe" Hollow, is one of the most successful wool traders in the city and sits on the Council. While she doesn't approve of Liamath's deeds, the bailiff is too afraid of her retribution to punish Liamath too severely.

However, Liamath is not simply a young ruffian. Bethil is infamous for her strict demeanor and high expectations from everyone around her, and many whisper that Liamath's slight limp comes from a particularly harsh beating he received from her as a small child. One reason the Waterfront Gang has faced only a few fines so far is that many in the city believe this is just a phase Liamath's going through, and he'll disband the gang soon enough.

Tortuga docks art

As a friendly faction, Liamath's a force for justice. He sees the city's focus on law as unhealthy and oppressive, and the Gang is his first step in challenging the social order. What the bailiff describes as shakedowns of local businesses are actually legitimate requests for insurance; if a business pays, the Gang really will protect it from thieves and disaster.

As such, the Waterfront Gang can be a very useful source of information for the PCs, and a great source of diversions.

As a foe faction, Liamath's a sinister force, reveling in the idea of taking down those in power whom he hates so much. The Waterfront Gang is his tool of vengeance against those with more power than him, and he intends to take as much power as he can get.

Liamath lords over the gang, sometimes indulgent and other times tough as nails.

Several girls in the gang attempt to flirt with Liamath, but this is a serious problem for him. While he's desperate for love and often reciprocates their initial teases, he knows his mother's actively negotiating for a bride for him from another merchant family, and if he seriously jeopardizes that alliance he'll have hell to pay. His hot and cold attitude towards the girls turn some of them even more insistent and frustrates others, which has created a potential flaw in the group.

Plot hooks:

  • (Foe) Elyse, one of the girls vying for Liamath's attention, approaches the PCs. She's looking for someone to take Liamath down a peg, and will tell the PCs the time and location of the Gang's next attack, as long as the PCs swear that they'll simply knock the gang members unconscious and leave. She swears that it's all Liamath needs to realize that theft is a bad idea. She can give the PCs a modest fee that she's saved (half up front, half afterwards).

View the art for this faction here

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