GM: Judd Karlman
Player: Sean Nittner
System: Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts
The pitch:
You walk out of Ironhook in the suit you got arrested in, your old crew is spread hither and yon all over Doskvol’s factions. Your starting situation is a Crew sheet. The thing you know walking out alone is that you cannot survive alone in Doskvol.
And that was enough to get us started. I created Crown, a deathlander who used to be Cutter, but after spending a decade in Ironhook, she came out a Spider. Here old crew was the Warblers, but after she left they all went different ways.
The first kindness she experienced in ten years was a haberdasher named Milos that gave her a new suit (paid for by the wives of Ironhook), a cup of tea, and a little guidance on re-entering the Dosk. She already knew something was off when she saw the spotlight over head from the huge airship Covenant. Since when do we have airships?
Starting from Scratch
This is what Crown knew about her old crew. The Warblers, didn’t use real names. We made it a point that we only called each other by our aliases, and it was part of our respect for each other that we didn’t go digging around into each other’s past. The War in Crows foot wasn’t an abstract thing for my old crew, it was personal.
- Stitch’s dad was Iruvian and even though he was barely in her life, when he’d show up, he’d though everything off kilter and the crew would erupt into fighting about where her loyalties were. In the end, maybe to help her dad, maybe for her own reasons she joined the Red Sashes. There’s still a lot of hurt feelings about that choice.
- Sunny is a Skov through and through with a Blue Skovlan Sun tattooed on his face. He was bitter about the Unity War before I went into Ironhook, but I suspect he’s come to terms with it by now. He always needed something to be outraged about, and I’m sure by now it’s the new airships floating overhead or the unity calendar or that his fastest goat can’t outrun an autocycle. Sunny was loyal as hell though, and he sent me messages while I was inside. He bounced around for a while after the Warblers disbanded, and last I heard he’s doing security for Tangletown, working for Mardin Gull. He doesn’t run with the Ironborn because, “That dumb fuck is going to get Skovs killed.”
- Temple must be in hog heaven. She was a tinker that loved her electropalsmic contraptions. I haven’t heard form her since I went in, but if these so called Sparkrunners are real, I’m sure she’s teamed up with them. Temple always talked too much, so I’ve got to imagine they know all about me.
- Coin was aptly named. They were the greediest fucker I ever met, and meticulous. When folks came back from places we robbed, the rooms were stripped down to wobbling floorboards. Coin would be on the street the next day selling the nails pulled they pried out. They were a master of disguise, capable of being whoever they needed to be in the moment, so I’m not sure where or even who they are now, but if I had to guess, they took that offer from Unseen. Those same fuckers we said we’d never work with again…
And then there as Wren, our Spider, right until the day I killed her. The details of that we’ll determine through play.
On account of the fact that Sunny was the only one who ever checked in on Crown while she was inside, and because Tangletown seemed like a less likely place to get stabbed that almost anywhere else in the city, she made her way there, but not on a direct path through Charhallow. Even with next to nothing to spare, she had a nice suit now and someone might still ruin her day to get it. She took the longer route through Barrowcleft and the razzle dazzle of Silkshore.
Trouble in Tangletown
She found Sunny working the door and his face lit up in a smile. She was glad that he was glad to see her, but she could also tell something was troubling him. The woman he was talking to, with a crow tattoo however, Crown didn’t know and didn’t like her listening in on their reunion. “What’s it to you?” She asked a bit rougher than she needed to.
“I’m Mardin Gull. How long have you been out?”
Mardin Gull. She was a living legend. The only one who got out of life without going to Ironhook or the Crematorium. “I’ve heard of you.” Crown tried to act cool.
“Come on it, let me get you a meal.”
Because Sunny vouched for her and because of her legend, Crown wasn’t inclined to refuse the hospitality. She had already stolen a needle from the haberdasher just to have something to hold onto of her own.
It didn’t take long to figure out that the reason for Sunny’s concern. A dead Imperial Captain washed up on the shore of Tangletown, and someone was going to have to pay for it. “Are the bluecoats trying to put this on you?” Crown asked.
“If only it were the Bluecoats, it’s the Blackcoats I’m worried about.”
“Blackcoats?” Crown wondered out loud just as one walk into the Leaky Bucket and dropped his badge on the counter.
He talked to Mardin while Crown scrutinized every feature of his face and uniform. He told her he had errands, but that he’d be back in 20 minutes and there had better be someone standing out front with manacles on (he was kind enough to supply those) ready to go to Ironhook.
Crown could tell he was settling for a patsy, but he’d much rather know who actually did it. She stopped on the way out and made an offer. Why not take a little more time on his errands, give her a day and she’d find the actual killer. That would surely be noticed by his superiors. He looked back at Sunny, with this Skov nationalism literally painted all over his face, and said “I’ll give you six. You’ve got till the Hour of Smoke. Good luck Crown.” She had not told him her name.
No Mystery at All
As soon as the Blackcoat left, Mardin and Sunny laid it on her. Everyone knew Ulf Ironborn killed him, but he was hiding away in the Old Forge.
Crown shook her head “Sunny, I’m not letting you take my place in Ironhook.” She had lots of option. She could hide Sunny away, and then Mardin would have to find someone else to give up. She could find another patsy. Or she could do the most foolish thing of all and tell Ulf to make things right.
Sunny shook his head when she chose the latter. “I’ve got your back”
“You always did.” As Crown smiled we flashed back to the two of them ten years younger, fighting back to back to gain control of the Old Forge for Ulf. Turf he’s since reclaimed, but for a feeling moment, it was Crown’s place. We were all sure he’d be delighted to see Crown again!
I like what you’ve done with the place
Crown and Spider walked into the Old Forge tavern and saw Ulf deep in his cups at the bar. He looked like he was hiding…and he hated hiding. The bartender, another Scov entreated Sunny “You hear to finally join the movement?”
“Fuck your movement.” Sunny say, sharper than he should have when we were about to ask for a favor. A big favor. But it still made Crown Smile. Sunny was a patriot, not an idiot.
She walked the permitter of the Old Forge, drawing her fingers across the decorations. When she got the the embalmed head of a deathlands creature on the wall she slipped her hand behind it and pulled out a parcel. The was Wren’s stash from when the Warblers briefly held this as turf. Wren, the crew’s spider before Crown killed him. That story is for another flashback.
She ordered two pints and brought one to Ulf at the bar. He didn’t take it well. “Oh, look who just got out of the Hook and has time to serve her best customer a drink.” (Risky/Standard Consort, miss).
Crown pushed back. She did want to cause trouble, but after being in a dungeon for a decade, this was the closest thing she could call to a home. (Resist, reduced the ticks on the Ulf Loses His Shit Clock).
After a few drinks the mood mellowed and Crown came what she was here to say. Ulf had to make good, otherwise Sunny was going on. She said it like she meant it (Controlled/Limited Consort. Crit!)
Ulf started lambasting himself, talking about who would take over the movement when he was gone but Crown called an end to the theatrics. “We all know this isn’t a war, it’s business. Find someone whose turn it is and send them in.” (Risky/Standard Sway. Success).
Ulf knew she was right, nobody needed a martyr right now. He turned to his second Havid, you know Havid who is ruthless, volatile, and shrewd, and told him to do the time. Havid protested at first but Ulf told him this was recruiting mission. He was going to round up ever loyal Scov in the join for when the fighting started. Crown didn’t know what fight Ulf was planning for, but she did know there were a lot of bored Skovs in the Hook looking for a purpose. This idea would work. (Risky/Standard Command. Success)
Havid agreed, and she didn’t even have to use the slumber essence she dropped in his drink.
Taunting
Back at the Leaky Bucket, the Major took Havid into custody on a new-fangled Hockney Steam Car. He offered Crown a smoike.
“When I arranged for you be released from Ironhook, everyone told me it was a bad idea. But I told them to have a little fath. Things have gotten to stale here, we needed something, someone to shake it up. So Crown, how’s it feel to be free?”
“How’s it feel to be free?” I’ll let you know when I finally am.”
Fuck yeah, that game was incredible. Can’t wait to play again.
Here’s a list of the NPCs that came up in our game:
- Milos, Haberdasher in Dunslough
- Sunny, former Warbler
- Mardin Gull, owner of the Leaky Bucket, former leader of the Crows
- Major Rowan, Blackcoat inspector
- Captain Volker – Dead imperial officer
- Ulf Ironborn – Leader of his own gang in Coalridge
- Havid – Second to Ulf, now in Ironborn
- Wren, former Spider of the Warblers. Deceased.
