Queen's Men
“Drakkenheim is mine. Nothing moves in Drakkenheim without me allowing it to happen. I have eyes on every street, a fix on every prize, and tabs on every would-be band of fortune-seekers. Only one can rule this city — me.”
The Queen’s Men are a loose affiliation between a hundred gangs of brigands, outlaws, and scoundrels, all who swear fealty to the enigmatic Queen of Thieves. These reprobates prey upon pilgrims, prospectors, and explorers drawn to the city, extort and rob adventurers, smuggle delerium to disreputable clients in distant lands, and plunder the fantastic treasures and incredible wealth left behind in the city.
Background
Drakkenheim is a haven for criminals, deserters, and fugitives. The ever-present dangers of the dark city make it the perfect place to hide for someone on the wrong side of the law with nothing left to lose. Opportunities for plunder abound within this new frontier for banditry. Many more ply their trade raiding the supply caravans making their way to Emberwood Village. Sly cutthroats know that simply taking the spoils from a weakened but successful adventuring party at swordpoint makes for a highly profitable enterprise, and a far less risky one to boot!
When the Hooded Lanterns arrived in Drakkenheim a few years ago, they resolved to restore order. Presenting a united front against the fractious outlaws, the Hooded Lanterns met with early success in driving out the more violent and bloodthirsty among them. Then, an enigmatic figure emerged. This self-proclaimed “Queen of Thieves” used assassination, trickery, intimidation, and guile to reshape the disparate gangs into a budding criminal empire. Her plots have sabotaged many important Hooded Lanterns operations, and the Lord Commander believes the Queen of Thieves blackmailed several of his important backers into withdrawing their support.
More importantly, the Queen of Thieves has established a general truce between the various bandit leaders occupying the city to share territory, resources, and contacts. In exchange, every gang must pay a regular tribute in gold and plunder to the Queen of Thieves. Those who don’t become a target for all the others, while loyal and successful scoundrels enjoy extra benefits and kickbacks. Though the Queen of Thieves is now infamous for her schemes and skill, her web of black market smugglers secures her rule over the underworld. Her agents funnel treasures and delerium purloined from Drakkenheim to skilled fences and unscrupulous merchants in the world beyond. This ensures ample gold and booze flow back into Drakkenheim to keep her army of scoundrels happy and well-supplied.
Strongholds
The Skull & Sword Taphouse. The Skull & Sword Taphouse in Emberwood Village is a favoured haunt for many outlaws, and the best place to find Blackjack Mel.
Buckledown Row. In Drakkenheim itself, the gangs often meet in several run-down pubs along this dingy street.
The Court of Thieves. Only the Queen of Thieves’ most trusted agents know the true location of her personal lair.
Objectives
- Transform Drakkenheim into an Outlaw's Haven
- Obtain the Crown of Westemärd
Key Figures
The Queen of Thieves is the criminal overlord of Drakkenheim. She doesn’t trust any of her underlings as far as she could throw them, but Blackjack Mel has proven a capable toadie and serves as faction lieutenant.
The Queen of Thieves
“Who I am is not as important as what I am. I am quicker than thought, more silent than contemplation, more slippery than a fading memory, and more unshakable than a guilty conscience. I deal in secrets and mendacity as lesser thieves deal in coins and larceny. I can fulfil your wildest dreams, or I can be your worst nightmare.”
The Queen of Thieves is a scheming mastermind who controls the Drakkenheim underworld. She has transformed a hundred squabbling bands of brigands and outlaws into a burgeoning criminal empire. However, none know her true identity or origin, for she wears many faces. Though she is most infamously encountered as a lithe masked woman garbed in swashbuckling attire with a wide-brimmed hat and jeweled rapier, the Queen of Thieves adopts a variety of costumes, facial features, skin and hair colors, body shapes, ages, and genders depending on her mood and circumstances. As such, she typically confirms her identity by revealing some secret about whoever she is speaking with or demonstrating her uncanny ability to change appearance seemingly at-will.
Few amongst the Queen’s Men have met the Queen of Thieves in person, and even fewer have attended the Court of Thieves. Most only know if they get a note attached to a Queen of Diamonds playing card, you better do what it says.
Blackjack Mel
Blackjack Mel is a human scoundrel. He is a short and scrawny man in his late thirties with a funny looking but cleanshaven mug and greasy slicked-back hair. He wears a black padded jacket and buckled slacks that appear distinguished at first glance, but are actually quite shabby and worn.
Outlaws and Scoundrels
The Queen of Thieves upholds a general truce between a hundred individual gangs of brigands. Each outfit holds a claim to its own territory within the ruins that is their exclusive right to plunder. In return, each must pay a share to the Queen of Thieves. They must also heed her summons, which takes the form of a playing card showing the Queen of Diamonds. She arbitrates disputes and enforces dissent in a ruthlessly efficient manner. Ultimately, the gangs are disposable pawns to the Queen of Thieves, and she doesn’t care if the player characters get into fights with them.
Below are a few of the most prominent gangs that work under the Queen of Thieves. Feel free to expand or use these as you see fit to help flesh out the myriad outlaws encountered in the city:
Pins & Clubs
The Pins & Clubs are general ruffians. They often have iconic colorful mohawks or other wild colored hairstyles. They wear a lot of spikes and chains and notoriously break the legs of people who cross them.
Leader. Leon The Swine, a scrawny middle aged bandit captain with a scar over his left eye and a mohawk. He carries a saber and a dagger, and chains hang from his leather vest and black trousers.
Symbol. A club logo from a card deck with several pins sticking out of it.
Quote. “If ya don’t like the way they looked at ya, if they seem too pompous, too arrogant, too wise, or too righteous, you club them down and let them know where they really stand.”
Rose & Thorns
This group is known for their confidence. They often are known for using daggers, spears, and shortswords and always have high quality leather armor and steel-toed spiked boots. A lot of the most well known members of this gang are a group of women renowned amongst the thieves as the Bouquet, led by the unwavering Rose Carver.
Leader. Rose Carver, a striking red-haired veteran with piercing eyes and studded leather armor. She has a belt filled with daggers, and steel-tipped boots with several spikes on the toes.
Symbol. A thorn covered rose.
Quote. “All beautiful things have their sharp edges. Let’s show them ours!”
The Wounded Hearts
The Wounded Hearts use cunning, deceit, and charm to get what they want. They are masters of swindling, scheming, and double crossing. Nowhere else will you find better liars. They often wear elegant noble’s garb and act stuck up, as if they deem themselves superior to the other gangs.
Leader. Christain Lament, a tall blonde elven spy. He has blue eyes and wears a flowing cape and black noble’s clothing with gold filigree. He carries a rapier and daggers.
Symbol. A heart with a blade through it.
Quote. “Chivalry and cordiality will get you far in this world. Kindness is the great mask of all evils.”
The Howlin’ Dogs
These bandits are all about intimidation. They have size - usually only the strongest get into this gang. They often wear vests and very little else, letting their muscles speak for themselves. They often carry axes or greatswords. Many of them dual wield. They are rude, mean, and ferocious. If you see one looking at you, it’s best to look away.
Leader. Baskerville, a large grey-skinned half-orc gladiator with muscles bulging out of his vest. He has several piercings and carries two axes. His body is covered in various scars and wounds.
Symbol. A growling dog skull.
Quote. “Most people think they can handle a dog cornered and rabid, but they can’t, they don’t know how sharp those teeth can be.”
The Catacomb Cobras
Dressed all in black, and often adorned with capes or masks, these bandits are the stealthiest of the lot. They use a lot of poisons and sleight of hand. It’s more often that those who double-cross the Cobras never see them coming. A lot of mysterious deaths are assumed to be linked back to this gang.
Leader. Veronica Venom, a human assassin who wears a black hood and dark leather armor. She has a bandolier of poison vials and 4 daggers fastened in her belt.
Symbol. A snake coiled around a skull.
Quote. “Sometimes, if you don’t pay attention, you wind up in a snake pit by simply taking a wrong turn, and those snakes don’t care if you’re lost, they still bite.”
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