The Slicksters
Tier: II, Weak Hold
The Slicksters are a faction of canal workers, smugglers, and waterborne traders whose name evokes both their reputation for slippery dealings and the perpetual oil-slick sheen of The Wound’s waterways. They are a pragmatic and opportunistic collective, respected by some as the lifeblood of Awarth’s canals and reviled by others as underhanded opportunists willing to profit from anyone’s misfortune.
Turf
A boathouse in Salve (HQ), the waterways of Smokestone and Riftlight Pier.
Notable Assets
- Hidden Waterways: A labyrinth of mapped and unmapped canals known only to Slickster captains, enabling them to evade rivals and authorities.
- Boil-Runners: Tough, modified canal barges and skiffs equipped with reinforced hulls and gree-fueled engines for swift and stealthy navigation.
Quirks
- "What Flows, We Own": Their motto reflects an almost religious belief in the waterways as their lifeblood and birthright.
- Oil-Streaked Pride: Members wear the perpetual grime and stink of the Wound like a badge of honor.
- Unorthodox Arsenal: Weapons and tools crafted from scavenged canal debris, including harpoons, net-guns, and modified gree-bomb traps.
Allies
The Barge Assembly, The Vapor Trade
Enemies
History
The Slicksters rose from the ranks of canal laborers and rivermen who once served as the backbone of Awarth’s economy. As the city industrialized, many found themselves displaced or exploited, and they turned to each other for survival. Over time, they built a tight-knit community bound by loyalty and the unspoken understanding that the Wound's waters are both their home and their weapon.
The Slicksters operate openly as canal workers and merchants but maintain an extensive network of smuggling routes, black-market trades, and sabotage operations against competitors. Their motto, whispered among the faction, is “What flows, we own.”
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