Widows of the Wound

Tier: II, Strong Hold

The Widows of the Wound are a faction of vigilantes, mourners, and avengers drawn together by shared loss along the treacherous river system of The Wound, including the labyrinth of canals in Awarth. Their members—those who have suffered the death of loved ones to the violence, exploitation, or misfortune of the waterways—seek retribution and justice against the corrupt forces that dominate the canals. Guided by The Mourning, the Widows strike with precision and ruthlessness, leaving behind their haunting signature: a tar-streaked black handprint.

Turf

Salve. They maintain a clandestine safehouse on Rotling's Wharf. The Wound.

Notable Assets

• The Ferryman’s Cloister: A network of safehouses concealed within wrecked ferries, each marked by the Widows' signature black handprint. These serve as sanctuaries for members on the run and provide critical supply caches.
• Tarhands: Skilled saboteurs adept at crippling canal traffic, disrupting industrial shipments, and weaponizing the toxic sludge of The Wound.
• The Widow's Fleet: A small flotilla of camouflaged barges and skiffs used for covert operations along The Wound.

Quirks

• The Tar-Streaked Handprint: The Widows’ calling card, left at the site of their strikes.
• Mourning Garb: Widows wear mourning attire adapted for practicality—a mix of waxed wool, leather cloaks, and veiled masks that obscure their identities.
• Code of the Dead: Widows never speak the names of the deceased to outsiders, believing that doing so ties the spirit to this world. Instead, they carry symbolic tokens of their lost loved ones, often sewn into their clothes or worn as charms.

Allies

The Undertow, The Barge Assembly.

Enemies

The Slicksters, The Hooks

History

The Widows began as a small group of grieving canal workers and family members who banded together after a disastrous ferry accident caused by negligence. Their first act of retribution—sinking the responsible merchant’s fleet—ignited a legacy of vengeance that has endured for decades. As word of their actions spread, the Widows became a symbol of justice for the downtrodden, attracting members from every corner of Awarth who had suffered loss tied to the Wound.

We Remember.

Type

Secret, Sisterhood

Notable Members

• Ancrane Lemothi
• Kessir Greft
• Silosh Trall