The Red Maids were a group of chambermaids who turned to crime. Like so many gangs, they gathered too much heat too quickly. Because their enemies were among Brightstone’s and even Whitecrown’s elite and not yet among their fellow criminals, scoundrels still speak fondly of them as both a cautionary tale and a kind of heroic tragedy.
When their crime spree was over Brightstone was said to be painted blood red. The gang’s leader, Scar, was hanged under charges of witchcraft and the rest were put in prison by an over-zealous magistrate under heavy pressure from the City Council.
Forty years later and the only surviving member of the gang is getting out, not because of any mercy but because everyone in power has forgotten. Scoundrels all over the city want to recruit her as she leaves Ironhook. None even remember her real name, only her street nickname.
What playbook was she?
- Cutter: Bloody Mary
- Hound: The Wolf Crone
- Leech: Dr. Scarlet
- Lurk: The Old Shadow
- Slide: The Red Masque
- Spider: Spinner Scarlet
- Whisper: The Red Matron
There are barroom arguments, did she kill more people on the streets of Duskwall or while serving time in Ironhook?
Notes
This isn’t so much about one character getting out of Ironhook but as something new being added to the scoundrel’s underworld that acts as a spark. This is a fun way to have gangs compete over something that isn’t too high stakes. Of course, some gangs are going to claim their gang has some lineage leading straight to he Red Maidens, making their claim on this wise old-timer more than another or perhaps she has a link to a solid score that everyone wants, some money the Red Maids stowed before they made their valiant and foolish last stand.
Can your gang outbid and out-maneuver the other gangs and get this elder scoundrel to try life on the streets again?
Inspired by Season 5 of the Sopranos.
General Research Division, The New York Public Library. “TheExecution of Cook and Coppock… Charlestown, Va.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 5, 2018. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/c7b1c6e0-eb12-012f-a413-58d385a7b928
Githyanki Diaspora 
Inspired by the Sopranos? I could have sworn this was inspired by Handmaid’s Tale!
There is a thing in the fifth season where a whole crew of folks get out of jail at once, causing all kinds of problems. I thought that was interesting.
I haven’t read nor watched Handmaid’s Tale yet. I don’t have it in me right now. Too rough and too real.
They’re the “Red Maids”. There’s also one who is scarred, who was sent to the labor colonies for a bit, then returned.
I haven’t really played Blades in the Dark, but I hear good things. That being said, I dig the premise of this adventure. The idea of having to convince an established criminal to link up with your gang, both for street cred and an experienced hand is a breath of fresh air.
Love this! We’ve been playing Blades a few months now it’s awesome – we’re in the thick of the Dock Riots right now, on Strangford’s side (ish) lol. Great post 🙂
Thank you for the kind words! How are the Dock Riots going for your crew?
Interesting! We’re supplying the dockers with weapons but one of our crew is old friends with Strangford and he’s asked us to bump off the leader of the rioters (who he says is a plant from the Ministry Of Preservation but we’re not sure if he’s lying, he is a duplicitous cove, lol!) we haven’t said yes yet… but we haven’t said no either… need to decide on Saturday!