The Thugs Who Took Over New Smoke
Summary
The Thugs Who Took Over New Smoke are an organized gang that violently seized control of the settlement just a couple of weeks before the party's arrival in Session 8 of the campaign. Arriving in large numbers, they overwhelmed the settlement through violence and intimidation, fundamentally transforming New Smoke's social and economic structures. Their takeover involved burning homes, smashing merchant stalls, and taking people away—some were killed while others were forcibly recruited into their ranks.
The gang operates through a protection racket, forcing merchants to make daily payments and controlling all salvage distribution in the settlement. Recruits wear distinctive vests as uniforms and enforce the gang's rule. The organization is led by a mysterious figure who has never been seen directly, described only as "a vague presence," and operates from the fortified New Smoke Town Hall.
Details
The gang's takeover was swift and brutal. As described by the Meat Party Vendor to Vasso and Safia, "a bunch of thugs rolled in, took over the place" about two weeks before Session 8. They established dominance through sheer numbers and violence: "There were a lot of them." The initial assault involved roughing up residents, demanding money, taking people away, smashing stalls, and burning homes.
The gang's recruitment strategy proved effective in consolidating power. According to the Meat Party Vendor, "whoever wanted to join up with them just made them stronger." Forced recruits receive distinctive vests as uniforms and are required to enforce the gang's authority by "kicking people around." The organization pays its members "pretty well," according to local reports, suggesting the gang is well-funded.
The gang fundamentally restructured New Smoke's economy. The previous "first come, first serve" salvage system was replaced with centralized control: "All of the money goes to them and all the salvage goes through them." This creates a monopoly on resources entering and leaving the settlement. Merchants face daily extortion payments to operate their businesses.
Security measures include guard towers and floodlights positioned around the settlement. The gang operates from the fortified New Smoke Town Hall, which serves as their base of operations.
The gang's leadership remains mysterious. When asked about the leader, the Meat Party Vendor explained, "No one's really seen the guy. It's more just like a vague presence, you know." This deliberate obscurity may serve as a control mechanism, making the leadership difficult to target or challenge. The leader apparently commands substantial resources, evidenced by the ability to pay recruits well and maintain the organization's infrastructure.
History
Session 8
The party learned about the gang's takeover from the Meat Party Vendor while investigating the situation in New Smoke. The vendor explained that the takeover occurred "last couple weeks" before their conversation, describing how the thugs "rolled in, took over the place" and "started roughing everybody up, asking for money."
The vendor detailed the immediate consequences: "A couple people got taken away. A couple stalls got smashed. You know, homes burnt, the whole thing." The recruitment mechanism was explained as well—those who wanted to join strengthened the gang's position, creating a snowball effect of consolidation.
The vendor also revealed information about the Meat Party Vendor's Nephew, who had been recruited or forced to join the gang. The nephew now wears one of their vests and participates in enforcing their rule, demonstrating how the gang converted local residents into enforcers.
When Vasso and Safia inquired about the gang's leadership, the vendor could only describe "a vague presence" operating from the town hall, with no one having actually seen the leader directly. This established the mysterious nature of the gang's command structure and their base of operations at the fortified New Smoke Town Hall.