The life of a hero is a short and disappointing one in the Backwaters. This is not a role for those who want to protect and serve. This is a role for those who understand that true power lies in being the one holding the leash. To play a deputy in the Sheriff’s Department is to trade your conscience for control, to become an apex predator with the full, terrifying authority of a badge.
You are not a cop. You are an instrument of the Silent Serpent Syndicate’s will. Your purpose is not to bring peace, but to manage chaos. Your firearm is not for defense; it is for negotiation. And your most powerful weapon is the fear you inspire just by walking into a room.
The Daily Life of a Corrupt Lawman
Your day-to-day roleplay will be a unique mix of methodical, procedural action and raw, street-level intimidation. You are expected to be a proactive force that creates and directs stories.
- Information is Ammunition: Your shift doesn’t start with a patrol; it starts with intelligence. You’ll use your access to check recent incident reports, consult records on known criminals, and listen to the whispers from your network of informants. Knowing who’s feuding, who’s vulnerable, and who’s getting too ambitious is essential to maintaining control.
- Making the Rounds (Collecting Tribute): This is your core public-facing activity. You will visit the businesses and faction leaders of Port Laveau not to ensure their safety, but to collect their tribute. This is a shakedown with a smile. It is a constant source of conflict and roleplay as you negotiate, threaten, and document who is compliant and who needs to be reminded of the hierarchy.
- Managing Your Assets (The Lost): The department has a vested interest in the broken souls of the “Lost” pathway. You will be tasked with keeping tabs on them, using them for information, or coercing them into service for Syndicate-run operations. You are their handler, and whether you do it with a kind word or a cruel hand is part of your character’s story.
- Curating the Crime Scene: When violence erupts, you don’t arrive to solve the crime; you arrive to control the narrative. You decide what “evidence” is found, which witnesses are credible, and what the official report says. An arrest is a tool, not a duty. You might arrest someone to punish them, to send a message to their crew, or to acquire them as a new asset. Justice is entirely what you decide it is.
The Tools of the Trade
To project this level of authority, you will be equipped with the best gear available in the bayou.
- The Uniform – A Mask of Authority: We have collaborated with the renowned Wazzer Works to create a high-quality, custom uniform complete with detailed accessories. This isn’t just an outfit; it’s a symbol that grants you immediate access and inspires fear. When you look the part, the town knows you mean business.
- The Vehicles – Projecting Power: Deputies are granted special vehicle permits, allowing them to subscribe to and rez personal, deputy-themed vehicles. Arriving on a scene in a vehicle that screams “Sheriff’s Department” is an act of intimidation in itself.
- The Field HUD – Your Line to the Syndicate: Your single most important tool is your department-issued Field HUD. This gives you direct access to the Syndicate’s operational network. With it, you can:
- Access the NPC Dispatcher: Look up detailed records and histories kept on every known criminal and resident.
- Manage Tributes: Report and log every tribute collection, creating a permanent, undeniable record of who has paid their dues and who is in debt.
- File Incident Reports: Write the official narrative of events, creating leverage and controlling the story for the Syndicate’s benefit.
- And much more, giving you the procedural tools needed to feel like a true investigator and enforcer.
How to Apply
This is one of the most demanding and rewarding roles in the Backwaters. It is for proactive players who enjoy driving conflict and exploring themes of power and moral decay. To apply, you must submit an application through the in-world Story HUD. Your character’s backstory should justify why they would abandon a moral compass to serve the most powerful and feared entity in the swamp.
The Syndicate is always looking for new talent. The badge is waiting.
