Beyond the desperate struggles of the predator and the prey, there is a third path in the Backwaters. It is a road walked in plain sight, armed with the authority of a badge and the cold purpose of an executioner. This is the Path of the Law, the journey of the Sheriff’s Deputy.
To choose this path is to choose to be a shepherd who serves the wolf. You are not a Lurker, hiding in the shadows, nor are you one of the Lost, consumed by them. You are the one who stands in the fading light, wielding the tools of order for a deeply corrupt cause. It is the most direct route to power and influence in the bayou, but it is also the most scrutinized, a constant balancing act with the highest stakes.
The Duties of the Damned
Your progression as a Deputy is not measured in simple acts, but in the successful execution of your duties to the Syndicate. Your reputation is built on competence, control, and the ability to get results. Your standing on this path grows when you prove your worth through these core activities:
- Collecting the Tithe: Your most fundamental responsibility is ensuring the Syndicate’s tribute is collected. Making your rounds to the local crews and businesses, successfully securing what is owed, and logging it in your Field HUD is the primary measure of your effectiveness. Consistent and efficient collections are the fastest way to prove your value.
- Weaving the Official Narrative: Every incident report you file and every warrant you issue shapes the reality of the Backwaters. Your job isn’t to find the truth; it’s to write the version of the truth that benefits the Syndicate. Using your Field HUD to create detailed, biased reports, to flag individuals as troublemakers, or to “lose” inconvenient evidence is a key part of your role. You are the world’s historian, and history is written by the victor.
- Managing the Assets: You are a shepherd of the Lost. This means identifying, tracking, and manipulating characters on that path. Whether you are coercing them for information, documenting their vulnerabilities for future leverage, or delivering them to a Syndicate-run operation, your ability to manage these human resources is a vital skill.
- Asserting Dominance: A Deputy must be the most feared presence in any room. Your advancement is tied to your willingness to be a proactive force. This includes making strategic arrests to intimidate a rival faction, breaking up fights that are bad for business, and responding to scenes not to help, but to remind everyone who is truly in charge.
A Cut Above the Rest
The Path of the Law stands apart from all others, offering unique power and unique pressures.
Unlike a Lurker who operates in the shadows, your authority is legitimate—at least on the surface. The uniform from Wazzer Works, the official vehicle, and the badge on your chest grant you access and immunities that a common criminal can only dream of. Your violence is sanctioned, your shakedowns are “official business,” and your word can ruin a person’s life with the stroke of a pen in your Field HUD.
However, this power comes with constant scrutiny. A Lurker who fails in their business might simply go broke. A Deputy who fails to collect their tribute or control their assigned territory faces the direct wrath of Sheriff Morrows and the Syndicate. Your performance is always being measured.
To walk this path is to walk a razor’s edge, balancing the need to intimidate the factions below you while demonstrating unwavering competence to the masters above you. Every tribute is a test, and every report is a testament to your loyalty. In this role, you are not judged by your morals, but by your results.
