Whispers claim The Moldy Maiden wasn’t always the dingy den it is today. Before it housed hooligans and miscreants, it was just a basement, a damp afterthought to the humble residence above. Then, during the thirsty days of Prohibition, Mr. Bill Darling, a slimy rascal with morals as crooked as his cellar stairs, saw an opportunity in these dull days. With a wink and a prayer, he transformed the cramped space into a den of forbidden delights, a speakeasy packed to the brim with thirsty souls. Despite the distinct lack of elbow room, the draw of illicit booze outweighed the strangling claustrophobia, yet soon trouble would begin brewing faster than a bathtub full of gin.

When law enforcement tightened their grip, supplies dwindled, leaving Bill with a thirsty clientele and a basement the size and usefulness of a broom closet. But Bill, who never did like dead ends, hatched another cunning plan. With a shovel and a sly grin, he carved a secret tunnel, a lingering and winding path that snaked beneath the noses of the law enforcement above, and now able to bring contraband straight to his thirsty flock once more. Soon, whispers of convenient and hidden tunnels spun across the stale air, drawing a new clientele – the kind who prefer dicey deals to Sunday markets.

As Prohibition inevitably came to an end, as it always does, the tavern emptied, its illicit charm fading. Yet, the basement now buzzed with a darker industry, and far more lucrative than the one before. Bill’s tunnel, like twisting roots, sprouted more pathways, one such tunnel is rumored to burrow its way into the depths of the Stabby Jane gang, a notorious crew named after their leader’s, shall we say, “enthusiastic” persuasion tactics. And so, the Moldy Maiden, once simply a haven for thirsty lawbreakers, became a haven for those who lurk even deeper in the city’s underbelly, a legend hidden in plain sight, with walls that hold shadows of forgotten secrets, and whose patrons are adorned with pockets stuffed with sin.

Most of Blind Bill’s background is tied to the history of The Moldy Maiden Tavern, so there are few things left to say, but the most important thing is: Bill gets you what you desire, and the cost is never just coin. Not all debts are settled in currency, some require sweat, guile, and… unsavory deeds. Many saw these tasks as cunning ways to avoid paying, only to land themselves deeper in trouble. More than a few “task-bearers” still enjoy complimentary stays behind bars, thanks to Bill’s “generosity.” Remember, friend, Blind Bill doesn’t play fair. The game is rigged in his favor, and the price he exacts might not be what you bargained for. Gold may seem steep, but it’s a safer bet than getting entangled in his twisted games.

Likes

• Loyalty
• Fellow “undesirables”
• Familiarity
• His smoking pipe

Dislikes

• Snitches and busybodies
• Arrogance
• High society, snobs, fancy clothing
• Law enforcement

Orphaned young, Jane’s memories began with the cold walls of the orphanage. Biting other children without remorse earned her another abandonment, forcing her to carve her future on the city’s unforgiving streets. Here, amidst the grime and grit, she discovered the thrill of steel, and the pleasure of combining it with flesh. It wasn’t just defense; it was a dark passion, a sickening dance that mirrored the chaos within. They called her “Stabby Jane,” a nickname she wore with a twisted grin, a badge of honor in a life devoid of love.

Her reputation with a blade drew others, captivated by her aggressive ferocity and the unsettling twitch that betrayed an unforgiving anticipation. They uncreatively became the “Stabby Jane gang,” a crew of outcasts who found twisted kinship in their shared resentment of the society that repeatedly pushed them down. Raids and bloody brawls became daily delights, their legend whispered with fearful fascination. Jane, hardened and twitchy, had now ascended to leadership, her unblinking eyes glinting with an unnerving mix of cunning and sadistic glee.

Likes

• Stabbing
• Carving
• Tearing

Dislikes

• Authority figures
• Anyone telling her what to do, anyone
• Being denied a chance to use her blade