Maelstrom

Maelstrom is one of the many gangs found in Night City.

2020's
Maelstrom formed from what was left of the Metal Warriors, a gang that was almost completely wiped out by the Inquisitors. It has also acquired members from the Iron Sights, who also have grudges against the Inquisitors. While the Inquisitors are a special target for their violence, Maelstrom will also (of course) attack anyone else as well.

Maelstrom members dress in black leather, darkened denim and chrome, preferring visible high-profile cyberware, generally appearing to be primitive and dangerous. A full third of them are clinical Cyberpsychos, and the remainder are borderline. Back when they were the Metal Warriors they held on to a code of honor. When their original leader Hammer was thrown out, the code of honour went as well, and the rest of their humanity. If you're being chased by the Inquisitors, they’d probably ignore you to attack them instead, and vice versa. At any other time, you would be targeted indiscriminately.

Claiming a turf near the Docks, they’re based in an abandoned building there. The area is volatile because many of the businesses in this area covertly support Solos and some corporations. The gang realizes this, and excludes those businesses from their protection racket.

In the past, most of their crimes have been small time, but their hunger for newer, more lethal and more expensive cyberware, pushing more dangerous drugs, inclined them to attack larger targets, such as those that serve the Solos and Corporations. So the area is primed to erupt into a bloodbath.

2045
The Fourth Corporate War had a devastating effect on Maelstrom. In 2023, they lost their entire territory as well as their favourite club Totentanz, to the Arasaka Tower nuke. However, they soon began clawing their way back to the top. Before the War, Maelstrom was a middle-grade boostergang. Today, they’re growing in power and influence through a flourishing drug and cybernetic trade. The survivors fought to absorb other surviving high-chrome gangs. Warlock, the gang’s current leader, has forged Maelstrom’s best and most ruthless members into a productive core that runs its businesses while he uses its rank and file to wreck competitors.

Maelstrom began leading other gangs in salvaging valuable gear from the Hot Zone. Maelstrom survivors also stabilised the Burleson Tower Hotel which housed the remains of Club Totentanz. Today the gang holds court in a ballroom there. Burned-out chrome from the Fallen covers one entire wall, including the mummified corpse of their former leader, Hammer, killed after the Nuke.

2077
In 2077, the Maelstrom Gang is located in the All Foods Plant in Night City. With 1,300 members, they are led by Royce after he deposed and imprisoned the last boss, Brick. They are known to have heavy combat augmentation, pain editors, Reflex Boosters, and signature red street mod optical units of unknown capabilities.

Maelstrom's territory is the industrial part of Watson. Its factories, the Totentanz Club - you'll meet them there. Deeply obsessed with cybertechnology, their urge to improve the weakness of their own human flesh is far stronger than their fear of cyberpsychosis.

Philosophy & Structure
They are fascinated with cyberware, the Net, the occult, and the pursuit of any otherworldly sensation.

They partition their organization into smaller groups, each responsible for a different part of their criminal empire. Depending on the task, these groups can be as large thirty members and partake in raids, hit jobs, or protecting valuable cargo- or as many as four or five if patrolling their own turf.

The gang appear to have an affinity for nicknames.

Criminal Activity & Sources of Income
The main revenue stream for Maelstromers comes from smuggling illegal meds and drugs. They also perform hit jobs, which they execute in a bizarre and brutal fashion. Many victims are found dismembered, skinned alive, or found in wet concrete. They also perform well planned and executed heists on guarded corporate transports.

Another prominent source of income is the Totentanz club, the most popular gangster club and "drink&riot" venue in Night City. Totentanz is located in an abandoned factory where other gangers go to party and listen to neo-death metal music as long as they obey the Maelstrom's authority and customs. If a night at TTC has a body count less than dozen it is considered crappy and boring.

Rumors say that the gang is involved in the production of black market braindance records- especially bizarre, disturbing, and extremely violent ones. Other records they are rumored to produce are called "Numbness", an emotional void that places users in a strange state of mind, which are quite popular among overstimulated BD users. Despite these rumors, the NCPD has found no evidence to prove the Maelstrom are involved in the BD black market.

Firearms

 * Nokota D5 Copperhead
 * Nokota D5 Sidewinder
 * Militech M251s Ajax
 * Militech M221 Saratoga
 * Militech M-76e Omaha
 * Rostović DB-2 Satara
 * Rostović DB-4 Igla
 * Budget Arms Carnage
 * Tsunami Nekomata
 * Techtronika SPT32 Grad
 * Techtronika RT-46 Burya
 * Darra Polytechnic DR-5 Nova
 * Darra Polytechnic DR-12 Quasar
 * Militech M-10AF Lexington
 * Constitutional Arms Unity
 * Constitutional Arms M2067 Defender
 * Arasaka Nowaki
 * Arasaka JKE-X2 Kenshin
 * Arasaka TKI-20 Shingen
 * Kang Tao G-58 Dian

Vehicles

 * Chevillon Thrax "Hammer Drill"
 * Thorton Galena

Appearances
Maelstrom appears in, , , and.