One time... a Maelstrom Ganger killed a young kid right in front of my eyes, for shits 'n' giggles.
The Maelstrom are a gang operating in Night City.
Overview[]
During the 2070s, Maelstrom was fascinated with cybertechnologies and the Net. Its members frequently underwent extensive illegal body modifications, with many on the edge of developing cyberpsychosis, or already suffering from it. Their physical appearance was distinguished by their dehumanizing heavy cyberware augmentations and occult-inspired tattoos.[1]
Maelstrom's territory was in the industrial part of Watson. Deeply obsessed with cybertechnology, their urge to improve the weakness of their own human flesh was far stronger than their fear of cyberpsychosis.[X 1]
Philosophy and Structure[]
The gang's philosophy was dictated by their obsession to improve the "weak flesh" and install lots of cyberware, as well as a fascination with the occult and the pursuit of any otherworldly sensations. Outsiders believed these ideals were connected, as many thought over-augmentation could lead to cyberpsychosis and other mental disorders, though this didn't seem to bother Maelstrom, as they clearly enjoyed sliding on the edge of madness. Cyberware used by them include pain editors, cyberoptics, and reflex boosters.[1]
They partitioned their organization into smaller groups, each responsible for a different part of their criminal empire. Depending on the task, these groups could be as small as four or five if patrolling their own turf, or large as thirty members to partake in raids, hit jobs, or protecting valuable cargo.[1]
Sources of Income[]
The main revenue stream for Maelstromers came from smuggling illegal meds and drugs. They also performed hit jobs, which they executed in a bizarre and brutal fashion. Many victims were found dismembered, skinned alive, or drowned in wet concrete. They also performed well planned and executed heists on heavily-guarded corporate transports.
Another prominent source of income was the Totentanz club, the most popular gangster club and "drink&riot" venue in Night City at the that time. Totentanz was located in an abandoned hotel where other gangers went to party and listen to neo-death metal music as long as they obeyed Maelstrom's authority and customs. If a night at TTC had a body count less than a dozen it was considered crappy and boring.
Rumors said that the gang was involved in the production of black market braindance records; especially bizarre, disturbing, and extremely violent ones. Other rumors stated they produced a BD called "Numbness," an emotional void that placed users in a strange state of mind, which was quite popular among overstimulated BD users. Despite these rumors, the NCPD didn't find evidence to prove Maelstrom was involved in the BD black market.[1]
History[]
2010s - 2020s[]
Formed in Night City at some point after 2013, Maelstrom was established by a former member of the Metal Warriors combat gang known as Hammer, who was thrown out for breaking the gang's combat code. At some point later, the Warriors were almost completely wiped out by the Inquisitors gang during a nightly brawl, and the surviving members drifted apart, with one part of the remnants joining Hammer to form Maelstrom. Over time, they also acquired people from the Red Chrome Legion and the Iron Sights that had a personal grudge against the Inquisitors, though other targets were randomly salvaged as well. Maelstrom's symbol was a fist clenched around the handle of an old-style hammer surrounded by a whirlwind. Its members appeared to look dirty, primitive, and dangerous, wearing traditional black leather and chrome chains while sporting visible cyberware. Led by Hammer, Maelstrom didn't have any codes, everything was permitted. About 1/3 of the gang were registered cyberpsychos, while the rest were hovering near the edge. Only if you encountered the Inquisitors were you glad to see the Maelstrom colors. Otherwise you wouldn't be as appreciative.
In the late 2010s, Maelstrom decided to settle down, establishing a hideout for the gang in a former department store in Old Downtown known as Barley's, not far from the docks. They made the area surrounding this building their territory, but the situation was volatile at best due to the large number of close businesses servicing corporates and solos. Maelstrom was smart enough to realize this, and chose their targets very carefully, though for some reason they never bothered the three elderly ladies of a nearby unguarded flower shop.
By 2020, other than nighttime sweeps for Inquisitors, Maelstrom did small-time crimes and protection rackets, but the need for new cyberware and combat drugs drove them to assault larger targets like Guevarra's, a restaurant in the neighborhood that sold weapons out of a back alley. Attacking this place would erupt into a bloodbath, pinning cyberpsychos against professionals. Maelstrom was also notorious for "laundering" miscreants, a discipline applied by throwing them off the rooftop at Tong Laundrys.[2]
The Fourth Corporate War had a devastating effect on Maelstrom. During the Night City Holocaust of 2023, their hideout was lucky enough to be shielded from the bomb by the Bayview Condos building, but most of the heavily cybered members died in a weird, EMP induced, frenzy of hyper-violence right after the explosion, including Hammer. Despite their neighborhood surviving the nuke, the following raging fires swept over their territory, brining everything down. Multiple Maelstromers were burned by the flames. With Hammer gone, Crusher became the new leader. He rallied the survivors to fight through the wreckage of the burning city, and led them to what they considered their second home, the Totentanz club on the top floors of Burleson Tower. Once they reached the damaged hotel, they found out that the Warrior Heart gang had had the same idea. A battle to control the ruined building ensued, with Crusher killing the Warrior Heart's leader, and later Maelstrom presumably exterminating the rest of the gang. Afterwards, Maelstrom stabilized the damaged structure by using rubble and salvaged construction gear, and declared Burleson their new base of operations, occupying the middle floors of the hotel. Soon after, they recovered the charred mummified corpses of their former comrades, including Hammer's, and displayed them on one of the walls in the hotel's ballroom, which they also used to hold court. It was considered a mark of honor to wear the old chrome of their fallen members, which had visible scarred damage.[3]
Over the following years, Maelstrom repaired parts of Burleson Tower and reopened the Totentanz. They also repelled looters, end-of-the-world types, and even soldiers from various sides, all while rebuilding their group by incorporating cast-offs and other gang survivors, especially from the remnants of dozens of high-chromed gangs, often after defeating them in battle before inducting the survivors. Among these was Warlock, a young kid who had joined them during the chaos of the smoldering city.[3][4] At some point after the war, Maelstrom settled a long running feud with a smaller gang of cyberpsychos and began adopting some of their old rival's meat-heating philosophies, leading to an almost exponential increase in visible and extreme cyberware among gang members. This, in turn, increased the number and intensity of the fights between Maelstrom and the Inquisitors.[5]
Crusher kept a strong leadership during those trying times, often leading the charge against Maelstrom enemies. However, something broke inside of Crusher the day the city burned, and in 2027, during a cyberpsychotic episode, he slaughtered a StormTech convoy and disappeared into the Hot Zone. He was replaced by Hextra.[3]
2030s - 2040s[]
During the 2030s, Maelstrom grew their influence in the Hot Zone and central Night City, although at some point Hextra was killed by MAX-TAC. With her gone, the young Warlock took the reigns, with Quake and Flenser backing him up. Warlock had learned from the best, including the previous leaders. He organized the wannabes who hanged around the hotel and turned them into one of the best scavenger forces working inside the Hot Zone; hordes of people willing to get cancer for an opportunity to become a Malestromer or gain some shiny chrome. In time, Maelstrom even began leading other gangs in salvaging valuable gear from there as well. Warlock also consolidated the gang's grasp on Totentanz, and while other booster gangs were welcome, it was Maelstrom who kept the building standing. On the other hand, Warlock's lieutenants were essential for his rule. Quake's modus-operandi of brutality, and his black leathers and red lights inspired the new recruits, while Flenser made sure the gang took all advantages of netrunning. Another essential member was Joe Pitt, who maintained most of the HQ's structure, weaponry and equipment; and Ripper, who organized and oversaw the scavenging efforts in the Hot Zone.
By the 2040s, Maelstrom was growing in power through a flourishing drug and cybernetic trade. Warlock had forged the gang's best and most ruthless members into a productive core that run its businesses while he used its rank and file to wreck competitors. Despite his typical ganger looks, Warlock drove his agenda with ease, obtaining deals even with corporate agents, while the rest of his gang built Maelstrom's reputation for messy hyperviolence and creepy rituals; these last ones developed by Ripper and Quake, though some of the members truly believed in them. Warlock purposefully made the gang look chaotic from the outside to hide how his core teams operated methodically, enacting his long-term plans. Maelstrom controlled a drug-trafficking network, which also moved reclaimed weapons and technology. Their operations within the Hot Zone were successful, salvaging valuable equipment of all kinds, especially cyberware. With this, they had deals with many ripperdocs across Night City, trading cheap parts for discounted services. While the rank and file worked the gang's drugs and cyberware trade, Warlock had long-term ambitions for Maelstrom. For starters, he was planning to search for a permanent home for the gang and Totentanz that wasn't an old building that was falling apart, though there were more immediate priorities first. By how they had been doing things, they stood to gain a real piece of the city's underworld. Even while working many projects simultaneously, Maelstrom still had time to set aside any work in order to stomp any Inquisitors they came across, fueling decades of bad blood on both sides.[3]
On January 23 of 2044, a group of squatters living in what was left of the old Brookhaven Co-op apartments was being thrashed by Maelstrom to keep working for Ripper, the infamous Hot Zone overseer. Since most were veterans and peripherals, the nearby Forlorn Hope staff and patrons decided to help them, fighting off the Maelstromers long enough for the squatters to leave town with the Jodes. In the process, the Hope's people rescued a street kid named Valence, taking them in as one of their own. This act of kindness infuriated Ripper, who was running the salvaging operations by using desperate people.[4]
2045 - 2060s[]
By 2045, and due to the poor state of Burleson Tower, it was a matter of time before the building collapsed on top of the Maelstromers and their guests. To avoid that, Warlock tasked Flenser, who sent people to find a new place for gang. She had a list with some locations in the Watson Development, though she was preferably looking for another hotel.[6][3] At the same time, Maelstrom was looking to expand their operations in the city, choosing Old Japantown as their next target. This, however, caused them to clash with the local Tyger Claws.[3]
The successful operations for the gang within the Hot Zone pushed many scavver groups to take bolder and more violent actions in the various combat zones around the city. While this was happening, Warlock began to maintain a close eye on Ripper, as he had heard rumors that Ripper could try to break away and form his own gang with the scavengers they forced to dig out all the valuable tech. Warlock's worries, however, were quelled when a group of mercenaries hired by the owners of the new Forlorn Hope ended Ripper's career. As it turned out, the underboss had claimed his vendetta for the escaped squatters by destroying the old Forlorn Hope bar in Little China, though the owners survived and were seeking retribution ever since. Ripper was either killed by the mercs, Rocklin Augmentics, or Maelstrom itself after discovering either Ripper's and Rocklin's deals, bringing the corps wrath too close to the gang, or by finding out how much of a cyberpsychotic monster he really was. No matter the outcome, Maelstrom lost their scavenging efforts overseer.[4] This, however, didn't stop the ongoing operations the gang had in the Hot Zone, with the ruined Ashcroft Hotel as their logistics center.[7]
At some point, Maelstrom found a new location for their gang and a new Totentanz was opened in an abandoned under-construction hotel in the northern neighborhoods of the city.[8]
2070s[]
By the 2070s, Maelstrom was a dangerous, violent boostergang who lived their lives by the concept that metal was better than meat. No one joined them without undergoing an extensive cyberware implantation that not only changed their looks to appear less human and more machine-like, but also enhanced their bodies. Their obsession with chrome was tied to an almost obscure reverence for their gang rituals as they blended in other-worldly superstitions. Despite their members closing in on the edge of cyberpsychosis, Maelstrom had been proving for the last decades how canny they were by building a criminal empire based on smuggling, black market technology, and drug dealing. They controlled much of the Northside Industrial District in Watson, but their influence extended further south.[9]
By 2077, they were led by Royce after he deposed and imprisoned the last boss, Brick.[10]
Database Entry (2077)[]
MAELSTROM
A gang that controls the districts of Watson and the Northside Industrial District (NID). You can easily recognize them by their intimidating faceplates and hostile optic implants, which not only indicates their gang affiliation but also their fetishization of cyberware and cybermodification. Looking at Maelstrom, you might think, "Now those are some hella bold pioneers of transhumanism." If they were only testing the limits of the human body on themselves, then you'd be right... Sadly, they also like to conduct "experiments" on those unfortunate enough to cross their path. Maelstrom is known for their exceptionally brutal and public gang executions – combine that with illegal braindance production and a manic fighting style and you've got yourself a gang with a reputation as a band of lunatics on the verge of cyberpsychosis. The truth is there's nothing crazy about how Maelstrom operates – at the end of the day it's all about biz. And the more rumors there are about them, the better.[8]
Notable Members[]
- Main article: Maelstrom Members
Leadership[]
Main Leaders[]
- Hammer (2010s - 2023)
- Crusher (2023 - 2027)
- Hextra (2027 - unknown)
- Warlock (unknown (2045))
- Caliber (unknown - 2070s)
- Brick (2070s - 2077, dependent)
- Royce (2077, dependent)
- Patricia (2077, dependent)
Secondary Leaders[]
- Quake (unknown (2045))
- Flenser (unknown (2045))
- Patricia (unknown - 2077, dependent)
- Dum Dum (2077, dependent)
Faction Locations[]
2020[]
- Barley's (HQ)
2045[]
2077[]
- Totentanz's Building (HQ)
- All Foods Plant
- Factory Hall[1]
- HeavenMed
Stats & Equipment[]
Cyberpunk 2020[]
These are the stats and equipment of an average Maelstromer member in 2020's Night City Sourcebook.
| Stats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INT | 5 | REF | 8 | DEX | — | TECH | 4 | COOL | 6 |
| ATTR | 4 | LUCK | 6 | MA | 6 | BODY | 9 | EMP | 3 |
| Skills | Handgun 6, Rifle 6, SMG 3, Brawling 5, Melee Weapon 5, Weaponsmith 5, Endurance 5, Strength Feat 4, Streetwise 5, Heavy Weapons 4, Cybertech 2[2] | ||||||||
| Cyberware | The average member has at least 4 cyberenchantments of one sort or another, and the external ones are frequently chromed[2] | ||||||||
Cyberpunk 2077[]
| Type | Items |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | Chevillon Thrax "Hammer Drill", Thorton Galena |
Behind the Scenes[]
The factories and warehouses of northside Night City are home to Maelstrom, a highly feared gang with a reputation for extreme violence. Its members worship the mysteries of cyberspace. This fascination inspires them to dehumanize themselves with drastic cybermodifications. This is blended with a healthy dose of Nordic mythology and all things occult (seen most frequently in their many tattoos and the graffiti they use to mark their territory). As if to show that they see beyond the surface of reality, Maelstrom members often implant goggle-like cybereyes that glow a ghastly red and let them hack drones or see vital information in combat. Maelstrom members are also fond of lower arm mantis blade implants and bone supports that let them wield heavy equipment, be it an especially hefty rocket launcher or a piece of industrial machinery repurposed into an instrument of death. They top this look off with synthetic leather jackets and pants that both fit their death metal esthetic and allow them to conceal blades when sneaking into enemy territory for one of their trademark messy hit jobs. Maelstrom's main haunt and cash cow is the Totentanz, the premiere club for Night City gangbangers. All (gangsters) are welcome to this party, where they start brawls and buy drugs or Maelstrom's custom-made braindances that induce "Numbness," an emotional vacuum attractive to the overtaxed and overstimulated.[11]
Maelstrom's territory is the industrial part of Watson. Its factories, the Totentanz Club – you'll meet them there. They are obsessed with cybertechnology, and their urge to improve the weakness of human flesh is far stronger than their fear of cyberpsychosis.[12]
— Cyberpunk 2077 on X
Notes[]
- The information about Maelstrom provided by Dexter DeShawn during The Ride indicates that the gang only has around 30-40 active members, far fewer than their true size.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 BATYLDA, M. The World of Cyberpunk 2077. 1st ed. Milwaukie, OR, Dark Horse Books, 2020. (pp.160–161)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 PONDSMITH, M. Night City Sourcebook. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1991. (pp.47–48,120,123)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 GRAY, J. et al., Danger Gal Dossier. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2023. (pp.67–74,76,154,157)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 SPIVEY C. et al., Tales of the RED: Hope Reborn. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2024. (pp.18,21,43,151–153,159,168)
- ↑ PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2020. (p.308)
- ↑ Danger Gal Dossier+ (p.3)
- ↑ GRAY, J. Night City 2045 Atlas. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2025. (pp.6,15)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077. Video Game, Multi-Platform. Poland, CD Projekt S.A., 2020.
- ↑ Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit - Edgerunner's Handbook. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2024. (pp.26–27)
- ↑ The Pickup
- ↑ CURRIT, T. The Official Digital Artbook of Cyberpunk 2077. Digital, Online. CD Projekt RED, 2020. (p.46)
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 on X: "Maelstrom’s territory is the industrial part of Watson. Its factories, the Totentanz Club – you’ll meet them there. They are obsessed with cybertechnology, and their urge to improve the weakness of human flesh is far stronger than their fear of cyberpsychosis. #Cyberpunk2077"