The Ash Wastes are buzzing with rumors of a massive Orlock invasion in the Drake Cluster. Sources tell me that the House of Iron is pouring resources and manpower into the region, hoping to secure a foothold in the lucrative mining and smuggling operations.
But who will lead this Orlock assault? That’s the million-credit question. Some say it will be Pistol Pete, a notorious ganger who has made a name for himself as a ruthless and cunning leader. Pistol Pete is said to have a loyal crew of hardened veterans and a stash of high-tech weapons and gear.
But I have my doubts. I knew Pistol Pete back when I was an Orlock myself. He was nothing but a clumsy fool who couldn’t shoot straight or follow orders. He was always getting into trouble and causing headaches for his superiors. I don’t see how he could have risen to such a position of power and influence.
Maybe he got lucky. Maybe he found some powerful patron who saw something in him that I didn’t. Maybe he changed his ways and became a master strategist and tactician. Or maybe he’s just a front for someone else pulling the strings.
That someone else could be a ganger from the Dreadfort, a notorious region in the north where only the strongest and most brutal survive. The Dreadfort is home to some of the most savage and bloodthirsty gangs in the Ash Wastes, and they have a long-standing feud with the Orlocks.
Some say that one of these gangs has allied with the House of Iron, offering their services and expertise in exchange for a share of the spoils. This ganger could be the real leader of the Orlock invasion, using Pistol Pete as a puppet or a scapegoat.
Whoever it is, they will face fierce resistance from the other gangs in the Drake Cluster. The Escher, the Goliath, the Cawdor, and the Delaque all have their own interests and agendas in the region, and they won’t give up their turf without a fight.
The Drake Cluster is about to become a war zone, and I’ll be there to cover it all. Stay tuned for more updates from your favorite Ash Wastes correspondent, Korvo Flint.