Faction Profile

A gang is a lot like a child: someone's gotta protect it, feed it, keep it clean, and keep it strong. At least, that's how Maude McQueen, the owner (and leader) of The Golden Cross Assisted Living Center sees it. At face value, The Golden Cross is simply that: a luxurious assisted living center. Commercials will go on and on about its desirable location, impressive funding, tight security... But what it won't say is that someone in the family has to be a member of the Syndicate in order to apply for a room. In exchange for a high end happy ending to their complicated lives, all they have to do is follow the rules: help keep the money clean, and get others to join the cause. 
Maude McQueen and her right hand man Dean Brando run the show with security funded by her son, Phillipe Loren, who sent an army of brutes to work the Center as guards. The Golden Cross is responsible for recruiting new members into the factions through the parties and events that they host, keeping up the Syndicate's public image with the help of their "golden" reputation and word of mouth, and assist the Deckers with the money laundering operation. 
Their philosophy could be best described as "kill 'em with kindness". By creating solid relationships around the city through seemingly good deeds, they create a rapport that lets them easily manipulate the powers that be. The Golden Cross's sunny disposition, exclusivity,  and known wealth gives their support a lot of weight. And they throw that weight around when it comes to helping the Syndicate sink its claws deeper into the people of Steelport. 



​The Golden Cross Motto

Don't be seen unless you have to be.

Don't be heard unless you want to be.
​
Always get shit done.

Character Bio

Adeline Loren,  known as Maude McQueen around Steelport, moved her family to America with only the clothes on her back and a dream. She wanted to find a nice place to settle down, raise her teenage son, and have a city so tightly under her control that only a fool would ever dare to cross her. 
After years of hustling and a change to a more "American" sounding name,  Maude bought out The Golden Cross Assisted Living Center and made it her own. Initially it was just a scheme to launder money, but as her son's criminal enterprise, "The Syndicate", grew in power and her own network of wealthy, liked-minded people began to expand within the Center, The Golden Cross became her headquarters. A faction had been born.
Anyone that's met Maude in passing would say she's the sweetest lady in town. Her "world famous" baking can be enjoyed at any local fundraiser, and many a baby wear her carefully crocheted afghans during the winter. Anyone who really knows her, however, would fearfully refrain from telling you anything about the assassination jobs, poison laced desserts, and kidnappings... So they'd likely say the same.
Her focus on generosity, exclusivity and aesthetics are a carefully crafted front so that she can continue to build and maintain her network. She views all of the members of The Syndicate as her children, after all. And she'd do anything for her children. So how better to protect them, her legacy, and her power than by doing the dirty work in the shadows. Besides, who would ever suspect such a kindly old lady? 

Narrative Outline
Mission One: Rare Meat.
Goal: Have dinner with the neighbors.
After a woman (Maude) left the Protagonist a voicemail asking to come to over and have a meal with her new neighbors, the Saints cautiously invite her over. She sits down with the crew and tells them frankly that Phillipe Loren was her son, and she's going to make them pay for what they did to him. If she can't kill them, she'll use her influence to run them out of town. Just as they go to attack, a bomb goes off inside the building and a crowd of brutes dressed as nurses come rushing in. The Saints have to fight them off as Maude escapes in a helicopter.
​
Mission Two: Spilled Milk.
Goal: Find the burn documents.  
In order to combat Maude's threat, the Saints have to break into the Golden Cross and find information that will shut her down before she can do the same to them. In order to do this, they must dress as "new recruits" by disguising themselves as old folks. Inside Maude's office there are documents containing sensitive information, dirty laundry, and probably some embarrassing baby pictures, of the leaders of Syndicate factions. After they find what they need they're confronted by a group of residents. The Saints kill whoever's in their way, not noticing the security cameras pointed at them during the masscare. It was a set-up by Maude. She'll show this footage to the world.

Mission Three: You're Invited!
Goal: Take down Maude and The Golden Cross once and for all.
The Saints hurry for The Golden Cross Memorial Gala to stop Maude from showing the footage and giving an in memoriam speech for her lost friends that would turn the city against them for good. However, when they arrive, they find an upscale, but empty, gala hall. They start to search the place when suddenly, a stretch limousine comes crashing through one of the massive windows, stopping in the middle of the dance floor. Maude steps out, holding a gold plated mini-gun. A crowd of Golden Cross members file out of the other doors,  armed and ready to fight. The music changes to something more intense. It's time to end this. 

Cinematic Scripts

Persona Lines

Residents of the Golden Cross look like upstanding members of the community. You'll see them dressed in crisp, colorful button-ups or blouses, shined shoes, and sparkling smiles. In battle they know to keep their distance, so they use weapons like their "gun canes" (which function like rifles, as well as canes!), and  sling shots that launch cherry bombs at their enemies. Up close and personal melee battles are handled by their “care takers” (brutes dressed in femme nurse attire).

Voice lines
Entering a combat encounter:
RESIDENT: And they say retirement's boring. 
RESIDENT: You think you're tough, huh?
RESIDENT: Time for you to learn some manners. 
Extolling their own awesomeness or the awesomeness of the faction:
RESIDENT: We're like wine. We just get better with age.
RESIDENT: I'm stronger than I've ever been.
RESIDENT: Bet you've never seen a pack of silver foxes before. 
Just killed an enemy:
RESIDENT: Sleep tight.
RESIDENT: Kids these days. 
RESIDENT: This hurts me more than it hurts you.
Just been shot: 
RESIDENT: Hey, easy!
RESIDENT: You're on thin ice!
RESIDENT: I'm calling your mother!
Hanging out in a location owned or controlled by the faction: 
RESIDENT: The grass doesn't get much greener than this. 
RESIDENT: I could use a nap about now. 
RESIDENT: Place like this makes you wish you'd gotten old sooner. 

Radio Copy

"They've done it again, folks! Our dear friends at the Golden Cross have managed to finish their annual charity knit-a-thon with tremendous results. Four adoption agencies funded, sixteen lucky teens getting to go to college, and over four thousand puppies cured of cancer! I tell yah, you'd be hard pressed to find a more beloved group of people than those residents, that's for sure!"