Almost all of the characters in Deadlock are completely fictional. But some of them may have a deeper connection with real-world history. And no, I am not referring to characters like Victor, who is a walking reference to Mary Shelly’s eponymous work.
I am talking about Holliday, who is a sheriff and has come a long way from her small town into the streets of New York’s Cursed Apple. In the game, she is said to be the descendant of a real-life gunslinger from history.
John Henry Holliday, also better known as Doc Holliday. He lived in the mid 1800s and was one of the important figures in Wild West history. Though his name may have been forgotten in present times, Valve devs seem to have kept him in the back of their minds.
Holliday is pursuing a mysterious killer
After Neon Prime was revamped into Deadlock, ditching the futuristic sci-fi setting for the noir and occult atmosphere of the late 40s. It was finally in a sweet spot, which made it easier for Valve to bring in a historically famous gunslinger, but with a twist.
Thus, in January of 2025, Holliday was officially released alongside other Deadlock newcomers. Her backstory is a thrilling one because she has come all the way to the city in order to track down a gruesome killer known as the Troubadour.
This mysterious killer is also the central figure in Holliday’s wish for the summoning ritual. She wants to aid the Patrons so that they can help her kill the Troubadour for good. She had originally confronted the serial killer once in her life, but she was unprepared for him to immediately turn into a murder of crows, quickly dispersing.
The Troubadour may not be a normal human being
It is an important piece of information in her backstory, implying that the Troubadour is a force far more sinister than any mortal serial killer. Several characters in the game warn Holliday not to waste her life going after this deadly killer, hinting that it may not end well for her.
The whole ordeal could be a direct reference to The Dark Tower fantasy book series. This was written by the prolific author, Stephen King. In it we find a character named Roland Deschain, who is also a gunslinger in pursuit of a sorcerer named ‘Man in Black.’
We cannot be certain of how impactful the Troubadour’s ghastly activities were in the game’s lore. But it has been confirmed that his actions became news on national television, calling it ‘the Macomb Massacre’.
It is also implied that the reason Holliday is so desperately chasing after the Troubadour is to avenge her dead sister, who was supposedly one of the killer’s victims.
