Sword Marches Factions

Sword Marches Factions Copyright 10/08/2016 by Robert A. Faust

March Wardens – Between the settled fortress-cities of the Sword Marches lay the farms and free towns that stand alone against the darkness. These communities, and the travelers of their byways, have a group of vigilant protectors who intervene when the odds favor the darkness. These are the March Wardens, and their ranks consist of Paladins, Fighters, Rangers and Clerics who protect the places forgotten by the governments of the City-States.

            Rank 1 – Reeve

            Rank 2 – Bailiff

            Rank 3 – Stalwart

            Rank 4 – Marshal

            Rank 5 – High Marshal

Wold Walkers – Off the beaten path made by more civilized folk, the Wold Walkers patrol the broken crags, deep forests, and wild places of the Marches. Travelers and pioneers set a place at their tables and campfires to give thanks and respect to these stalwart defenders of the wildlands. Consisting of a loose alliance of Rangers, Druids, Barbarians, Nature Priests, and Bards the Wold Walkers share news, troop movements of hostile forces, and aid and defend those who fall prey to the evils of the road.

Rank 1 – Wayfinder

            Rank 2 – Strider

            Rank 3 – Road Warden

            Rank 4 – Thorne Warden

            Rank 5 – Hierophant

Guilders – In all ages wealth is power. The faction known as the Guilders holds the most cumulative wealth of all the others combined. Built on the bones of the craft guilds of old, the highest members of this organization are veritable Merchant Princes whose authority, reach, and influence cross borders, fortress walls, and transcend religious dogma. Guilders are interested in accumulating and controlling the wealth of the world. They fund Explorers’ Guilds and adventuring companies with an eye toward finding and retrieving greater riches. They have the largest number of Alchemists at their command whose transmutation of precious metals is held in guarded secrecy.

Rank 1 – Apprentice

            Rank 2 – Journeyman

            Rank 3 – Vault

            Rank 4 – Treasurer

            Rank 5 – Lord Platinum

The Regency – Behind the kings, potentates, tyrants, and other figureheads of state are the true Powers behind the Throne. These bureaucrats, aides, viziers and councilors run the day to day operations of their realms. Quietly working behind the scenes, this organization makes policy, deposes ineffective leaders, and silently charts the course of the remaining civilized lands. This political powerhouse has a diverse membership that has connections in every government, guildhall, militant or religious order, and town council. Cross them at your peril.

Rank 1 – Whisperer

            Rank 2 – Watcher

            Rank 3 – Shadower

            Rank 4 – Invisible Hand

            Rank 5 – Grand Vizier

Reliquarians – This secretive order holds that Knowledge is Power to a fanatical degree. Obsessed with the retrieval and ownership of ancient magic items, relics, and artifacts this organization uses subterfuge and guile to amass raw magical power. Consisting primarily of Sages, Bards, Wizards, historians, and antiquarians this order not only seeks knowledge of lost magical items and spells, but of ancient lore, historical records and all useful knowledge. The enforcement arm of this group is a cabal of Arcane Tricksters known as the Ribaulds.

Rank 1 – Cipher

            Rank 2 – Sigil

            Rank 3 – Secret Keeper

            Rank 4 – Lorecrafter

            Rank 5 – Erudite Master

The Dragon League – Members of this society hold that the world was a better place under the rulership of Dragonkind. After the fall of the Draconarchy, during the Last Great Age, pockets of surviving subjects banded together and rejected their scaly overlords, hunting them to near extinction. Today the Dragon League works in secret to revive the notion that draconic rule will bring balance, prosperity, and usher in the Golden Age of draconic hegemony. Dragonborn of all classes, Kobolds, Lizardmen, and Troglodytes fill the ranks alongside other sapient races that feel their lives better with a dragon in charge. The Yuan-Ti actively oppose the League as they were the original betrayers of the Dragonarchy and see themselves as superiors.

                Rank 1 – Wyrm Scale

            Rank 2 – Kill Claw

            Rank 3 – Blood Wing

            Rank 4 – Dread Fang

            Rank 5 – Draconis Rex