Factions

The factions represent the place of belonging to each resident. Each faction is expected to cooperate for the good of the safe zone but retain their autonomy and thus cannot be ordered to do anything by other factions. Only a decision by the safe council (each primary head of staff) can force a faction to follow an order. Residents can only belong to a singular faction (excluding freeblades) and may perform any job they are qualified for. For a example, an exalted could also be the speaker or a seeker but not an ashwood agent. No exceptions.

Player Factions

The Safe Zone Council

“We need to maintain unity if we want to survive out here. The people within need direction or they will fracture and turn on each other. Our external threats would want nothing more for us to weaken so they, like so many vultures before them, can opportunistically pick us clean of our life and wealth.” -Ashlord Tarkus, during the first meeting that formed the council.

Owner: Joint ownership by each acting faction leader. Leader: None.

The council represents the combined leadership of the factions within the safe zone headed by a triumvirate. The acting council members are made up of the current leader of each faction or, in place of them, a subordinate acting in their place should they not be present. In this way the acting directors of each faction are allowed to pursue their own interests and tasks and the day to day operations are delegated to those they trust with the responsibility. The council is formed strictly for the cooperation between factions to handle greater disputes and events concerning the safe zone as a whole. Nobody is considered the head of the council as each member holds equal sway and voting power. Decisions are decided by majority vote (2/3 as their are three factions) and leaders cannot abstain from a vote under any circumstance. The council answers only to the faction leaders, who rarely visit the safe zone for varied reasons, but are largely expected to be autonomous.

Safe Zone Factions

The Breakers

“Who but we stand between order and chaos? Who but we fashion for ourselves an armor with which we protect our people? Many of us who were cast into this hell are guilty, yet that does not mean we cannot find redemption. My people do not just hold the line against the horrors below, they dive into the darkness with weapon in hand ready to face the lurking evil.” -Ashlord Tarkus, in conversation with Sad King Briareus.

Owner: Ashlord Tarkus Acting Leader: Hammerlord

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The Ashwood Syndicate

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how and I am not just quoting something His Majesty told me, after all it was my own arrogance that lead me here, rebuilding an entire new market and economy from the ground up.” -Bagman Herod, in conversation with Ashlord Tarkus.
“I don’t mind being the villain in your story because you're a clown in mine.” -Boss Yaga, speaking to Bagman Herod.

Owner: Bagman Herod and Boss Yaga Acting Leader: Merchant

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The Ascendant

“When I first became a magi, my fellow apprentices were filled with wonder, the potential, the power, the limitless bounds of what magic could and would be if we only dreamed. Yet in the end, we shackled ourselves to our own self-imposed limits. A rune lantern will make a magi, but it will never give them what magic truly needs, the realization of dreams. Magic is art and so few artists like myself are left...” -Sad King Briareus, bemoaning the state of magic.

Owner: Sad King Briareus Acting Leader: Exalted

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The Freeblades

“The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.” -Unknown, a saying commonly carved into the walls of Freeblade areas.

Owner: None Acting Leader: None

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External Factions

These factions are ones outside the safe zone, either outside of Hammer's Fall itself or simply outside the safe zone. They are notable enough to be common backgrounds for some and can be treated as common knowledge by most.