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=Associations=
=The Sultan's Jannisarries=
[[File:Janissaries.png]]


The IVth Legion of the Sultan's Janissaries has been given the dubious privilege of maintaining law and order in Ephia's Well. Called "the Misfortune" by their compeers in Baz'eel, they are dominated by an obsession with their perceived ill luck. Carrying charms and following their own superstitions, they prowl the Well looking for ne'er-do-wells... and "ensuring" they find a fair few each time. The day-to-day of a recruit in the Janissaries is similar to the dreary life of a town watchman: they ring the bell to open and close the market, sit and gaze vacantly over the bustle of the bazaar, patrol its walls for signs of attack, and arrest petty criminals.
Unfortunately for them, they are also the Well's first line of defense against invasion, and many find themselves on the wrong end of a barbarian's axe, or dragged to Qa'im to suffer a fate worse than death. Those that survive such perils, and prove themselves worthy of laurels, can soon find themselves advancing into positions of command, and from there spring-boarding their way into the highest echelons of society.


==Peerage Ward Associations==
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:'''  Martial and Cleric Only
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Application only


"The Peerage? You can laugh at their moat of sewage...chuckle at their wobbly castles and titles to non-existent lands.... just watch yourself if you get too close, runner, for they can be a dangerous folk. Watch out for prickly lords with guardsmen as fanatic as they come. And above all else, just see you never get between them and some chipped royal tea saucer ... because that's when they'll really start to fight dirty."
=Cinquefoil Rose=
-- Codwick the Scribbler
[[File:CinquefoilRose.png]]


According to legend, the Peerage was once the undisputed governing authority of all of Ring 99. The self-proclaimed nobles families of the Peerage claimed the right of rule on account of purity of blood, deeds of rebellion against the Lizardfolk Master of many ages past, and above all else the blessing of the King.
'''''"We the swift remember to ye the dead, all the red blood that beats in our hearts."'''''


Time have changed, and the Peerage is now in much decline. The Guilds of the Ring have established their own Ward-Authority in Ticker Square and the Peers do not really control anything past their bridge.
The Cinquefoil Rose is a coalition of the forces that once fought tooth and nail to free Ephia's Well from Orentid occupation. Originally composed of refugees and heroes from far-away places, it now exists as a populist movement and formal alliance of the occupants of the Krak des Roses. Crucial to the citadel's defense, and bearing a never-quite-suppressed enmity for Baz'eel and her Janissaries, the Cinquefoil Rose blooms still in Ephia's Well... thorns and all.  


The Peerage itself has become a viper's nest of shifting allegiances, petty rivalries, constant one-upsmanship, and intrigue between and among the different houses. The only thing that truly unites them is a shared language of tradition, superiority, and obsession with the royal markers of prestige.
United under Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Avergne, these three groups compose the coalition:


While the Peerage technically has a Lord's Council that governs affairs, it has not formally met for a long time and ward's only genuinely unifying figure would be the supposed "Royal" Archivist, that staid and grim figure who seems to be only interested in keeping an accounting of which house stands where in the local hierarchy.
==Balladeers of the Lost Hearth==
[[File:Balladeers.png]]


It is clear that the Peerage itself exists in a state of flux where strong, proactive retainers have an opportunity to leave an indelible mark upon both the success of their House as well as the future of the entire Ring itself.
The Balladeers of the Lost Hearth are the dwindling souls who still follow the noble ideals of the old Rose. Originally the squires, troubadours, servants and sons of the original Cinquefoil Rose they have banded together under the name "Balladeers" and do all they can to keep the legacy of their fallen forebears alive. At odds with the callous Banda Rossa, whom they must abide so the Rose is not lost forever, and with a rumored fondness toward "the Drink" and the nostalgic bliss it brings, they struggle to embody chivalry and poetic virtue in a broken world. They are forever seeking (or proclaiming themselves to be) a prophesied hero who shall claim "the Cup," the mystical relic whose waters might reinvigorate the arid sands.


In order to join a House, it is necessary to:
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any; characters of an Evil alignment may be uniquely challenged
* 1) Be a human
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:'''  No druids, wizards, sorcerers, or astrologians
* 2) Secure the approval of the existing members of the House
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
* 3) Pay an admission fee to cover the cost of your equipment (typically around 1k GP)
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Application only
* 4) Swear to serve faithfully. Note: If you wish to portray either a treacherous member of the House or someone who will not be primarily focused on the House, it is necessary to consult with a DM before hand.
* 5) No application or DM approval is required.


There are five principle Houses that characters are able to join. While we recommend actually visiting the different estates in-game to get a sense of their differences, here is some basic information:
==Banda Rossa==
[[File:Bandarossa.png]]


===House Orza===
The Banda Rossa are a mercenary company under exclusive contract with the Grandmaster of the Cinquefoil Rose. Although nominally independent, the groundswell of refugees, adventurers, and cupseekers feeding their ranks means they have become tightly coupled with the other members of the alliance, serving as the bulk of the military might of the Knights of the Cinquefoil Rose. This integration is at times a tense one, with many calling them allies of convenience at best. They yet seek gold and glory above all else... and their bloody reputation proceeds them.


[[File:HouseOrza.jpg]]
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any; characters of a Good alignment may be uniquely challenged
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:'''  No druids, wizards, sorcerers, or astrologians
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Application only


The Orza are a relatively new power in the Ward.  Grigori Orza proclaimed his ambitions for a lordly seat as a young man, then merely the captain of the Gutterknives - a band of brigands-turned-sellsword.  Wielding overwhelming military force as his primary tool, Orza first killed for the Lords until his prowess could not be denied - and then claimed his seat.  The Orzas have recently claimed the fastness of the prestigious House Moonspear, in that lord's absence -- an unpopular move with their rival Houses.
==Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine==
[[File:Sibyllinesisterhood.png]]


Retainers of House Orza maintain its peerless martial tradition, and even in peacetime they compose themselves as rough-shod soldiers on a long campaign.  The Orza represent a new way of thinking in the Peerage Ward, the idea that might and discipline triumph over ancient titles.
The Sisters of the Sibylline Vine are a monastic community of mystics, seers, fanatics and scholars united by shared consumption of a sacred wine, called "the Drink" by laymen. This wine is said to grant them visions of things that have yet to pass. They are highly secretive, zealously safeguarding their strange rites and their knowledge of past and future, and rarely share their insights even with the other members of the alliance. Even so, they serve as the mystic foundation of the cause: their vision of a sacred chalice and "the Heroic Pilgrim" who shall find it has bound the Cinquefoil Rose together in the years after the fall of the Orentid dynasty.


:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any Lawful; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any, however Evil PCs will have an easier time.
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:''' Any non-martial
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Human strongly recommended. Non-monstrous possible.
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Human
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Application only


===House Glitt===
=Astronomers of Q'tolip=
[[File:Qtolipastronomers.png]]


[[File:HouseGlitt.jpg]]
The Astronomers of Q'tolip are the free-thinking, eccentric collection of scholars gathered under the banner of the enigmatic and brilliant visionary, Q'tolip. Seeking to master the cosmos through scholarship, they are constantly engaged in the quest for knowledge of yore, and indulge in the power that comes from such things. In more practical terms, they are the primary archaeologists and magical authority of Ephia's Well, and their maintenance of the Shade affords them influence that few other organizations can boast. Often, the quest for knowledge is hindered by the unlearned, and the Astronomers understand well that their search can only be strengthened by cultivating a safe environment for their studies to bear fruit.  


Once a gathering place for noble, heroic, and worthy Peers, House Glitt has experienced a meteoric fall.  The reigning Lord Glitt is a pale shadow of his father, and has squandered the House fortunes on drink, brawling, and other darker vices... the house is in utter shambles.  Only the memory of what Glitt once was ensures its tenuous standing among the Peers.
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any Lawful; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:''' Wizards and Astrologians.  
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Application only


While some of the House's retainers wish to restore honor and virtue to the old House, most appear to be the true dregs of society. Nonetheless, there does seem to be a certain spirit about the place and the House's buffoonish retainers (drunk as they may appear) do seem to usually come to demonstrate an intense affection and loyalty for the Glitt name.
=Scribes of the Sublime Garden=
[[File:Sublimescribes.png]]


:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
The unceasingly busy bees of the Well, the commendable and highly stressed civil servants of the government. They are constantly collecting information, ensuring that letters arrive on time, and generally serving at the leisure of Ephia's legates. They are the workhorse of the minutiae of governance, and they are forever ensuring that taxes are paid, citizens are registered, and food is stored. Their duties and responsibilities are exhaustive. They, too, are exhausted. But the work is never done.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any, however Chaotic PCs will have an easier time.
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Human


===House Sunpurse===
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any; characters who cannot handle stress well and have a fear of papercuts may face unique challenges.
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:'''  Any non-druid
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Undisclosed


[[File:HouseSunpurse.jpg]]
=The Sandstone College=
[[File:SandstoneCollege.png|Frameless|960px]]]


The solemn and dutiful retainers of House Sunpurse have been a presence in the Ward since its founding. The heirs of the House are afflicted by a curse of ill luck, and each has met his untimely demise before his 35th name day. Currently, there is no living male heir to the house - Phelan Sunpurse has gone missing.  The Widow to the late Lord now exists in a state of perpetual mourning, locking herself away in the crypt-like basement.  
The Sandstone College is an institution of higher education located in a rambling sandstone complex in a corner of Ephia’s Well. It was founded by a group of disaffected Ashfolk Academics from Baz’eel and has now begun to accept students. Admission requirements are very low, paying a modest tuition and passing an elementary exam is all that is necessary. It has begun to attract a widerange of slacking students from Baz’eel, the listless and uncertain, amateur
archaeologists, and others who wish to devote themselves to the noble cause of learning.


Retainers to House Sunpurse are generally phlegmatic, dutiful, and focused on the dusty histories of their prestigious House. The ideal Sunpurse is demure, focused, and driven - measuring ambition with assured success.
Not being a member of the Accord, their agenda and place in the wider politics of Ephia’s Well has yet to be determined. It is known that the founding Ashfolk Academics have a very hostile attitude towards Q’tolip and his astronomers. Students of the Sandstone College should not expect to receive as many perks as other factions, but the obligations and duties are considerably more low key


:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any;
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any
<br/>'''Recommended Classes:''' Any; (13+ INT & Lore Investment required)
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
<br/>'''Recommended Race:''' Any non-monstrous
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Human
<br/>'''Advancement:''' Characters can eventually graduate and receive a degree and go on to pursue other things. Exceptional academics may be nominated for special prizes and positions.
 
===House Velstra===
 
[[File:HouseVelstra.jpg]]
 
House Velstra has endured the tenure of its reigning lord, Norbert Velstra, badly.  It is a House afflicted by constant scandal, and extravagant excess.  Lord Norbert is infamous for siring many bastards, colloquially mocked as the "Winespills" -- it is a testament to Norbert's good humor that this now stands as their official surname.  Despite the aforementioned, the House maintains its position through shrewd and intelligent political angling; Norbert's network of uplifted bastards and loyal retainers comprise the most comprehensive information net in all Ring 99.
 
Retainers of House Velstra are perfectionists, cunning at their trade, and poetic in their execution.  They are artists, hedonists, and gourmands... but not lacking in restraint, when called for.  The ideal Velstra is a peerless socialite, and a shrewd politician.
 
:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Human (Winespill bastards possible, check with a DM)
 
===House Nephezar===
 
[[File:HouseNephezar.jpg]]
 
The haughty and mystic House Nephezar is among the oldest of the Peerage, and contend that their bloodline holds the purest and most noble lineage.  The heirs of this house are prone to profound genius, or abhorrent madness; the official line of thought is that not all heirs of the family can contend with the potency of the Celestial blood in their veins, and some grow mad or mutant.    Currently, the Lord of the House is indisposed - and it falls to his Brother and twin children to administrate affairs.
 
Retainers to House Nephezar are dogmatic and zealous Censors, or mystical and estoeric Thaumaturges.  A strong arcane tradition dominates the house, though rather than the classical atheism espoused by most wizards, the Thaumaturges of Nephezar contend that their magical prowess is nothing less than a gift of the Gods.
 
:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid, Wizards will have a tougher time.
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Human (Non-Humans, particularly Sorcerers, may be admitted as "pets", check with a DM)
 
==Ticker Square Assocations==
 
===Rumor Mill===
 
[[File:RumorMill.jpg]]
 
Formed by Guildmistress Priscilla Klink, the Rumour Mill is advertised as being the premier publication within the City of Rings; filled with salacious Peer scandals, heroic retellings of the deeds of heroes, and back-page advertisements for services throughout the Rings.
 
Though largely self-sufficient, Priscilla never turns down the aid of those inquisitive or prolific enough to garner her attention.
 
:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game. Access granted via DM only.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Any
:::'''Note:''' This association is primarily a support / bonus to PCs who want to make newspapers. Other PCs will be considered by concept.
 
===Stonebuilder's Guild===
 
[[File:StonebuildersGuild.jpg]]
 
When Ticker Square separated from the Peerage and its various guard forces, the Merchants Guild needed to find muscle & security - naturally, they turned to the strongest folk around, the Stonebuilders.
 
After the initial construction boom in the Square was over, the Stonebuilders had to turn to other sources of income. Maintenace paid little and so therefore they branched out into the other fields of work for those strong enough in the Rings: provision of "protection" and "safety" services. This was eventually expanded by the Merchant's Guild to cover Ticker Square in general with a long running contract - they keep the peace and easily get to eat.
 
Now the Stonebuilders are something more than a mercenary company but less than an actual law enforcement agency. Appreciated by the common folk of Ticker Square, but disliked by those with their own personal guards, many Stonebuilders have turned their attention outwards from the Square to remain out of trouble. Helping with this is the fact that a significant number of them are quite superstitious, fairly obsessed with the masonry of the Rings and its mystical properties...
 
:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Any
 
===The Butchers===
 
[[File:Butchers.jpg]]
 
Officially employees of "Solomon Krown Enterprises - Fine Meat & Hooch", the Butchers are better known as one of the more brutal gangs of Ring 99. Fortunately for Ticker Square however, their activities are largely directed against the Peerage - except, of course, for those who would think of undermining their boss' monopolies. Founded by Solomon Krown, the Butchers spend part of their time dismantling meat and fermenting booze, and the rest of the time brutalising folk from other Wards or those too cheap to pay for Guild protection. They have particular enmity with House Orza - a blood fued that both sides seem more than willing to engage over at the drop of a hat.
 
The men and women who don the apron tend to be grim and hard-bitten individuals, completely uncaring about any nonsense regarding curses or mysteries of the Rings. They style themselves as being in "Service to the Krown" - a saying that at once is completely at odds with their straightforward and unpretentious boss and insulting towards the distant and legendary King.
 
:::'''Application:''' Not Required. Earn membership in-game.
:::'''Recommended Alignment:''' Any Non-Good
:::'''Recommended Class:''' Any Non-Druid
:::'''Recommended Race:''' Any

Latest revision as of 16:27, 26 September 2024

The Sultan's Jannisarries

Janissaries.png

The IVth Legion of the Sultan's Janissaries has been given the dubious privilege of maintaining law and order in Ephia's Well. Called "the Misfortune" by their compeers in Baz'eel, they are dominated by an obsession with their perceived ill luck. Carrying charms and following their own superstitions, they prowl the Well looking for ne'er-do-wells... and "ensuring" they find a fair few each time. The day-to-day of a recruit in the Janissaries is similar to the dreary life of a town watchman: they ring the bell to open and close the market, sit and gaze vacantly over the bustle of the bazaar, patrol its walls for signs of attack, and arrest petty criminals.

Unfortunately for them, they are also the Well's first line of defense against invasion, and many find themselves on the wrong end of a barbarian's axe, or dragged to Qa'im to suffer a fate worse than death. Those that survive such perils, and prove themselves worthy of laurels, can soon find themselves advancing into positions of command, and from there spring-boarding their way into the highest echelons of society.

Recommended Alignment: Any; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
Recommended Classes: Martial and Cleric Only
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Application only

Cinquefoil Rose

CinquefoilRose.png

"We the swift remember to ye the dead, all the red blood that beats in our hearts."

The Cinquefoil Rose is a coalition of the forces that once fought tooth and nail to free Ephia's Well from Orentid occupation. Originally composed of refugees and heroes from far-away places, it now exists as a populist movement and formal alliance of the occupants of the Krak des Roses. Crucial to the citadel's defense, and bearing a never-quite-suppressed enmity for Baz'eel and her Janissaries, the Cinquefoil Rose blooms still in Ephia's Well... thorns and all.

United under Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Avergne, these three groups compose the coalition:

Balladeers of the Lost Hearth

Balladeers.png

The Balladeers of the Lost Hearth are the dwindling souls who still follow the noble ideals of the old Rose. Originally the squires, troubadours, servants and sons of the original Cinquefoil Rose they have banded together under the name "Balladeers" and do all they can to keep the legacy of their fallen forebears alive. At odds with the callous Banda Rossa, whom they must abide so the Rose is not lost forever, and with a rumored fondness toward "the Drink" and the nostalgic bliss it brings, they struggle to embody chivalry and poetic virtue in a broken world. They are forever seeking (or proclaiming themselves to be) a prophesied hero who shall claim "the Cup," the mystical relic whose waters might reinvigorate the arid sands.

Recommended Alignment: Any; characters of an Evil alignment may be uniquely challenged
Recommended Classes: No druids, wizards, sorcerers, or astrologians
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Application only

Banda Rossa

Bandarossa.png

The Banda Rossa are a mercenary company under exclusive contract with the Grandmaster of the Cinquefoil Rose. Although nominally independent, the groundswell of refugees, adventurers, and cupseekers feeding their ranks means they have become tightly coupled with the other members of the alliance, serving as the bulk of the military might of the Knights of the Cinquefoil Rose. This integration is at times a tense one, with many calling them allies of convenience at best. They yet seek gold and glory above all else... and their bloody reputation proceeds them.

Recommended Alignment: Any; characters of a Good alignment may be uniquely challenged
Recommended Classes: No druids, wizards, sorcerers, or astrologians
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Application only

Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine

Sibyllinesisterhood.png

The Sisters of the Sibylline Vine are a monastic community of mystics, seers, fanatics and scholars united by shared consumption of a sacred wine, called "the Drink" by laymen. This wine is said to grant them visions of things that have yet to pass. They are highly secretive, zealously safeguarding their strange rites and their knowledge of past and future, and rarely share their insights even with the other members of the alliance. Even so, they serve as the mystic foundation of the cause: their vision of a sacred chalice and "the Heroic Pilgrim" who shall find it has bound the Cinquefoil Rose together in the years after the fall of the Orentid dynasty.

Recommended Alignment: Any Lawful; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
Recommended Classes: Any non-martial
Recommended Race: Human strongly recommended. Non-monstrous possible.
Advancement: Application only

Astronomers of Q'tolip

Qtolipastronomers.png

The Astronomers of Q'tolip are the free-thinking, eccentric collection of scholars gathered under the banner of the enigmatic and brilliant visionary, Q'tolip. Seeking to master the cosmos through scholarship, they are constantly engaged in the quest for knowledge of yore, and indulge in the power that comes from such things. In more practical terms, they are the primary archaeologists and magical authority of Ephia's Well, and their maintenance of the Shade affords them influence that few other organizations can boast. Often, the quest for knowledge is hindered by the unlearned, and the Astronomers understand well that their search can only be strengthened by cultivating a safe environment for their studies to bear fruit.

Recommended Alignment: Any Lawful; characters of a Chaotic alignment may be uniquely challenged
Recommended Classes: Wizards and Astrologians.
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Application only

Scribes of the Sublime Garden

Sublimescribes.png

The unceasingly busy bees of the Well, the commendable and highly stressed civil servants of the government. They are constantly collecting information, ensuring that letters arrive on time, and generally serving at the leisure of Ephia's legates. They are the workhorse of the minutiae of governance, and they are forever ensuring that taxes are paid, citizens are registered, and food is stored. Their duties and responsibilities are exhaustive. They, too, are exhausted. But the work is never done.

Recommended Alignment: Any; characters who cannot handle stress well and have a fear of papercuts may face unique challenges.
Recommended Classes: Any non-druid
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Undisclosed

The Sandstone College

Frameless]

The Sandstone College is an institution of higher education located in a rambling sandstone complex in a corner of Ephia’s Well. It was founded by a group of disaffected Ashfolk Academics from Baz’eel and has now begun to accept students. Admission requirements are very low, paying a modest tuition and passing an elementary exam is all that is necessary. It has begun to attract a widerange of slacking students from Baz’eel, the listless and uncertain, amateur archaeologists, and others who wish to devote themselves to the noble cause of learning.

Not being a member of the Accord, their agenda and place in the wider politics of Ephia’s Well has yet to be determined. It is known that the founding Ashfolk Academics have a very hostile attitude towards Q’tolip and his astronomers. Students of the Sandstone College should not expect to receive as many perks as other factions, but the obligations and duties are considerably more low key

Recommended Alignment: Any;
Recommended Classes: Any; (13+ INT & Lore Investment required)
Recommended Race: Any non-monstrous
Advancement: Characters can eventually graduate and receive a degree and go on to pursue other things. Exceptional academics may be nominated for special prizes and positions.

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