Pity the average dwarven clan. They toil for decades, even centuries, in out-of-the-way mines deep in mountains, away from civilization, dealing with sudden dangers and unexpected discoveries.
Led by the tough matron Dalrun Blackaxe, after several decades of successful mining through rich veins of silver, the dwarves accidentally broke into a massive, labyrinthine crypt. Dozens of spirits swooped at them, but the ghosts' wretched wails inspired pity in the dwarves instead of rage. Rather than...
]]>I forgot to write a faction until this morning, apparently, so this one will be quick.
The Sages of Twilight are a mysterious organization that collects only lore related to ancient civilizations. They seem particularly interested in societies that collapsed suddenly and violently. Perhaps they seek knowledge of what toppled them.
The Sages number perhaps a dozen high-level spellcasters scattered throughout the major cities of the world. They use permanent scrying spells and crystal balls to...
]]>Some factions are created by an environment.
So with Gaxton's Garrison, the soldiers that patrol Wintershold Castle in the coastal city of Blackcrag. Unusually for this part of the country, only about half are peasants fulfilling part of their duties to their lord by serving in the castle for a month. The other half are professional mercenaries who've traded in the uncertain life of pillaging for a smaller but more stable income.
Gaxton is a severe half-orc with a chip on hi...
]]>For this week's faction, I want to start with a stereotype, then push past it.
Moralim leads a hardy tribe of dwarves who mine the crystal shafts near the coastal city of Blackcrag. Several dozen male and female dwarves work the mine each day, while their children (about twice as many in number) live in a cave complex they've hollowed out just off the main shaft. Every two weeks, a small caravan arrives from Blackcrag with supplies and leaves with the crystals mined since the last delivery.
M...
]]>Some factions are summed up by their leader.
Durwin Darkweather rose to prominence as the most tenacious lawyer in the city of Blackcrag. As disagreements arose over inheritance and ownership of the increasingly crowded and prosperous city, Durwin found ever more work coming his way, and he took it all on.
This so impressed Lady Erven that she recommended Darkweather for position of judge when the previous judge died of extreme old age. The monarch agreed, and for the past fifteen years Dark...
]]>I've been creating factions out of each class in Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Today we reach the final class, the wizard, where our options are severely limited. There's only one sub-class, the war mage. So let's do that!
If you're raising an army and need an edge, call on the Blue Flame. A rising name in the mercenary trade, this tight-knit group of mages have taught themselves combat-oriented magic, and integrate themselves well into existing armies. Their spells invigorate and revitali...
]]>I've been creating a series of factions inspired by each class in the D&D book Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Today I reach the warlock, which has two new sub-classes: the Celestial Pact, and the Hexblade. I've already created a holy order last week inspired by the Divine Soul Sorcerer, so let's create a faction made up of spellcasters wielding magic blades.
What if, instead of each member wielding a unique blade, they're all impelled by one central, intelligent weapon that enhances their...
]]>Many years ago, there lived a man named Thal. Though poor, he had a large family who loved him, and he was always happy.
Then war came to his nation, and in only a few weeks, he lost every member of his family. All gone. In utter despair, he gave up all his possessions and devoted himself to prayer to the gods, asking them for guidance. After years of wandering through the wilderness, he came near to death, still begging the gods for their aid. And a god reached down and laid its hand on him.
... ]]>