FACTIONS
The Thieves Guild: Made up of many species from all walks of life, the Guild of Thieves "headquarters" can be found in the city of Dijon. Their ranks consists of synonyms for thief (Larcenist, Smuggler, Burgular). They, obviously, make a living from thievery. A good number of their techniques are learned from the following faction, and they share a kinship due to their philosophy of something one should never underestimate: Stealth.
The Fraternity of Assassins: The product of a military unit that existed during a great war a long time ago, the Phantoms. Shrouded in mystery and very exclusive, they are carefully selective of with whom they associate. Though they are mercenaries, they consider honour and loyalty to be their binding principles, and if one manages to befriend an Assassin (capital 'A' yes), they will have an unfaltering ally. In these times, that may be one of your best resources. Their chapters are dictated by regional logic, rather than common ideals and motivations like the Thieves Guild.
The Order of Chrononauts: The continuation of the Guardians, responsible for the keeping and management of time long ago. Their faction is among the oldest listed in this post, dating back to sometime early after the Mass Emigration. The arrival of the Sages led to a war which put both groups on a razor thin edge that teetered over the threat of extinction. It is for this reason that arcane study and magic of any kind is/are outlawed for any and all Chrononauts. They could be described as an interventionist faction: very political, and very much involved in the affairs of the world. The Chrononauts are like the news, minus the technology, though they are an intellectual faction, making great strides in the fields of science.
Guild of the Arcane Arts: Sages. They don't get along with Chrononauts thanks to a brutal war that nearly wiped both factions from existence. They're known for their use of the arcane -- magic. It is common for a Sage to have a marking of their particular "School of Study" on their foreheads, and/or tattoo markings that indicate the same.
The Suffering: Made up of mostly Sovereign Viscant, the Suffering is a guild that uses the deadly art of blood magic. Necromancy, torture, sacrifice, black, demon, summoning -- it's all here. They are currently allied with Apep and are a protagonist faction.
The Archive: A faction that collects. Information, artefacts, anything of power -- their existence centers around collection. Long ago, a small team of Origins sought to develop ways to maintain balance. Rather than simply fight against those who would upset it, they would take a deterrent approach. How? By finding and seizing things of power to prevent those from upsetting the power balance and throwing the world into chaos. They are the most neutral faction as their policy prohibits taking sides -- even politically -- with any organisation, group, unit, team, state, nation-state, populace, fraternity, guild, or party. They aren't against their members (called Collectors) having relationships of any kind with non-members, so long as they put the organisation first. Compromised of many races, they don't operate in chapters that have a small degree of autonomy, but "Divisions" as dictated by location. These Divisions' self-governance begin with a custom name, insignia and/or crest, and end with cosmetics to the uniform which must be more similar than different. More like a science and military cluster than a society.
