Brazoskov Factions

Brothers Dim: A highly secretive thieves’ guild which is said to have had its fingers in a great many pies, not the least of which are the smuggling of contraband weapons and drugs, prostitution circles, pick-pocketing and burglary at even the highest echelons of society, and purportedly some illicit acquisitions of foreign relics and lore that find themselves in the possession of the Skolareum at Arkany. They have run afoul of both the Soverat and numerous D’Vryn families who have often been blamed for their activities. That said, there is as of yet next-to-nothing known about their leadership, their numbers, headquarters or whatever qualifications are needed to join their ranks. The one exception is that they operate under the symbol of a skeletal hand clutching an extinguished, smoking candle, and physical representations of this have been left behind the scene of several of their crimes.

D’Vryn: A semi-nomadic human folk found throughout the continent of Karnovya, the D’Vryn are said to be the direct descendents of a being known simply as ‘The Host’, whose very living essence has been dispersed into its bloodline, giving them minor supernatural abilities like eyes that glow a ghostly white by darkness. Known as mystics, storytellers, musicians, dancers and fortune tellers, the D’Vryn often make their living as entertainers in both urban and rural areas, but they’ve also accumulated negative stereotypes of thieves and hustlers. Several of their camps can be found across the Northeast Tzarswald region, though individuals or tighter family units come and go as they choose.

Ounce Prides: A race of anthropomorphic snow leopards, the Ounce are not uncommon in many of the northern regions of Karnovya, where they are most often organized intro large family groups which rove, raid, and barter together. Local to the Northeastern Tzarswald are the Khentii, Mhago and Uul Prides, the last of which is often known to stir up trouble for the local Skovian populations. On occasion, Ounce trappers and traders who exhibit more civil behavior are allowed into local settlements for commerce.

River Monks: Devotees of the deity St. Flume, the River Monks of Brazoskov are quartered at their stilted temple of Herring House in the small village of Omutny. Here, and across the waterways of the region, they charge themselves with blessing the nets and vessels of honest fisherfolk, the repairs of stranded or scuttled barges and boats, tracking the local freshwater fish populations to ensure bountiful harvest for their flocks. In between such tasks, they are known to patrol the Skorbi River and Jaggerhead Lake in accordance with the Soverat, dealing with brigands and offering what healing and help they can to believers. They are known to shave their scalps clean, both male and female, and decorate them with tattoos in various blue or green nautical patterns, and they often wear robes in similar colors, with white or silver threaded patterns and lots of pockets and sashes to carry nets, lures, and other implements. When traveling beyond their home villager, they wield fishing spears, tridents, knives and nets, blessed within the waters beneath Herring House. River Monks also maintain celibacy and temperance outside of their order, permitted only to marry within their own ranks, and to drink only on Holy Days marked by tides and currents.

The Red Weather: A feared mercenary company, independent of Skovian rule, known for its brutal trials and training regimen, and named for the bloodshed it commits on the battlefield. Red Weather officers are infamous for adorning suits of horned, barbed, spiked and pronged armor into combat, increasingly ridiculous by rank, and always lacquered in crimson. They’re often employed to quell political insurrections or drive back Ounce raids in the northern regions, but have also fought in wars against neighboring kingdoms such as Carpezce and Oslek. They operate from a fort in the foothills of the Gargoyle Steeps, but interested parties will find it safer to inquire after them at one of their local recruitment offices in Arkany or Svodnikha.

The Soverat: The official military body of Brazoskov, the Soverat serves the whims of its Empress and nobility. In peacetime, Soverat soldiers are assigned as wilderness patrols, city watch and constables for small settlements. They enforce the Empress’ Law and are responsible for jailing and executions, as well as taxing the populace for goods and coin each year. Soverat soldiers are easily spotted with their black-feathered caps and fur-lined leather dusters, which conceal their mail and weapons. Ranks are denoted on the left breast by a number of golden hawk emblems that range from 1 to 7. They wield a wide array of armaments by specialty, from sabers and pole axes to crossbows and flintlocks.