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Factions
Elanthia has been virtually destroyed by a great war. In a truly fantastic sense, the world is now fragmented into islands separated by giant chasms, and tentatively held together by mere threads. In the aftermath of this cataclysmic event, the ruling factions of the world - The Gearsmiths, The Arcanum and the nature-loving Kinnaes - have come together under the banner of the Triumvirate, an organization which functions in a lot of ways like the United Nations. The purpose of this body is to heal the world and prevent further damage from occurring. But not everyone is on board with this tentative peace; many believe that the salvation of the world will not come from cooperation.
Ruling Factions
The Kinnaes – Those people of the world who believe that Elanthia’s salvation will come through the promotion and health of nature and the world itself.
The Arcanum – Those people of the world who believe that Elanthia can only be healed through the use of Arcane magic.
The Gearsmiths – Those people of the world who believe that Gear (a pseudo-scientific magic) is the only way that Elanthia will be set to rights.
Tier System
There are three primary tiers of in-game organizations, each including a subset of the one before it. The first step is forming a Clan, which may also be considered a “family.” It allows access to such niceties as a custom hierarchy system, an optional article of clothing with the clan’s colors, clan-wide login message, a shared last name and of course, a clan chat channel.
Two or more clans (which meet some minimum criteria) can opt to form a guild, which in addition to a second level of the clan benefits (guild-wide login message, guild chat, etc), includes a guild insignia, special guild-wide abilities granted to each member, and bonuses for grouping with your guild on quests. Note that you don’t have to be in a clan to join a guild.
Finally, Great Houses are composed of multiple Guilds. There are three Great Houses, each representing a major faction in the world. It is at this level that Guilds may unify to tip the balance of power in the world in favor of one faction or another.
Note that in all of these cases, the lower tiers maintain their own identity as well. A clan does not cease to exist as an organization when it merges with another to form a guild. Secession is also a possibility, leading to interesting political situations.
Faction Conflict
Factions are fighting for control of a number of elements in the game.
Guilds – The more guilds aligned with a faction, the greater it’s power.
Faction Resources – Special resources in the game are valuable to factions. The more they have, the better.
Cities, Villages, Towns – Factions may gain control of many of the world’s community areas. Granting citizens of those towns great benefits for belonging to the appropriate faction.
Outlying Territories – The outlying territories of Elanthia are chaotic wastelands. The factions fight for control of these more land is more power.
The Triumvirate – The Triumvirate is the organization that oversees the three factions. At any time one of the factions will control the Triumvirate, and thus, will control the world. Benefits to all faction members result.
Participation in Factions
Guilds – Each guild will ultimately choose a faction alliance. Furthering that faction’s goals will earn the members of that Guild benefits.
Resource Collection – special resources in the game are valuable to the factions, and collecting these resources for the factions will help them rise in power.
PvP – PvP may aid a faction in gaining greater power.
Quests – Players may complete special quests in order to improve the power of their faction.
Living World Machines – Living World Machines are giant ecosystems within the Common World that are made up of a combination of Gear, Arcane and Natural elements. Players may interact with various aspects of the Living World Machines for a number of results – access to resources, access to common areas in the world, and faction power. |
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