Factions in Clare

Clare has various organisations and factions, who can help or hinder the task force as a whole, or individual agents.

The Council

The ruling council of Clare is made up of representatives of the other factions, so the council can be expected to reflect their views based on their influence over the council, as well as the council having its own goals. This group created the task force and is responsible for providing the majority of the funding. Staying on their good side is likely to be essential, and any subversion of this group should be treated as a serious threat. Losing the support of the Council would not be fatal to the task force once established, but would certainly be a serious blow.

The Watch

Probably the second most important faction to stay on the good side of. While the magistrates are generally held to be incorruptible, having a low or high opinion among regular Watch members may cause problems or make things easier for the task force.

While the Watch wear whatever clothing matches their cultural preference, they’ve retained the distinctive burnt orange tabards as uniform from the days when Clare was with the Enclaves.

Political Groups

House Tanis

House Tanis were one of the houses minted in the immediate aftermath of the secession from the Enclaves. House Tanis runs a trading empire and is very rich because of it. House Tanis is currently one of the most influential blocs in the council, and has a vested interest in open borders so that it can maintain its trade income and influence.

House Ferros

House Ferros also formed at the time of secession, largely by members of the old ruling Cabal, but Tanis, supported by trade profits and Venucci investment, rose above them. Ferros are the most significant opponent of House Tanis, favouring a more militaristic stance for Clare, leveraging their strategic position to make solid military alliances and building up the city’s defences, rather than Tanis’ softer approach of political and trade agreements.

House Ancien

House Ancien was an influential enclave Cabal that moved its power base to Clare and remodeled itself as a Venucci house some time after the secession, after a spectacular “incident” resulted in their expulsion from the Enclaves, the details of which were ruthlessly suppressed. House Ancien is known to retain many of the values of Enclave culture. It’s also well known that it still has extensive links to the Enclaves, but the nature and fondness of those links is rather ambiguous.

House Syndic

House Syndic is a relatively new house, known for various “commercial enterprises”. It’s a fairly open secret that much of their power and influence comes from criminal activities.

Guilds

Practical Philosophers’ Guild

An organisation representing the interests of alchemists and other scientific scholars in Clare. Known for having frequent feuds and disagreements with the Thaumaturge’s Guild. The Practical Philosophers are known for having extensive links with other Venucci city states.

Thaumaturges’ Guild

An organisation representing the interests of thaumaturges in Clare. Known for having frequent feuds and disagreements with the Practical Philosophers. The Thaumaturge’s Guild is also known for having close links with the Enclaves.

Martial College

The College serves a double role, as a hub of sorts for fighters in the city, and as a training school. Many of the influential houses and cabals from Venucci and the Enclaves send their upcoming members here to learn one of the combat schools.

Serpentine Order

An academic order devoted to the healing of the sick, both in body and mind, and learning about all aspects of surgery. Some members become court physicians and rest in the lap of luxury, others dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate and become itinerant healers, and others devote themselves to study. The order itself does not mind how its members apply their art, as long as they share with the Order anything they learn. Notably, Serpent Healers do not swear oaths against harm, whether to patients or in general, and on several occasions have been found furthering their expertise in unethical ways.

Religious Groups

Marionic Church

The Marionic Church has an organised structure in Clare and is accepted as speaking for the Marionite faith the city.

Humanity Ascendant

An activist group with support from many Supremists in Clare.

Order of the Balanced Blade

An order of Destruction-following Deirdrists that grew into prominence over the last fifty years. Inquisitors of the Balanced Blade seek out and confront the problems of the world that others lack the will to. They also consider it their duty to be vigilant for cases of sloth, foolishness and indecision, and to reveal them publicly to shame the perpetrator.

As the closest to an organised group of Deirdrists Clare has, they are sometimes approached on matters important to Deirdrists, though their perspective is focused on only one element, which sometimes causes problems with this.