Clans of Algoron

|Shiroken Tome - Clans of Algoron|

by Sir Rassilon Shiroken

|Index|

Current Clans

Page Two............. |Justice|

Page Three........... |Shalonesti|

Page Four............ |Wargar|

Page Five............ |Conclave|

Page Six............. |Slayers|

Page Seven........... |Bloodlust|

Page Eight........... |Shadow|

Page Nine............ |Chaos|

Past Clans

Page Ten............. |Talon|

Page Eleven.......... |Eclipse|

Page Twelve.......... |Valor|

Page Thirteen........ |Armada|

Page Fourteen........ |Pirates|

Page Fifteen......... |Gypsy|

Page Sixteen......... |Sarsen|

|Justice|

Apart from the Knights of Gareths Keep, the warriors of Justice are the

strongest concentrated force for the Light in the mortal realm, comprised of

fighters and sorcerers from all walks of life and virtually every sentient

race on Algoron. Yinn crusaders and bakali assassins and ariel priestesses

are commonplace amongst their numbers.

Though their hearts are in the right place, and they maintain a modicum of

order within their ranks, the forces of Justice suffer from a singular flaw.

Their aim is their sole concern, and their methods can range from honorable

to somewhat questionable. Too also, while they can accept prestigious

professions into their fold, such as Invokers from the Conclave or Paladins

from the Knighthood (at least one recorded example exists of such), they

offer no such exemplary trainings themselves.

Justice defeated the Knighthood in the last Clan Wars, fighting an honorable

battle in what is widely regarded as a strong victory for the Light.

Despite their sometimes questionable tactics, they remain our strongest and

most steadfast of allies, and never have we been forced to make war with

them. Our forces mesh well together when we form with Justice to go into

combat, little alteration to our standard tactics are required.

|Shalonesti|

Ancient and sturdy as the trees of their homelands, the elves of Shalonesti

have long gathered in defense of their home with five of their illustrious

Houses. Shalonesti training is rigorous, some of its members spending

decades at it before they enter the fray, and has produced two of the

strongest paths in the known world: the dancing bladesingers and the elusive

eldritches.

The elves are frequently drawn into conflict with their counterparts in

Wargar, making long-lasting alliances with both clans impossible. Also, on

rare occasion, an elven soldier may follow a dark path and bear a crimson

aura, for the Shalonesti hold only a little qualm about such in their ranks.

Although they are our allies, it is forbidden by Knighthood law to work

closely with such individual, such as in a raiding party. Apart from that,

gatherings between the Knighthood and Shalonesti are common, their magical

aptitude complimenting the physical fortitude of their human allies.

Shalonesti is unique in that its default language is something other than

common, a trait shared with Wargar. Thus, it can be difficult to

communicate with them during the heat of battle if not familiar with some of

the basics of elvish.

|Wargar|

Under the Mountain where the dwarves make their home, the clan of Wargar is

their staunch shield against the world, a gathering place of the bravest and

fiercest of dwarven combatants. And amongst such a sturdy, durable people

as the dwarves, this is saying something indeed.

The Clan of Wargar also boasts the impressive berserkers called

Battleragers, as well as the gift of Cliath, the Runesmiths. Both of which

add their strength to the already considerable power of the dwarven people.

The runes they place on various armors are only of use to those who have

pledged allegiance to Wargar, and useless to all others. Theirs is not an

enemy to be made lightly. However, their fortitude and courage can also be

their downfall, as Wargar can frequently be led into fights they cannot win,

and often refuse to retreat even in the face of defeat. Battleragers

especially.

In recent years, several Wargarians have been hosts to vampiric entities,

prompting them to be made enemies of the Knighthood. Formidable ones, for

their versatile alignments and sturdy frames. Too also, the dark dwarven

are known for being as innately powerful with sorcery as some elves (though

they dislike the comparison). Standard attacks do not usually foil dwarven

combatants, the best strategy to employ is to cut off their escape and

overwhelm them with superior numbers.

|Conclave|

Arguably one of the most peaceful of the Clans, and easily one of the very

oldest (only the Knighthood itself is older), the Conclave's focus is

learning and magic, which generally go hand in hand. The epitome of the

saying knowledge is power, the Conclave are some of the most knowledgeable

and powerful users of magic in the known world. Many kingdom towers have

members who were former Conclave students.

The Conclave is easily the most powerful source of magical energy on

Algoron, and its members benefit from this by greatly increased power and

resistance to spells. As well, they offer four advanced studies that no

other guild in the world can, some of the most devastating magical classes.

Battlemages, Invokers, Necromancers, and Transmuters are four of the unique

studies available to Conclave magi. All of which offer powerful spells to

the Conclave's arsenal.

Magi of the Conclave are fundamentally weak of body, taking them by surprise

invariably can lead to their defeat provided they are kept off-balanced and

unable to concentrate on their spells for either attack or escape. A few

select magi are able to affect almost-healing magics but these are

invariably weak and rarely used in the heat of battle. Too also, while

their goals and methods vary, all Conclave magi wear their allegiance

proudly, and thus are easily identified. Within the Conclave, only the

faiths of Kantilles, Sebatis, and Drakkara are permitted by their respective

towers, though all magi generally worship but a single thing: power.

On rare occasion, priests and armsmen and others have been permitted special

status within the Conclave. These acts as healers and guardians for the

physically weak and largely faithless magi.

Conclave's place in the world and allegiance to other clans is constantly

changing because of its three guiding leaders, as is the Knighthood's

relationship with the Ivory Tower. Even when at war we are reluctant to

fight our fellows of the Light (though we shall, if we must) and equally so,

even when at peace we refuse trade with the Ebony Tower. Thus,

understanding our exact current stance is recommended before engaging the

magi.

|Slayers|

Once known as the Dragonslayers, they emerged following the splitting of the

continents with a single intension: to hunt and kill the most dangerous of

all creatures on Algoron. The dragons. Upon the discovery of vampires in

the world, the Dragon was dropped from their Clan name, and they began to

hunt any and all unnatural creatures as they emerged. Demons, Angels,

Balanx, and later Giants and Abhorrants were included on their grand list.

They have survived countless attempts to destroy their organization,

including the destruction of their keep, but have returned time and time

again. Some do it in the mad delusion they are doing the world a favor by

purging it. Others join for the sport of such large game hunting.

Similar to Justice and Bloodlust, the Slayers permit anyone with their

warped view on hunting to become a part of their pack, enabling a diverse

gathering of skills and mindsets, as well as faiths, to meet together.

Despite their hatred of unnatural creatures, they hold no hatred for the

limited races displaced from Tropica, and freely welcome orcs, bakali, and

even ariels into their stronghold. Special training is available to a

select few to become dragonslayers, who make impressive warriors under the

correct circumstances.

Because most other organizations revere and have strong ties with

supernatural creatures, the Slayers are almost universally reviled and

hated. Plus, making enemies of such beings... Beings of immense power...

Is never generally the wisest of moves.

|Bloodlust|

Once known as Malice, Bloodlust was not so much created as it was spawned, a

gathering of murderers and monsters who wanted to gather together simply for

the sake of bigger battles and more fighting. Building a makeshift Dungeon

to house themselves, Bloodlust collects some of the worst rabble from

Algoron and unleashes it upon its unsuspecting citizens and unprepared

clanners. It has been crushed and defeated many times but, like evil

itself, proves difficult to fully destroy.

Like Justice, Bloodlust cares nothing for methods so long as their goal is

met, and thus have no qualms about welcoming non-humans or questionable

professions into their ranks. If anything, they revel in such. Thus, their

abilities are a wide mix, and since they are constantly fighting with most

of the world their survivors tend to be some of the scariest, most

experienced killers the world has ever seen. They have no qualms about

cutting down the inexperienced or ganging up on lone wanderers or even

throwing in their lot with others of questionable nature. Whatever earns

them a kill is worth it, to their minds.

The Dungeon is like a force of nature, relentless and dangerous and chaotic.

It is linked only by a common goal of bloodshed and mayhem, and thus is

countered by those of the Light and its disciplined soldiers. Bloodlust

also makes no distinction when it comes to whom it fights, and the only clan

it does not openly war is Shadow, though they are not very strong allies.

|Shadow|

Founded by a rogue Shay Kayen, Shadow rose to power with unexpected

swiftness, quickly becoming a small but elite Clan with power of its own,

and a formidable enemy to the people of the world. Their members are all

united under a single cause, fulfilling the Prophecy of Necrucifer, in which

the gods of Light and Twilight will all be destroyed and the world claimed

by the Master of Evil.

It is an evil opposite to the Knighthood of Gareth's Keep, for its soldiers

are disciplined and well-trained, and as utterly dedicated to their goal as

we are to ours. Their training of physical and spiritual has given rise to

Shadowknights, arguably just as powerful as our own paladins.

Like the Knighthood, though for different reasons, Shadow does not permit

nonhumans to join its ranks, and only pure-blooded humans are accepted

members. They are a very proud clan, fond of being overly dramatical in

their recruitments and boastful. This pride can be used against them, as

can their allegiance to darkness for they hold few allies in this world.

Too also, their elitist recruiting make their numbers small.

|Chaos|

The youngest Clan in the world, Chaos was in the works for many years by the

deluded and vocal followers of Malachive, until finally enough funds and

bodies were amassed to begin their formal creation on Tropica, the site of

the Godsons initial conquest and devastation. They then began to formally

declare their war against the servants of the divine, which is most anyone

with a reasonable degree of sense. Moreover, they war the divine

themselves.

Like the Slayers, Chaos holds no racial, alignment, or class restrictions,

permitting anyone deranged enough with their idea of "freedom" to join. As

such, their groups are some of the most eclectic and powerful in the world,

since no single defense or protection can work against them, and in general

no weakness is shared amongst their members, though as a general rule they

lean towards the side of darkness.

Chaos has no structure, no ranks save two, those who follow, and the single

one who leads. Thus, in-fighting and squabbling over position is frequent

amongst its mayhem-causing members. At the moment, following this false

freedom offers no singular benefits, no Anarchists or Wild Mages have arisen

from their ranks, but rumors spread fast as wildfire. Right now Chaos is a

wild card in the War of the Gods.

|Talon|

Dragons were the focus of this clan, not as enemies as the Slayers held to

be true, but as a source of admiration and emulation. Talon held a

singularly unique place in their structure near the very top. Beside their

leader, they held a place for a single dragon to be a part of their Clan.

Talon laid claim as the strongest allies to the dragons, arguably the most

powerful creatures in the world. Thus, their dragon riders were greatly

feared. Like the modern day Slayers, they accepted a wide variety of

species and ethos into their ranks, divided into three divisions. If memory

serves, they were Claw (the Light), Scale (the Twilight), and Fang (the

Dark). The leader of Fang or Claw could be the overall ruler of the

organization, depending on what type of dragon was the current ward of the

clan. This would affect the overall stance of the Clan in regards to its

wars and alliances.

However, this mix of ethos and paths led to much in-fighting and arguing.

Like the Conclave, a direction that satisfied all members was near

impossible to find, and in the end, the Clan splintered and then fell to

pieces, its dragons departing for other venues and its members reabsorbed

into other clans.

|Eclipse|

Founded by a rogue Knight, Eclipse was a well-organized enemy of the Light

for many years. In modern terms, they were a mix of Bloodlust and Shadow, a

plethora of chaotic creatures but united under a semblance of order and

discipline. At least initially. However, their leadership changed hands

many times, and each time they regressed a little more into little better

than stupid savagery and mindless violence.

This was especially true when its infamous last leader took charge, Highlord

Zayl, a yinn warrior with no love of the founding race. A purge began to

remove all humans from Eclipse, but this was met with harsh resistance, and

instead was answered when Shay Kayen formed Shadow. When the dark

knighthood came to power as a guided force of evil, Eclipse fell out of

favor with Necrucifer and the dark gods, and its members quickly fled in the

ensuing chaos, many for Bloodlust, but a select few deemed worthy were

permitted to join Shadow. Now Eclipse is little more than a dark memory and

a ruined keep.

|Valor|

Another breakaway of the Knighthood, Valor was founded by those who found

our laws to restrictive, but remained true to the core ideals of truth and

honor. An early image of what would one day be called Justice.

Similar values were found in Valor, in that its focus was the Light and all

that was good in the world, but its methods could become highly questionable

if the chance arose to destroy more evil than good in a single strike. It

allowed a wide mix of members, some of whom were regularly in conflict with

another. Many Knights, unable to handle the rigid discipline of the Order,

tended to join justice to seek the easy way of fighting evil. Accordingly,

they had two divisions, one of which was even called Knights. Specifically,

the Knights of Chivalry. Their other order was the Lord of Saints. These

functioned much as the Lance and Shield do in our own order.

Valor did not have the strength to endure, and its members slowly began to

vanish or depart for better places to focus their talents, many of which

pooled together later to form Justice. In the end, Valor continued to hold

the line as long as it could, but they were ambushed in a battle against the

rising Shadow, and utterly devastated.

|Armada|

In the old days of Algoron, when the continents were split in two and the

oceans formed, a Clan arose of swashbuckling heroes who called themselves

Armada. This was something of a misnomer, as they only had one ship, and it

was rarely put to use. They were a force for good, however, who by land or

by sea worked to save the downtrodden and combat evil.

During the Cataclysm, Armada was destroyed, their docks ruined, their ship

sank. Rumor has it they were destroyed by the Pirates shortly before their

own fall. Those members who did not drown tried to find new ways to find

purpose in their lives.

Since the construction of the Archangel, the Knighthood have largely taken

over their role as protectors of the high seas.

|Pirates|

In the old days of Algoron, when the continents were split in two and the

oceans formed, a Clan arose of murderous villains who called themselves

Pirates. They were little better than Bloodlust with a dreadnaught, and

frequently were the enemies of honest merchants and travelers as much as

they were the forces of Light.

Just prior to the Cataclysm, the Pirates were notorious for attacking

Malachive when he first entered the realm of Algoron. In retaliation, he

crushed their port and destroyed their ship, along with many of their

members. Those who did not quickly fell in with Malice, and later

Bloodlust, in order to continue to slake their urge to destroy.

Their role has since been filled by numerous smaller organizations of

buccaneers and rogues, but evil lacks the impressive show of force it once

had on the oceans of Algoron.

|Gypsy|

Prior to the days of Chaos being formally organized, those with a will to

fight and a desire to be free tended to flock the wagons of Gypsy, who had a

simple creed: go where they pleased, when they pleased.

Anyone could and would join their ranks, though kender were perhaps the most

numerous Gypsies. Although they had no official policy for such, they were

known for housing many vampires amongst their ranks. The goals of Gypsy

were genuine in their desire for freedom. They had no grand plans of

conquest, just free trade and interaction across the world.

During the Cataclysm, the Gypsy wagons were burnt by Verminasia, and their

members scattered to the four winds.

|Sarsen|

Shrouded in mystery, little is known about the Disciples of Sarsen, save its

existence in old records.

Rumors concerning Sarsen are many and myriad, that it was a collection of

mystics and manatonics, that sorcerers and druids with unique goals gathered

together to see them present. That it had links to an ancient and more

powerful force than the Gods of Algoron. That it served some greater

purpose than Light, Twilight, or Darkness.

But cold, hard facts are few and far between. Particularly concerning its

fate. It may yet still exist, hidden away from the world.