Factions of Arcania
The alliances, enemies, and independent powers that shape the war for Arcania's future.
"There are no neutrals in this war. Even those who refuse to fight have chosen a side-they simply don't know it yet."
General Kira Ironhand
The war that has consumed Arcania for two centuries has divided the world into factions. Some fight openly. Others work in shadow. All will determine whether the light survives or falls to eternal darkness.
The Grand Alliance
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Erion, Last of the Gods | Supreme Commander of the resistance |
| Headquarters | Valoryn | The central bastion of the free lands |
| Members | Four Races United | Humans, Luminar, Lilin, Darkan |
| Goal | Defeat Alassa | End the war, save Arcania |
The Grand Alliance is the unified resistance against Alassa's Dominion. Founded in the early years of the Eclipse Arc, it represents the first time all four mortal races have fought together as true equals.
Leadership Council
| Member | Role | Represents |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Commander | Divine authority, the Spark of Light | |
| War Strategist | Cosmic knowledge (recent defector) | |
| Ground Forces Commander | Humanity, Steel Covenant | |
| Intelligence Master | The | |
| Logistics Commander | The | |
| Spiritual Advisor | The |
Military Structure
The Alliance operates through a unified command:
Erion (Supreme Command)
├── Valoryn Defense Force (permanent garrison)
├── Dominion Campaign Forces (offensive operations)
│ ├── Dreadmar Division
│ ├── Mire Division
│ ├── Stonegrave Division
│ ├── Eclipse Division
│ └── Hall Assault Force
└── Homeland Defense Forces (racial militias)
Alliance Principles
- Unity Over Origin - Race does not determine worth; only actions matter
- Shared Sacrifice - Every homeland contributes; no race bears burden alone
- Hope Over Vengeance - Fight to save, not merely to destroy
- Honor the Fallen - Remember those who died so others might live
The Dominion
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Alassa, Dread Emissary | Wielder of the <AnguishStoneMention link={false}>Anguish Stone</AnguishStoneMention> |
| Headquarters | Throne of Ruin | The fallen Eterna Citadel |
| Forces | Anguish Creatures + Corrupted | Monsters and fallen mortals |
| Goal | Unknown | Perhaps even Alassa has forgotten |
The Dominion is Alassa's empire of darkness, built from corrupted lands and creatures spawned by the
Anguish Stone. It controls roughly 70% of Arcania's original territory.
The Five Generals
Each Dominion zone is ruled by a general bound to Alassa's will:
| General | Domain | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Dreadmar Frontier | Corrupted guardian spirit | |
| Mire of Whispers | Healer consumed by grief | |
| Stonegrave Expanse | Primordial Anguish entity | |
| Eclipse Barrens | Dark Titan avatar fragment | |
| Hall of Fallen | Alassa's former lover, emptied |
Dominion Forces
The
Anguish Stone creates and controls various creature types:
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Spawn | Common | Basic creatures formed from corrupted matter |
| Grief Echoes | Uncommon | Manifestations of accumulated sorrow |
| Titan Fragments | Rare | Pieces of Dark Titan will given form |
| The Corrupted | Variable | Fallen mortals transformed by the Stone |
| Generals | Unique | The five rulers of the Dominions |
The Dark Titan's Influence
The Dominion is not simply Alassa's creation. The
Anguish Stone connects her to the Dark Titan's lingering will. Some believe the Titan is slowly awakening through her-that the true enemy is not Alassa but something far older and more terrible.
The Restorationists
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Unknown | Hidden leadership structure |
| Headquarters | Secret | Cells operate independently |
| Members | Primarily Luminar | Some from other races |
| Goal | Resurrect Anias | Gather her scattered essence |
The Restorationists are a secret faction within the Alliance who believe Anias can be truly restored-not just remembered, but resurrected. They seek to gather enough of her scattered essence to reform her divine body.
Beliefs
- The Eternal Light is Anias's consciousness, distributed but intact
- Lumeria's growing crystals prove she is slowly reforming
- With enough faith and gathered essence, she could return
- Her return would end the war instantly
Controversy
Heresy or Hope?
The orthodox Luminar church considers Restorationism heresy. They argue:
- Anias chose her fate; mortals should not interfere
- Resurrection might bring back something changed, corrupted
- The focus should be on honoring her sacrifice, not undoing it
The Restorationists counter:
- A mother would want to return to her children
- The war proves her sacrifice wasn't enough
- Only she can truly defeat Marael's darkness
The debate threatens to fracture Luminar unity at a critical time.
The Hollow
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | None | No organization or purpose |
| Location | Scattered | Wander without destination |
| Members | Failed Paladins | Those who lost their light |
| Status | Tragic Neutral | Neither ally nor enemy |
The Hollow are Paladins whose Spark was extinguished-warriors who broke their oath or succumbed to hatred. They wander Arcania as empty husks, neither alive nor dead, neither allied nor hostile.
Nature
- Not Undead - They still breathe, eat, exist
- Not Living - They feel nothing, want nothing, hope for nothing
- Not Hostile - They attack only if threatened
- Not Allied - They cannot be recruited or reasoned with
Origin
A Paladin becomes Hollow when:
- They break their sacred oath
- They succumb to hatred or vengeance
- They lose faith in Erion's cause
- Their Spark is forcibly extracted (rare, requires powerful magic)
Note
Clerics discovered they can potentially restore Hollow Paladins by reigniting the Eternal Light within them. This controversial practice has saved some, but others argue it violates natural law-that becoming Hollow is a consequence that should not be reversed.
Minor Factions
The Dream Weavers
Elite Lilin mages who specialize in nature magic and Dream Walking. They serve Empress Lilith directly and handle the Alliance's most delicate intelligence and magical operations.
The Forge Guilds
Darkan organizations that produce the Alliance's weapons and armor. Each guild jealously guards its techniques and competes for prestige.
The Steel Covenant
Not a faction per se, but a philosophy with organized adherents. Human warriors who reject magical dependency and train purely in mortal combat arts.
The Dreamguard Knights
Lilin who became Paladins, blending the Spark of Light with their ancient dream magic. They serve as bridges between the Luminar and Lilin, embodying both divine radiance and the First World's primal power.
The Dreamwalkers
Luminar Rangers who successfully connected to the First World despite their conscious-light nature. They explore the boundary between divine creation and primal dream.
Faction Relationships
| Faction A | Faction B | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Alliance | Dominion | War - total conflict |
| Grand Alliance | Restorationists | Complicated - secret cells within Alliance |
| Grand Alliance | Hollow | Pity - avoid if possible, restore if able |
| Restorationists | Hostile - theological enemies | |
| Sisters - elder and younger children of Anias | ||
| All Races | Respected - forge goods unite all |