The Factions: Humanity's Fractured Survival
When the Sundering shattered civilization, it also shattered humanity's unity. From the ruins emerged ten major factions...each with unique philosophies, resources, and survival strategies. Some seek redemption through faith. Others embrace mutation and evolution. All compete for territory, resources, and the right to define what humanity will become in the centuries ahead.
Faction Power Structure (Year 437)
| TIER | FACTIONS | CHARACTERISTICS |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Superpowers | Church of Absolution, The Ossuarium | Control vast territories, populations 10-20 million, standing armies, industrial capacity |
| Tier 2: Regional Powers | Dwarven Forge-Guilds, The Exchange, Elven Verdant Covenant | Control key resources/geography, populations 2-5 million, specialized capabilities |
| Tier 3: Minor Factions | Nomad Collective, Vestige Bloodlines, Emergent Syndicate, Wyrd Conclave | Dispersed/isolated, populations 500k-2 million, guerrilla tactics or niche dominance |
| Tier 4: Outliers | Crucible Packs, Draconid Remembrance | Specialized/neutral, populations <100k, non-expansionist |
Population Distribution Note
The ten factions listed here represent the major organized powers of Year 437, with combined populations totaling approximately 35-53 million. However, the global post-Sundering population is estimated at 200-300 million survivors. The remaining 150-250 million live outside formal faction control in:
- Independent settlements: Thousands of towns and villages maintaining autonomy
- Tribal groups: Hunter-gatherer communities with no centralized governance
- Urban survivors: Residents of ruined pre-Sundering cities who reject faction allegiance
- Isolated enclaves: Remote populations cut off by geography or choice
These factions are the powers that shape the world...but they do not represent all of humanity. Most survivors simply try to endure, unaligned and unaffiliated.
The Ten Major Factions
Aggressive Martyrdom
Blood Offering (self-harm for burst damage, infinite scaling)
6 units: Flagellants, Penitents, Relic Bearers, Aspirants, Choir, Absolution Engine
Fortress Defender
Rune Counters (stack for defense/damage, armor-piercing)
6 units: Shield Wall, Artillery, Rune Sentinel, Siege Crawler, Ancestor Golem, Dreadnought
Lifesteal Vampire
Soul Harvest (lifesteal triggers, resurrections, Decay cards)
6 units: Bone Thralls, Grave Knight, Fleshcrafter, Bone Colossus, Lich, Death's Herald
Hit-and-Run Assassin
Bleed Stacking (infinite scaling, mobility, regeneration)
6 units: Thorn Stalkers, Rootweavers, Archers, Briarwood Colossus, Assassin, Ancient Treant
Reality Bender
Wyrd Tokens (reality distortion, stolen faces)
6 units: Changelings, Tricksters, Dream Weavers, Bargain Keepers, Fae Lords, Court Herald
Mobile Survivor
Improvisation (salvaged equipment, movement)
3 units: Salvage Crew, Outrider Squadron, Caravan Walker
Economic Warfare
Credit Tokens (bribery, mercenaries, resource control)
6 units: Enforcers, Negotiators, Mercenary Casket, Trade Caravan, Broker Network, War Profiteer
Mutation Specialists
Biomass Tokens (5 bloodline variants, extinction clock)
6 units: Feral Pack, Regenerators, Titan-Strain, Void-Touched, Alpha Mutant, Hive Mother
Hive-Mind Collective
Metamorph Tokens (coordinated swarm, chosen evolution)
6 units: Swarm Drones, Metamorphs, Hive Node, Collective Mind, Swarm Nexus, Overmind
Fire Duelist Packs
Forge Tokens (volcanic honor duels, ancestral iron)
6 units: War Pack, Flamebearers, Iron Champions, Forge Titan, Warmaster, Crucible Engine
Ancient Archivists
Memory Shards (apocalypse cycles, petrified knowledge)
Not yet inscribed
Faction Relationships & Tensions
The ten factions are bound by complex webs of alliance, mutual hatred, and calculated neutrality. Wars have been fought over territory and ideology. Uneasy truces persist where mutual benefit demands cooperation. Some factions are drifting toward open conflict...others toward unexpected alliance. Your actions in the campaign will shape these relationships forever.
Learn More: → Full Relationship Matrix | → Casket Types by Faction | → Faction Tactics Cards
Choose Your Path
Each faction offers a unique playstyle, philosophy, and destiny. Whether you seek redemption through the Church, evolution through the Syndicate, profit through the Exchange, or any other path...the choice shapes not only your campaign but the fate of the world itself.
"In iron we seek forgiveness. Through blood, absolution."
- The Creed of the Bound