Factions of Austin

Austin is a city teetering between revolution and control, where supernatural factions clash over ideology, survival, and the soul of the city itself. Below is a breakdown of the major power players, their alignments, and their goals.

At the heart of Austin’s supernatural conflicts lie two major ideological coalitions:

• WEIRD – A loose alliance of factions that push for individual freedom, self-determination, and radical change. WEIRD is represented by its most dedicated members, known as the Sworn—those who have taken an oath to act in eachother's best interest through thick and thin.
• Liars – The forces of control, hierarchy, and maintaining the status quo. The Liars seek to uphold existing power structures and suppress change. Their most dedicated members are called the False—those who have inured themselves to the negative effects of Contagion.

Most factions align themselves somewhere along this spectrum, though many remain unaligned, focusing on their own goals.

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The Awakened of Austin are deeply divided between those who seek magical enlightenment for all and those who would hoard power.

• Free Council – (WEIRD) Champions of democracy, equality, and innovation in mage society. Part of the Pentacle.
• Mysterium – (Unaligned) Scholars who seek, protect, and archive lost magical knowledge. Part of the Pentacle and the Diamond.
• Silver Ladder – (Unaligned) Masters of politics and leadership, focused on organizing mage society and guiding new Awakenings. Part of the Pentacle and the Diamond.
• Guardians of the Veil – (Lightly Liar) The secret police of magic, protecting the veil of secrecy at all costs. Part of the Pentacle and the Diamond.
• Adamantine Arrow – (Lightly Liar) Warriors of the Awakened, ensuring mage society’s survival through martial prowess. Part of the Pentacle and the Diamond.
• Seers of the Throne – (Liar) Servants of the Exarchs, enforcing absolute supernatural rule and crushing rebellion. Opposed to the Pentacle and Diamond.

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The undead are torn between those who seek evolution and those who cling to ancient power.

• Circle of the Crone – (Unaligned) Pagan witches and blood sorcerers who embrace the spiritual aspects of vampirism.
• Carthian Movement – (Lightly WEIRD) Revolutionaries seeking a more just and modern system of vampire governance.
• Lancea et Sanctum – (Lightly Liar) A vampire theocracy enforcing divine law and Christian dominion over the undead.
• Invictus – (Liar) The old guard, enforcing aristocratic rule and strict hierarchical power.
• Ordo Dracul – (Unaligned) Seekers of transcendence and mastery over the Curse, dedicated to evolving past their limitations.

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The Lost organize into seasonal courts, each with a different philosophy on survival.

• Court of Autumn – (WEIRD) Masters of fear, binding supernatural forces to defend the changelings.
• Court of Winter – (Unaligned) The spies and saboteurs of changeling society, ensuring secrecy is maintained.
• Court of Summer – (Unaligned) The warriors of the Lost, wielding raw fury against their enemies.
• Court of Spring – (Unaligned) The revelers and healers, bringing joy and indulgence to stave off despair.

The True Fae remain the ultimate oppressors of the Lost.

• The Gentry – (Liar) The all-powerful True Fae, who abduct and twist mortals into playthings.

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The Unchained coordinate and form into Agencies, usually-secret organizations, each with a different kind of structure and goal.

• STRANGE – (WEIRD) A Free Agency dedicated to the protection of Demons and semi-regulation of their activities, formed after the Guardians of the Veil enacted an Aether Trap in order to punish all Demon's for the actions of a few.

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Some entities exist beyond the typical factions, serving as cosmic enforcers of control.

• The Angels – (Liar) Agents of the God-Machine, enforcing unknowable plans with cold efficiency.

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