Factions

This is a list of the large players in the local stretch of the Aluvia. It is by no means comprehensive, and will constantly be added to as new factions are revealed.

Sovereignty of Ashra

The Sovereignty, or the Sov for short, is a powerful githyanki empire that stretches far to the west of Sogdiana Sector. It is ruled with an iron fist by the ever-living Empress Ashra, who through secrets she holds close, has thus far been able to keep death at bay indefinitely. Her will is carried out by psionically gifted officers who lead teeming masses of slave thri-kreen warriors, raised to serve the empire. The Sov fortress ships and the chromatic dragons which accompany them allow the Sovereignty to enforce its will along large stretches of the Aluvia.

The masses living under the Sovereignty are kept in line by their indoctrination into a cult to Maluk called the Creed of Juka. Jukanis are devoted to strict orthodoxy in the practice of their religious rites. Any divergence is weeded out by roaming inquisitious cathedral ships.

Of late a splinter group of Jukanis has been launching raids against the Crook and Flail realms in Sogdiana for unknown reasons.

Crook and Flail Kingdoms

This is a name given to the loose (very loose) confederacy of realms ruled by kings who have taken up the Crook and Flail, symbols of Ithmar, and maintain one or more portals to other realms. These portals allow travel directly between realms, without the need to move along the Aluvia.

The Crook and Flail kingdoms share a common culture even though their populations are a mixture of all manner of humanoid, though usually dominated by humans. Bald priests with painted eyes and blue and gold robes guide the kings and arrange the building of their magnificent tombs, at the heart of which is said to always be a secret portal.

Though not to the same extremes as with the Sovs, trade is controlled through the Crook and Flail lands and portals. There is a saying among merchants that the Flail fees and regulations are as bad as those of the Sov, but at least you're spared a theological lecture every time you deal with them.

Broken Faces

A crime syndicate with a reach far into the Sov. The boss at the top is named Greedy Gondo, but never to his face. Their main known base of operations in Sogdiana Sector is at Fort Varilia, and is run by an imposing goon by the name of Feddy the Bull. Their members are mostly humans, but they have a lot of thri-kreen associates. Are rumored to sometimes work for the Sov.

Blue Sky Miners

A dwarven asteroid mining outfit who recruits only the baddest and toughest to their crews and braves the Xag (Xag Omlaobb Yshadh plane) for maximum returns. Recruits are mostly dwarves, but not neccesarily so, especially for support crew. Rumors have it that one of their ships called the Dunwich has recently disappeared in the Xag.

Bonevale Express

An obscure cargo company which operates trough secret routes that reach to the heart of Sov territory. Former owners of the Star Bird under a thri-kreen named Captain Pektal, with a reputation for being a degenerate gambler.

Hellstars

A very new company of would be smugglers still trying to acquire routes in the Yon. In the meantime, they hire themselves out as muscle which they excel at. They also try their hand at some trading, but lack the discipline to be very reliable about that. They are led by a human couple named Amadur and Ursula, who are very ambitious but perhaps lack the wisdom to achieve a lot of their goals.

Emerald Order

A secretive group of assassins living on the dangerous surface of of the savage jungle planet Kuikuro.