After the original 10 Guilds collapsed into 5....
The city used to operate in a thriving culture ruled by one queen and revolving around a system of 10 guilds: secret societies of mages, engineers, merchants, historians, assassins, pirates, thieves, hunters, military and entertainers. Then the Civil War caused a lot of deaths. The city mourned, it stumbled on from its losses with uncertain feet just shuffling along the cobbled streets without a purpose.
Survivors from the nameless and gainless battles mustered their courage and banned together with one common goal. To rebuild, bigger, stronger, safer guilds. The merchants and the mechanics joined in unity. The entertainers and assassins banded together. The pirates and thieves unified their numbers. The magicians spawned a new, bringing the historians into their fold and even the hunters were obsorbed into the military as it was once again reborn.
It's still a dog eat dog world out there and every Faction and Guild (five in total) are fighting for power because at the end of the proverbial day, this world is still run by a monarchy and they have a temp filling in for the crown. Each players wants to A) rise in stature within their guild and B) Get their Guild Leader on the throne so they have the ultimate say in the way things are governed.
Brotherhood
of Rogues
"The city is downsizing, and with so much unraveling, I suggest we consider new alliances and form a new allegiance. I suggest we ban together - as a Brotherhood; a Brotherhood of Rogues. Pirates we will rebuild our empire, set sail to the seas and skies, and lay claim to all the bounty that risk their passage. We will join together with the remnants of the guild of thieves, redoubling their network and multiplying their loot. The Brotherhood will take stock, weigh and measure, and put to the blade any who plot against us."
-Caitlin Queen of Rogues.
Crafters/Artists & Entertainers Association of Lodan
"We take in almost everyone. Painters, street performers, singers, dancers, actors, gamblers, dollymops—*ahem*. This is a place for pleasures, and our Hall is made of glimmers and laughter, games, music and joy. This is also a place for information. People tend to talk when they are intoxicated, or in bed, or simply hearing the right words at the right time." and behind the curtains people sworn to secrecy gather together. "Be efficient, be careful, be discreet and dutiful. And you’ll be rewarded. For us all who walk in darkness and clean Lodan by dirtying our own hands. We’re the shadows that allow the light to glow brighter."
-Leader Edelweiss Fjäril (Codename): Epikuro
Magicae Incolentium
"The shadow creatures came for our ancestors, ruined our very way of life and we were forced out to this place where we are now treated as a lesser race. Well I say no more! Its about time we claimed the land back, showed the Humans just who the superior race really is, but we will not lower ourselves to their levels. Oh no, we shall not; we shall be much more cunning in our ways of revenge, we shall conquer the throne with powers of intelligence, not brute force. Whether your hands and skills were made to help our kind, to heal and support or your gift is of a much darker path, a path of destruction and power; we will be here to grant you the knowledge to help you succeed. "
-Elowyss Cleireigh, Leader of the M.I.
Mingo's Merchanics
Ebony & Ivory
Royal Army
of Lodan
"There is a delicate balance between the humans and the invading species, and the only way to stop it from tipping out of human favor is policing them to restrict the spread of magical knowledge. This is a very serious and important job. Not only is it up to the EIRAL's to be the law enforcers of the city... they're also in charge of quelling magical uprisings. As such, every EIRAL soldier is prepared through extensive training, drills, and exercises to confront and fight against man kind's greatest enemy: the Magicae Incolentium. And when they're not bringing the fight to the M.I., they're taking it out on the shadow creatures, and upholding civil order around the clock."
-Faolan Skye, High Commander
"As you well know, our fair city of Lodan has gone through a tumultuous time of upheaval and loss. The specifics however matter little. No amount of war or bloodshed can ever hope to harm the one language that speaks to people of all kinds, races and creeds. And that is the language of money. We shall gather the most skilled metal workers and the most charismatic sellers. Buying and selling is as common place as the air we breath. The constant hustle and bustle of the markets is what makes this city throb with life. Bring your skills and assets to us. And if selling isn’t your thing, there’s always the mechanics. The gears that keep this place turning are always in need of a steady, reliable and skilled hand."
- Sienna Black, founder of the M.M