Faction Central: Sigil (PWH)

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Faction strength is at its peak in the City of Doors—that's where they're all based, and where they wield the most influence. Fact is, most berks'd say the factions hold the reins of power in Sigil. Sure, everybody's beholden to the Lady, but the real day-to-day clout is in the hands of the factions. Many of the factions wield real authority—the Harmonium catches criminals, the Fraternity of Order tries court cases, the Mercykillers run the Prison, the Fated collects taxes, the Signers preside over the Council of Speakers, the Dustmen oversee the Mortuary, and so on. For some factions, though, their importance is self-imposed. For example, the Athar keep a close eye on priests and temples, the Believers of the Source try to keep the peace, and the Bleak Cabal treat the sick and barmy. But official or not, all factions play important roles. 
Once a body leaves the Cage, the significance of any single faction ranges from moderate to little to none. Oh, each group has a refuge or base on a different "home plane," and they try to exert at least some influence over their chosen territory. The Dustmen, for example; have built a fortress on the Negative Energy Plane, though few others give a hoot about the place. The Dead might also congregate in areas that reflect their beliefs—like the realms of death gods, for instance. 
Go to Gehenna, though, and more than likely folks don't give a sodding whit about a body's faction allegiance. That's even more true on the plane of Fire or Earth. In some places, faction membership means nothing; power and influence are measured in different coin. And that's not really so hard to understand. Think about it, berk—it's surprising that a bunch of thought guilds from one city have as much effect on as large an area as they do. 
==Sects==
On planes where the factions don't hold sway as much as they do in Sigil, other organized groups with wide-reaching philosophies take their place. These groups are called sects. Some are former factions that fell in importance or membership (perhaps because of the Great Upheaval). Others are just groups that espouse ideas unique or limited to a particular plane or realm. 
Many, many sects litter the planes, but some of the more well-known groups include: 
* the Ring-givers of Ysgard, who believe that by giving everything away, they receive the true wealth of the multiverse; 
* the Dispossessed, a bunch of angst-ridden outcasts who grumble on Pandemonium and Carceri; 
* the Order of the Planes-Militant, self-proclaimed defenders of Mount Celestia; 
* the Incantifiers, who believe that mastering magic is the key to total power; 
* the Prolongers, whose fear and hatred of death drive them to cling to life by any means; and 
* the Ragers, who say a body can prove his worth only by besting others in physical challenges.