Guilds

# Polodias

## Guilds of Arkiynia

### The Big Five

The main five Guilds are explained below. Further information can be found by looking at their respective article. These guilds are the primary five that run Arkiynia's underworld, and the most influential of them all. The first five guilds, known within as simply The Five, were all formed in their own respective circumstances. However, all the guilds would be formed with the main goal of defending Arkiynia, and Polodias at large, though this goal would not be the founding reason. The Frost Abyss was originally a thieves guild, the Raider Assassins a mercenary group specialising in murder, and Depraved Shadows a gathering of mages to practice darker magic. Only the Royal Warfare and Blades of the Fallen guilds, the earliest created of the five, had the goal of defending Arkiynia at inception.

#### Frost Abyss

Based in the Grafva Mountains, and Grafva itself, the Frost Abyss are a secretive guild of mercenaries, thieves and scoundrels. While trained like a militia, the guild itself is well known for rarely turning down a job, often demanding appropriate payment within two days of completion, at risk of death. Led by La Volpe, the Frost Abyss are feared by many, yet respected as well. They are known rivals of both the Depraved Shadows and Raider Assassins guilds.

#### Raider Assassins

Led by Windy, the Raider Assassins are a guild comprised of murderers with the sole goal of guiding society to their point of view. Highly trained and highly skilled, Raider Assassins are hand picked by Windy himself, who discards the failing grade in his own way. While a publicly known guild, the Raider Assassins are known for having a stone-face and being tight lipped about their goals and objectives, despite their high profile targets and achievements.

#### Royal Warfare

A guild reminiscient of knights and soldiers, Royal Warfare are perhaps the most public guild known in Anikyria. Their sole purpose is the defence of Arkiynia, and Anikyria by extension, adorning themselves in armour and using weaponry like the knights of olde. While a constant recruiting guild, the Royal Warfare does have a darker agenda; brainwashing its members with various brews and drugs to join their guild's service, til death relieves them of their cause.

#### Depraved Shadows

The most secretive, and perhaps least known, guild in Arkiynia, the Depraved Shadows, despite their sinister name, are devoted to the magical and dimensional defence of Anikyria from behind closed doors and while hidden in plain site. Many consider them an offshoot to the Raider Assassins, and while never confirmed nor denied, the Shadows have shown an intense hatred of all other guilds, large or small, citing their "inaction to the true evil facing us, from another world". Because of this, they are often seen as "quacks", despite their deadly reputation.

#### Blades of the Fallen

The Cursed Guild, the Blades of the Fallen is another guild devoted to the defence of Arkiynia, proclaiming that they are the sole true protectors from life to beyond death. Despite the clear and seemingly extravagent claim, the ugly truth is revealed when a member dies in battle; when a Blade falls in battle, they will resurrect, and continue to fight, despite having no mind or spirit. This class of necromancy has resulted in sorcerors and scholars labeling the guild "an evil and malevolent force of manipulation".

### Smaller Guilds

There are a variety of guilds alongside the Big Five, of all different sizes, locations and goals. While most are generally crime syndicates, many are gangs or collectives or simply groups of like-minded friends. A few prominent examples are below.

#### Bloodmare

An almost non-existent guild, the sheer size of Bloodmare is one that many overestimate. While they hold less than 50 officially known members, some theorists aware of them predict at least 300. Incredibly unknown to the public, very few are aware of their existence, with those who do know usually ending up dead. Specialist assassins, some believe them to be involved with larger guilds.

#### Laitoa Aldecaios

A nomad gang with numbers pushing a hundred, the Laitoa Aldecaios are notorious scavengers and travelers of the spaces between Arkiynian cities. While not a hostile group, they are no strangers to crime or violence, and house some of the best arbalists and scouts Arkiynia has to offer. While they are constantly hunted down, they move with a mobile camp, and offer their services to those in need, and accept help from those who offer. But those who betray them rarely get let off easy.

# Synithia

## Guilds of Sahlernax

### About

#### Darkthria

A guild set on leader boards and skill, the members try to find the biggest scariest creatures, slay them and celebrate in the rewards. The guild house consists of hundreds of rooms and a huge museum of all the creatures people have slain with name plates for each person who has taken down that beast. This guild isn't hard to join but there is a test you have to complete before joining, they hold many events and are inclusive to the general public and other guilds.