Brazen Brigade (Faction)

> *This page contains mechanical information for a specific faction. For more general information, see Factions.*
> **This faction is inactive and cannot be joined.**
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You have joined the Brazen Brigade, the brass-armored mercenaries from Freeport in league with powers that man was clearly not meant to know, but has been getting cozy with for centuries anyway. Whether you seek renown, power, or a place to exercise your less-than-legal interests, you will find it here...for a price.

## Rank 1: Ensign

You have passed the initiation, or somehow avoided it, but you are still untried. You have enough power to shake down a few civilians, and enough of a position that you’re allowed into the Brigade’s stronghold, but little more.

### Mechanics

***Dark Bargain.*** When you are required to make a saving throw, as a reaction choose a friendly creature you can see. Replace your saving throw bonus with theirs, and theirs with yours, until the end of your next turn. Once the effect ends, they can use the same reaction at any time during the next minute. You are the only valid target for this reaction. This ability recharges at the end of a short rest.

### Social

***Guilt By Association.*** Though you do not wield any particular power, you are still a Brigadier, and that carries weight in Freeport. People will go out of their way to avoid offending you, and will expect minor insults or breaches of decorum...unless you push them too far.

## Rank 2: Lieutenant

Your deeds are dark enough to win the attention of senior Brigadiers. You will have greater scrutiny, and greater authority, from here on out.

### Mechanics

***Hateful Deflection.*** As a reaction when you are the target of an attack roll, increase your AC by 2 until the start of your next turn. If the attack would miss, instead choose a new, valid target for the attack. The new target suffers damage as if they had been hit by the attack. This ability recharges at the end of a short rest. You have proficiency with shields.

### Social

***Merciless Authority.*** Now that you are a proper member in your own right, the weaklings that make up the majority of Freeport’s populace will obey your orders if they think it will spare them your wrath. In other places, your affiliations are becoming known, and you can expect distrust and hostility from the authorities, as well as terrified, temporary compliance from the people who live there.

## Rank 3: Commander

You are a useful, deadly member of the Brigade, and people inside the organization and out recognize it. You have been placed in command of a small unit of more junior Brigadiers, and the Marshal watches your career with interest.

### Mechanics

***Cull The Weak.*** You gain an additional use of Dark Bargain and Hateful Deflection. Additionally, once per long rest, when you deal damage to an incapacitated or prone target, you may forgo rolling to deal maximum damage.

### Social

***Feared Enforcer.*** Within Freeport, only those who consider themselves able to face you dare speak ill of you. The costs of minor purchases are waived, and merchants find themselves giving discounts in the hopes that you’ll leave them alone. Outside Freeport, your reputation precedes you. Many people will cooperate with you out of fear of the Brigade, or of you, personally. But take care not to overstay your welcome, or you may find yourself hunted by those agents of the government strong enough to take you on.

## Rank 4: Colonel

You have passed every test. Your hands are soaked in blood metaphorically, and occasionally literally, which you feel makes a nice accessory to the rest of your appearance. Few of your fellow Brigadiers would offer you disrespect. None would do so openly.

### Mechanics

***Undying Hatred.*** You gain resistance to fire and necrotic damage. If you already have resistance to one of these, you become resistant to psychic damage instead of the initial damage type. If you already have resistance to that, ask your DM. Whenever a good-aligned or neutral-aligned creature you can see is reduced to 0 hp, gain temporary hp equal to 1d4 + your proficiency bonus.

### Social

***Dread Champion.*** You feel a kinship with those who share your views on how the world should be, and have a knack for knowing them when you see them. Offers of temporary allegiance from other evil groups are to be expected, and you may find yourself spared from a villain’s attack if you have not attacked them first. As to the mewling of those who call themselves good? It may have gotten more terrified of late, and what few hunters dare pursue you have gotten still more dogged. But it is of no consequence.