Militias, Guilds, and Gangs

In the city and beyond it, people band together for friendship, protection, business, and loftier goals. Here are some of the groups you will find in Sanctuary.

#### A word to the traveler

Many local gangs earn their money by offering 'protection' to the traveler through the areas of the city they control. Those bands of fabric the locals wear around their arms are not decoration; they are an indication that one has paid the 'tax' to the appropriate gang. A peaceful traveler should seek out those who sell such bands and purchase one at their earliest convenience to minimize their exposure to crime while in this city.

### The Hell Hounds

Locals' nickname for the Imperial Rankan guard.

Of the six named in the books, Bourne and Razkuli gain early infamy, Zalbar and Annan have well-earned enemies, and Rynner and Quag seem to get by.

Ethnicities: Rankan

Created by Robert Lynn Asprin

### The Sacred Band of Stepsons

Ethnicities: varies widely

Leaders and sponsors: Founded by Abarsis, commanded by Tempus

Reputation: Ferocious and effective fighters, the denizens of Sanctuary see two weaknesses to exploit. First, the Sacred Band fighters typically form bonded pairs, with one man duty-bound to protect his (or her) partner from all danger at any cost. Capture one, and you have the undivided attention of another. Second, they are a band of mercenary soldiers who prefer battlefields to city skirmishes, and clearly do not want to be in Sanctuary.

Significant Stepsons include Tempus, Nikodemus (called Niko), Janni, Critias, and Straton.

Created by Janet Morris and Chris Morris

The Stepsons at Wikipedia

The Stepsons in this wiki

by the author: "The Sacred Band of Stepsons is a fictional ancient cavalry unit created by Janet Morris and based on the historical Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite strike force of paired lovers and friends that flourished during the fourth century BC in ancient Greece. The Sacred Band of Stepsons series of fantasy novels and stories take place in a myth-like milieu that mixes historical places such as Nisibis, Mygdonia and Chaeronea; warriors such as Theagenes (commander of the Theban Sacred Band at Chaeronea); gods such as Enlil, Maat and Harmonia; philosophers such as Heraclitus and Thales; cavalry tactics and customs such as homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece with those that exist only in fantasy."

#### The ersatz-Stepsons

At one point the Stepsons felt the call of war but loaned their insignia and reputation to another band of soldiers to hold down the proverbial fort in Sanctuary. While producing some genuine heroes, the ersatz-Stepsons were a thundering failure.

The most famous ersatz-Stepson is Stilcho.

### The Hawkmasks

Ethnicities: varies, but typically residents of Sanctuary

Leaders and sponsors: the personal guard of Jubal and his slave-trading operation

Reputation: While the locals know they are the armed force of a known slaver there is surprisingly little hostility towards them for that reason. Sure, they're armed bullies. Sanctuary is full of those. Sure, they're mounted armed bullies. Stay to the side of the roads! They're not liked, but as the arm of a prominent businessman they're understood in this trading town. When chaos overwhelms the others, it's Jubal's men the people turn to.

Created by Robert Lynn Asprin

### The 3rd Commando

Ethnicities:

Leaders and sponsors: nominally Rankan. A squad originally formed by Tempus. Currently led by Sync.

Reputation: the meaner, less principled counterpart of the Stepsons.

Significant 3rd Commando members: Kama (Tempus' daughter), Gayle (former soldier from Tyse)

Created by Janet Morris

### The Beggars' Army

Ethnicities: native-born Sanctuary poor, so primarily Ilsigi

Leader: Moruth, the Beggar King

Reputation: When you have nothing to lose, killing is just another way to eat. By sheer numbers this group can take down professional soldiers, killing them in mobs or squirreling them away for torture and interrogation. They exist primarily in Downwind.

Created by C.J. Cherryh

### The People's Front for the Liberation of Sanctuary

Ethnicities: native-born Sanctuary poor

Leaders and sponsors: Zip, receiving weapons and help from an unnamed Nisibisi

Reputation: Small potatoes with big ideals, locals shorten their name to PFLS or "piffles". Sneaky and violent but out of their league. Their territory is primarily Westside.

Created by Chris and Janet Morris