--- title: Astral Factions description: TBD date_pub: 2023-02-15T00:26:00-05:00 section: astral content_type: feature short_code: af1 --- ### Astral Trade Union - Conglomerate of harbormasters, ship captains, and mining companies who control nearly all of the trade between certain ports. - Control all of the trading between nearly 100 ports, including ones leading to dozens of material planes, multiple to each inner plane, and even a handful to various outer planes. - Have excellent maps of all of the astral currents that run between these ports. ### Drahki Federation - Controlled by a race of dracokin from the world of Drahkenos, the so-called plane of dragons. - Fly great ships made to look like their bigger cousins (called "dragonships") - Generally peaceful traders ### Ghyffan Armada - Run by a militaristic race of musket-wielding hippokin from the material plane of Ghyffu. - Report to the Ghyffan Sovereignty, the plane-wide government of Ghyffu. - Strongly believe in the supremacy of law and civilization. - Ships range from light cargo carriers to massive warships, but everything in the armada is armed. ### Society of Wanderers - Disparate, quasi-religious organization, with membership scattered about the planes. - Refer to each other as "friends". - Are obligated to help each other out (but can also count on other "friends" to help them when needed). - Typically travel alone or in small groups. - Don't usually have their own ships, so they often have to book passage (or stowe-away). ### Stral Empire - Empire of ports ruled by a highly militaristic and decadant race of immortals, with sharp eyes, pointed ears, and no noses. - Huge warships patrol the borders of the empire, which run near some Astral Trade Union-aligned ports. - Also control the Forge, a massive smithing factory on the Plane of Fire. - Served by a race of automatons called Forgelings, some of whom have escaped their masters and fled to ports aligned with one of the other factions. ### Pirates of Ataxia - Led by (at least) 6 Pirate Lords (although some believe there are more). - Responsible for nearly all of the piracy within this part of the astral plane. - Come from all races and cultures. ### Relations #### Astral Trade Union - Are on good (trading) terms with both the _Drahki Federation_ and the _Ghyffan Armada_ (with some members of each also holding Union membership). - Think most of the _Society of Wanderers_ are hopeless layabouts, inadequately interested in commerce (although few ship captains will refuse their payment for passage). - Are on tenuous terms with the _Stral Empire_ (they've had some trade, but also some border skirmishes). - Actively seek the destruction of the _Pirates of Ataxia_ (even though some Union members occasionally double as pirates). #### Drahki Federation - Are on good (trading) terms with _Astral Trade Union_ (with some Drahki captains also being Union members). - Are on decent (trading) terms with the _Ghyffan Armada_ (there have been a few isolated incidents of fighting between the groups, but they generally continue to trade). - Don't understand the _Society of Wanderers_, but generally allow them to book passage on their ships. - Are on deteriorating terms with the _Stral Empire_ (they've had an increasing number of border skirmishes). - Try to avoid engaging with ships from the _Pirates of Ataxia_, who generally return the favor (although there are some Drahki pirates who try to only attack ships from the other factions). #### Ghyffan Armada - Are on good (trading) terms with _Astral Trade Union_ (with some Ghyffan captains also being Union members). - Are on decent (trading) terms with the _Drahki Federation_ (there have been a few isolated incidents of fighting between the groups, but they generally continue to trade). - Don't understand (or like) the _Society of Wanderers_, and don't allow them on their ships. - Are on deteriorating terms with the _Stral Empire_ (they've had an increasing number of border skirmishes). - Actively seek the destruction of the _Pirates of Ataxia_ (although some Ghyffan ships have been known to turn pirate, abandoning the Armada and working for the Pirate Lords). #### Society of Wanderers - Don't care for the leadership of the _Astral Trade Union_, but try to stay friendly with the ship captains. - Don't understand most of the _Drahki Federation_, but are generally happy to book passage on their ships. - Don't get along with the _Ghyffan Armada_, and generally avoid them. - Don't understand (or like) the _Stral Empire_, although a few Travellers have tried to engage with Stral crews (which hasn't ended well) - Have many members who also work as _Pirates of Ataxia_, and don't generally preclude pirates from their ranks (although the pirate captains aren't always thrilled to have Wanderers on their ships). #### Stral Empire - Are on tenuous terms with the _Astral Trade Union_ (they've had some trade, but also some border skirmishes). - Are on deteriorating terms with both the _Drahki Federation_ and the _Ghyffan Armada_ (they've had an increasing number of border skirmishes with each of them). - Don't understand (or like) the _Society of Wanderers_, and don't allow them on their ships. - Try to avoid engaging with ships from the _Pirates of Ataxia_, who generally return the favor (although they have had engagements in Stral territory). #### Pirates of Ataxia - Actively attack (and raid) the ships of the _Astral Trade Union_ and the _Ghyffan Armada_, occasionally even looting their ports. - Try to avoid engaging with ships working for the _Drahki Federation_, who generally return the favor (although there are some Drahki pirates who try to only attack ships from the other factions). - Have many members who also identify as members of the _Society of Wanderers_, usually pirates of lower ranks (the ship captains aren't fond of having members in their crew because of the high number of stowe-aways). - Try to avoid engaging with ships of the _Stral Empire_, who generally return the favor (although they have had a few engagements in within Stral territory).