Chapter 6: Factions of the Realms - Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn

Chapter 6: Factions of the Realms. Many in Faerûn seek power and prosperity, but few can achieve their ambitions alone. Instead, individuals join influential groups called factions. Adventurers who join a faction stand to gain honors, privileges, wealth, and, above all, respect. Each faction has its own vision for Faerûn, and these imagined ideals are rarely fully compatible. When their goals conflict, factions form rivalries. Conversely, when one faction overextends itself or becomes too strong, its rivals band together to balance the scales of power. Frequent cooperation might eventually lead to alliances, though these partnerships are rarely made official. Throughout this chapter, if a creature's name appears in bold type, you'll find that creature's stat block in the Monster Manual unless otherwise specified. Faction Descriptions This chapter includes details on the following factions: Cult of the Dragon The doomsayers of the Cult of the Dragon conduct profane rituals to create dracoliches and expedite the apocalypse. Emerald Enclave The druids and survivalists of the Emerald Enclave maintain the balance between nature and civilization. Harpers Skalds, sleuths, and spies make up the Harpers, an organization that aspires to make Faerûn a peaceful home for all. Lords' Alliance Cities across western Faerûn have banded together as the Lords' Alliance to ensure prosperity for their people. Order of the Gauntlet Zealous warriors of the Order of the Gauntlet smite evil in all its forms. Purple Dragon Knights Cormyr's elite warriors, the Purple Dragon Knights, bond with amethyst dragons, hunting evil and furthering Cormyr. Red Wizards Based out of the land of Thay but with enclaves all over Faerûn, Red Wizards master arcane magic and quest for ancient Artifacts. Zhentarim In the Zhentarim, greed and pride are virtues to be celebrated. Zhents wield these qualities in their pursuit of ever-greater fortunes. Special Facilities The factions detailed in this chapter each...