Talon Conclave Power Groups

Power Groups are organizations, orders, and other social groups that have great influence over the workings of a Faction. In the Talon Conclave, the seven Synodic Chapters of the Talon Conclave are the main groups of influence and significance. 

Except for the Sin-Eaters, Player Characters may come from any Power Group although they cannot be the leadership of that group. It is recommended that those willing to write backstories intertwined with the Synodic Chapters contact Game Staff for further information/guidance. 

Similarly, it is the requirement of Game Staff that Players who create their own Chapter as part of their backstory submit a profile of that group to Game Staff (for further use in plot if need be).

The Dragontooth Chapter: The Archonic Chapter of the Talon Conclave and the personal instruments of the Talon-Archon. They are known for their fearlessness and their adherence to honor. 

The Ghost Wolf Chapter: Patrollers and wardens of the highways between the western and eastern coasts of the Temple.

The Godhammer Chapter: The eastern strength of the Talon Conclave, derived from the region’s recruits. They are wild and proud monster-hunters, brazen with their trophies and their hunts.

The Sea Serpent Chapter: The largest of the southern Chapters with the strongest fleets. 

The Sin-Eater Chapter: A policing body within the Conclave, staffed by inquisitors, spies, and executioners. This is NPC only. 

The Steel Chalice Chapter: The keepers of the Kookesh Quarry and the jailors of the conscripted miners. Clad in eldritch and radiation protection gear, they are regarded as cruel and sadistic. 

The Wall Warden Chapter: The guardians of the Blockade and the Temple’s western land border. They are stalwart and resolute, known for defensive tactics, use of siege weapons, and eldritch gadgetry.

The Dragontooth Chapter

Dragonteeth

“We are the wrath of the World Dragon.

Let it through us that blood be split”

Basic: The Archonic Chapter of the Talon Conclave and the personal instruments of the Talon-Archon. They are known for their fearlessness, their discipline, and their adherence to honor. 

Symbol: An equilateral triangle pointed upward. Two crossed swords are upon it, their hilts on the outside of the triangle. 

Territory: Talonic Citadel and the surrounding communities. They also have Archonic influence on all other Talonic territories. 

Overview: The Dragontooth Chapter is the biggest it has been in decades, swelling with new Talonites, scion Chapters, and influence more than ever before. With control of the Talonic Citadel and surrounding holdings remaining in the grasp of the Chapter, there remains a sense of stability that is sorely needed in the current era. Their main goal is to secure this stability and extend it across the Conclave and its territories while rooting out any Infernal Apostates that they discover. Much of the Talon Conclave was spent in the Ember War and the Apostasy, so rebuilding and rearming their soldiers is also a priority objective. 

For now, the Chapter enjoys positive influence from the Invokates, from the Oracle-Avatar, and from the Conclave in general. That said, Archon Mirumoto is not above sending Talonites from his Chapter to assist in the rest of the Conclave’s needs. Some believe that this is unneeded micromanagement or information gathering on his part, but it is agreed that the presence of a Dragontooth is better than a Sin-Eater. 

Leadership: Archon Kiviuk Mirumoto may be the leader of the Talon Conclave and the Dragonteeth, but it is Hierophant Ivanov who handles the day-to-day dealings of the Chapter. The Hierophant has been in his position for thirty years, soldiering on and outliving his detractors and their criticism. His injuries from the Infernal Apostasy ensure that he does not move far from the Citadel anymore, but he has rarely left his administrative post in the years of his tenure except to direct troops in battle. 

For his own part, Archon Mirumoto prefers to be out on the field, destroying monstrosities as his Chapter’s namesake. However, the dictates of administration demand his presence -- he spends time managing his subordinates or patrolling bases instead. He is proficient at woodcarving and has taken to leaving his projects at the bases he visits from time to time, usually small carvings of local fauna. The jury is out however, as to whether his carving during meetings is trivial, relaxing, or intimidating. 

The Ghost Wolf Chapter

Ghost Wolves

“We are the relentless pack of the Goddess

Let those who defy her never find respite from our fangs”

Basic: Patrollers and wardens of the highways between the western and eastern coasts of the Temple. They are riders and tamers of para-fauna, wearing the furs and leathers of their animal allies.

Symbol: An upward facing sword crossed with a leftward facing crescent moon

Territory: They have Chapterhouses across the Path of Flames and the Path of Talons. Their primary Chapterhouse is in Oxtown. 

Overview: The Ghost Wolves have always been the salt of the earth -- rugged individuals from the villages and communities liberated by Saint Talon in her northward march. Though they venerate the God-Empress and her Oracle-Avatar, the Ghost Wolves have always continued in their ancient pre-Fall beliefs and practices. The long years and strange times have twisted these rites almost beyond recognition, but the old traditions and stories still exist -- the Long Fall be damned.

No titanic, gigantic victories grace the histories of the Ghost Wolves, but their records bear the weight of a thousand triumphs and hard lessons. They are close to the land and its beasts, finding allies and mounts among the latter. These were not the augmented beasts of the Flame Conclave’s work but powerful comrades against otherworldly threats. 

This, of course, was in addition to the widening of their responsibilities -- they and their scion Chapters now had to safeguard the Path of Flames as well as the Path of Talons.

Leadership: Invokate White River leads the Ghost Wolf Chapter, working closely with other smaller Talonite Chapters in maintaining the Paths of Talons and of Flame. He is a survivor of many a deadly battle and brutal winter. So grievous were his injuries during a battle during a blizzard that his arm and nearly his leg required amputation, the injury resisting even magical healing. His Chapter called him “Old Hookhands” ever since, though he only smiles at that name when it is spoken by his soldiers or his friends. 

It is no secret that he is not comfortable with his position as Invokate, preferring the open road or even the administration of his Chapter over his new responsibilities. There can be no doubt that he takes his new role seriously however -- the Talon-Archon has few complaints about the roadways. 

Hierophant Leaf Sun is his spouse and his envoy to the Invokate Synod for most purposes. Leaf Sun is more personable and politic between the two, though these traits are considered weakness among the Ghost-Wolves.  

The Godhammer Chapter

Godhammers

“Let the heavens quake and the earth shiver,

The Hammers of the God-Empress are upon you!”

Basic: The eastern strength of the Talon Conclave, derived from the region’s recruits. They are wild and proud monster-hunters, brazen with their trophies and their hunts.

Symbol: An upward pointing sword struck by lightning. Smaller thunder bolts radiate from its sides. 

Territory: Their main Chapterhouse is in Innsmouth in New England. They are expected to provide assistance across the entirety of the Temple’s East Coast operations, especially in Mid-Atla. 

Overview: The Godhammers, sometimes called the Hammers of the Goddess, trace their lineage to the Imperial Spears -- one of the greatest of the Chapters before their collapse. While they have had their share of victories, this Chapter did not receive much prestige until recently.

Their exploits and triumphs during the Ember War brought them back into the front lines and into Archonic overview. Their tactics were wildly effective against Union and Free Tribe, especially as they were willing to adapt new tactics or new troops. The Sin-Eaters have gazed upon them unkindly for their use of mercenaries, Evictus, and other “irregulars” -- as well as their willingness to recruit from the local populace without the proper rituals or “education”. 

They are incredibly diverse in their tactics and specialties, more than willing to engage in unorthodox warfare and very experienced with battling human forces. Some of their Warbands even allow non-Talonites in their ranks, an uncommon but accepted practice in the fringes of Conclave society. This allows them an operational influence greater than their actual size could manage, at the cost of precision and reputation.  

However, the lack of repute has rarely bothered the Godhammers. They are pious and they are deadly -- those are the only two things they truly care about. They have a fierce love for battle, barely slaked by the troubled spots in the region. Rumors of overreach has brought the ire of the Sin-Eaters and the Talon-Archon to the Godhammers, but they continue to operate as before. Some Chapters have voiced their fear that the Godhammers’ brazen behavior might shatter the three-Fold Armistice and ignite war.  

Leadership: Invokate Noonak McCallahan leads the Godhammers in their holy mission of pacification. Like many of his rank, he is an old hand at war and bloodshed. It was his leadership and his idea to bring the Godhammers out to the eastern coast, far away from the other Chapters.

He is said to be mad, speaking to the God-Empress or some invisible being when there is no one around. But his faith in the Talon-Archon and the Oracle-Avatar is unswerving. Noonak was beside the Oracle-Avatar when they destroyed the Harbingers -- standing unflinching between the leader of his faith and utter oblivion. Perhaps he has been made madder by the experience, but it has yet to affect his leadership skills or his competence thus far.

The Sea Serpent Chapter 

Sea Serpents

“Her blood is the seas, givers and takers of life

So too are we, saviors and slayers both”

Basic: The largest of the southern Chapters with the strongest fleets. Many are Seraphs and Chimera that are at home beneath the water as they are riding their fleet above it, wearing lighter armor and carrying spears and harpoons. 

Symbol: A trident facing upward. 

Territories: Their main Chapterhouse is in Port Sacrament, but they have Chapterhouses across the continental west coast, and some isolated way-ports on the southern continent. 

Overview: The Sea Serpents trace their lineage back to a community near the Talonic Citadel that was rescued and converted by Saint Talon. The ancestors of this Chapter were tasked with discovering and converting any communities along the coastline. They constructed a Chapterhouse within the survivors of an island city, allowing them to continue their mission and protect the oceanic fringes of the Conclave.

The Sea Serpents of the modern era are a little different from their Talonite siblings, primarily due to their naval strengths and their willingness to trade rather than fight. Through much of the latter, this Chapter has strengthened their fleets and ascended to one of the Talonic Synod. 

Leadership: Invokate Noota Akira is the current Chaptermaster of the Sea Serpents, though her Seraphic Stigmata makes her look more like a shark than a serpent. The Chaptermaster has a fierce love of seafaring and exploration, though her current position prevents her from doing much of either. However, her preferences are reflected in her Chapter’s focus in charting the western coast, venturing even to the continent to the south for lost technology or magical components. 

Their clashes with the Illustrados on the western front are well-documented, but the Invokate has come away from the Ember War with some respect for her former enemies and their sailing traditions. Controversy has sprung up with regards to Sea Serpents trading with Illustrados ports in the south, but the profits delivered to the Conclave has stymied actual protests so far.  

The Sin-Eater Chapter 

Sin-eaters

“Let the vile, the unholy, and the unrepentant come to us

For we are the hungry-toothed justice of the God-Empress”

Basic: A policing body within the Conclave, staffed by inquisitors, spies, and executioners. They seek out not only apostates but also law breakers within the Talonite ranks. They work very closely with the Skull Conclave and many are users of magic. 

Special Note: The Sin-Eaters may only be played by NPCs. 

Symbol: An upward pointing sword with four bird wings.

Territory: They have Chapterhouses in Talonic Citadel, Rachat, and Ziggurat City. The latter is their main Chapterhouse. 

Overview: The Sin-Eaters’ search for heresy and sin is unceasing, unpopular, and unforgiving. Despite their status, Sin-Eaters expect resistance and even hostility at every turn of their duties, which not only include investigating reports of misconduct but also yearly rounds among the Talonite territories. 

Sin-Eaters are always found in groups of two or three, although they may employ help from outside their Chapter for protection or other tasks. They often request this help in private, because helping the Sin-Eaters is poorly regarded by the rest of the Conclave in general. The exception to this is when the threat involved is too big for the Chapter to handle -- in these cases, they conscript local Chapters to their assistance. 

With no territories of wealth, the Sin-Eaters receive their operational funding from the Talon and the Skull Conclaves. It is also believed that they are rewarded for confiscating and submitting illicit material. This has led to rumors of Sin-Eaters bribed to look away or pocketing illicit material to plant on innocent parties -- these ideals only stoke the fires of discontent against them.

For their own part, the Sin-Eater Chapter must police itself. Calling upon the Talon-Archon or the Skull Conclave is considered a last resort. The legendarium of the Chapter is not subtle about the fates of heretics within their ranks, though they do not advertise the existence of these sinners to outsiders.

Leadership: For the past twenty years, the Chaptermaster of the Sin-Eaters has been Invokate Rylisk. A skilled Seer with an Eidolonic Graft, it is believed that nothing in a room escapes his gaze. His own success and survival on the field has earned him his position from among his Chapter, although he is likely the most hated man in the Conclave for his efforts and his blunt demeanor. 

Despite his opinions and reputation, he is beloved by those within the Sin-Eaters. They are of the opinion that he fights tooth and nail for the safety of his Talonites, not only putting forth procedures for their protection but smashing heads with other Invokates and Hierophants to allow them to do their duties to the Conclave. Even the Talon-Archon has tasted blood by dealing with Invokate Rylisk, but the ability of the Sin-Eaters to call upon the Skull Conclave for political influence makes them quite influential and potent. 

The Steel Chalice Chapter

“Let us all serve the God-Empress

By blade and by labor, without want or mercy”

Basic: The keepers of the Kookesh Quarry and the jailors of the conscripted miners. Clad in eldritch and radiation protection gear, they are regarded as cruel and sadistic. However, their ranks possess master artisans of living and eldritch armaments. 

Symbol: A diamond with three lines within a triangle

Territory: The Kookesh Quarry, surrounding encampments, and the road to the Quarry. They also have a Chapterhouse in Talonic Citadel. 

Overview:  The Steel Chalice of modern times are rarely seen outside the domains of the Quarry, but their Chaptermaster is always on the lookout for more opportunities. They are cold and precise soldiers, acclimated to following instructions to the letter and descending into hazardous situations. They will ruthlessly execute or forsake “contaminated” individuals when ordered to do so, knowing and expecting the same treatment from their brethren. 

The Chapter’s value to the Conclave and even the Temple as a whole has ascended them to the Invokate council of the Talonites, granting them a voice in the Conclave’s direction. They are one of the more recent additions to the Talonite Invokates, with only the Godhammer Chapter being newer.

The Steel Chalice are also a Chapter with controversy. Rumors allege that they sell the “Flesh of the Empress”' to third parties, though the Sin-Eaters have yet to find any evidence of this damning heresy. Their treatment of conscripts and prisoners is also of some concern to the Conclave, though the Chaptermasters of the Steel Chalice have always claimed to optimize protections. Indeed, those prisoners who finish their sentences and conscripts that work out their deployments are rewarded generously by the Steel Chalice, with some even offered a place in their ranks. 

Also of interest is the development of living weaponry in the hands of Steel Chalice weaponers. With their access to Abyssal Flesh, this Chapter is better able to experiment with new methods and products of crafting with that strange material. Naturally, their progress in this matter requires oversight from the Skull Conclave. 

Leadership: Invokate Cora Sparak leads the Steel Chalice Chapter, promoted after her predecessor died from an Abyssal-borne disease that somehow escaped containment. She is said to be more ruthless than her late sibling, personally performing executions for those who breach containment procedures. There are even rumors that claim that she only strengthened protective measures for miners after the threat of a Sin-Eater audit. 

Invokate Sparak’s main priorities are in maintaining and improving the Quarry’s output, even consulting outside “experts” in the matter. This does not bode well for the Makers and the conscripts tasked with extraction. However, she is distracted by recent volcanic activity in the area; she has doubled patrols to ensure that whatever monstrosities that emerge from beneath the earth do not disturb Steel Chalice operations. 

The Wall Warden Chapter

Wall-Wardens

“We are the Shield of the Conclave

Let our enemies strike us and be broken”

Basic: The guardians of the Blockade and the Temple’s western land border. They are stalwart and resolute, known for defensive tactics, use of siege weapons, and eldritch gadgetry. Many Wall Wardens employ some kind of eye-protection, such as goggles, when battling their primary foes at the Blockade.  

Symbol: An upward facing sword against a brick wall. 

Territory: The Beringian Blockade and the surrounding mining and farming communities.

Overview: Like the Blockade itself, the Wall-Warders have changed little in the decades following the their creation. Certainly, there are operational and defensive upgrades, but the Chapter is as solid and stable as the wall it defends.

The Wall-Warders themselves are a grim people, used to facing almost daily casualties from the skirmishes at the Blockade or beyond it. This constant attrition drove the Chapter to seek out the right to conscript outside their home region. They are not particular, accepting even criminals or Evictus into their ranks -- though these may find themselves manning the wasteland watchtowers or the Blockade itself. 

Despite the wealth of resources in the area and resources from Talonic Citadel, the Wall-Warders are always seeking out more -- whether it is soldiers, weapons,  or supplies. This fuels rumors that the Wall-Warders are willing to turn a blind eye to criminal activities that benefit them. Indeed, the Talonites of this Chapter tend to care more for results than the “journey”. 

Leadership: Invokate Jon-Paul Harpak currently leads the Wall Wardens as Chaptermaster. As Invokate, he also manages the Beringian Blockade and the surrounding communities. He has attained his position through the respect of his peers and his own commanding skills. He is a survivor of over a dozen Blockade defenses and more than a hundred expeditions into the Glowing Wastes. 

Invokate Harpak is a Chimera with ursine features, lending him the name “little bear” when he was younger and “old bear” in his current age. He tolerates both nicknames, but his anger is just as well-known as he is. Far from making him an unreliable general, this trait allows him to push his troops and his Makers to whatever the Chapter currently needs.