EVIL SECRET SOCIETIES IN WINTERWEIR

    Winterweir is a campaign setting that is only as good as the evils that you face.  As such, the campaign setting book is filled with all manner of villains and ne'er do wells that player characters can face right out of the book.  No one in Teth-Ammon does anything without a reason, but that doesn't mean that they're good reasons.

A comprehensive list of Winterweir's evil secret societies would take a very long time to compile, but a short list of the major players is provided below to allow potential players and Narrators to know what they're in for.


* The Alchemist Mages of Amania:  The Alchemist Mages of Amania are the secret police of the Free Republic.  Equipped with scientific equipment and mystical power, they root out all enemies to the dystopian regime that has come to rule in the former kingdom.  The Alchemist Mages are one of the few functioning organizations within the Free Republic and the masterminds of hundreds of plots throughout Alacarn.  They desire to spread the flames of Revolution throughout the continent in order to guarantee a new order that is controlled by their vision of the future.

* The Crimson Oath:  The Crimson Oath is an organization that is devoted to the immortal demigod, the Shadow King.  Seemingly theatrical and obvious in their villainy, the Crimson Oath uses public plots and terrorism to draw attention away from their countless more subtle schemes.  Much of the continent is now secretly controlled by the criminal cultists and magicians. 

The Crimson Oath rewards its soldiers lavishly and has a never-ending stream of recruits from those that are sick of living in squalor.

* The Divine Order:  The Divine Order is an organization devoted to the Supreme Throne.  A singular monotheistic entity that rules the entire continent of Saiya underneath Alacarn.  The Divine Order is a powerful theocracy that has sent its missionaries throughout the continent above them in preparations for a massive invasion.  While they preach a doctrine of love, the Divine Order is a ruthless tyranny that has long ago been corrupted from its original purpose.

* The Immaculate Doom:  The Immaculate Doom is one of the most hated and evil religions in all of Alacarn.  Worshipers of the Crimson King, Malaxas, they are a Fifth Column for the Demons of the Netherdeep.  The Immaculate Doom promises forbidden knowledge and incredible luxury to those who join its ranks.  For most, it is a guarantee of insanity followed by gross mutation.  The lucky ones are found by the Inquisition and burned at the stake.  The secret masters of the Immaculate Doom care little, there are always weak minded fools left to replace their losses.

* The Imperial Order of the Crown:  When the Old Empire fell, it left behind many Knights. Judges, and Magistrates who existed to keep order in a turbulent land.  These individuals gathered together and formed a secret society dedicated to resurrecting the Empire.  Highly competent and trained, many peasants would prefer them to the bumbling nobility they suffer under.  However, the Imperial Order of the Crown brooks no violation of the social order.  The nobility exists to rule and all others exist to serve.

* The Khatai ("The Shadow Network"):  A brotherhood of Lartan crime families that has since spread across the continent and recruited many other country's bloodlines into their ranks.  The Shadow Network does not care for world domination, it only desires coin and wealth.  The Shadow Networks frequently feud with one another but wield disproportionate power for a mere criminal syndicate.  Few nobles are prepared to wage war against an invisible enemy.

* The Knights of the Silver Phoenix:  A massive mercenary army that dwarfs many smaller kingdoms.  The Knights of the Silver Phoenix are controlled by the mysterious Silver Phoenix, whose blood comes from the Heavens itself.  Many nobles believe that the Knights are attempting to start wars so they can eventually force the nobles that will not employ them into ruin.  They would be correct, for the Silver Phoenix envisions a new Empire and he is immortal so he has plenty of time to bring it about.

* The Obsidian Circle:  The Obsidian Circle was founded millennium ago by the Demon Empress Tiamate, last of the great Lilin Queens.  Believing the civilized world has corrupted the world; they wage a never-ending war to destroy all remnants of cities and technology.  They are impeded by their phobia of anything more advanced than a plow shear but their mystical power is tremendous.