The Golden Ring
by Marc SaindonThis is the Iron Ring's counterpart in the dystopian version of Mystara. In theory, they are the "good" version in an evil world, although in reality, this network of freedom fighters has a lot of blood on their hands and are not above collateral damage to innocents to get the job done. The name of the organization in facts originates from their assassination calling card, a golden ring left in the mouth of their target.
The mix of Traladaran rebels, Pragmati schismatics and black market dealers is lead by a mysterious shadowy figure known as "Praxis". She goes around veiled, hiding both her identity and what appears to be severe burn scars (oil, acid?) on the left side of her face. Even more secretly, Praxis is Adriana Karameikos, believed to be dead after the palace revolution and the subsequent purges. Should her secretly come out, she would lose considerable support among the Traladarans, who would not back another Thyatian.
As for the Iron Ring itself, the group integrated Archduke's Ludwig government as a state sponsored policing force known as the Iron Gauntlet (a nod to G.I. Joe's episode Worlds without end, s03 e37, in which the Dreadnocks are the police in an alternate world). The Gauntlet does a decent job as a town watch protecting the wealthy and maintains a facade of respectability, although in poorer neighborhoods this all goes away and they run protection rackets, use excessive force, and round up unfortunates into slavery - which Ludwig I made legal. The Gauntlet also oversee forced labor camps in the former Shires. Obviously, the Gauntlet is a prime target for the Golden Ring.
(Image from: https://www.deviantart.com/thedrimdrim/art/Hooded-Rogue-979841306)