Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 23, 2003 16:42:55	The Unequaliants Enimies of the Balance, the Anti-Neutrals Sect Philociphy: Some berks talk about a rule of threes. The Unequaliants are a sect out to prove that the multiverse is governed by a rule of twos. See, the way they see it, everything has its opposite. Fire opposes Ice, Good opposes Evil and so forth. The two objects in the entire multiverse that do not have opposites are Sigil, and the Spire it rests upon. Now imagine a Multiverse like the spire. Imagine Good without evil, fire without ice, and you'll begin to see things the way the Unequaliants see. The Unequaliants are a small, but growing sect, mostly made up of good bashers(But some evil cutters are beginning to join it should be noted). This sect's goal is nothing short of the descruction of its opposite, currently, evil. See, they believe that the greatest force of the status quote is not order and law, like a Xaosect would have you believe, but Neutrality, as a concept and as a force. Neutrality would have you believe that something cannot exist without its opposite, and that the multiverse would be destroyed if one force were to ultimately conquer another. The way they see it, absolute neutrality is just another form of evil, not acting out of maleviolence, but out of apathy and complaciency. As such, the Unequaleviant's goal is nothing short of the anniliation of Neutrality as a concept, and as a force. Allies and Eniemies: The Athar is strangely on good terms with the Unequaleviants. The Athar's belief that the gods are really charlatans out to maintain their power goes along well with the Unequaleviant's belief that apathy(Neutrality) is in charge of the Multiverse. On the other hand, the Rilmani, who are pretty much the personification of Neutrality, count themselves as the sworn enemies of the Unequaleviants(The feeling is mutual). It is likely that a massive conflict between the two is likely in the future when the Unequalevliants gather enough strength. Also, the Opposition, a small inner planar faction, understands the Unequalevliant's desire to triumph over its opposite, but due to the Opposition's nature, count themselves as enemies as well as allies to the Unequalevliants. On a more sinister note, the Yugoloths have taken notice of this sect, and secretly aid them when they can(That is, when their not maintaining and enriching themselves off the Bloodwar). This is partly because the pure evil fiends would like nothing better than for the descuction of the balance, and the ultimate triumph of evil over good. Primary Plane of influence: The Outlands The Unequalevliants dwell primaryly near the upper-planar gatetowns, and maintain a small citadel near Excelsior, the gate town to Elysium. The sect would like nothing better than to invade sigil, and claim it for the forces of good, but realizes that the Lady's maze power would end such a campaign pretty quickly, therefore, the Sect has adopted a somewhat unorthodox strategy. The Unequalevliants pay attention to all remours regarding the Lady, and lately, have settled upon the idea of forming cults devoted to worship of the Lady of Pain, realizing that all such acts in Sigil raise the Lady's ere and usually mean the death of the worshiper. The Sect hopes to lure the Lady outside Sigil, just around the base of the Spire, and attack her with a vast army(if the rumors that the Lady is in fact the Rimani version of Primus are true, the sect is in for quite a shock) By "sniping" at the Lady from outside Sigil, the sect avoids the Lady's mazes and worse, but only time will tell if the Unequaleviants triumph over the Lady.
#2 factol_rhys_dup Dec 23, 2003 19:35:15	Nice idea, but a sect sort of like this already existed in 2e. The Society of Concordant Opposition. They were a little different in their take, but they held the same "take the opposite view of radical ideas" stand. I think their ideas about the Lady are interesting, though a bit disturbing...
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 24, 2003 14:45:46	Oh, there are similarities, but the Unequaliants go one step further. Whats disturbing? The Concordant's views, or the Unequaliants? Thanks for the response BTW, I have two other sects hanging out in my mind that will be presented shortly, the Believers of the One God, and the Explorer's Guild. One sect believes the so-called "gods" are hiding a nasty secret from the multiverse of truly divine proportions, the other, believes in can gain enlightment and possibly power, by discovering all there is to know. Youll love these guys!
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 24, 2003 15:16:13	Acting out of apathy? Is that some kind of non sequitur? How about the spire? I assume they have plans for it too? If not, may I suggest they try to cut it down with pick-axes? I've been wondering what would happen.
#5 bob_the_efreet Dec 24, 2003 17:23:53	Originally posted by overtrick How about the spire? I assume they have plans for it too? If not, may I suggest they try to cut it down with pick-axes? I've been wondering what would happen. You get to play a friendly rugby game with some cuprilachs.
#6 ashramry Dec 24, 2003 20:09:02	Originally posted by Factol Rhys Nice idea, but a sect sort of like this already existed in 2e. The Society of Concordant Opposition. They were a little different in their take, but they held the same "take the opposite view of radical ideas" stand. I think their ideas about the Lady are interesting, though a bit disturbing... what source is this from exactly? aside, it always bothered me that prolongers werent considered a sect, as those that knew of eachother considered themselves an elite brotherhood, and the sect philosophy would have been something along the lines of the importance of life and self. ashy
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 25, 2003 5:58:56	Cutting down the spire eh? Well, Im sure its certainly crossed the sect's minds once or twice, who knows. A rugby game with some cuprilachs, now that would be something huh? Yeah, I agree, the Prolongers should have been written as a sect. Come to think of it, there were alot of sects introduced in both PSMC2 and PSMC3 weren't there? Ragers, Merkants, Incantifiers, Prolongers, Opposition, and those really mysteryious and secretive Primals. ......................................................................................................... The Discover's Guild Sect Philosophy: Some berks say that knowledge is power, most know this to be true, to a certain degree. The Discover's Guild are a sect that takes that view literally. Threwout the planes, there are an infinite variety of questions that exist. What started the Blood War? Where did the Multiverse come from, and where is it going? Who is the Lady of Pain exactly? These are just some of the many questions of the planes that have puzzled minds of all kinds for eions. The Discover's Guild's goal is to find out the answers to all these questions, and in so doing so, believe that they will come one step closer to the ultimate truth, which, according to them, is a prize that makes mortals greater than the gods themselves. Primary Plane of Influence: None, but the Discover's Guild maintain a large libraury and information network in Sigil. This is due to the abundance of portals inside sigil, which allows the Discovers to explore and investigate a variety of locations in their endless search for information. Dispite this Sigil headquarters, the Discover's are not to be considered one of sigil's factions. This would require ambition for power on the Discover's part, and most of em' couldn't care less for that. Allies and Eniemies: For allies, the Discovers usually turn to the Guvners. This is due to the Guvner's vast deposits of knowledge they have collected for categorization and other Guvner-ish orderly pursuits. However, post-faction war, the relationship between the two groups has become a bit strained. This is because the Discovers, in masse, raided the Guvner's headquarters and other buildings during the chaos in hopes of salvaging the Guvner's knowledge. The Discover's claim they were saving it, but the Guvners believe that to be a load of screed, and instead insisted that the Discover's were waiting for such an opportunity to steal what they believed was better off in their hands. This may be yet another reason the Guvners relocated to Mechanus post-faction war. On the other hand, the Discovers have acquire quite a bunch of enimies over the years since their founding, ranging from the Yugoloths(The Discovers raided the Arcanoloth's tower on Gehenna once or twice) to the Harmonium(The Discovers keep insisting on being allowed to enter the second layer of Arcadia, or any addition layers the faction might be hiding) As a matter of fact, as a sect, you probably won't find a more annoying and rude bunch. This is because the sect members wander around the multiverse asking questions, and a whole lot of em. Anyone, and I'm talkin' anyone who looks interesting, unusual, or suspicious, can expect to be treated to a game of 20 questions(or more) if they catch a Discover's eye. For some reason, the Discover's have gotten it into their crazy boneboxes that anything out of the ordinary has got something to hide. It should be said however, that this sect has an enemy they don't even know about. A strange, mysteryious race that seem alien on any plane. A race called the Keepers.....
#8 factol_rhys_dup Dec 25, 2003 11:16:13	The Concordant Opposition is from one of the Monstrous Compendiums, or at least I first read about them there. I don't know where else they might have popped up. They seem to appear everywhere when you least expect it.
#9 zombiegleemax Dec 25, 2003 13:51:09	Are they in one of the three Planescape MCs? So what do y'all think of the Discover's Guild? Aren't they annoying? Why, just yesterday one walked up to me and, you guessed it, forced me to tell him everything I know about the three planes that may or may not exist, the Far Realm, The Ordial Plane, and the Macrocosm. I told him the Far Realm is the most likely to exist, but of coarse, that wasn't good enough.
#10 zombiegleemax Dec 25, 2003 15:16:17	Far from annoying, I find them quite useful. Usually one shows up every few months and they always have all sorts of new things to tell me before I send them through my handy portal to the styx.
#11 ashramry Dec 25, 2003 17:19:10	very amusing....i like the keepers being enemies with them sects i always felt were underdone in 2nd ed (perhaps because they didnt want to take the limelight from the factions) but at one point there were many more factions before the lady limited them....i would have thought that more of them survived the great upheaval by doing what the "exiled" factions did following faction war and simply relocating. organizations i think should have made the cut and been named sects: (in no particular order) prolongers (see above) tacharim (from the great modron march) possible philosophy: if you control the outlands, you control the multiverse.... eschaton (figured in faction war...but they were mentioned somewhere else too....anyone know where?) possible philosophy: make your peace, the end is comming the daughters of the light (faction war) possible philosophy: "the lady's will be done" (a very dangerous line to tread) the expansionists (mentioned in well of the worlds amongst others) i dont buy that the whole faction completely fell apart b/c the factol got mazed..... the planerists :planes for the planers. clueless go home! anyone any other ideas? also id like to point out that i dont like restricting certain sects to npc's (like the childern of the vine, the vile hunt and the primals were) they should merely be subject to the restrictions of their sect. well thats my 2 gp rant ashy
#12 zombiegleemax Dec 26, 2003 11:33:07	Go Mimir.com, they list a ton of factions in products now out of print, and even reprint a few for convience! So theres actually a group out there that worships the lady of pain? And they aren't gone yet?
#13 zombiegleemax Dec 26, 2003 15:59:38	Originally posted by ashramry the expansionists (mentioned in well of the worlds amongst others) i dont buy that the whole faction completely fell apart b/c the factol got mazed..... Sometimes a charismatic (or whatever) factol is all that holds a faction together. Look at how many fell apart during and after Faction War. Moreover, once Vartus Timlin got mazed no one was very anxious to maintain ties to the expansionists, lest the Lady decide more purging was in order. Maybe a few outside Sigil held on, but if I were a high-up in a rival faction I'd take the opportunity to crush them into the dirt and ensure they never rose to such power again.
#14 zombiegleemax Dec 26, 2003 22:51:50	Something tells me that both of those sects are in for a very bloody surprise. The Unequivalents because they will be butchered by the Rilmani. The Discoverer's Guild because they are based in Sigil and they are asking questions about the Lady.
#15 ashramry Dec 27, 2003 19:57:27	Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon Go Mimir.com, they list a ton of factions in products now out of print, and even reprint a few for convience! yeah i know about that site. unfortunately it indescriminately shifts between official and non official material, and there is no refernces which makes it all but worthless to those of us who care about that sort of thing. reminds me of what my High School english teacher kept telling us: "even if it is in quatations it is not a real quote unless you have a mentioned reference, just plagerisim" ashy
#16 ashramry Dec 27, 2003 20:04:25	Originally posted by overtrick Sometimes a charismatic (or whatever) factol is all that holds a faction together. Look at how many fell apart during and after Faction War. Moreover, once Vartus Timlin got mazed no one was very anxious to maintain ties to the expansionists, lest the Lady decide more purging was in order. maybe. as was the case with the communals. but more likely as a faction they would simply decide to let go of sigil and retreat to other bases. Such was the case with seven (eight) of the factions that lost their leaders durring the faction war. Originally posted by overtrick Maybe a few outside Sigil held on, but if I were a high-up in a rival faction I'd take the opportunity to crush them into the dirt and ensure they never rose to such power again. [/b] i dont know, most faction highups would reguard putting resources into an effort to eliminate remaining factioneers or a rival faction that has just been given a deathblow as excessive. They would have other inter ant intra faction politcs to consider. ashy
#17 ashramry Dec 27, 2003 20:06:47	Originally posted by nick012000 Something tells me that both of those sects are in for a very bloody surprise. The Unequivalents because they will be butchered by the Rilmani. The Discoverer's Guild because they are based in Sigil and they are asking questions about the Lady. wouldnt the brutality of the rilmani just prove the unequivalents' point? i would think that the discoverer's guild would be smart enough to avoid certain topics....at least while in sigil. ashy
#18 zombiegleemax Dec 28, 2003 2:13:36	Originally posted by ashramry i dont know, most faction highups would reguard putting resources into an effort to eliminate remaining factioneers or a rival faction that has just been given a deathblow as excessive. They would have other inter ant intra faction politcs to consider. If they were simply killing factioneers then yes, it'd be a waste, but the Expansionists had many valuable holdings outside of Sigil. They'd be a benefit to whatever faction could take them, and the Expansionists would have great difficulty functioning without them. Just look at all the effort that was put into retrieving Vartus Timlin's sword. Personally, I suspect most of them found it more advantageous to move over to the Takers (thus furthering the dilution of that faction's philosophy). Maybe that's a bit of a stretch, though.
#19 MephitJames Dec 29, 2003 11:06:16	[iOriginally posted by ashramry[/i] the expansionists (mentioned in well of the worlds amongst others) i dont buy that the whole faction completely fell apart b/c the factol got mazed..... Originally posted by overtrick Sometimes a charismatic (or whatever) factol is all that holds a faction together. Good points both, particularly because there's been a sodding convincing rumor that Vartus Timlin was sprung from the mazes. Seems to me a group with as big of plans as the Expansionists won't stay quiet for much longer if they've got their precious factol back. I for one am sharpening my blades....
#20 zombiegleemax Dec 30, 2003 13:36:26	Indeed Ashramry. I think that if the Rilmani were to crush the sect in such a fashion, they would be from then on, looked upon by the Celestials and the various other natives of the upper planes, out to remain there own power, and it can be said that they are the ones calling the shots for the entire multiverse. Because, number one, they are immune to the equalizing effects of the spire's power, number two, they sit at the extact center of the outer planes, and possibly, if the Lady's the Rilmani's version of Primals, are in control of the multiverse's center as well.(Please don't call me clueless for saying that, its just my personal belief). Indeed, if the Lady is the head of the Rilmani, than it just proves the Unequaliants's beliefs even moreso, since its a well known fact that the Lady generally behaves in a dark, sinister manner(Mazing and/or flaying anyone she doesn't like, or threatens her power, isn't very nice) The Discover's Guild, on the other hand, usually restrict there probing about the lady of pain to once and a blue moon events. Some of em, however, believe that by helping the Dabus' maintain the city, that they might eventually earn a favor from the lady, and actually get to speak to her without fear of being flayed or mazed. But I do agree that they are treading on dangerious ground, especially with the Keepers watching them from the shadows... ........................................................................................................ I would'ive figured that the Expansionists would have remained as a faction, or at least a sect, dispite what the lady did to them. I mean, isn't it true that you can't crush someone's beliefs just by killing a few who hold that belief intent on scaring the rest? I find it extremely unlikely that theyed just abandon everything they believe in that easyly. But then again, thats just me.
#21 zombiegleemax Dec 31, 2003 2:20:53	Originally posted by Sword_Of_Geddon I would'ive figured that the Expansionists would have remained as a faction, or at least a sect, dispite what the lady did to them. I mean, isn't it true that you can't crush someone's beliefs just by killing a few who hold that belief intent on scaring the rest? You and I can't, but the disapproval of Her Serenity can. Sort of. They needn't have given up their beliefs - only their faction. I wouldn't be surprised if the return of Vartus Timlin saw more than a few Expansionists come back out of the woodwork.