Faction Symbols - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Faction Symbols

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Aug 22, 2004 18:18:45 Have the faction symbols' meaning ever been explained? Some of them are obvious, like the Harmonium (light, sword, shield), the Mercykillers (the Wyrm), and the Society of Sensation (the organs of sense - eyes, ear, hands, mouth and nose). But what in the Abyss is the Athar's symbol? A tribute to the architecture of Sigil? Why is the Bleak Cabal's symbol a helm? Who is the woman in the Fated symbol?

My guesses:
Athar: An abstract icon of The Lady, protector of Sigil from the false powers.

Believers of the Source: A sword being tempered by fire, much as the soul of a Godsmen is tempered both by life and the fire of the Great Forge.

Bleak Cabal: An empty helmet, symbolizing the meaningless of life.

Doomguard: An animal skull, a symbol of entropy.

Dustmen: "The Scream"

Fated: A rendering of Lady Luck, or possibly an archaic version of The Lady.

Fraternity of Order: I thought I remembered reading something about the knife of knowledge cutting through to the truth.

Free League: Some sort of dragony, monster-thing. Who is probably quite independant, I'd wager.

Harmonium: The tools of the Hardheads, a sword and shield, and ball of light, representing their goal of universal (multiversal?) harmony. Note how much smaller the ball of light is than the combat gear.

Mercykillers: The Wyrm, tool of justice.

Revolutionary League: I'm assuming that each of the smaller symbols are symbols for different cells. I would imagine that there are a lot more different symbols as well.

Sign of One: Some sort of dragon figure - Io, the Ninefold Dragon? Io is often considered to be the creator of the planes, so...

Society of Sensation: A face, a hand and an ear, containing all the organs of sense.

Transcendant Order: A number of heavenly bodies (sun, moon, star field) which are very "mystical."

Xaositects: Well, I'm not sure what this particular symbol is, but:
a) that might be the point
b) it's probably unique to one Chaosman, and only until he sees something new. There are more "official" symbols of the Xaositects than there are 'loths in Gehenna.
#2
sildatorak
Aug 22, 2004 18:47:49
Originally posted by Graz'zt, Prince of Shadow
Bleak Cabal: An empty helmet, symbolizing the meaningless of life.

Actually that would give the symbol meaning, which we don't want to do. Their is a gigantic mosaic of it on the floor of the Gatehouse, and no one knew what it meant when we started running the place. We liked the fact that it was a meaningless symbol and started using it to identify ourselves.
#3
zombiegleemax
Aug 22, 2004 22:16:33 But the symbol presumably had meaning at one point. By drawing attention to the fall of the symbol, pointing out how it has lost its meaning, aren't you in fact giving an example of entropy, something more kin to the Doomguard? Shouldn't you not have a symbol at all?
#4
zombiegleemax
Aug 22, 2004 23:28:44 The Bleaker's symbole might quite simple in meaning.
Beside being drawn on the floor of the Gatehouse, it represents their headquarters perfectly. Simple as that. The gatehouse has always been described as a gigantic helmet if I remember correctly.
#5
ohtar_turinson
Aug 24, 2004 10:01:42 I'm pretty sure the Athar symbol represents a styilized version of the shattered temple.
#6
sildatorak
Aug 24, 2004 12:31:30
Originally posted by Graz'zt, Prince of Shadow
But the symbol presumably had meaning at one point. By drawing attention to the fall of the symbol, pointing out how it has lost its meaning, aren't you in fact giving an example of entropy, something more kin to the Doomguard? Shouldn't you not have a symbol at all?

Entropy isn't the loss of things, it is the decay of things. The only reason the symbol actually had any meaning at some point was because someone gave meaning to it. It has no inherent meaning, and that is what we're drawing attention to. And if you call me a signer for this one I'll punch you in the eye…with Bigby's Clenched Fist :D
#7
zombiegleemax
Aug 31, 2004 14:36:16 The Indeps' symbol is an Ouroboros, a dragon eating its own tail (representing self-sufficiency).
#8
voldenuit
Sep 02, 2004 10:38:17
The Indeps' symbol is an Ouroboros, a dragon eating its own tail (representing self-sufficiency).

Nice. Very nice.

Of course, the symbol dates quite far back in human civilisations. The Egyptians and the ancient Greeks used the symbol, and it was also used in Alchemy (no doubt where the mangaka for Full Metal Alchemist picked up on it).

There's a nice website with some info on it...
#9
primemover003
Sep 06, 2004 21:03:46 The Xaositects symbol is a representation of a chaos beast.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 18:18:45	Have the faction symbols' meaning ever been explained? Some of them are obvious, like the Harmonium (light, sword, shield), the Mercykillers (the Wyrm), and the Society of Sensation (the organs of sense - eyes, ear, hands, mouth and nose). But what in the Abyss is the Athar's symbol? A tribute to the architecture of Sigil? Why is the Bleak Cabal's symbol a helm? Who is the woman in the Fated symbol? My guesses: Athar: An abstract icon of The Lady, protector of Sigil from the false powers. Believers of the Source: A sword being tempered by fire, much as the soul of a Godsmen is tempered both by life and the fire of the Great Forge. Bleak Cabal: An empty helmet, symbolizing the meaningless of life. Doomguard: An animal skull, a symbol of entropy. Dustmen: "The Scream" Fated: A rendering of Lady Luck, or possibly an archaic version of The Lady. Fraternity of Order: I thought I remembered reading something about the knife of knowledge cutting through to the truth. Free League: Some sort of dragony, monster-thing. Who is probably quite independant, I'd wager. Harmonium: The tools of the Hardheads, a sword and shield, and ball of light, representing their goal of universal (multiversal?) harmony. Note how much smaller the ball of light is than the combat gear. Mercykillers: The Wyrm, tool of justice. Revolutionary League: I'm assuming that each of the smaller symbols are symbols for different cells. I would imagine that there are a lot more different symbols as well. Sign of One: Some sort of dragon figure - Io, the Ninefold Dragon? Io is often considered to be the creator of the planes, so... Society of Sensation: A face, a hand and an ear, containing all the organs of sense. Transcendant Order: A number of heavenly bodies (sun, moon, star field) which are very "mystical." Xaositects: Well, I'm not sure what this particular symbol is, but: a) that might be the point b) it's probably unique to one Chaosman, and only until he sees something new. There are more "official" symbols of the Xaositects than there are 'loths in Gehenna.
#2 sildatorak Aug 22, 2004 18:47:49	Originally posted by Graz'zt, Prince of Shadow Bleak Cabal: An empty helmet, symbolizing the meaningless of life. Actually that would give the symbol meaning, which we don't want to do. Their is a gigantic mosaic of it on the floor of the Gatehouse, and no one knew what it meant when we started running the place. We liked the fact that it was a meaningless symbol and started using it to identify ourselves.
#3 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 22:16:33	But the symbol presumably had meaning at one point. By drawing attention to the fall of the symbol, pointing out how it has lost its meaning, aren't you in fact giving an example of entropy, something more kin to the Doomguard? Shouldn't you not have a symbol at all?
#4 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 23:28:44	The Bleaker's symbole might quite simple in meaning. Beside being drawn on the floor of the Gatehouse, it represents their headquarters perfectly. Simple as that. The gatehouse has always been described as a gigantic helmet if I remember correctly.
#5 ohtar_turinson Aug 24, 2004 10:01:42	I'm pretty sure the Athar symbol represents a styilized version of the shattered temple.
#6 sildatorak Aug 24, 2004 12:31:30	Originally posted by Graz'zt, Prince of Shadow But the symbol presumably had meaning at one point. By drawing attention to the fall of the symbol, pointing out how it has lost its meaning, aren't you in fact giving an example of entropy, something more kin to the Doomguard? Shouldn't you not have a symbol at all? Entropy isn't the loss of things, it is the decay of things. The only reason the symbol actually had any meaning at some point was because someone gave meaning to it. It has no inherent meaning, and that is what we're drawing attention to. And if you call me a signer for this one I'll punch you in the eye…with Bigby's Clenched Fist :D
#7 zombiegleemax Aug 31, 2004 14:36:16	The Indeps' symbol is an Ouroboros, a dragon eating its own tail (representing self-sufficiency).
#8 voldenuit Sep 02, 2004 10:38:17	The Indeps' symbol is an Ouroboros, a dragon eating its own tail (representing self-sufficiency). Nice. Very nice. Of course, the symbol dates quite far back in human civilisations. The Egyptians and the ancient Greeks used the symbol, and it was also used in Alchemy (no doubt where the mangaka for Full Metal Alchemist picked up on it). There's a nice website with some info on it...
#9 primemover003 Sep 06, 2004 21:03:46	The Xaositects symbol is a representation of a chaos beast.