Post by Lady of Pain on Nov 12, 2006 3:12:51 GMT -4
* Athar ("Defiers", "The Lost"), who deny not only the gods' right to pass judgment over mortals, but their very divinity. They claim that the gods (whom they call "powers") are powerful but do not deserve worship. The Athar are broadly derived from real-world atheists and agnostics.
* Believers of the Source ("Godsmen"), who believe that each life is a test, and that every person has the potential to become a god.
* Bleak Cabal ("Bleakers", "Madmen"), who deny that any belief system has any merit; as they see it, the universe has physical rules, but no metaphysical or philosophical ones, therefore any meaning in life must come from within. They are derived from real-life existentialists.
* Doomguard ("Sinkers"), who believe in the sanctity and inevitability of entropy. They see the decay and destruction of the universe as necessary; for once it is destroyed all imperfections will be gone with it, paving the way for a perfect new world.
* Dustmen ("The Dead") believe that both life and death are false states of existence, that there is a state of True Death which can only be accomplished by denying one's emotions and physical wants and needs (a conception similar to Nirvana) This is closely related to acosmism, with a more death geared ideal, the faction also shares some similarities with the Stoics.
* Fated ("Takers", "The Heartless") believe that those with power and ability have the right to own what they control and to take what they can from those who are unable to keep it, and that it is their right to exploit any situation to their advantage, regardless of how it affects anyone else. They are derived from real-life Social Darwinists.
* Fraternity of Order ("Guvners"), who believe that knowledge is power; they learn and exploit both the natural laws of the universe and the laws of society. They recall the Sophists of Classical Athens.
* Free League ("Indeps"), who reject the other factions and their bureaucratic, hierarchical dogmatism.
* Harmonium ("Hardheads"), who believe that peace and stability can only be established under one rule -- theirs. The planar faction known as the Harmonium is actually just a small part of a much larger political entity which rules over the entirety of the Prime Material world of Ortho. They are related to present day authoritarianism.
* Mercykillers ("The Red Death"), who believe in justice and retribution at the expense of all else. Their name comes from their credo that mercy is for the weak, and the merciful should be punished.
* Revolutionary League ("Anarchists"), who believe that social order and man-made laws are inherently corrupt and must be destroyed--though none of their members can agree on what, if anything, should replace them.
* Sign of One ("Signers"), who believe that the entire universe is a figment of someone's imagination; most of them are solipsists.
* Society of Sensation ("Sensates"), who believe that accumulating experiential knowledge through the senses is the only way to achieve enlightenment. They are broadly derived from the real-life Epicureans.
* Transcendent Order ("Ciphers"), who believe that by tapping in to the 'cadence' of the planes and acting through pure instinct they can achieve a higher state of being.
* Xaositects ("Chaosmen"), who believe that the only truth is revealed in chaos. The Xaositects have been quite accurately described as being "totally off their rockers, every one of 'em." This is a slight twist to accidentalism.
* Believers of the Source ("Godsmen"), who believe that each life is a test, and that every person has the potential to become a god.
* Bleak Cabal ("Bleakers", "Madmen"), who deny that any belief system has any merit; as they see it, the universe has physical rules, but no metaphysical or philosophical ones, therefore any meaning in life must come from within. They are derived from real-life existentialists.
* Doomguard ("Sinkers"), who believe in the sanctity and inevitability of entropy. They see the decay and destruction of the universe as necessary; for once it is destroyed all imperfections will be gone with it, paving the way for a perfect new world.
* Dustmen ("The Dead") believe that both life and death are false states of existence, that there is a state of True Death which can only be accomplished by denying one's emotions and physical wants and needs (a conception similar to Nirvana) This is closely related to acosmism, with a more death geared ideal, the faction also shares some similarities with the Stoics.
* Fated ("Takers", "The Heartless") believe that those with power and ability have the right to own what they control and to take what they can from those who are unable to keep it, and that it is their right to exploit any situation to their advantage, regardless of how it affects anyone else. They are derived from real-life Social Darwinists.
* Fraternity of Order ("Guvners"), who believe that knowledge is power; they learn and exploit both the natural laws of the universe and the laws of society. They recall the Sophists of Classical Athens.
* Free League ("Indeps"), who reject the other factions and their bureaucratic, hierarchical dogmatism.
* Harmonium ("Hardheads"), who believe that peace and stability can only be established under one rule -- theirs. The planar faction known as the Harmonium is actually just a small part of a much larger political entity which rules over the entirety of the Prime Material world of Ortho. They are related to present day authoritarianism.
* Mercykillers ("The Red Death"), who believe in justice and retribution at the expense of all else. Their name comes from their credo that mercy is for the weak, and the merciful should be punished.
* Revolutionary League ("Anarchists"), who believe that social order and man-made laws are inherently corrupt and must be destroyed--though none of their members can agree on what, if anything, should replace them.
* Sign of One ("Signers"), who believe that the entire universe is a figment of someone's imagination; most of them are solipsists.
* Society of Sensation ("Sensates"), who believe that accumulating experiential knowledge through the senses is the only way to achieve enlightenment. They are broadly derived from the real-life Epicureans.
* Transcendent Order ("Ciphers"), who believe that by tapping in to the 'cadence' of the planes and acting through pure instinct they can achieve a higher state of being.
* Xaositects ("Chaosmen"), who believe that the only truth is revealed in chaos. The Xaositects have been quite accurately described as being "totally off their rockers, every one of 'em." This is a slight twist to accidentalism.