Re: Noble\Church\Guild membership as a problem
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:58 am
Calvin, I agree on the guild descriptions. All of the guilds are like a combination trade union/medieval trade guild, with internal divisions but unified to give them political power when dealing with nobles. My players understand that promotions come from the guild but monthy paychecks come from the noble. It makes the backstabbing more subtle.
Don't underestimate the divisions within the church, though. The Brothers Battle are an obvious choice, much like the Templars they resemble, they are bankers under constant attack by other banking interests and puritans within the church. They deal with constant rumor campaigns and intrigues against them. facing constant attacks from both the extreme conservatives (The Rule of Battle is heresy!) and from extreme bankers (Lawyers, Guns and Money!) gives them more depth.
The Orthodoxy is split between Red and White factions. The conservatives are what you expect, but the liberals are almost as common and are very different. My party is always taken aback by the orthodox parish priest who is married with five kids. He still wears black robes, and is still orthodox. These are the orthodox priests you find on Criticorum, Istakhr, and Leagueheim, and scattered all over. The Red faction Hard liners work closely with the Avesti and are louder, angrier, and more visible, so people associate them with the orthodoxy.
The Avesti are the most monolithic order, but are subject to the orthodoxy. So yes, a White Orthodox bishop can order an Avesti Bishop to stand down, and must be obeyed. This is why the Avesti work so closely with the Red orthodox - they don't like to be reined in or overruled, so they associate with the group that uses them as they want to be used.
The Eskatonics are a new order, not a lot of time to form schisms, but it is hard to overxcome centuries of persecution in a few years. And they share a lot of doctrine with the very heretical Incarnates, which is an area that can be mined for subtle intrigues and plots in a campaign.
The Amaltheans have few divisions but are heavily, though subtly, involved in politics. Check out the descriptions of how Artemis is governed in Church Fiefs. Sanctuary Aeon are absolute masters of getting what they want by subtle manipulation. Rulers in Amalthean areas think they are leading while they are being subtly guided.
Serving as a noble's confessor is a plum job, it gives access to a better lifestyle and travel, but it also sinks the player character deep into politics, both church and secular politics. Best to have a group of allies, like your noble patron and his guild employees, to help you wade through that morass.
Don't underestimate the divisions within the church, though. The Brothers Battle are an obvious choice, much like the Templars they resemble, they are bankers under constant attack by other banking interests and puritans within the church. They deal with constant rumor campaigns and intrigues against them. facing constant attacks from both the extreme conservatives (The Rule of Battle is heresy!) and from extreme bankers (Lawyers, Guns and Money!) gives them more depth.
The Orthodoxy is split between Red and White factions. The conservatives are what you expect, but the liberals are almost as common and are very different. My party is always taken aback by the orthodox parish priest who is married with five kids. He still wears black robes, and is still orthodox. These are the orthodox priests you find on Criticorum, Istakhr, and Leagueheim, and scattered all over. The Red faction Hard liners work closely with the Avesti and are louder, angrier, and more visible, so people associate them with the orthodoxy.
The Avesti are the most monolithic order, but are subject to the orthodoxy. So yes, a White Orthodox bishop can order an Avesti Bishop to stand down, and must be obeyed. This is why the Avesti work so closely with the Red orthodox - they don't like to be reined in or overruled, so they associate with the group that uses them as they want to be used.
The Eskatonics are a new order, not a lot of time to form schisms, but it is hard to overxcome centuries of persecution in a few years. And they share a lot of doctrine with the very heretical Incarnates, which is an area that can be mined for subtle intrigues and plots in a campaign.
The Amaltheans have few divisions but are heavily, though subtly, involved in politics. Check out the descriptions of how Artemis is governed in Church Fiefs. Sanctuary Aeon are absolute masters of getting what they want by subtle manipulation. Rulers in Amalthean areas think they are leading while they are being subtly guided.
Serving as a noble's confessor is a plum job, it gives access to a better lifestyle and travel, but it also sinks the player character deep into politics, both church and secular politics. Best to have a group of allies, like your noble patron and his guild employees, to help you wade through that morass.