Champions, welcome to the sixth faction analysis!
For this report, we turn our attention from the apocalyptic fury of Strife to a faction defined by its imperturbable revenge: Silence.
Continue for crucial intel on the lore and art of the Silence faction: the calculated retribution of a shattered civilization. This nation of nomadic mystics, lethal scribes, and netherworld assassins is ready to deliver a silent strike that will be felt across the world.
Silence
Lore
Population: Approximately 1 million
Capital: None (formerly Steelgate)
Governing Body: None - The Viper Empress, Old Man of the Mountain, Steelgate Legacy and Amon Dusk all share control over a loose alliance of various groups.
Notable Locations: The Ruins of Steelgate, Bhatoun Oasis, the Royal Crèche, the Sacred Peaks
Within the scorched deserts of Terrene Gall stands the ruins of Steelgate. Once a magnificent, shimmering metropolis, it was long revered as a neutral oasis – a city of Elven mystics, monks, and scribes whose serene existence was untouched by the campaigns of the Second Great War. The August Kin, its diligent laborers, kept the libraries and archives flourishing.
That peace was obliterated. In a reckless, territorial clash between the forces of Eclipse and Scales, Steelgate was ground zero. When the last volley ended and the dust settled, the majestic city was reduced to ash and rubble. From that wreckage, a new hardened people emerged: The Nation of Silence.
The transformation was absolute. Once-peaceful scribes and monks no longer pore over ancient texts; They now forge infernal contracts and bind themselves to ancient souls as a desperate means of survival. The August Kin, once gentle research assistants, have become lethal poison manufacturers and dedicated warriors. Every fiber of their old life is now a weapon.
The treacherous tundras of the Sunken Hollows and the blighted No Man’s Land of Scales may seem a formidable barrier to most armies... but not the quiet assassins of Silence. Their strategy is not frontal war; it is calculated, surgical retribution. Will their quiet fury be felt across the entire world?
Art/Inspiration
With Steelgate destroyed, Silence has adopted a nomadic life in the deserts and barren lands of Terrene Gall, where they can more easily commune with the dead. Before departing, they salvaged all the knowledge they could; carrying more than seems comfortable: packs heavy with books and scrolls, water bottles, and the occasional vial of life-ending poison.
Technology
The overall faction, tends to wrap themselves in layers of light-colored robes, leaving very little skin exposed to protect from the sun.
The Netherworld Warriors, summoned by the Elven scribes and monks, have visually apparent connections to the spirit world, they may have a sword in place of an arm, and their forms distort easily; especially when performing a dramatic motion of some sort. They often seem to ‘trail off’ into nothingness around the bottom half of their body, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the dust and shadows.
The August kin, servants to the Elven members of Silence, are humanoid in shape but have pronounced lizard features (head shape, skin, tails, claws, etc.). They wear little to no clothing, relying instead on belts and harnesses that help them carry their weapons and equipment.
Environment
Silence dwells within deserts punctuated by small oases of exotic greenery and ponds - simple displays of beauty they relish amidst the expanse. Their structures are a beautiful and haunting fusion of Middle Eastern and Asian architecture, creating a unique Elven aesthetic. This design features smooth, arcing lines that form subtle elegant patterns.
The sky above their land is remarkably clear, bordering unnaturally on the intensity of deep nighttime, which suggests a proximity to the ethereal plan from which they draw their power. Will their quiet fury be felt across the entire world or will their calculated war of shadows remain a silent, deadly secret.
