The Pendulum
Legend
“Their origins lie in darkness, but their will and hands stir the balance of all things—be it kingdoms or divine praise.“
Description
They are a faction consisting of two mighty organisations sharing a common goal: the Allele Diploid trying to find, match, and ensure birth of mana manipulators capable of equalling the gods; and the Gyron Lords, who subtly manipulate world economics, so the disparities of living are mitigated.
- The Allele Diploid: This secretive group delves deep into genetic, arcane, and metaphysical research, seeking to birth or empower mortals with the potential to rival the gods themselves. They are obsessed with matching precise lineages, bloodlines, and mana signatures to create beings capable of wielding god-like power. Many of these experiments remain shrouded in secrecy, and their success stories, if any, are hidden or lost to history.
- The Gyron Lords: Masters of finance, diplomacy, and subtle influence, the Gyron Lords control vast webs of trade, resource distribution, and political connections. They work to subtly minimise the disparities between realms, not out of benevolence but to maintain stability in preparation for their long-term goals. They see mortal suffering, greed, and ambition as factors to be mitigated in their war against the divine.
The Pendulum is thus a secret faction made up of two interwoven organisations with a single overall goal: to dismantle the power of the divine and liberate mortal races from the whims of gods through apostasy. Both organisations are made up of incredibly wealthy and powerful individuals, as well as some exceptionally competent in their skills and trades who act in the shadows. Their goal is to dethrone the gods by reducing people’s support, and they operate above the level of most organisations; therefore, their intentions frequently clash with those of the other factions.
Their agents scattered across the world, from the palatial courts of the mightiest kings to the dens of thieves. Their influence is rarely direct; they prefer subtle nudges—a manipulated market crash here, a destabilized kingdom there—to weaken the gods’ grasp on the world.
FOUNDERS: Jirälthûrr Rignahro, a Ljost Alfar seer exiled for dabbling in forbidden magic, and Rnagodd Bulavas, a cunning Jomzaar economist and former advisor to a fallen empire.
SYMBOLISM: The Pendulum’s symbol is a double-edged pendulum suspended above a shattered crown, representing both their quest to sever divine influence and the delicate balance they seek to maintain.
MOTTO: “In cycles, we find order; in balance, we find freedom.”
Skjald Sigurd
History
Fourth AgeIn the aftermath of the sinking of Ljostari and the eruption of Mt. Ljostia, yet another great disaster originating due to the eternal struggle between contender gods and their domain rulers. The Pendulum was born from the ashes of the Ljostari disaster, an event that left many realms in ruin. Some very powerful individuals, tired of seeing their work hindered or ruined, joined forces. Of course, at the risk of being destroyed by their adversaries—the gods.
Jirälthûrr Rignahro and Rnagodd Bulavas, both heavily invested in the region’s leading group, saw firsthand how divine forces played with mortal lives like pawns in a game. Although disillusioned, they united their disparate talents to form an organisation that would operate on an even higher level than their foundations—above kingdoms, empires, and even the gods.
Ever since their organisations formed, they have worked to free the races from the influence of the gods, who came to be from energised mana links and void nodes. Had they been alone, their mortal quests would have been squashed long ago. But the other divines, who dislike the gods, have lent energies into this, and it’s not only Wickeryadi and Thursar, but also the Boriac.
Over the centuries, the Pendulum has grown into a sprawling network. They’ve survived numerous purges, divine hunts, and betrayals by adapting and remaining ever-elusive. Even when discovered, their groups are self-contained, their knowledge fragmented, ensuring the organisation endures. Thus, the pendulum has a strong spine and strong arms capable of reaching everywhere.
Through time, they have existed and acted in the shadows of great leaders and banner-swinging heroes. They have always acted as they believed best for all mortals, in our constant rubbing with the gods.
The Pendulum’s long history is marked by secret coups, the collapse of corrupt empires, and the subtle alteration of fate itself—all with the intent to topple the divine order and free mortal races from the recurring cycles of catastrophe caused by divine rivalries.
Skjald Yell'a'Beard
Cartography
They are all across the realm… Darin and the rim… impossible to locate… as gods seek and destroy them.
Skjald Kazumix
Kazumix’s words are true: they are everywhere, yet impossible to find. But you don’t find them; they find you, or so do the agents of the divine. Because the very moment you seek an interest in those of the pendulum, both sides will be aware pretty soon. To approach them is to court both sides of a perilous game, with death often awaiting those who pry.
Some might be so foolish, as prying despite being high-ranking channelling mana manipulators. And there have been examples where prying lips left their bearers exploding heads as their divine source took offence. Yet for those who prepare with cunning, shield their intentions, and act with subtlety, meetings with Pendulum agents can be arranged. Such meetings are never casual; the agents rarely act alone, and unseen protectors linger in the shadows—be they master archers, melee experts, or mentalist manipulators.
The Pendulum’s reach extends across all known lands—Darin, the rim, and beyond. Their locations are hidden within the most unsuspecting places: beneath bustling markets, within the vaults of ruined temples, or even masquerading as benign guilds. Legends tell of those who sought them and were consumed by divine wrath before ever getting close.
But planning properly, shielding oneself carefully, and doing it subtly. It is possible to have one of the pendulums approach and listen. But I’m sure that the one taking contact is not the only one of the pendulums present. There are most certain exceptionally skilled melee, archers, or mana manipulators of essence or mentalism lingering close.
For those found worthy or useful, the Pendulum offers not wealth but purpose—a chance to join the hidden war against the gods. Those are given a job, task, or quest of the Pendulum Faction.
Skjald Sejrik
Organisation
Naturally we couldn’t spill who was their leader, even if we knew, and had we Skjalds not been under the protection of all divines, even by some of the greater gods, we would most likely have been interrogated a long time ago. But this is what we do know and can tell, as that is our sole purpose, regardless of the risk to whoever we might reveal.
The Pendulum is led by an enigmatic council, the identities of which are known to only a few. Each organisation, Allele Diploid and the Gyron Lords, is independently governed, but their true leaders coordinate in secret. The council acts as a fulcrum, deciding where and when the Pendulum’s influence must shift.
Prior to the Great Invasion, they had but two leaders, one from Allele Diploid and one from Gyron Lords. These two were not those organisations public leaders, but we know they had frequent meetings with them.
The Pendulum had access to all knowledge of both organisations and often used these resources. During the Great Invasion, some of their locations were found and destroyed, but as far as we know, these didn’t impact the Pendulum much. But the agenda of both underlying organisations took severe damage, as much of their work was disrupted, destroyed, or lost.
Though some of their bases were compromised during The Great Invasion, resulting in severe setbacks, the organisation remains resilient. The Pendulum’s cells are designed to withstand such losses—knowledge is decentralised, and no one agent holds the full picture.
Explore the relationship between the Allele Diploid and the Gyron Lords. How do these two organisations complement each other? Are there any internal tensions or conflicts?
Consider the Pendulum’s relationship with other factions in your world. Are they allies, enemies, or simply indifferent?
Explore the moral implications of the Pendulum’s actions. While they may be working towards a noble goal, their methods can be ruthless. How does this conflict with their stated ideals?
Skjald Ulrich
The Pendulum pursues an ambitious plan for the benefit of all mortals, attempting to steer our world at the highest level while disregarding the aims of other, more self-centred institutions. Their direct ideological adversary is the Oktogon, whose groups and people pursue their own interests and personal gain over all else.
Skjald Sigurd
Special
Despite the faction’s lofty goals, there are no known channelling mana manipulators among its ranks—a intentional decision, since they think the gods’ power is too tightly connected to them. Instead, they rely on individuals who are adept at mentalism, essence manipulation, and other mysterious methods that allow them to work outside of divine influence.
Skjald El Mary
Last Updated on 2024-10-18 by IoM-Christian