Garcons de Paris
Core: 2000 warriors
Public Support: 26400 Frenchmen
Foreign Blood Bonds: None
Objectives: To defend France by whatever means necessary.
Description: Like young men everwhere, the boys of Paris are full of hormones and testosterone that can make them quite aggressive. The French elders have since time immemorial focussed that aggression outward into activities like exploration and hunting mainly so that they do not have to battle younger rivals internally.
Those young men who prove exceptionally strong, tough and smart eventually rise to become Elder Mystics who are the commanders of the Garcons de Paris. The Garcons de Paris Elder Mystics form the Elder Mystic Council. The Elder Mystic Council act as the advisors to Benoit, and are the only ones allowed to meet the reclusive leader, which means the Council have become the defacto rulers of France.
The Elder Mystic Council believes stongly in Might Makes Right and as such pursue strength in all fields such as military, espionage and magic. They believe in negotiating from a position of strength which can make them very aggressive. They are violently opposed to Islam and Slavery but currently their main concern is the rapid rise of the Priests of Stonehenge who are challenging the Elder Mystic Council for control of France. The Council and their followers are all worshippers of the Earth Mother.
Stonehenge Sentries
Core: 2000 warriors
Public Support: 16080 Frenchmen
Foreign Blood Bonds: None
Objectives: To turn Paris into the best city in the world. To protect the monuments, bodies and spirits of everyone in France.
Description: The Stonehenge Sentries are the private militia of the Priests of Stonehenge and are fanatically loyal to their Priests. The Sentries have a highly concentrated following within the city of Paris itself with almost no followers in the lands surrounding Paris. As a result the Priests of Stonehenge control the Paris streets even though they have fewer supporters than the conservative Elder Mystic Council who has near universal support with the farmers of the surrounding lands.
The Priests of Stonehenge are a splinter group from the Elder Mystics Council that focussed on magic to save the spirits of the deceased from Jahannam. The Priests have recently begun practicing large elaborate fertility rituals that involve mass orgies which have dramatically increased their popularity with the young adults of Paris. They would like to end the wars (after freeing all French spirits trapped in Jahannam) and stop all interference in foreign tribes so that France can concentrate on building up Paris in peace.
The Sentries are opposed to Islam and slavery however they do not believe war is the answer instead they believe France should lead by example by becoming the epitome of an advanced civilization. The Sentries worship all four elemental spirits, although with a special emphasis on the Earth Mother.
Dutch Defenders
Core: 2000 warriors
Public Support: 2000 Dutchmen
Foreign Blood Bonds: Nether-Dutch
Objectives: To create a Dutch-French alliance by installing a regime in Dutchland that is friendly with the French .
Description: Originally composed of Dutch refugees from Dutchland who were armed and trained by the Elder Mystic Council so that they could overthrow Trotseer and put in a despot more friendly towards France. The Dutch Rebels were successful in overthrowing Trotseer however instead of a Dutch Rebel becoming the next ruler, the Elder Mystic Council allowed Trotseer to pick his successor Hanz who, while Dutch, was still a continuation of the Trotseer regime. Trotseer's slavery plans continued under Hanz and nothing really changed.
The Dutch rebels returned to France instead of living under Hanz's rule. They are building their forces and waiting for a second opportunity so that this time there will be real regime change in Dutchland. The Dutch Defenders have several experienced Dutch mystics in their number adept at war magic. The Dutch Defenders predominantly worship the Fire Father and have a conservative war-like attitude although a small minority of the supporters worship the Water Mother.
The Elder Mystic Council has stationed the Dutch Defenders on the Roman border, far away from the Dutch border, so that the unit does not have any opportunity to instigate a war with the Dutch. They are violently opposed to slavery.
The Great Valley Seekers
Core: 2000 warriors
Camp Followers: 3720
Foreign Blood Bonds: Persian, Chinese, Japanese
Objectives: To seize control of a barbarian village in the far east near Japan.
Description: The Great Valley Seekers were the first group to splinter off from the Garcon de Paris. They are the legendary heroes of France and are held in high regard by all factions even though they have not returned to France in over a thousand years. Every French child knows the legends of Gabriel and The Great Valley Seekers. They made first contact with the Greeks, Byzantium, Arabia, Persia, China and Japan. They discovered the Great Valley and the Secret of Immortality that has kept Benoit and Gabriel alive for centuries. They have slain many beasts and barbarians against seemingly impossible odds. They are expert foresters.
Gabriel is known to have a particular fondness for the Japanese and is rumored to be trying to establish a French city in the far east near Japan to facilitate trade and cooperation between the tribes. Gabriel's plan is rumored to be to conquer a sizable barbarian town.
While recovering from an ambush by Persian Water Mother Cultists, many of the Great Valley Seekers took Persian wives from the family of the Persian Mystic Zoroaster, the Golden Camel, thus forming a bond of blood between the two tribes. While recovering from a lion attack, a group of Chinese scouts befriended by Gabriel joined the Great Valley Seekers and have been intermarrying thus forming a bond of blood with the Chinese as well.
The Great Valley Seekers have also married into the Japanese family of
Jõmon, who are travelling with the Great Valley Seekers. The Great Valley Seekers hold their blood bonds to their foreign kinsfolk very seriously however they do not necessarily agree with or like the rulers of the foreign tribes with which they hold blood bonds.
There are many mystics in the Great Valley Seekers and they practice a magic that combines the traditions from nearly every tribe. They have a very open attitude towards foreign beliefs and tend to incorporate whatever magic works into their own system since they value usefulness over religious dogma. They are opposed to slavery.
Le Gaulois
Core: 2000 warriors
Camp Followers: 2480
Foreign Blood Bonds: Russian, Ottomans
Objectives: To return to France.
Description: While pursuing the Quest of 18 Tribes, a portion of the Garcon de Paris warriors became cut-off from France when Holy Roman tribesmen settled between them and France. This band of warriors became known as Le Gaulois. Le Gaulois made first contact with the Russians, Norse and Ottomans. They have slain many wild beasts and barbarians. They are expert foresters. Le Gaulois were also responsible for completing the Chasse aux Barbares quest by being the first to find a barbarian warrior.
While recovering from various beast attacks, Le Gaulois has had two influxes of foreigners, one Russian woodsmen and the other a group of Ottomans. As a result of these integrations, Le Gaulois warriors have become strong with a silent serious demeanor. The faction will come to the aid of their blood brothers especially against barbarians however their goal is to find a way home to France (which requires open border agreements).
Le Gaulois have very few mystics in their numbers, with those few mystics mainly serving the purpose to perform burial rites to prevent their spirits from becoming trapped in Jahannam. Le Gaulois are focused on straight-forward combat and survival. They do not care one way or another about slavery and do not hold any strong religious beliefs.
Torino Road Builders
Core: 1000 workers
Public Support: 1240 Romans
Foreign Blood Bonds: Romans
Objectives: To lead a safe, prosperous and happy life.
Description: Like most non-militants, the Torino families are mainly concerned with raising their families in the best way they can with minimum risks. The Torino workers bear neither Rome or France any ill will and would like to see both tribes get along. They are content to live in France however if the Torino hills, where their extended families live, were to rejoin Rome then these workers would want to return to Rome. Of course they would only return if it could be done peacefully which would require an Open Borders agreement.
The Torino Road Builders ostensibly worship the Earth Mother however they have no mystics in their number and their worship mainly consists of celebrating festivals as often as they can. They are opposed to slavery.
English Escaped Slave Smugglers
Public Support: 1120 English
Foreign Blood Bonds: England
Objectives: To smuggle French slaves and English rebels from England to France.
Description: There are a significant number of English fishermen who smuggle escaped slaves or English rebels across the French channel to France. While the French slaves have generally integrated with the rest of the French population, the English rebels have kept to themselves along the western coast. These rebels aid in the smuggling and provide logistical support (generally in the form of French wine and women) for the English fishermen. These English are fiercely opposed to Elizabeth's rule but they wish the best for their fellow tribesfolk.
The English Smugglers worship the Ocean Mother, mainly beseeching her to keep their loved ones safe at sea. There are no known mystics amongst them. They are violently opposed to slavery.
Holy Roman Frontiersmen
Public Support: 900 Holy Romans
Foreign Blood Bonds: Holy Rome
Objectives: To live with no rulers bossing them around.
Description: Living in the far eastern forests on the border near Holy Rome is a small band of Holy Roman frontiersmen. The land is only lightly held by France as it is rarely patrolled. The Frontiersmen like having the freedom to live their lives without rulers telling them what to do. They harbor no ill will toward Holy Rome or its rulers but just want to be left alone.
The Frontiersmen are heading further west though as more of their fellow tribesmen follow them into the French wildlands. The influx of Holy Romans is likely to lead to the lands eventually falling under Holy Roman control. None of the other French factions seem concerned about the loss of land and most of the other factions do not even know this faction even exists.
The Frontiersmen practice no known belief system beyond simple burial rites and have no known mystics amongst them. They are opposed to slavery.
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