Where Civil Blood Makes Civil Hands Unclean

Hello, friends!

We’re getting deeper into developing confidential plot content, so there isn’t a lot I can discuss about our day-to-day activities. Instead, I’ve decided to start sharing some background on the people you will meet in Forgotten Faiths, and the places you might find them.

This month, I’ll be saying a little about the Harwoods and the Skirethornes.

Those of you who have been following the story from the journals posted on here will find the Harwood name familiar. This is the family of the missing explorer, William Harwood. The Harwoods are the faction you will be controlling to set out on expeditions to gather fabulous treasure and long lost secrets.

From left to right is Theobald Harwood, William’s brother; Dianora Harwood, William’s wife and present head of house; and Lydia Harwood, Theobald’s daughter.

Before William went missing, and Dianora with him, the Harwoods were a prominent trading house in the city of Genassia. Since then, their assets have slowly dwindled under the care of Theobald, whose lack of vision (and love of gambling) have set the family on a steady downward spiral. Now, at last left with little more than a dusty bookshop, the Harwood name has almost been left to the histories.

Enter, Dianora. Gone for 24 years and presumed dead, she has now returned, coffers full of gold and stilled tongue betraying little about her absence. Once known by bards as “The Bright and Bold,” Dianora’s storied vigor has now cooled to an icy calm.  Something’s gone wrong with her.  She won’t speak about the fate of her husband, but few are brave enough to press her on it.

She’s come back to lift the family’s name up from the gutter and restore it to its former shine. But there are still a few obstacles standing in her way…

The Skirethornes.

While House Harwood was on the decline, another house was rising to take its place. At first they preyed upon Theobald’s weaknesses for money, but in time they were taking away contracts, influence, and land, until at last they possessed even the family’s estate out in the country. They use the Harwoods’ old businesses now to swindle and extort their way to the top of the heap.

Ruthless in her pursuit of stolen glory, Dianora will soon bring the two houses into conflict. Willard Skirethorne, the patriarch of his clan, will prove to be a difficult adversary at home in Genassia, but other members of the family will stand against you in cities far afield.

Some will fight you in the courts, some in the markets, and others in the streets. But none of them will roll over to watch you raise a dead banner against them.

Tune in next time to learn more about the free city of Genassia, where our story begins.