echoed invocations

A Supplemental Zine for SIGIL & SHADOW

ISSUE 2:
Factions
Written by R.E, Davis

SIGIL & SHADOW is © R.E. Davis, 2024, and is based on the

BareBones system designed by Larry Moore and Bill Logan and
published by DwD Studios., and used with permission.
SIGIL & SHADOW is published by Osprey Games. To find out
more about Osprey Games visit www.ospreypublishing.com
ECHOED INVOCATIONS is an independent publication by R.E.
Davis. Permission to redistribute (including photocopy) for
personal use.

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 FACTIONAL RELATIONS
The following tables are meant
to be used to supplement the
procedures described in the
Five Factions Feuding section of
Sigil & Shadow.
After creating some factions
and mapping them on the star,
roll on the RIVALRY table for
each pair of main rivals to
discover the nature of their
feud.
Then, for each faction, roll on
the EXPLOIT table to
determine what it is their allies
utilize them for.

RIVALRY (1D) EXPLOIT (D5)

1 - Ideology: Rivals of opposing
views clash every chance they get.
2 - Turf: Competition for physical 1 - Manpower: More bodies to fill
locations; sacred spaces, public the seats or hit the streets.
venues, local neighborhoods,
haunted landmarks etc. 2 - Influence: We hold sway in
3 - Influence: Compete for social social circles they lack.
status and public sway.
4 - Blood: Factions share an 3 - Resources: We let them dip
ancestral rivalry that spans into our stockpiles when they
generations. need it.
5 - Conspiracy: The rivalry is just
part of an outsider’s machinations. 4 - Intel: We’ve got ears to their
6 - Collection: Both sides are on the rivals, and for a price we’ll talk.
hunt for relics/artifacts.
7 - Vendetta: One side was wronged 5 - Safety: When they need neutral
by the other, wants payback. territory or a place to lay low, we
8 - Destined: Rivals are racing can grant shelter.
towards a prophetic end goal
9 - Resources: Rivals require
precious commodities to achieve
agendas.
10 - Ego: Rivalry is completely for
sport and one-upmanship.
STATURE
By default, the benefits and For games that deal with the
consequences of engaging with friction of rival groups, gangs or
factions is handled entirely cliques in a localized area, this
within the fiction of the game. is more than enough.
If we say someone has a good
(or bad) standing with an But what about campaigns that
organization, then they do, and focus on larger conspiracies,
we can simply define what that cults and organizations?
entails through play.
Stature is an optional rating
Applying it mechanically could that player characters can track
be as easy as a descriptor on with individual factions. In
the character sheet. We could game terms, it mimics Lifestyle
also justify acquiring certain ratings: a character's Stature
perks in relation to factional with a faction is rated 0 to 6.
standing -- Ally, Connection, With each raise in rank, the
Fame, Safe House or even Well- character has more sway
to-Do can be potential benefits among the faction, as well as
of one's status. access to more resources and
benefits.
It's possible to have Stature ranks within multiple Factions -- the only
hitch is that earning a reputation with one may run the risk of
upsetting your stance with their rivals. A player character may want
to risk going "double agent" but as soon as a cover is blown, they
may risk making enemies on both sides.
The following is a template for Stature within such organizations. The
Guide is encouraged to rename these titles, and what benefits they
entail, for every Faction that the players have a chance of joining.
• (4) Councilor: The character
• (0) Outsider: The character is now within the upper
has little to no affiliation echelon of the organization,
with the faction. answering to its Regents and
• (1) Prospect: The Faction appointed various
has invested interest in the responsibilities to keep the
character, and considers faction going. This can range
them an asset to their from administration duties
agenda. They may come for the chapter, overseeing
asking favors, but will lower ranked members on
provide contacts as well as specific tasks, or even
protection from their rivals. enforcing the faction's
presence and control over
• (2) Member: The character whatever the heck it is they
has proven their worth and influence in the city.
is inducted into the
organization proper. Those • (5) Regent: The character is
higher in stature will tap on one of the top overseers for
them for more important the Faction's activities in the
tasks and projects, often city or region. This may be a
rewarding them with lone position, but small
samples of whatever "board rooms" or inner
resources the faction has in circles aren't unheard of.
its cache (money, spells, This is usually the highest
weapons, favors from rank achievable for factions
bought off public officials, specific to a local region.
etc). The character can earn • (6) Premier: For the larger
Allies, as well as access to factions and conspiracies
special meeting places. that have reach beyond a
• (3) Alumni: The character is single area, a character of
deeply embedded within the the Premier stature oversees
faction. Though not with full activities on a grander scale.
authority, they've been Any city where the Faction
afforded access to whatever has an established chapter
it is the faction holds on to or presence they can
(city officials, VIP status at command access to any and
clubs, arsenal caches, all of their resources.
restricted libraries etc.)
STATURE (continued)
Starting Stature Raising Stature
Depending on how factions are Players may continue to raise
used in the campaign, there’s a their character’s Stature in the
few different approaches on following ways:
starting Status for the players:

Milestone Advancement
Open Discovery
If it’s agreed that the actions of
All player characters start off a a character leading up to a
campaign with a Stature of 0 milestone were to the benefit of
for all factions. Throughout the a faction, they may spend an
campaign, allow them to advancement to raise their
pursue whichever groups Stature rating by one.
interest them and let them earn
their ratings.
Narrative Earnings
Up & Comers As the player characters take on
jobs, missions and favors on
All characters start off initiated behalf of the faction, the Guide
into a specific faction (either as may arbitrarily award a raise
prospects or members). The in Stature upon completion of
campaign can focus on their these tasks.
rise through the ranks, or it can
remain as a background device,
only pursued when the players
want to. Rank by Rank
An alternate approach is to tie
the character’s Stature to their
Initial Investment experience Rank. As they
advance throughout a
The Guide may allow player campaign, raising their Rank
characters to begin as a will also improve their Stature
prospect into the faction of rating. This is specifically for
their choice. After that, the campaigns that focus entirely
player has the option to further around a specific faction,
raise their starting Stature following a meteoric path from
rating by one level; either by nobodies to indoctrination to
permanently spending a Bone, the big bosses.
or reducing their Lifestyle by
one level.
 Fame Among Factions Calling In Favors
Much like their Lifestyle score, a When a character is in dire
character's Stature rating runs circumstances, where time is of
risk of them being recognized the essence and the need is
whenever they do anything absolutely urgent, they can call
reckless, careless or attention in a favor from their faction.
getting in public (+15% chance
per rank of Stature). This can only be done once per
character between milestones.
This is not only between Whenever the favor is called in,
members and allies of the make an action check with a
faction, but also their rivals -- Success Value equal to your
essentially members of any factional Fame score (+15% per
group that is tracked in the star Rank). Success means you get
for Five Factions Feuding have a the favor, but are expected to
chance of recognizing them. repay it later.
This puts added responsibility Favors can be many things –
to higher ranked members, as important intel, borrowing a
their behavior and dealings in sacred item, reinforcements or
day to day life may bring backup, bail money or
unwanted eyes upon the whatever else you need to get
organization. out of a pickle.