# The Factions ## ACROSS THE SOUND These factions can be found operating throughout the sound, either as an organized presence or as independent groups.  ### Resident Orca Pod The resident orcas appear resilient to The Illness, and are exhibiting their own motivations and interests across the Sound. Some believe they are trying to communicate with us. ### Harbor’s Hold A group of loosely aligned sailors who have committed to protecting those in distress on the seas, offering support, supplies, or in some cases armed resistance to pirates and thieves. ### Rogue Striders Unaligned groups of Striders from various communities. Sometimes the easiest way to secure resources for your community is to steal it from other successful Striders, sadly. ### Yachtees A group of wealthy luxury yachts traveling lightly together. Their event moves seasonally through the sound, and where they go sounds of reveling and bright lights are easily visible from some distance.  ### Floating Market A pair of converted containerships riding high in the water with heavy decking built between them to form a massive catamaran, the floating market moves lazily through the sound. Various communities approach and trade here. ## RENEWAL POINT Renewal Point is home to five primary groups who oversee life within the nascent community. They offer guidance, and collaborate to ensure the health and ongoing existence of their newly built home.  ### Water Singers The Water Singers are the spiritual core of the community, and also teach astronomical and nautical skills like boatmaking, fishing, and salvaging within the reefs. They have a higher percentage population of people with adaptions. ### Conservators Maintainers of the land around Renewal Point, the Conservators see to the reclamation of land from The Illness. They breed and train the cats used to control vermin and detect The Illness. They also maintain the trails, parks, and wild spaces for the community to enjoy.  ### Regainers Guild Recovery of lost technology is the primary role of the Regainers, who often work with Striders to recover machines or knowledge from The Stillness. They also nurture the artistic and curious nature of the community, and many artists, musicians, and storytellers are Regainers. ### Oasis Institute Maintaining the body of the community through sound nutrition and medical care, the Oasis Institute is primarily concerned with ensuring everyone is well fed and has a sound body. Most food and medicinals are grown by the Oasis Institute for the community’s use. ### Lambic Hive Feastmakers and brewers, the Lambic Hive is often seen as partygoers, but they serve a vital need for relief in a stressful world. They are also well trained mental health experts, counselors, and caretakers who see to the emotional resilience of the community. ### Unaligned Renewal Point Folk Though it’s rare, some folks never join a coterie or don’t feel a strong attachment to theirs. These folks’ opinion is reflected in this faction, though they have no structural leadership. ## NORTH SOUND The islands in British Columbia south of Nanaimo and north of the San Juans.  ### Silent Reef South of Bellingham, among an artificial reef formed by crashed ships, a group of survivors have built a community on stilt houses constructed from the remnants of old ships.  ### Tea Witches A group of mystics living on Sunrise Bay claim to be able to divine the future and view all events within the Sound through the use of special teas and herbal sachets.  ### The Lummi Island Society The people of Lummi Island and surrounding areas have survived the illness with relatively little disruption, and they represent one of the largest and healthiest communities in the Sound. Experts in aquaculture, construction, and boatmaking, they are a critical community in the North Sound. ### Lord of Patos Island  Patos Island hosts little more infrastructure than an ancient lighthouse, but the dweller on this island is rumored to be a vampire. In reality, he survived the Illness and gained some ability to influence animals and people infected by it.  ### The Boathooks A gang of thugs and thieves who make their home somewhere in the north sound, they are a nuisance to smaller sailing parties throughout the North Sound and the Islands. ### North Sound Communities Prior to the collapse, the islands in the north sound were home to many small, self sufficient communities. Some of them survived and grew or held steady. This isn’t one organized faction, but rather represents the general sentiment across many smaller north sound communities. ## THE ISLANDS The islands are home to many small communities, some larger and some smaller than Renewal Point.  ### The Refiners A group of engineers and tradespeople took over the Anarcortes refinery complex early in 2071, and have protected it for 30 years. It now is coming back online and beginning to produce fuel for ships in the area. ### Useless Bay Distillery A small group that operates out of Useless Bay has begun collecting fermentable produce from around the sound and refining it into high quality alcohol and other chemical feedstock. ### Deception Pass Fortress A warlord has built a massive fortress at Deception pass, and uses it as a strategic point to control North Whidbey and Skagit Bay.  ### Barge Operators This group of sailors spends most of their time living on small microcommunities aboard large barges that serve as trading vessels between various island communities. ### Island Communities Prior to the collapse, the islands were home to many small, self sufficient communities. Some of them survived and grew or held steady. This isn’t one organized faction, but rather represents the general sentiment across many smaller island communities. ## SOUTH SOUND The communities throughout the south sound tend to be more isolated, and more cautious and experienced with the Illness, seeking little direct interaction with other communities outside of trading or exchanging news. ### Kite Walkers A community built up on Vashon Island has developed a means to generate steady energy supplies from the wind in the Sound. They are dedicated to improving this, believing energy is the most important step in reclaiming the Stillness. ### Fox Island Haven Those who are adapted are not universally trusted around the Sound like they are at Renewal Point. Fox Island has become a place of refuge and healing, particularly for those with adaptions, but also for any who need it.  ### South Sound Logging Interest Timber is a dangerous resource to gather, and a difficult one to maintain stocks of in the islands in perpetuity. The SSLI sends parties into the stillness to harvest trees, risking exposure to the illness to do so. ### The Cast A small community of ‘journalists’ who live on Vashon island seek news from around the sound and broadcast it over shortwave radio. It’s a mix of genuine journalism, music, and conspiratorial rumors. ### South Sound Communities Prior to the collapse, the islands in the south sound were home to many small, self sufficient communities. Some of them survived and grew or held steady. This isn’t one organized faction, but rather represents the general sentiment across many smaller south sound communities. ## FAR COASTS At the far ends of the sound, and stretching out to the Pacific, there are some small groups of people who have survived.  ### Last Vigil Operating out of the Bangor submarine base, a group of former US Naval crews acted quickly when The Illness spread. They now maintain nuclear submarines posted at the entrances of Puget Sound and allow no one in or out by sea.  ### The Grove Vancouver Island is home to a large organism, a single mycelial network connected to thousands of ancient cedars. Several adapted people live among the grove, claiming to be able to speak to this massive organism that is spreading across the island. ### Salt Island Forge Once a small bronze foundry, the Salt Island Forge has become a purveyor of finely crafted metalwork. Retaining the skills and equipment from pre-stillness era, they are one of the few places that can produce high quality, highly refined metal items. ### Neah Bay Walled Library At the very northwest points in Washington, a wall has been raised by the people in and around Neah Bay. They’ve gathered a huge variety of literature, seeds, and tools. They are always interested in trades for novel items and knowledge. ### The Harpy of Sol Duc Very few survivors have met the woman who has made Sol Duc her home. She lives among the trees above the hot springs, and rarely comes down to the ground below. Rumors are she has developed a method for warding off The Illness, but will not part with the knowledge. ## THE STILLNESS The mainland is an incredibly dangerous place, full of unspeakable horror, collapsing ruins, and raiders of all stripes. Few venture there voluntarily, and even fewer attempt to eke out any sort of existence.  ### The Echoes of Edmonds The Echoes are fragments of municipal AIs from around Edmonds, whose systems remain partially online and intermittently connected. With limited exposure to the outside world, and no humans to interact with, these fragments have evolved into entities utterly alien to humanity whose motivations and desires are neither hostile nor supportive of human life. ### Stilled Water Sentinels A paramilitary organization that has cleared Spencer Island (near Everett) and patrol the I-5 corridor. They consider themselves “the law” in the areas they patrol, and levy hefty fines on those who wish to use “their roads”.  ### The Haunt Living in the Seattle Underground, The Haunt are a small band of adapted humans who claim to be able to speak to spirits. Uncomfortable in the open, they do sometimes emerge to trade with Striders. ### Striders Many groups make regular entry into the ruins to collect artifacts, technology, knowledge, medicine, food, and supplies. These groups are called Striders, and largely try not to be involved with one another. Nevertheless, a loose code of honor exists between groups, and while they aren’t a singular cohesive faction, reputation with them does spread. ### Charcoal Beetles  A small group of smoke jumpers managed to carve out an uneasy living in Boeing Field in South Seattle, where they’ve been able to sterilize the runway and post sentries for any encroaching monsters. They’ve put their firefighting and piloting skills to use to start sterilizing wildfires or to scavenge from Cascade towns that have burned recently.