8 MB ENG

BASICS - This supplement for the d20 system is just
what the title implies, organizations that use magic or
deal with magic in different ways.
The Abbey of Green Steel is just the opposite of the
nice, tranquil place where Q. C. Kane studied with
Master Po in the old Kung Fu t.v. show. The monks in
this abbey are secretly more concerned with acquiring
power and becoming Devils (literally) than with the
grabbing of a small rock from some old guy’s hand
before he can close it.
The Dragon Gang is a thieves’ guild that is run by, you
guessed it, a dragon. Picture Don Corleone with scales
and claws. The Dragon Gang is into all the same
criminal activities that Vito, Sonny (before he became
very perforated) and Michael were into in the The
Godfather. And just like any good criminal organization,
The Dragon Gang, is only interested in profit.
The School Behind the Veil is advertised as a place for
warriors to hone their skills and learn new ways of folding,
spindling and mutilating their opponents. The “guy” who
runs the place is actually a 3,000 year old ghost interested
in world domination.
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The Servants of Decay have an interesting hobby. They
want to bring about the destruction of civilization. The
servants are amoral. They believe that the downfall of
civilization will bring about the return of Preternature, an
ancient “perfect” reality. “Civilization” (not the computer
game) is what keeps preternaturals from impinging upon
ordinary reality. The Servants want anarchy.
The Tribunal of Arcane Law functions as the magic
police. If some wizard with delusions of grandeur decides
to open a permanent gate to Hell then the Tribunal will
step in and stop him/her. The Tribunal only interferes if
activities of an individual or organization does something
of such magnitude that it might turn ordinary people
against magic or transcend national interests.
Inside the Temple of the Living God the poor, almost
defunct god, Viraxis, is trying to mount a comeback from
obscurity. His last temple is trying to spread the worship
of Viraxis back among people so that the god may once
again take his place with the other dieties of power in
whatever mythos a campaign has in place.
Presentation – Each society comes with history and
background information. Major NPCs are also described
with characteristics, skill, spells and motivations. The
organizations that have a static base of operations also
have some nice maps. Each section of the map receives
a brief description. Each group also has a new feat and
prestige class.
Storyline – Along with their histories each organization
comes with some ideas for using them in a campaign.
Also, each group comes with two or three adventure
ideas revolving around that organization. Last, but not
least, all the societies have one or more alternative
backgrounds so that a GM can change the orientation of
the groups. These alternative views will allow a game
master to change an “evil” society into a “nice” one or vice
versa for his/her players to interact with.
Value – This 63 page, perfect bound tome retails for
$14.95. That price comes out to $2.49 per society. Odds
are that a GM won’t be able to drop all of the groups in to
a campaign, but this book does what it is intended: it
saves a GM brain power. The groups are ready made
and would need little or no work to be dropped
immediately into a fantasy campaign. Some of the group
are “evil” while others have a more appeal to more moral
PC group. This book gives a GM both potential enemies
and allies to throw at a group of players.
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