Epic Level Handbook

club for the extremely powerful, a club with little actualaim other than to give its members a feeling of superiorityover nonmembers.Most members focus on self-aggrandizement, seekingways to use the Godkissed organization to further theirpersonal ambitions at the expense of any greatercommon goal. Working to position themselves in highplaces and seeking adulation from the common masses,the members of this group exhaust themselves withinfighting and political maneuvering, struggling to gainthe upper hand and never succeeding for long. Heavenhelp the multiverse if the Godkissed ever unite behind asingle powerful leader.ORGANIZATIONThe organization is usually described as a “gathering ofequals,” though in practice the more powerful have avoice far greater than those of lesser stature. Thus,dozens of lesser coalitions flourish within the organization.Some so violently oppose others that splintergroups form.Headquarters: The Godkissed has no formal headquarters.Allies meet in each other’s homes to discussplans, and potential allies wine and dine one another, andoccasionally large numbers of the group’s membersgather together to boast to one another and see howalliances and coalitions proceed. The organization lacks adesignated site.Unofficially, an upscale tavern called Heaven’s Tankarddeep in the heart of the city of Union serves as a meetingplace for the Godkissed. Members can regularly be foundthere, drinking or conferring in the back rooms reservedfor their use. Nonmembers often flock to Heaven’sTankard to see members of the group, who are treated ascelebrities in some circles. Members of an organizationcalled Believers of the Source (who hail from anotherplanar metropolis called Sigil) are often found here. TheBelievers are in awe of all things divine; when in attendance,they sit in rapt attention listening to anything aGodkissed might have to say.Members: 890+.Hierarchy: Loose. Alliances among members comeand go, though some coalitions last longer than others.The sole factor that keeps the Godkissed as a “coherent”organization is the members’ shared birthright, thedivine ancestry they all claim.Religion: Various.Alignment: Any.Secrecy: Mixed. Most in Union have heard of this orthat individual member and his exploits but are completelyunaware of the Godkissed as a group. Most Godkissedare happy simply to put in an appearance atHeaven’s Tankard and enjoy a bit of celebrity status nowand again in select circles. On the other hand, severalsecret coalitions exist within the membership. Thesegroups hope to one day achieve leadership over theentire group, so that they can impose their own agendas.Symbol: A red lightning bolt on a field of white.LEADERSHIPThere hasn’t been any true leadership in the organizationin quite some time. Plenty of potential candidatesvie for some sort of control of the group as a whole, butno one is anywhere close to establishing leadership, andit is unlikely that such will occur any time soon. The topof the heap is an unstable position at best, and tumblesfrom those heights are all too common as alliances shiftand change with the wind.Calabar Kordson (LN male human Mnk20/Wiz10)claims his great grandfather was none other than the godof strength, Kord. Certainly Kordson possesses supernaturalstrength and an undisputed pedigree. He heads acoalition of twenty other Godkissed who want to imposetheir leadership over all the others. Calabar’s goal, shouldhe gain control of the organization, is divine power, pureand simple. He believes sufficient political powerthrough control over cities, counties, and other planarregions will eventually enable him and his chosen followersto ascend to actual godhood, in effect creating anew pantheon.Vellella (CG female elf Wiz22) enjoys her celebritystatus in Union, but also recognizes the danger that theradical elements of the Godkissed could represent,should they ever succeed in gaining control of the group.She always works against Calabar’s plans, though inperson they are polite enough to each other, even if theirremarks are sometimes quite pointed. Vellella claims distantblood ties with an elven god of the hearth.RECRUITINGBecoming a member of the Godkissed isn’t so much aprocess of joining as of infiltrating. The current membersare so busy manipulating one another and maneuveringfor power that they don’t have time to concernthemselves with any sort of proper membershipprocess. It is far easier just to jump into the game, establishingallies and enemies, than it is to be formally recognizedthrough some ceremony. Of course, withoutsome demonstrable proof of divine background (or agood trick useful in fooling everyone into thinkingsuch), any new prospective member has little to offerpotential allies in the group’s grandiose games. Gettinginvolved without the clout to back up a claim oftenends with the death of the false claimant.The Godkissed aren’t likely to come recruiting theplayer characters to join their ranks, and if the characterswant to get in on the action, they are going to have to playthe game of political intrigue. Although this kind ofinvolvement can be a lot of fun, the Godkissed may crosspaths with your heroes in other ways.All matters of qualifications aside, the Godkissed doesnot make much distinction between classes. Fighter orwizard, cleric or rogue, anyone who has the charismaand the intestinal fortitude to play the game can forcehis or her foot in the door. All that really matters in suchinstances is the level of power any particular individualis able to wield, and whose side he or she is on.CHAPTER 6:AN EPICSETTING237