The Nightshade Accord
Is strength given, or is it taken? Do we follow a path, or do we carve our own? Honor is a chain, mercy a lie, we are neither heroes nor villains, but architects of fate. The world does not remember the guided, only those who dare to lead. That is who we are, shapers of destiny, wielders of power, masters of the inevitable.
Guild Motto:
"Strength without honor, victory at any cost."Guild Overview:
The Nightshade Accord is a ruthless, shadowy guild operating in the underbelly of Eorzea. Unlike guilds that pursue glory, wealth, or protection, the Nightshade Accord seeks to dominate through manipulation, fear, and the destruction of their rivals. They work from the shadows, hiring mercenaries, thieves, assassins, and dark mages to further their influence across the land. Their primary goal is not honor or justice but the accumulation of power, and they will stop at nothing to achieve it.Their symbol is a black rose with jagged thorns, representing their beauty and treachery. To outsiders, they appear to be a regular mercenary guild, but those who have crossed them know the true danger that lurks beneath.Guild Leadership
The guild is led by a charismatic but cruel leader known as Serena Nightshade, a woman whose beauty is matched only by her ambition and ruthlessness. Serena is a master manipulator, skilled in both political games and arcane rituals. She believes that strength is a commodity to be exploited and is willing to sacrifice anyone and anything in pursuit of ultimate power. Her allure and influence make her a dangerous figure, and her ever-growing faction seeks to spread its web of control across Eorzea.Her right hand is Varek "The Widowmaker" Darkbane, a cold and calculating assassin who is notorious for eliminating anyone who dares to stand against the Syndicate. He is known for his shadowy methods and merciless tactics. His presence alone sends chills down the spine of those who know his name.
Guild Ideology & Operations
The Nightshade Accord’s philosophy is based on survival of the fittest. They believe that the world is governed by those who hold power, and they see any form of honor, compassion, or weakness as a hindrance to success. Members of the Accord are trained to be ruthless and are taught that emotions and morality are luxuries. They care little for the lives of common folk, seeing them as pawns in a grand game of power and control.Guild Objectives:
Undermine and Destroy Rivals – The Accord actively seeks to destroy any guild or faction that threatens their rise to power. They are especially focused on The Starlit Knights, seeing them as weak and foolish idealists.Manipulate Governments and Trade – They work to infiltrate both government organizations and trade guilds, using their influence to corrupt or control the most valuable resources in Eorzea.Expand their Influence – Through covert operations, the Accord seeks to undermine the stability of cities, creating chaos that they can use to seize control of territory, wealth, and military forces.Utilize Dark Magic and Forbidden Arts – The Nightshade Accord uses dark magic, forbidden rituals, and arcane experiments to empower their agents and crush their enemies. They are rumored to make pacts with dangerous entities, granting them unimaginable power in exchange for blood and soul.Guild Structure
The Nightshade Accord operates through a hierarchical, merit-based system, with power being granted to those who prove their worth through brutality, cunning, and strength. Its members include:The Nightshade Council:
A group of elite leaders who advise Seraphine. Each member of the council controls a specific aspect of the guild’s operations, from assassination to espionage. They answer only to Seraphine and are fiercely loyal to her, as their power is tied directly to her success.Serena Nightshade – Guild Leader, manipulator, and powerful mage.Varek Darkbane – Assassin Master, right-hand of Serena, expert in stealth and assassination.Liora "The Spellsilk" – A former member of the Arcane University, now a dark sorceress who specializes in curses and shadow magic.Gorath the Warlord – A brute, a tactician, and a ruthless enforcer. His skills lie in leading brutal raids and training warriors in their methods of war.Enforcers:
A ruthless group of soldiers and mercenaries who carry out the Syndicate’s most dangerous operations. They operate in small, highly skilled teams, using whatever means necessary to get the job done be it assassination, theft, or sabotage.Whispers:
A group of spies and information brokers who gather intelligence and infiltrate rival organizations. They are the unseen hand of the Blackthorn Syndicate, pulling strings in the background and ensuring that their rivals remain ignorant of their plans until it's too late.The Hollowed Ones:
The most feared faction within the Syndicate. These are individuals who have embraced dark magic, often at the cost of their humanity. These twisted figures are used as shock troops or enforcers, often sent on suicide missions due to their supernatural abilities and disregard for their own lives.
Rivalry with The Starlit Knights
The Nightshade Accord sees The Starlit Knights as a threat to their vision of the world. Darius Ashford’s ideals of honor, protection, and training the next generation of adventurers are seen as naive and weak. The Accord’s disdain for them comes from the belief that a world governed by emotion and principles such as justice and duty is doomed to failure.Serena has made it her mission to destroy the Starlit Knights, seeing them as a barrier to her guild’s control over Eorzea. The Starlit Knights’ focus on honor and compassion is viewed as an obstacle to the Nightshade Accord’s ambition to reshape the world in its image one built on fear and domination.The Dark Path of the Accord
While The Starlit Knights serve as beacons of hope and justice, the Nightshade Accord works tirelessly to snuff out that light. Through backdoor deals, assassinations, and corrupting anyone they can, they work to ensure that only the strong rise, leaving the weak to fall.As the Accord’s influence spreads, Darius Ashford and his Starlit Knights must find a way to counteract the dark tide or risk seeing their oath and ideals corrupted by the very forces they have sworn to destroy.