Sanctuary
A place where safety is everywhere.. as long as you do not look behind the curtain.
Sanctuary is Tidefront’s stern sister city — a place where order triumphs over freedom and where magic itself seems to bend under the weight of the city’s will. Built of pale stone and trimmed in iron, Sanctuary is a haven for those who fear magic and those who profit from controlling it.
Within its walls, the Wyrd feels distant and muted. Spells fail unpredictably, dreams become shallow echoes, and artifacts lose their spark. Many see Sanctuary as a refuge. Others see it for what it truly is: a gilded cage built on fear, control, and the quiet hum of fanatic devotion.
Despite the omnipresent symbolism of the The Vigil, true political power lies with the Guild Compact, a consortium of merchant guilds who maintain the city’s infrastructure, security, and strict regulations on magical activity. They present themselves as benevolent stewards — but everyone knows Sanctuary’s peace is tightly manufactured.
Within its walls, the Wyrd feels distant and muted. Spells fail unpredictably, dreams become shallow echoes, and artifacts lose their spark. Many see Sanctuary as a refuge. Others see it for what it truly is: a gilded cage built on fear, control, and the quiet hum of fanatic devotion.
Despite the omnipresent symbolism of the The Vigil, true political power lies with the Guild Compact, a consortium of merchant guilds who maintain the city’s infrastructure, security, and strict regulations on magical activity. They present themselves as benevolent stewards — but everyone knows Sanctuary’s peace is tightly manufactured.
Government
Sanctuary presents itself as a paragons’ republic — a city led by a calm, deliberate Governor of the People, chosen “by civic tradition and public trust.” In official records and public ceremonies, the Governor speaks for the city, hands down rulings, approves trade agreements, and embodies the city’s identity as a bastion of order.
But everyone who matters knows the truth:
The Governor’s job is simple:
Behind the scenes, the Guild Compact determines every significant action:
The public trusts the Governor. The guilds trust only themselves.
The Guild Compact rules Sanctuary from the shadows.
The Governor — currently Governor Stophin Mekols — is a well-groomed, impeccably mannered puppet. His speeches are written for him. His policies are dictated to him. His advisors are hand-picked representatives of the Guild Compact, who enforce their decisions with gentle smiles and iron-gloved hands.The Governor’s job is simple:
- Look calm
- Say the right words
- Maintain the illusion of civic authority
- Never contradict the guilds
Behind the scenes, the Guild Compact determines every significant action:
- Laws
- Trade routes
- Warden patrol patterns
- Market regulations
- Public messaging
- The city’s stance toward magic
The public trusts the Governor. The guilds trust only themselves.
Guilds and Factions
The Guild Compact
The Compact is a clandestine alliance of Sanctuary’s most powerful guilds. Each presents itself as a humble trades-based institution — but together they orchestrate every movement of the city. Their meetings occur in private chambers, behind closed shutters, and often take all possible measures to avoid unwanted eyes and ears.Their influence is enacted through:
- Manipulated paperwork
- Closed-door negotiations
- Economic pressure
- Control of public information
- Carefully constructed “crises” needing their guidance
- Subtle threats issued through the Wardens
Most citizens never question the arrangement. Sanctuary runs smoothly, and most assume the Governor is simply brilliant. Only those working within the guilds understand how deep the roots truly go.
The Wardens
The Wardens swear loyalty to the Governor in public, but in practice, they answer to the Guild Compact. Captains and officers are screened, trained, and promoted under guild oversight. Political reliability matters far more than skill. Orders that appear to come from the Governor are often quietly issued by guild proxies through back channels.Wardens enforce civic order and guild interests
Some within the ranks suspect the truth. Few are willing to risk voicing it.
Comments