The Sicilian Vanguard

Description

The Sicilian Vanguard is a renowned mercenary organization operating from a fortified compound east of North Tingate, at the edge of the exclusion zone. Its headquarters is a massive, decommissioned interplanetary vehicle transport ship known as Sicily, surrounded by a converted military base.  

Role & Operations

The Sicilian Vanguard is contracted primarily to protect Sibra from the dangers of the exlusion zone—anomalous, mutated creatures, and other threats that occasionally stray too close to settlements, rail lines, and vital infrastructure. Members of the Vanguard are also known to undertake escort missions, recovery operations, and discreet bounties for well-connected clients. Their expertise in countering zone threats is widely respected, and their success rate is unmatched.  

Membership

The group is unusual for its diversity: only about half of its ranks are Feln, while the rest include Human, Daerpon, and various other aliens and outsiders, making the Vanguard a rare haven for those seeking work outside Sibra’s more rigid structures. To join, recruits must partake in a dangerous contract in the exclusion zone—often a monster hunt or retrieval mission—proving both their strength and mental resilience. Those who succeed are eligible for training, and then initiation.   Full members gain access to specialized gear, company caches, and lucrative job postings.  

Culture & Facilities

The sprawling compound is a mix of fortress and trading post. The market and bar at the heart of the hangar bustle with life, gear trading, and stories from the front. The group is bound by an internal code of mutual respect. Members contribute a share of their earnings to maintain the facility and support one another.  

Reputation

Though largely unaffiliated with Sibra’s government, the Vanguard maintains a complex relationship with the state: officially tolerated, sometimes relied upon, occasionally skirted when legal boundaries are in question. Sibra’s wealthy elite often turn to the organization for delicate problems demanding discretion or exceptional expertise. This reliance—combined with the absence of a formal Sibran military—has elevated the Sicilian Vanguard into a formidable force and indispensable asset.   Despite being a favorite subject of boastful talk among adventurers and glory-chasers, joining the Vanguard is a feat far beyond the reach of most.